Here's what you'll study
The highly respected Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs of Syracuse University offers the oldest academic training program of its kind in the United States. Since its establishment in 1924, the Maxwell School and its distinguished faculty have greatly influenced the growth and development of public administration. More than 6,000 Maxwell School alumni worldwide work in all levels of government, nonprofit agencies, private firms, and colleges and universities.
The Maxwell School's M.P.A. program takes a three-pronged interdisciplinary approach to help students understand the political, economic, and social context of public administration; achieve competency in organization design along with management and administrative techniques; and gain experience in applying qualitative and quantitative analysis to public policy issues.
For a joint degree in International Relations, course concentrations may include Global Markets, Development, Foreign Policy, International Law, Intercultural Communication and Negotiation among others.
You may obtain the J.D. and M.P.A. or the J.D. and M.A. in three years instead of the four necessary to earn both degrees independently.
Here's what you need to know
The College of Law is the primary school for students enrolled in a joint degree program at Syracuse University. For a joint degree in Public Administration, you will earn 72 law credits plus 25 approved MPA credits. For International Relations, the credits required are 72 law credits plus 28 approved Maxwell School credits. Most joint degree programs may be completed in three years (six semesters) and, potentially, one summer. In all cases, both programs must be completed within four years.
Students seeking dual degrees must apply to both programs separately, and admission to the College of Law does not guarantee admission to other graduate programs. Students are required to complete their first year of study at the College of Law and candidates for joint degree programs must obtain advance approval from the College of Law. The specific number of credits required for non-law graduate programs may vary depending on each student's previous academic background in the subject area.
For more information contact:
Law AdmissionsCollege of Law |
JD/MA International RelationsNell Bartkowiak JD/MPAMs. Christine Omolino
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Specific questions & inquiries
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Here's where you'll spend a lot of your time
There are significant advantages to tackling your law degree in an environment that's integrated with a major university. Here are some of the places you'll be spending your time as you pursue your studies. In your spare time? Well, there's plenty of excitement to find here as well.
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Syracuse University College of Law: A rich tradition in law and interdisciplinary legal studies. |
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Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse: A national leader in public affairs, political science and international relations. |
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 If you'd like more information please contact an Admissions Specialist at admissions@law.syr.edu
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Here's someone you might meet
Carolyn Abdenour, 3L
San Leandro, CA
"I chose Syracuse University College of Law because it matched my professional and personal interests. Syracuse University has top joint degree programs, and I hope to pursue a joint JD and masters in public administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Additionally, Syracuse Law has strong connections with Washington DC that I can capitalize on for networking opportunities and career options. Lastly, SUCOL is on the main campus of Syracuse University. As a part of the main campus, I can participate in the campus community and show my school spirit at basketball and football games."
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Meet Joseph G. Nosse L'08, a J.D./M.P.A. joint degree alumnus
Current Professional Title: Command Judge Advocate
Current Organization/Firm/Company: 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, JAG Corps, U.S. Army
Current City, State, Country: Osan Air Force Base, Songtan, Republic of Korea
"The professional world is constantly evolving and becoming more dynamic and thus it demands more from us as young professionals as we venture out to start our careers. The J.D./M.P.A. joint degree program at Syracuse not only gave me a premier educational experience, but it gave me that needed competitive edge by cross pollinating my legal education with the best Public Administration program in the country. No other law school can offer that. The professors at the College of Law and the Maxwell School exceeded my expectations with their breadth of experiences and command of their particular niche of academia. Meanwhile, the two academic experiences complemented each other by developing two analytical skill sets that in turn increased my overall understanding of the interaction between law and policy.
The program has opened the doors for professional advancement in any field of public service and prepared me to excel both in the military and the civilian sectors. Beyond the academics, the friendships and bonds I developed with classmates will prove to be the most beneficial as we are now colleagues in a multitude of career fields spread across the world. I can reach out to that network and tap into the expertise of my colleagues. The interdisciplinary education makes that possible."
Here's what our students are saying
"Syracuse Law has a warm and welcoming community that promotes an engaged and challenging learning environment. Combined with the opportunities to pursue a joint degree in a wide variety of areas and the clinical and externship experiences available, Syracuse Law was the perfect fit for me."
Cady Sinnwell Gerlach, 3L
Greeley, CO