ENVS-Law

The Dual Degree Program in Environmental Studies and Law offers two degrees: M.S./Juris Doctor and Ph.D./Juris Doctor

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Purpose

Especially in today’s politically influenced world, it is important to understand both the sciences necessary to protect and improve the environment as well as environmental laws and policies. By joining the study of the environment to the study of the social, economic and political realities that will so dramatically affect the future of our natural world, our program seeks to ensure that environmental studies will have their due impact on the formation of future policies and will not remain on the sidelines as crucial new decisions area being made. The graduate of our dual degree program in law and environmental studies will be well prepared to work in government, in industry or with special programs.

Admissions Information

To become eligible for the dual degree program in Law and Environmental Studies, a student must apply separately and be admitted by each of the two schools under their respective admissions procedures and standards. LSAT test scores may be used for consideration to the Environmental Studies Graduate Program. Students may elect the dual degree program at the time of initial application to both schools.

A student enrolled in the dual degree program may commence studies under the program in either school. However, a student is required by the School of Law to take the first year of the Juris Doctor curriculum as a unit exclusively in the School of Law. Students may be required to take the first year of the Ph.D. curriculum as a unit exclusively in the Environmental Studies program. Otherwise, the student may take courses in the Law School or in the Environmental Studies Program, or both, as the student may desire and as may be necessary to meet the requirements of the degree programs of the two schools.

Credit for Courses Taken

Subject to certain limitations, the School of Law grants credit toward the Juris Doctor degree for 9 semester hours of acceptable performance in graduate-level courses taken by a dual degree Master’s student and 12 semester hours for a Ph.D. student in the Environmental Studies Program. The Environmental Studies Program will grant 9 credits toward the Master of Science or 12 credits toward the Doctor of Philosophy degree for acceptable performance in Law School courses taken by a joint degree program student.