Jerome Greene Hall as seen from SIPA.

Dual and Joint Degrees

Enrich your education with interdisciplinary study, either within Columbia University or with our partner institutions, and open the door to unique professional opportunities.

Columbia University’s outstanding graduate and professional schools provide Columbia Law students with the chance to participate in the life of a great research university. Through our dual degree programs at the university and joint degree programs with outstanding partner institutions, 1L and 2L students with interdisciplinary interests can further their intellectual exploration and career objectives by pursuing two degrees simultaneously. 

Our options include:

  • Ten (10) dual degree programs with other graduate programs at Columbia University.
  • One (1) joint degree program with the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. 
  • Design your own dual or joint degree program (contingent on approval from both schools).
    • If you are looking for a dual/joint degree program that is not listed, you can submit a petition for the Law School to accept one term of full-time residency and up to twelve (12) academic credits for coursework completed toward a graduate degree program at another graduate or professional school, provided the other school reciprocates.

This accelerated pathway saves time and money by allowing you to spend fewer semesters in residence at each school.

Interested in broadening your horizons on a global scale? Explore our international dual degree programs and other select study abroad programs.

Dual degree programs at Columbia University:

Columbia Law School recognizes ten (10) dual degree programs through graduate schools at Columbia and one (1) joint degree program with Princeton. Click on the links below to learn more about each program.

The J.D./MBA program at Columbia can be completed in three or four years. You can learn more about each program by clicking the links below:

  • Three-Year J.D./MBA program, click here.
  • Four-Year J.D./MBA program, click here.

If you have questions about the J.D./MBA programs specifically, please reach out to Timur Pakay, Director, Reuben Mark Initiative and J.D./MBA Programs.

J.D./M.S. Dual Degree Program

Columbia Law School and the Columbia Journalism School offer a dual degree program that enables students to earn a J.D. and M.S. over seven semesters. Students spend five semesters in residence at the Law School and two semesters in residence at the Journalism School.

Admissions

Prospective students must separately apply and be admitted to both the Law School and the Journalism School. Applicants may either apply simultaneously to both schools or apply initially only to the Law School and apply to the Journalism School during their first or second year of study at the Law School.  

For information regarding the admissions process at each school, please contact the Columbia Law School Office of Admissions and the Journalism School Office of Admissions directly.

Degree Requirements

  • Credit Requirements:
    • 71  Law School credits; 37 Journalism School credits 
  • Minimum Residency Requirements:
    • 5 semesters at the Law School; 2 semesters at the Journalism School 
  • Academic Requirements:
    • Students in the J.D./M.S. program must satisfy all academic requirements for the J.D. degree, including: (1) all first-year Foundation Courses; (2) a course in Professional Responsibility; (3) the Major Writing credit; (4) the Minor Writing credit; (5) a minimum of 40 hours of Pro Bono service; (6) a course in Legislation and Regulation; and (7) six points of Experiential Coursework credit. The primary distinction is that, for students in the dual degree program, the Law School will accept one term of full-time residency and up to 12 academic credits toward the J.D. degree for work completed at the Journalism School.  For more information on the J.D. requirements, please visit the J.D. Rules Page.
    • Students in the J.D./M.S. program follow the same course of study as single-degree full-time M.S. students and must satisfy all of the Journalism School’s requirements for graduation. For information about the Journalism School’s academic requirements, please click here.

Program Structure 

Students in the J.D./M.S. dual degree program earn both degrees over seven semesters, five of which are spent at the Law School and two of which are spent at the Journalism School.  Students must spend the first full year of the program, as well as the final semester of the program, at the Law School, and one full academic year (a consecutive Fall and Spring semester) at the Journalism School. However, they enjoy flexibility as to whether to reside at the Journalism School during the second or third year of the program. Students should work closely with Registration Services at the Law School and the Office of Student Affairs at the Journalism School to ensure proper registration.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Students in the J.D./M.S. dual degree program will be charged tuition according to the rates effective at the school in which they are in residence each term.  For more information regarding tuition and financial aid, prospective students should contact the Law School Financial Aid Office and the Journalism School Office of Admission and Financial Aid.

