Public Policy (MS) / Juris Doctor (JD)

Major: Public Policy and Law
Degree Awarded: Master of Science (MS) and Juris Doctor (JD)
Calendar Type: Semester
Minimum Required Credits: 115.0 (79 JD + 36 MS)
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 22.0101
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 

About the Program

Amid demographic, economic, political and environmental change, leaders in either the public or private sector require insight and analysis grounded in policy, democratic process and the law. The overlapping roles of public agencies and private organizations create a wide range of issues that raise legal challenges and opportunities.

Our JD-Master of Science in Public Policy Program gives students a strong foundation in research, analysis, economics and law in tandem with hands-on learning and networking opportunities with non-profit organizations and government agencies throughout the Delaware Valley.

Students take courses at the law school and Drexel's College of Arts & Sciences (Center for Public Policy), earning degrees from both. In addition to acquiring basic skills in the two disciplines, students gain a unique perspective on legal research and its application in legal practice.

Our faculty features widely recognized scholars whose expertise covers a range of topics in public policy. Course offerings include Essentials of Economics, Sustainability and Public Policy, Case Study Research, Constitutional Law, Theory and Practice of Policy Analysis and a Lawyering Practice Seminar.

Additional Information

For more information, please visit the JD-MS Public Policy web page.

Admission Requirements  

  • Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by one of the regional accrediting associations of the United States or, if foreign educated, a degree equivalent to a four year baccalaureate degree
  • Applicants must be registered for Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS)
  • Applicants must have taken the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT)
  • The candidate’s undergraduate grade point average and LSAT scores 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 be admitted to the joint degree after matriculating at the Law School, students must have at least a 2.5 law school GPA.

Degree Requirements 

Please note that the credits for the LAW courses are shown in semester credits and the remaining courses are shown in quarter credits. This program requires the completion of 45.0 quarter credits for the MS and 85.0 semester credits for the JD*.

Required Courses:
LAW 550STorts4.0
LAW 552SContracts4.0
LAW 554SCivil Procedure4.0
LAW 555SLegislation and Regulation3.0
LAW 556SProperty4.0
LAW 558SCriminal Law4.0
LAW 560SConstitutional Law4.0
LAW 565SLegal Methods I3.0
LAW 566SLegal Methods II3.0
LAW 830SProfessional Responsibility3.0
LAW 724SNonprofit Organizations3.0
Upper-Level Writing Law course2.0
Statutory Law course2.0
Approved Law Electives **36.0
Required Public Policy MS courses:
PLCY 503Theory and Practice of Policy Analysis3.0
PLCY 504Methods of Policy Analysis3.0
PLCY 506Institutional Dynamics of the Policy Process3.0
One of the following economics courses (taken before ECON 616):3.0
Essentials of Economics
Managerial Economics
ECON 616Public Finance and Cost Benefit Analysis3.0
INFO 680US Government Information3.0
Statistics Elective - choose 2:6.0
Data Analysis in Communication
Intro to Econometrics and Data Analysis
Econometrics
Business Statistics
Statistics for Business Analytics
Quantitative Methods & Reasoning for Urban Strategists
Case Study Courses9.0
Introduction to Case Study Research
Case Study Research II
Case Study Final Project
Approved Public Policy Elective Course3.0
Total Credits115.0
*

PLCY 503, PLCY 504, and PLCY 506 (9.0 quarter credits) are applied as 6.0 semester credits of LAW electives, reducing the credits that need to be taken in LAW to 79.0 semester credits. LAW 555S and LAW 724S (6.0 semester credits) are applied as 9.0 quarter credits of Public Policy electives, reducing the credits that need to be taken in the MS to 36.0 quarter credits.

