Requirements for the JD/MA/MS

The MA or MS degree that is pursued jointly with the JD degree in the Law School requires 30 units of paid registration in the Graduate School. Depending upon the department involved, from 18 to 30 of those units must be in graded coursework. If the required coursework is less than 30 units, students must register for enough ungraded research units to reach the required total of 30. Like all other Masters students, Joint JD/MA or MS students must maintain continuous registration within the Graduate School, and take a Masters exam (a written exam, submission/discussion of research papers, or a formal thesis, again depending upon the department involved).

Leave of Absence: If you take a Leave of Absence in the Law School that does not automatically place you on Leave of Absence in the Graduate School. To take a Leave of Absence in the Graduate School the following form http://www.gradschool.duke.edu/forms/loa.pdf must be submitted to 127 Allen Building prior to the first day of classes of the semester in which you would like the Leave to begin.

Master’s Committees: Master’s committees must have at least three members, all of whom should be members of the graduate faculty. The Director of Graduate Studies recommends the committee, submitting the appropriate appointment form, http://www.gradschool.duke.edu/forms/cmttee.pdf, to the Associate Dean for approval at least one week prior to the final examination.

The committee will conduct the examination and certify the student’s success or failure by signing the card provided by the Graduate School office. If more than one member of the committee casts a negative vote on the final examination, the student will fail. The committee may recommend additional work and/or a second examination. If it is a successful examination, the card indicates completion of all requirements for the degree.

Law Courses that count toward the MA/MS degree: Law courses cannot count toward the Law and MA/MS degrees. Any Law course that a student wishes to count toward the Masters Degree must be removed from the Law record and reentered on the Graduate School record. This can be done only if the Law School course is over and above the courses needed for completion of the Law degree, is regarded according to Graduate School grading system and with the formal permission of the Law School Registrar, the departmental DGS, and Graduate School. Any Law course to be moved to the Graduate record must be done prior to the end of the drop/add deadline each semester. Courses taken in the Law School prior to the semester of matriculation into the Graduate school cannot be moved or counted toward the MA/MS degree. Students intending to graduate are responsible for ensuring that any such Law courses have been properly switched to the Graduate School Record before the end of the Graduate School drop/add period in their final semester.

Courses below 200-Level for Graduate Degree Credit: With the approval of the DGS, graduate students may enroll in undergraduate courses to round out their programs of study. Students pursuing a master’s degree are limited to two undergraduate courses (6 credit units). Students must receive a grade of B- or better to have such courses counted as part of their earned graduate credit.

Required number of Graded course units by Department:

Biomedical Engineering 24 (non-thesis)
Classical Studies 21
Cultural Anthropology 24
East Asian Studies 24
Economics 24
English 18
Electrical Engineering 18 Graded with a Thesis
21 Graded with a Project
24 Graded without a Project of Thesis
Environment 24
History 24
Humanities 30
Literature 24
Mechanical Engineering 18 graded with a Project of Thesis
24 graded without a Project of Thesis
Philosophy 18
Political Science 24
Psychology 18
Public Policy 24
Religion 24
Romance Studies 24
Sociology 21

Note: There is no academic credit for CTN1 or courses that are audited.

Intention to Receive Degree Form: The Intention to Receive Degree Form informs the Graduate School that you are planning to graduate in a given semester. http://www.gradschool.duke.edu/intent/degreere.htm You will not receive a degree unless you file this form. There is no penalty for filing and then changing your plans. However, a form filed for one semester does not carry over to the next semester. The on-line form should be filed no later than January 25 for a May degree, July 1 for a September degree, and November 1 for a December degree.