Contact Information

Columbia Law School
Columbia Journalism School 
  • Admissions & Financial Aid: Christine Souders, Associate Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, 212-854-8130; cs2534@columbia.edu 
  • Academic Advising and Program Information: Chanel Roche, Assistant Director of Student Life and Dual Degree Liaison, 212-854-9756, cr2586@columbia.edu 

J.D./M.S. in Urban Planning Dual Degree Program

Columbia Law School and the Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation (“GSAPP”) offer a dual degree program that enables students to earn a J.D. and M.S. in Urban Planning over eight semesters.  Students spend six semesters in residence at the Law School and two semesters in residence at GSAPP.

Admissions

Prospective students must separately apply and be admitted to both the Law School and GSAPP. Applicants may either apply simultaneously to both schools or apply initially only to one school and then apply to the other school during their first year of study.

For information regarding the admissions process at each school, please contact the Columbia Law School's Office of Admissions and GSAPP’s Office of Admission and Financial Aid directly.


Degree Requirements

  • Credit Requirements: 
    • 71  Law School credits; 36 GSAPP credits 
  • Minimum Residency Requirements:  
    • 6 semesters at the Law School; 2 semesters at GSAPP 
  • Academic Requirements:  
    • Students in the J.D./M.S. program must satisfy all academic requirements for the J.D. degree, including(1) all first-year Foundation Courses; (2) a course in Professional Responsibility; (3) the Major Writing credit; (4) the Minor Writing credit; (5) a minimum of 40 hours of Pro Bono service; (6) a course in Legislation and Regulation; and (7) six points of Experiential Coursework credit.  For more information on the J.D. requirements, please visit the J.D. Rules Page.
    • For information about GSAPP’s academic requirements for dual degree students, please click here.

Program Structure

Students in the J.D./M.S. dual degree program earn both degrees in four years, spending six terms at the Law School and two consecutive terms at GSAPP.  Students must spend their final year of the program at the Law School (during which time they must cross-register for GSAPP’s Thesis I & II courses, in addition to their law electives), but otherwise enjoy flexibility as to the sequencing of their enrollment.  Students should work closely with Registration Services at the Law School and GSAPP’s Office of Student Affairs to ensure proper registration.  

Tuition and Financial Aid

Students in the J.D./M.S. dual degree program will be charged tuition according to the rates effective at the school in which they are in residence each term. For more information regarding tuition and financial aid, prospective students should contact the Law School Financial Aid Office and the GSAPP Office of Admission and Financial Aid.

Contact Information

Columbia Law School
Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation  

J.D./Ph.D. Dual Degree Program (selected programs)

Columbia Law School and the Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (“GSAS”) offer a combined program of study that enables students to earn a J.D. degree and the sequential M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees in less time than would be required if each program were pursued separately.  For more information about the J.D./Ph.D. program and the various GSAS departments that have elected to participate in the program, please visit the GSAS website.

Admissions

Prospective students must make separate applications and gain admission to both the Law School and a participating Ph.D. program in GSAS. There is no J.D./M.A. or J.D./M.S. dual degree program. 

Applicants may either apply simultaneously to both schools or apply initially only to one school and then apply to the other school during their first year of study at the Law School or GSAS. Students are not eligible to apply to the J.D./Ph.D. program after their first year at GSAS. If a student applies and is accepted to the Law School during their first year at GSAS, they must start at the Law School the following year to remain eligible for this dual degree. If they request and receive a deferral from the Law School, they will no longer be eligible for this dual degree program.

For information regarding the admissions process at each school, please visit the Columbia Law School Office of Admissions and the GSAS Office of Admissions webpages.

