Academic Standards and Related Procedures - J.D.

While undertaking law courses, the UCLA law student also undertakes courses in another UCLA graduate department, and the dual curriculum program has been approved by the two academic departments involved and the UCLA Graduate Division. Here, the normal degree requirements separately applicable in each department are modified by allowing a specified amount of credit to apply to both degrees and thereby reduce the time normally required if courses were taken in sequence. Joint degree students still need to satisfy the Professional Responsibility and SAW requirements, and must take a minimum of 64 semester units in regularly scheduled law class sessions. (See Section II(G)). The duration of the modification in normal degree requirements is contingent upon continued enrollment in, and ultimate satisfactory completion of, both curricular segments of the particular joint/concurrent degree program. Neither degree will be awarded until both sets of modified but independent degree requirements are satisfactorily completed. If, prior to joint/concurrent degree program completion, the student decides to withdraw from either curricular segment of the particular program but to remain in the other segment of the program, then the normal requirements for that segment's degree must be satisfied before the degree will be awarded. Students enrolled in these programs are entitled to dual registration status.

While undertaking law courses, the UCLA law student is also enrolled in and taking courses in another UCLA graduate program toward a separate graduate degree. The student must complete the full unit and resident study requirements for each degree; no credit overlap is permitted. Degrees earned are awarded independently and may be awarded at different times, subject only to the student's satisfactory completion of the particular degree requirements. Students in articulated degree programs are not currently entitled to dual registration status and must therefore enroll as law students and make collateral arrangements for the course work completed in the other graduate department. Students who wish to pursue an articulated degree program must submit a petition, along with supporting documents, to the Graduate Division.

Law students should attempt to gain admission to the other graduate department either just before, concurrent with, or soon after (during the first year of law study) gaining admission to the UCLA School of Law. Gaining admission to the other graduate department may occur, however, at any time prior to the time at which the requirements for the law degree are satisfied. Sound educational policy dictates, however, that the law student should become committed to and involved in the particular joint/concurrent or articulated degree program as soon as possible.

1. JURIS DOCTOR/MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES (M.A.)

(School of Law and African-American Studies Department)

1. A four year program
2. Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the Juris Doctor degree.
3. Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the Masters degree in African-American Studies, including required coursework, written thesis, and fulfillment of a foreign language requirement.

​2. JURIS DOCTOR/MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN AMERICAN INDIAN STUDIES (M.A.)

(School of Law and American Indian Studies [Interdepartmental])

1. Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the Juris Doctor degree; and
2. Within the units required for the J.D., specified Indian Law courses.; and
3. At least twenty-eight (28) non-law American Indian Studies quarter units (including certain required courses and a thesis) are required.

​3. JURIS DOCTOR/MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING (M.U.R.P.)

(School of Law and the Luskin School of Public Affairs/Department of Urban Planning)

1. A four-year program
2. Satisfactory completion of at least seventy-one (71) first year and elective Law School semester units and at least seventy-two (72) Urban and Regional Planning quarter units are required. Twelve (12) quarter units of this total must come from courses cross listed between the Law and Urban Planning Departments.
3. Satisfactory completion of all other programmatic graduation requirements.

​4. JURIS DOCTOR/MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (M.B.A.)

(School of Law and the Anderson School of Management)

1. A four-year program
2. Satisfactory completion of at least seventy-three (73) first year and elective Law School semester units and at least eighty (80) Management School quarter units are required.
3. Satisfactory completion of all other programmatic graduation requirements.

5. JURIS DOCTOR/MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH (M.P.H.)

(School of Law and School of Public Health)

1. A four-year program
2. Satisfactory completion of at least seventy-three (73) first year and elective Law School semester units and from fifty-four (54) to sixty-eight (68) Public Health quarter units depending upon that Public Health specialization and, including a field training requirement, are required.
3. Satisfactory completion of all other programmatic graduation requirements.

6. JURIS DOCTOR/MASTER OF PUBLIC POLICY (M.P.P.)

(School of Law and the Luskin School of Public Affairs / Department of Public Policy)

1. A four-year program
2. Satisfactory completion of at least seventy-three (73) first year and elective Law School semester units and at least sixty-eight (68) Public Policy quarter units are required.
3. Satisfactory completion of a 400-hour field internship with an approved government agency, non-profit group, or other approved organization.
4. Satisfactory completion of all other programmatic graduation requirements.

7. JURIS DOCTOR/MASTER OF SOCIAL WELFARE (M.S.W.)

(School of Law and the Luskin School of Public Affairs/Department of Social Welfare)

1. A four-year program
2. Satisfactory completion of at least seventy-five (75) first year and elective Law School semester units and at least ninety-one (91) Social Welfare quarter units are required.
3. Satisfactory completion of all other programmatic graduation requirements.

8. JURIS DOCTOR/Ph.D. IN PHILOSOPHY

(School of Law and Department of Philosophy)

1. Candidates for the joint program must complete all requirements for both degrees.
2. A limited number of philosophy courses will be counted toward the J.D. requirement, and a limited number of law school courses will be counted toward the Ph.D. Refer to the School of Law website for additional information.
3. Satisfactory completion of all other programmatic graduation requirements.

1. Extern Programs and Residency Credit - Joint Degree students may enroll in a full-time externship; however, full-time externship units will not be counted toward the unit requirements of the J.D. degree. Joint degree students may earn a maximum of four units of part-time externship credit.
2. Outside courses - Joint degree students may enroll in courses outside the School of Law; however, such units will not be counted toward the unit requirements of the J.D. degree.
3. Summer Session - The weeks during which a student undertakes and satisfactorily completes approved summer session course work may count for joint degree units.

1. Students enrolled in a joint or concurrent degree program are subject to the School of Law rules governing scholastic standing. Thus:
   1. Failure to maintain a 2.3 in all first year courses attempted in the School of Law will result in dismissal as applied in Rule V.A of the Academic Standards.
   2. Failure to maintain a 2.6 average in all first year course work will result in probationary status as applied in Rule V.B of the Academic Standards. Joint or concurrent degree students who have been placed on probationary status must successfully complete probation before advancing to course work outside the School of Law.
   3. Failure to maintain a 2.999 average in all first year course work will subject the student to the special requirements set for in Section V.C herein.
   4. Failure to maintain a 2.3 average or above for the first 20 law units following the completion of the first year will result in dismissal, and failure to maintain a 2.3 average for the remaining law units undertaken will result in dismissal.
   5. Failure to maintain an average of 2.700 or above for the first 20 law units following the completion of the first year or the probationary period will result in the imposition of the following special requirements for the remaining semesters of law work: Such a student must attend class regularly; consult with the Dean of Students concerning course selection before making such selection; and undertake and satisfactorily complete support programs specified by the School of Law. A student who does not comply with these special requirements will be dismissed.
2. Students may also be dismissed from the program for failure to meet the academic scholarship requirements of the other school or department in which they have also matriculated for joint degree purposes.

Each joint degree program involving a master’s degree (but not the J.D./Ph.D.) must be completed by or before five years from the time the student initially attends classes in either graduate department involved in the particular joint degree program. Only departmentally approved leaves of absence or withdrawals may legitimately interrupt the normal academic progress toward the completion of joint degree requirements and such period of interruption shall be counted in the five year period.