**

Must include a Co-op or Clinic with co-requisite seminar

Upper-level writing (WUL) courses may also be used as electives once requirement is fulfilled
LAW 610SReproductive Rights & Justice2.0-3.0
LAW 611SSex, Gender, & the Law3.0
LAW 614SSupreme Court Seminar3.0
LAW 640SEducation Law2.0-3.0
LAW 647SThe Rights of Children2.0
LAW 673SCrime and Community2.0
LAW 741SEstate Planning2.0
LAW 790SToxic Torts2.0
LAW 793SMental Health Law **3.0
LAW 805SPublic Interest Law and Policy2.0
LAW 827SImmigration Litigation2.0
LAW 832SContract Theory Seminar2.0-3.0
LAW 836SLegal History2.0-3.0
LAW 838SFoundations of Legal Analysis2.0
LAW 840SLiterature and The Law Seminar2.0
LAW 842SLaw and Mind Sciences2.0
LAW 844SLaw and Social Movements3.0
LAW 848SCourts and Public Policy2.0-3.0
LAW 882SLitigation Drafting2.0
LAW 884SContract Drafting2.0
LAW 910SAppellate Advocacy2.0
LAW 920SDrexel Law Review ***1.0-6.0
LAW T880SSpecial Topics in LAW1.0-5.0
Statutory Courses (may also be used as electives once requirement is fulfilled):
LAW 620SAdministrative Law4.0
LAW 622SEmployment Discrimination3.0
LAW 623SElection Law3.0
LAW 624SEnvironmental Law3.0
LAW 642SSpecial Education Law2.0-3.0
LAW 674SHealth Care Fraud and Abuse2.0
LAW 675SFederal Criminal Law2.0-3.0
LAW 676SWhite Collar Crime2.0-3.0
LAW 700SBusiness Organizations3.0-4.0
LAW 701SFederal Income Tax4.0
LAW 702SEnterprise Tax4.0
LAW 706SSecured Transactions3.0
LAW 708SPayment Systems3.0
LAW 710SBankruptcy3.0-4.0
LAW 711SSales3.0
LAW 714SSecurities Regulation3.0
LAW 740STrusts and Estates3.0
LAW 760SCopyright3.0
LAW 761SPatents3.0
LAW 764STrademarks & Unfair Competition3.0
LAW 792SFood and Drug Law3.0
LAW 796SInsurance Law2.0
LAW 820SImmigration Law3.0-4.0
LAW 821SEuropean Union Law2.0-3.0
LAW 826SRefugee and Asylum Law2.0
Professional Practice Courses (may also be used as electives once requirement is fulfilled):
LAW 924S
LAW 653S
Entrepreneurial Law Clinic
and Entrepreneurial Law Clinic Seminar
7.0
LAW 931S
LAW 654S
Law Co-op
and Lawyering Practice Seminar
8.0-9.0
LAW 933S
LAW 654S
Co-op Intensive
and Lawyering Practice Seminar
12.0
LAW 941S
LAW 942S
Criminal Litigation Clinic I
and Criminal Litigation Clinic II
12.0
LAW 943S
LAW 944S
Civil Litigation Clinic I
and Civil Litigation Clinic II
12.0
LAW 947S
LAW 948S
Federal Litigation and Appeals Clinic
and Federal Litigation and Appeals Clinic II
12.0
LAW 950S
LAW 951S
Community Lawyering Clinic I
and Community Lawyering Clinic II
12.0
Free Electives
*

If full-year paper

**

If paper option

***

If WUL option

May require permission to enroll

Sample Plan of Study

3 Year Plan of Study

First Year
FallCredits SpringCreditsSummerCredits
LAW 550S4.0 LAW 555S (Counts toward Public Policy elective)3.0Law Electives7.0
LAW 552S4.0 LAW 556S4.0 
LAW 554S4.0 LAW 558S4.0 
LAW 565S3.0 LAW 566S3.0 
 15  14 7
Second Year
FallCredits SpringCreditsSummerCredits
LAW 560S4.0 LAW 830S2.0-3.0LAW 931S*7.0
LAW 724S3.0 Law Electives14.0-13.0LAW 654S2.0
Law Electives9.0  Law Elective2.0
 16  16 11
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
PLCY 5033.0BUSN 5023.0ECON 6163.0 
PLCY 5103.0INFO 6803.0PLCY 5063.0 
Statistics Elective3.0PLCY 5043.0PLCY 5173.0 
Policy Elective3.0PLCY 5163.0  
 Statistics Elective3.0  
 12 15 9 
Total Credits 115

3.5 Year Plan of Study

First Year
FallCredits SpringCredits 
LAW 550S4.0 LAW 555S (Counts toward Public Policy elective)3.0 
LAW 552S4.0 LAW 556S4.0 
LAW 554S4.0 LAW 558S4.0 
LAW 565S3.0 LAW 566S3.0 
 15  14 
Second Year
FallCredits SpringCreditsSummerCredits
LAW 560S4.0 LAW 830S2.0-3.0LAW 931S*7.0
LAW 724S3.0 Law Electives13.0-12.0LAW 654S2.0
Law Electives7.0   
 14  15 9
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
PLCY 5033.0BUSN 5023.0ECON 6163.0 
PLCY 5103.0INFO 6803.0PLCY 5063.0 
Statistics Elective3.0PLCY 5043.0PLCY 5173.0 
Policy Elective3.0PLCY 5163.0  
 Statistics Elective3.0  
 12 15 9 
Fourth Year
FallCredits   
Law Electives12.0   
 12   
Total Credits 115
*

Recommended, but students can also take Summer classes and complete Experiential Requirement in another semester.