Dual Degree Programs

Students can earn the J.D. degree and a Masters or Ph.D in an academic field at UNM. Students must satisfy the admissions and academic requirements of both the law school and the graduate school. The law school accepts up to six hours of appropriate graduate courses toward its degree requirements, and the graduate department accepts six hours of law courses toward its degree requirements. Credits from another UNM department can be earned after a student matriculates in the law school and the course(s) must be approved in advance of enrollment.

M.B.A. Program

Students in the J.D.-M.B.A. program typically follow this four-year plan: In the first year, the student enrolls in the Anderson Graduate School of Management and completes a year in that program. In the second year, the student enrolls in the School of Law and takes first-year law courses. In the third and fourth years, the student takes selected law and business electives. Depending on the student's degree plan, the Anderson Graduate School of Management accepts six or nine approved credit hours of law courses. In return, the School of Law accepts six credit hours of approved business courses.

M.P.A. Program

In this program a student can earn degrees in law and public administration in three to four years. In the first year, the student enrolls in the School of Public Administration and completes a year in that program. In the second year, the student enrolls in the School of Law and takes first-year law courses. In the third and fourth years, the student takes selected law and public administration electives. The student must gain the consent of both the Law School Dean and the Public Administration Director in choosing courses for any semester. The law school accepts six hours of public administration credits toward its degree requirements, and the graduate school accepts six hours of law credit toward the M.P.A. degree requirements.

M.A. in Accounting

The School of Law and the Anderson Graduate School of Management offer a dual program leading to the degrees of Juris Doctor and Master of Accounting. Under this program, the School of Law will accept 6 hours of graduate credit from the Master of Accounting Degree toward the J.D. degree and the Anderson Schools of Management will accept 6 hours of graduate credit from the School of Law toward the M.ACCT. degree, coursework subject to pre-approval from the faculty advisor. Students pursuing this program must satisfy the admission and other academic requirements of both schools. Anderson School of Management will accept the LSAT in lieu of the GMAT if the student has already been accepted into the law school and has earned a “B” or better in the two prerequisites for admission into the M.ACCT, MGMT 502 and 503 or equivalent. Those planning to enter the dual program should consult with the admission officers of both schools as early as possible. Students who are interested in obtaining a J.D./M.ACCT dual degree must meet with their graduate program advisor to discuss course selection.

M.A. in Latin American Studies

The Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in Latin American Studies (JD/M.A.L.A.S.) dual degree is jointly administered by the dean of the School of Law and the Associate Director for Academic Programs of the Latin American & Iberian Institute.

The purpose of this program is to prepare legal professionals for work in Latin America or with Hispanic peoples in the Americas. By combining legal training with Latin American language and area studies, the program enables students to develop professional skills directly applicable to Latin American nations and populations. Students in the program are able to select from a range of Latin American subfields those most salient to their career objectives, while at the same time pursuing law studies.

The program requires 80 hours of law course work, with at least nine in international law. The Latin American Studies component of the dual degree consists of 27 hours of course work, three of which are attained through a bridge seminar designed to integrate the two areas of study.

Students must attain or demonstrate a proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese during their course of study. Separate applications for admission should be made simultaneously to each program. The program normally takes four years to complete, versus five years for degrees separately.