Degree Requirements

  • Minimum Residency Requirements:
    • 5 semesters at the Law School; 4 semesters of coursework at GSAS (plus the writing and defense of a dissertation).  
      • NB: Pursuant to ABA guidelines, students must complete the J.D. degree within 84 months of commencing law school in order to be eligible to sit for the bar examination.  Certain states impose more stringent requirements (e.g., New York requires students to complete their J.D. within 60 months of starting law school).
  • Academic Requirements:  
    • Students in the J.D./Ph.D. program must earn at least 71  Law School credits.  They must also satisfy all academic requirements for the J.D. degree, including: (1) all first-year Foundation Courses; (2) a course in Professional Responsibility; (3) the Major Writing credit; (4) the Minor Writing credit; (5) a minimum of 40 hours of Pro Bono service; (6) a course in Legislation and Regulation; and (7) six points of Experiential Coursework credit.  The primary distinction is that, for students in the dual degree program, the Law School will accept one term of full-time residency and up to 12 academic credits toward the J.D. degree for work completed at GSAS.  For more information on the J.D. requirements, please visit the J.D. Rules Page.
    • Students should visit the GSAS website and consult with their director of graduate studies regarding the specific requirements for their doctoral program.

Program Structure

The J.D./Ph.D. program generally consists of eleven semesters of coursework (5 at the Law School, 6 at GSAS), followed by the research, writing, and defense of a dissertation.  

The following reflects a common plan of study:  

  • The student spends the first two semesters of the program at the Law School, completing the J.D. Foundation Courses, and the second two semesters at GSAS, completing the M.A. requirements in accordance with departmental guidelines.  
  • Upon receiving the M.A. degree, the student returns to the Law School for three semesters to complete the J.D. requirements.  (Students in the program are granted advanced standing at the Law School for the conferred M.A. degree, reducing the time to complete the J.D. by one semester.)  
  • Upon completion of the J.D. requirements, the student returns to GSAS to complete the requirements for the M.Phil. degree.  (The student receives two Residence Units, equivalent to two semesters of advanced standing toward the M.Phil. degree, for having completed the J.D. requirements.)  
  • The J.D. and M.Phil. degrees are conferred simultaneously upon the completion of all requirements for both degrees.
  • The student then returns to GSAS to complete the remaining Ph.D. departmental requirements, including the preparation and successful defense of a dissertation.

In certain cases, a student may be permitted to alter this sequence of enrollment.  Because the precise structure of the J.D./Ph.D. program will vary based on the nature of the doctoral degree, students should work with Registration Services at the Law School and their academic advisers at both schools to determine the sequencing of their enrollment.


Tuition and Financial Aid

During the GSAS portion of the J.D./Ph.D. dual degree program, students will receive funding as doctoral students, as set forth on the GSAS Fellowship webpage. During the semesters in which they are in residence at the Law School, students will be charged standard Law School tuition. For more information regarding Law School tuition and educational financing, prospective students should contact the Law School Financial Aid Office.

Contact Information

Columbia Law School
Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences 

J.D./M.P.H. Dual Degree Program

Columbia Law School and the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health offer a dual degree program that enables students to earn a J.D. and M.P.H. over seven semesters.  Students spend five semesters in residence at the Law School and two semesters in residence at the School of Public Health.

Admissions

Prospective students must separately apply and be admitted to both the Law School and the School of Public Health. Applicants may either apply simultaneously to both schools or apply initially only to the Law School and apply to the School of Public Health during their first or second year of study at the Law School.  

For information regarding the admissions process at each school, please contact the Columbia Law School Office of Admissions and the School of Public Health Admissions Office directly.

Degree Requirements

  • Credit Requirements:
    • 71  Law credits; 42 Public Health credits 
  • Minimum Residency Requirements:
    • 5 semesters at the Law School; 2 consecutive semesters (Fall and Spring) at the School of Public Health 
  • Academic Requirements:  
    • Students in the J.D./M.P.H. program must satisfy all academic requirements for the J.D. degree, including: (1) all first-year Foundation Courses; (2) a course in Professional Responsibility; (3) the Major Writing credit; (4) the Minor Writing credit; (5) a minimum of 40 hours of Pro Bono service; (6) a course in Legislation and Regulation; and (7) six points of Experiential Coursework credit. The primary distinction is that, for students in the dual degree program, the Law School will accept one term of full-time residency and up to 12 academic credits toward the J.D. degree for work completed at the School of Public Health. For more information on the J.D. requirements, please visit the J.D. Rules Page.
    • For information about the School of Public Health’s academic requirements for dual degree students, please click here.

