Due to the demand for researchers and policymakers with interdisciplinary training in both law and environmental science, we offer a joint degree program that enables students to earn a JD from the School of Law and a PhD in Environmental Science and Policy (ECR) from the Leonard and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy and Rosenstiel School for Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science
Who Should Consider this Joint Program?
This program enables students with strong interests in both environmental policy and law to prepare for careers in either the private or public sector in a shorter amount of time than if pursuing both degrees separately.
As an intensive program, it provides high-level knowledge and research experience and is especially suited to those seeking to:
- Implement and impact environmental policy and regulation at the state or national levels
- Engage in cutting-edge research related to environmental policy in an academic setting
- Serve as environmental legal consultants or litigators
- Work with international agencies, governments, or organizations
- Gain expertise in environmental science for those with the desire to go into environmental law
- Understand legal fundamentals in order to work on marine conservation and coastal conservation issues, and need to understand some legal fundamentals in order to formulate policy recommendations for these regimes.
Snapshot: Timing, Credits Saved, Scholarship
Begin Taking Graduate Courses
Depends which program begins first
Shortest Completion Time
12 semesters
JD Credits Required
79
Graduate PGM Credits Required
48
Number of Credits Saved
21 (9 JD, 12 PhD)
Masters Scholarships
PhD Fellowship and
$25,000 law school tuition for 2 years
Schedule & Credits
The joint program enables students to obtain both a JD and a PhD in 6 years. Students fulfill all requirements of the current JD and ECR PhD programs, including completing and defending a doctoral dissertation. One full year of the six will be spent taking courses in the School of Law, and the additional five years are spent taking both Law and ECS courses. Click here to see schedule and credit specifics about entering the program through the School of Law and for information about entering through the PhD program.
Scholarships and Tuition
Students will receive 4 years worth of stipends and tuition waivers from the ECR program for their PhD work, with the obligation to serve as a Teaching Assistant for 1 year out of the 4. The Law School will provide a $25,000 tuition scholarship for the first year in Law School, and then, assuming the student is in the top half of his/her class, a comparable scholarship ($25,000) pro-rated for subsequent years depending on the number of law school credits by semester.
Application Process
Students wishing to pursue the JD/PhD program must be admitted to both the JD and ECR PhD programs separately. JD students wishing to pursue the JD/PhD program must apply to the ECR PhD program for admission no later than Fall semester of their second year of law school. Enrolled law students who are subsequently accepted into the joint program must notify the law school registrar before taking their first ECR credits.
In order to be accepted to the Law School, students must take the LSAT and complete the online Law School application. In order to be accepted to the PhD program, students must take the GRE and complete the ECR PhD application.
Acceptance by one program does not in any way indicate or guarantee acceptance by the other degree program.
For More Information
Prospective Students (PhD Program)
Andee Holzman
Associate Director
Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy
Email:
Dr. Jennifer Jaquet
Abess/EVR Graduate Program Director
Email:
Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy
Phone: 305-284-8259
Web:
Prospective Law Students (JD Program)
Office of Admissions
Email:
Phone: 305-284-6746
Current Miami Law Students (JD Program)
Jessica Owley
Environmental Law Program Director
Email:
