SDSU, USD launch dual JD/MPA program

Given the increased complexity of governance, globalization, and technological advancements impacting governments and organizations, the need for experts trained in public administration and law are in high demand, and a new partnership is focused on education and career opportunities for San Diego professionals.

To improve related degree and career opportunities for students, San Diego State University and the University of San Diego have partnered to launch a new dual degree program that will lead to a Juris Doctor of Law and a Master of Public Administration. Qualifying students will enjoy the benefits of both campuses while graduating with both advanced degrees in a 4-year period – in less time than if pursuing the degrees separately. 

“We are excited to work in partnership with USD to offer this program, which integrates coursework from both disciplines to foster a holistic understanding of the intersections between law and public administration,” said Roddrick Colvin, director and professor of public administration in the School of Public Affairs. 

This new dual degree program, which begins in Fall 2025, offers qualified students the chance to earn both degrees at an accelerated pace toward careers that combine elements of law and policy. The dual degree can lead to careers as a policy analyst, compliance officer, urban planner, government attorney, government affairs director and other positions with nonprofits or government agencies at the local, state or federal levels.  

“This exciting collaboration between USD and SDSU offers students both deep insights into the law and the legal system and substantial expertise in formulating and implementing public policy,” said Robert A. Schapiro, dean of the USD School of Law and C. Hugh Friedman Professor of Law. “The program prepares innovative leaders to confront society’s most pressing challenges, including through public service in the governmental or nonprofit sectors.”

Dual degree requirements and timeline

The new dual degree program adds to the existing joint and independent degrees SDSU offers at the graduate level across disciplines and with other institutions. It also reflects the university’s strategic plan-driven commitment to offer more competitive opportunities and support for graduate-level students and professionals, such as new independent doctorates, given the growing and highly complex workforce demands in the region and across the nation. 

The dual degree can be completed in four years on a full-time basis – that’s eight semesters instead of 10 if the degrees were pursued separately. 

“Today, government agencies and nonprofits are regularly confronted with multifaceted challenges, including technological, and local and global crises,” said Kurt Lindemann, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts. 

“We need professionals who are highly skilled and trained in understanding how law, public administration, management and public policy intersect. This will better help policymakers and practitioners navigate this complexity by identifying synergies and potential conflicts among these domains,” Lindemann said.

Students must complete a total of 36 credits at SDSU and 88 credits at USD and, all told, will be studying urban affairs, public financial management, public policy and also constitutional, civil, contracts and criminal law, among other topics. 

"If your goal in coming to law school is to solve the world’s biggest challenges, whether from within the private or public sectors, you have to know how to work effectively with the government,” said Emily Nagisa Keehn, assistant dean for Law Student Affairs at USD. “The JD/MPA program prepares attorneys who understand public governance, and propels them to be strategic problem-solvers, policymakers, and community leaders who are driving forward meaningful change." 

Unique degree, expansive benefits 

Interested students already enrolled in SDSU’s School of Public Affairs should apply for the JD program at USD. During their second year of study, SDSU students would then complete coursework at USD. After completing their first year at USD, qualifying students will spend their second year at SDSU, then return to USD for their final two years and either a capstone or thesis at SDSU. Upon completion of the JD, students will then be able to sit for the bar exam.

Whether joint or dual, JD/MPA programs tend to be highly competitive and difficult to access in the United States. Such programs exist at and between universities such as Yale, Harvard, New York University, Duke University, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon University and – with the University of California system – UC Berkeley and UCLA.  No such degree program exists within the California State University system, of which SDSU is a part. 

For this SDSU/USD partnership, students will pay tuition and fees at the university in which they are enrolled and should be prepared to shift location of class attendance based on their year of study. 

Throughout the program, students will have the benefit of events, programs, activities, and facilities at both SDSU and USD. They also will be able to tap into a global alumni network of the two universities, connecting with a larger group of potential mentors and employers. 

"The launch of this dual degree program between San Diego State University and the University of San Diego is a groundbreaking step towards providing students with comprehensive education and career opportunities,” said Tracy Love, dean of the SDSU College of Graduate Studies. “By integrating the Juris Doctor of Law and Master of Public Administration, we are equipping our graduates with a unique skill set that combines legal expertise with public sector leadership, all within an accelerated time frame. This initiative not only enhances academic offerings but also prepares students to meet the complex demands of modern governance and legal practice."