This joint degree program allows students to obtain both J.D. and M.H.A. degrees in 3 or 3 ½ years – less time than obtaining both degrees separately. The first year is spent in the Law School and years, two, three and four (if needed) are spent taking both law and M.H.A. courses.
Number of Credits saved:
14 (6 J.D., 8 M.H.A.)
Courses and Credits
On the J.D. side, students must complete 82 credits in the Law School and 6 credits will be double-counted from the M.H.A. courses to complete the total of 88 credits. On the M.H.A. side, students must complete 32 credits in M.H.A. courses and 8 credits will be double-counted from the J.D. coursework to complete the total of 40 credits. Students will be required to complete 114 credits for both degrees.
Students will be awarded a Graduate Business Certificate as part of the curriculum for this program.
Juris Doctor (J.D.) Course Requirements
- During the first year of the joint program, students will be required to attend the J.D. program full-time.
- Students who begin in the J.D. program will be able to take courses in the M.H.A. program beginning the fall of their 2L year
- Students must complete all J.D. requirements as defined by their program.
- Students may take summer law courses which may reduce the length of the joint degree program by up to a semester.
- Students may not take more than 16 credits/semester across both programs (17 credits/semester may be taken if they have a 3.0 law school G.P.A. or receive permission from the Vice Dean, Academic Affairs, School of Law.)
Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.) Course Requirements
- The Program Director with the student will determine the course curriculum allowing for 8 credits to come from the J.D. program.
- All 14 credits in the Graduate Business Certificate curriculum must be completed in order to receive the certificate.
Law School Specific Course Requirements
- Required:
- Health Rights Clinic
- Health Law
- Electives (At least 4 credits from the following list):
- Hospitals, Health Care Services and Access: An Interdisciplinary Inquiry
- Business Associations
- Nonprofit Organizations and Social Enterprises
- Start-up Law and Entrepreneurship
- Introduction to the Deal
- Corporate Compliance and Social Responsibility
- Insurance Law
- Note: Since all J.D. students are permitted to take up to 6 credits of non-law graduate-level courses, the Law School will apply 6 credits of the M.H.A. courses to the J.D. for conferral of the J.D. degree.
Admissions
To be admitted to this program, students must apply separately to both programs. Typically, students will begin the Law School and then start the masters program in their second year of Law School. However, it is possible for students in the M.H.A. program to apply to the Law School, be accepted and begin the joint degree program/first year of the J.D. the following year. (M.H.A. student need to save at least 6 credits to be completed after they begin their J.D. program.)
Applications to the M.H.A. program may be submitted between mid-August and April 1st for a fall start. The GRE or GMAT will not be required; the student’s LSAT score will be used instead. Once a student applies, the Business School will request the student’s law school application from the Law School.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition for J.D. courses will be paid to the Law School. Tuition for the M.H.A. program courses will be paid to the Miami Herbert Business School. Law School scholarships may only be used toward tuition for Law School courses.
For More Information
J.D. Program
Terrell E. West II
Associate Registrar
Office of the Law Registrar
Phone: 305-284-2685
Email: twest@law.miami.edu
M.H.A. Program
Danielle Christine Ellerbe
Asst. Professor Prof. Practice
Center for Health Management and Policy
Email: dce28@miami.edu
