Dual Degree Programs: Individually Created Dual Degree

The following is a model by which law students can fashion for themselves academic programs with other departments at the University of Richmond or with other academic institutions whereby the J.D. degree and a graduate or professional degree from the other institution can be obtained in less time than it would take to complete both degree programs separately.

The following points will be made to the student and to the appropriate academic officer at the other institution.

  1. The student must be separately admitted to each program.
  2. During the first year of law school, no work can be taken in the other program. The appropriate academic officer of the other institution will determine whether or not the same rule would apply during the first year or semester of the other degree program.
  3. During the remaining semesters, the student will either take course work in both programs or will alternate semesters between programs. The former is the preferred course.
  4. The law school and the other program will accept in partial satisfaction of their respective degree requirements the equivalent of one semester's work (12 credit hours) from the other school.
  5. The student bears the responsibility of obtaining the approval of the appropriate academic officers or committees of the law school and the other institution regarding the acceptability of the dual program and the courses of the other institution for which credit will be accepted. At the law school, a faculty committee will make these determinations.
  6. The degrees can be awarded separately. The school whose degree requirements, including the 12 credits accepted from the other school, are first completed can award its degree in the normal course. The second school will continue to consider the student to be enrolled in the dual degree program and will accept the 12 credits from the other school, if its degree requirements, including the acceptance of credits from the other school, are completed within 12 months from the date the first degree is awarded.
  7. The student will be counseled regarding the advantages and disadvantages of the program. Specifically the sense of isolation students may experience at each school, because they are out of phase with their classmates at each school, and the care they must take to preserve their financial aid position at each school will be explained.