The MPS degree requires a total of 52 quarter hours. The JD requires a total of 86 semester hours. The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences will accept a maximum of 16 quarter hours (11 semester hours) from the College of Law toward the MPS portion of the joint degree, which reduces the credit requirement to 36 quarter hours. The College of Law will accept a maximum of 10 semester hours (15 quarter hours) from MPS to apply toward the JD portion of the joint degree, which reduces the credit requirement to 76 semester hours). The double-counting of credits occurs only when the student completes all requirements in both colleges. The degrees must be posted simultaneously by the Academic Resource Center. For a December graduation, the student must finish all MPS requirements by the end of the fall quarter, and all law requirements by the end of the fall semester. For a May/June graduation, the student must finish all MPS requirements by the end of the winter quarter in March and the JD requirements at the end of the spring semester (May). Since virtually all JD students sit for the Bar exam immediately after they graduate and since they must be certified for admission to the bar in January and June, they cannot complete the MPS portion of the degree at a different time from the JD degree because they will not complete their joint degree requirements in time to sit for the Bar exam. First Year The student must complete the first year (31 semester hours) in the College of Law. All first-year courses are required. Second Year Criminal Procedure is required in the fall semester in Law. The MPS program requires the Introduction to Public Services as the first course. Usually students would take 6 Law courses over two semesters and 4-6 MPS core courses over three quarters and the summer session. Third Year Senior Seminar and Legal Profession are required in the College of Law. Usually students take 6 Law courses and 4-6 MPS core courses. ADDITIONAL COURSEWORK Depending on students’ options regarding an accelerated schedule, 3 additional courses in Law would need to be taken along with at least 1 MPS course. Grading Standards Students must independently meet the grading standards of both schools to remain in good standing. Grades are recorded on student transcripts under the college system in which courses are taken, although the joint degree will be recorded after graduation. If a student is dismissed or withdraws from one college, the appropriate officer or committee at the other college may permit the student to continue studies in the other college. The student must satisfy the normal degree requirements of the other college, and no double counting of credit would be permitted.
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