Program Structure

  • Students in the J.D./M.P.H. dual degree program earn both degrees over seven semesters, five of which are spent at the Law School and two of which are spent at the School of Public Health. Students must spend the first full year of the program, as well as the last semester of the program, at the Law School, and one full academic year (consecutive Fall and Spring semesters) at the School of Public Health. However, students enjoy flexibility as to the timing of their year at the School of Public Health – i.e., whether they complete it during the second or third year of the program.  
  • During their first year at the Law School, students must complete all first-year Foundation Courses. During their year at the School of Public Health, students must register for a minimum of 32 of the 42 credits required for the M.P.H. degree. Students generally complete the remaining 10 credits of Public Health coursework through cross-registration while in residence at the Law School. Alternatively, students may choose to register with the School of Public Health for an additional summer term, which carries additional tuition obligations, following their year of residency, and to complete their remaining 10 Public Health credits at that time.
  • Dual degree students should work closely with Registration Services at the Law School and the Office of Student Affairs at the School of Public Health to ensure proper registration.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Students in the J.D./M.P.H. dual degree program will be charged tuition according to the rates effective at the school in which they are in residence each term. For more information regarding tuition and financial aid, prospective students should contact the Law School Financial Aid Office and the School of Public Health Financial Aid Office.

Contact Information
 

Columbia Law School

Columbia Mailman School of Public Health

J.D./M.F.A. in Theatre Management & Producing

Columbia Law School and the Columbia School of the Arts offer a dual degree program that enables students to earn a J.D. and M.F.A. in Theatre Management & Producing in four years. Students spend five semesters in residence at the Law School and three semesters in residence at the School of the Arts.

Admissions

Prospective students must separately apply and be admitted to both the Law School and the School of the Arts. Applicants may either apply simultaneously to both schools or apply initially only to one school and then apply to the other school during their first year of study.

For information regarding the admissions process at each school, please contact the Columbia Law School Office of Admissions and Columbia Law School Office of Financial Aid Financial Aid and the School of the Arts Office of Admissions and Financial Aid directly.

Degree Requirements

  • Credit Requirements:
    • 71  Law credits; 45 Arts credits 
  • Minimum Residency Requirements:
    • 5 semesters at the Law School; 3 semesters at the School of the Arts 
  •  Academic Requirements:  
    • Students in the J.D./M.F.A. program must satisfy all academic requirements for the J.D. degree, including: (1) all first-year Foundation Courses; (2) a course in Professional Responsibility; (3) the Major Writing credit; (4) the Minor Writing credit; (5) a minimum of 40 hours of Pro Bono service; (6) a course in Legislation and Regulation; and (7) six points of Experiential Coursework credit.  The primary distinction is that, for students in the dual degree program, the Law School will accept one term of full-time residency and up to 12 academic credits toward the J.D. degree for work completed at the School of the Arts.  
    • For more information on the J.D. requirements, please visit the J.D. Rules Page.
    • For information about the School of the Arts’ academic requirements, please click here.

Program Structure

Students in the J.D./M.F.A. dual degree program earn both degrees in four years, spending five semesters at the Law School and three semesters at the School of the Arts.  Students generally spend their first year, as well as their final semester, at the Law School, but they otherwise enjoy flexibility as to the timing of their three semesters at the School of the Arts. Students should work closely with Registration Services at the Law School and the School of the Arts’ Office of Student Affairs to ensure proper registration.
 

Tuition and Financial Aid

Students in the J.D./M.F.A. dual degree program will be charged tuition according to the rates effective at the school in which they are in residence each term.  For more information regarding tuition and financial aid, prospective students should contact the Law School Financial Aid Office and the School of the Arts Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.

Contact Information

Columbia Law School
Columbia School of the Arts 

J.D./M.I.A. (Master of International Affairs)

Columbia Law School and the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs (“SIPA”) offer a dual degree program that enables students to earn a J.D. and M.I.A. in four years. Students spend three years in residence at the Law School and one year in residence at SIPA.

Admissions

Prospective students must separately apply and be admitted to both the Law School and SIPA.  Applicants may either apply simultaneously to both schools or apply initially only to the Law School and apply to SIPA during their first or second year of study at the Law School.  

For information regarding the admissions process at each school, please contact the Columbia Law School Office of Admissions and the SIPA Office of Admissions directly.

