What is a JD/MPH Dual Degree?

The Juris Doctor (JD) and Master of Public Health (MPH) dual degree offered by Drexel’s Kline School of Law and Dornsife School of Public Health is a full-time graduate program that allows students to pursue JD and MPH degrees simultaneously.

The combination of these degrees enables students to develop special expertise in legal and policy aspects of public health. It opens doors to a wide variety of opportunities beyond those available with either degree alone.

Throughout the joint program students gain a deep understanding of the interplay between law, health, and public policy from different disciplinary perspectives, expanding the range of possible career paths and increasing marketability in fields such as health law, health care consulting, patient advocacy, and government regulation.

Unique benefits of the JD/MPH program at Drexel include:

• Read-world experience: During a law co-op, students work in a public health law setting, such as a hospital, law firm, public interest organization, or government agency.
• Renowned faculty: Faculty at both schools include nationally recognized experts in public health and health law.
• Learning across disciplines: Students apply concepts learned in coursework in the two fields to independent projects at their intersection.

JD/MPH Program Overview

Students finish both degrees in three or three-and-a-half years depending on the pace of coursework they choose. Both degrees are awarded simultaneously.

• Year 1: Students take their first year of study at the Law School where they complete the standard first-year curriculum.
• Years 2 and 3: Students take full-time public health courses during either their second or third year (at their option) and complete the remaining requirements and electives.

Visit the Curriculum tab to learn more about the program in-depth.

To learn more about the JD and MPH Dual Degree program, request more information to speak with an academic advisor today.

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Dual JD/MPH Admissions Requirements

Prospective students may apply to the JD/MPH program either before they begin their studies or during their first year of law school at the Kline School of Law. To be considered for the JD/MPH Dual Degree Program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• A baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by one of the regional accrediting associations in the United States or, if foreign educated, a degree equivalent to a four-year baccalaureate degree
• Superior undergraduate grade point average
• LSAT or GRE score

The candidate’s undergraduate grade point average and LSAT or GRE score will be strong factors in determining admission to the law school. In addition, the Admissions Committee will consider a student’s extracurricular activities, work experience, and volunteer service.

To learn more about the JD program’s admission requirements, please visit the Kline School of Law's website:

Review Admissions Requirements

Application Requirements for the JD and MPH Program

In order for your application to be reviewed, applicants must submit the following documents:

• Completed Application. As part of Drexel University's Green Initiative, the Kline School of Law features a completely paperless application process through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).
• LSDAS registration. All applicants, including those educated abroad, are required to register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS). The LSDAS will provide Kline with a report containing information important in the admission process. Your LSDAS report will include:

• An undergraduate academic summary
• An undergraduate, graduate and law/professional school transcripts
• LSAT or GRE scores
• Letters of recommendation (at least two) processed by LSAC

• Resume. Describe your employment history, including part-time and summer employment. Attach the resume to your application
• English proficiency test score (TOEFL or IELTS), if applicable
• Personal statement: In an essay, discuss your motivation for attending law school and why you believe we will help you achieve your goals. Attach the personal statement to your application.

To learn more about the JD program’s application requirements, please visit the Kline School of Law's website:

Review Admissions Instructions

JD/MPH Application Process

Applicants to the JD/MPH program must first be admitted to the Thomas R. Kline School of Law prior to consideration for the dual degree program.

A 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA at the Law School is required to begin the MPH part of the program.

To apply to the Dornsife School of Public Health for the MPH part of the program, complete the application release form below to transfer application materials between schools. Dornsife will receive law admissions materials for review, so there is no need to resubmit them.

Application release form (PDF)

JD/MPH Dual Degree Program Curriculum

The JD/MPH Dual Degree program offers a rigorous curriculum focused on the interplay between law, public policy, and public health.

Areas of study include:

• Foundations of health law and public health law
• Health system structure, both in the United States and internationally
• Public health foundations and systems
• Public health research methods

Some of the core courses include:

• LAW 780S Health Care Quality Regulation – 3 credits
• LAW 781S Health Care Business Regulation – 3 credits
• LAW 830S Professional Responsibility – 2-3 credits
• PBHL 510 Public Health Foundations and Systems I – 4 credits
• PBHL 511 Public Health Foundations and Systems II – 4 credits
• HMP 505 Qualitative Data and Mixed Methods Analysis – 3 credits

Students learn from faculty at the Kline School of Law who specialize in health system structure, health care finance, patient rights, bioethics and patient safety. They learn from faculty at the Dornsife School of Public Health who specialize in public health systems, health policy, and health disparities. Program Director Robert Field, JD, PhD, MPH, holds appointments at both schools.

JD-MPH Dual Degree Program Structure

By enrolling in the joint program, students are able to cross-count credits to reduce the number that would be required to complete each degree separately. Students complete a minimum of 79 Law credits (rather than 85) and a minimum of 47 Public Health credits (rather than 56). In addition to taking all required courses in both programs, they complete 50 hours of pro bono work required for the JD. They also complete a co-op in a public health law setting as part of their experiential requirement.

Students concentrate their public health studies in the Department of Health Management and Policy. They may choose to complete the Health Law concentration at the Law School, but it is not required.

To learn more about the JD/MPH Dual Degree program curriculum, course structure, and to see a sample plan of study, please follow the links below.

Review Degree Requirements and Courses

Sample Plan of Study

What Can You Do With a MPH/JD Degree?

A joint JD/MPH degree increases your marketability to law firms, hospital networks, insurance companies, health care systems, and government agencies that regulate the delivery of health care.

Issues in health care affect consumers, providers and regulators in different way. Attorneys who understand health law as well as the concerns of these diverse stakeholders are able provide the best guidance and direction to employers and clients who operate in this environment.

A JD/MPH dual degree prepares individuals for a variety of career opportunities, including:

• Health Lawyer
• Policy Director
• Environmental Attorney
• Regulatory Attorney

Graduates are well positioned for a successful JD/MPH career working on the health policy issues that face the U.S. today, and that will continue to challenge patients, communities, organizations, and governments for the foreseeable future.

JD/MPH Salary Scale

Although salaries can vary by location and industry, the median annual wage for lawyers was $145,760 in May 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Gain a deep understanding of the relationship between law, health and policy from different angles with a JD/MPH degree. Request more information today.

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