New dual M.M.C./J.D. degree program announced

The School of Journalism and Mass Communications, in cooperation with the School of Law, is now offering a dual-degree program of study in journalism and mass communication and in law (M.M.C./J.D.). The new dual-degree program will allow students to complete both programs in approximately four years, compared to the five years it normally would take to complete both programs separately.

The dual M.M.C./J.D. degree program is designed to appeal primarily to two types of potential students.

The first is students who intend to be professionals in the mass media (e.g., news journalists, public relations/advertising professionals, Internet entrepreneurs) who will either deal with legal issues or simply wish to have a legal background. These mass media professionals might find employment as reporters specializing in covering legal issues and/or the courts, public relations practitioners specializing in litigation-related communications or integrated communications specialists working within media companies.

The second is students who intend to be practicing attorneys and who wish to specialize in media law-related matters, including intellectual property, telecommunications regulation and new media. These attorneys might find employment in communications-related companies (e.g., public relations/advertising agencies, news organizations, cable/Internet companies), state and federal regulatory agencies and/or private firms representing such entities. Alternatively, these attorneys might be engaged in a practice that represents individuals who may have issues with, or claims against, such entities.

An additional target audience is students who intend to pursue a career in teaching and research within either a school of law or a school of journalism and mass communications.

Admissions: Applicants must be admitted to the School of Law and the Master of Mass Communication degree program in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications separately in order to participate in the dual degree program. Applications should be submitted to each school separately under the requirements and procedures of each school, including the submission of both GRE and LSAT scores. Upon admission to both schools, applicants must complete a dual-degree form obtained from the office of admissions of both the law school and the journalism school.

Requirements: Neither program of study will alter requirements for students pursuing the dual degree. By combining electives, students can satisfy requirements of both the School of Law and the School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Students enrolled in the dual-degree program can earn up to nine hours of graduate credit that may be applicable to both programs. Students will complete the first two years of study in the School of Law. The remaining two years will be divided between the School of Law and the School of Journalism and Mass Communications.