Maine Law’s J.D./M.P.H dual degree program with the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School of Public Service is an accelerated program that allows students to obtain a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) in four years rather than five. Public health is an important, ever-changing and growing area of expertise. Students will gain interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to prepare them for the growing field of regulatory compliance and public health policy.
Normally, the J.D. program takes three years to complete (90 credit hours) and the M.P.H. program takes two years to complete (45 credit hours). Students will begin by taking the required first year law curriculum. In the remaining years, students will take a combined course of study with upper-level law courses, public health courses, a health-related externship, and a health-focused writing project. Some summer classes will be necessary to complete the program in four years. This dual degree program involves each school accepting some credits from the other for a total of 111 credits (rather than 135 if a student took both programs separately). Students will meet the requirements for each degree through the cross-counting of pre-approved courses. Faculty at both schools work together to create an individualized program for each student.