Degree Requirements

  • Credit Requirements:
    • 71  Law School credits; 30 SIPA credits 
  • Minimum Residency Requirements: 
    • 6 semesters at the Law School; 2 semesters at SIPA 
  • Academic Requirements:
    • Students in the J.D./M.I.A. program must satisfy all academic requirements for the J.D. degree, including: (1) all first-year Foundation Courses; (2) a course in Professional Responsibility; (3) the Major Writing credit; (4) the Minor Writing credit; (5) a minimum of 40 hours of Pro Bono service; (6) a course in Legislation and Regulation; and (7) six points of Experiential Coursework credit. For more information on the J.D. requirements, please visit the J.D. Rules Page.
    • For information about SIPA’s academic requirements, please click here.

Program Structure

Students in the J.D./M.I.A. dual degree program earn both degrees in four years, three of which are spent at the Law School and one of which is spent at SIPA. Students are generally required to spend the first and fourth years of the program in residence at the Law School, but they enjoy flexibility as to the timing of their two consecutive semesters at SIPA – i.e., they may choose to reside at SIPA during either the second or third year of the program. Students should work closely with Registration Services at the Law School and the SIPA Office of Student Affairs to ensure proper registration.
 


J.D./M.P.A. (Master of Public Affairs)

Columbia Law School and the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs (“SIPA”) offer a dual degree program that enables students to earn a J.D. and M.P.A. in four years. Students spend five terms in residence at the Law School and three terms in residence at SIPA.

Admissions

Prospective students must separately apply and be admitted to both the Law School and SIPA.  Applicants may either apply simultaneously to both schools or apply initially only to one school and then apply to the other school during their first year of study.

For information regarding the admissions process at each school, please contact the Columbia Law School Office of Admissions and the SIPA Office of Admissions directly.

Degree Requirements

  • Credit Requirements:  
    • 71  Law School credits; 30 SIPA credits 
  • Minimum Residency Requirements:  
    • 5 semesters at the Law School; 3 semesters at SIPA 
  • Academic Requirements:  
    • Students in the J.D./M.P.A. program must satisfy all academic requirements for the J.D. degree, including: (1) all first-year Foundation Courses; (2) a course in Professional Responsibility; (3) the Major Writing credit; (4) the Minor Writing credit; (5) a minimum of 40 hours of Pro Bono service; (6) a course in Legislation and Regulation; and (7) six points of Experiential Coursework credit.  The primary distinction is that, for students in the dual degree program, the Law School will accept one term of full-time residency and up to 12 academic credits toward the J.D. degree for work completed at SIPA. For more information on the J.D. requirements, please visit the J.D. Rules Page.
    • For information about SIPA’s academic requirements, please click here.

Program Structure

Students in the J.D./M.P.A. dual degree program earn both degrees in four years, spending five terms (2.5 academic years) at the Law School and three terms (1.5 academic years) at SIPA. During the first three years of the program, students are generally required to spend two full years at the Law School and one full year at SIPA, though they enjoy flexibility as to the sequencing of their residency at each school. Students split their fourth year in the program, spending one term in residence at the Law School and one term in residence at SIPA. Students should work closely with Registration Services at the Law School and the SIPA Office of Student Affairs to ensure proper registration.
 


Tuition and Financial Aid

Students in the J.D./M.I.A and J.D./M.P.A. dual degree programs will be charged tuition according to the rates effective at the school in which they are in residence each term.

For more information regarding tuition and financial aid, prospective students should contact the Law School Financial Aid Office and the SIPA Financial Aid Office.

Contact Information

Columbia Law School

Columbia School of International and Public Affairs 

J.D./M.S.W. Dual Degree Program

Columbia Law School and the Columbia School of Social Work (“CSSW”) offer a dual degree program that enables students to earn a J.D. and M.S.W. in four years. Students spend five semesters in residence at the Law School and three semesters in residence at CSSW.

Admissions

Prospective students must separately apply and be admitted to both the Law School and CSSW. Applicants may either apply simultaneously to both schools or apply initially only to one school and then apply to the other school after commencing their course of study.

For information regarding the admissions process at each school, please contact the Columbia Law School Office of Admissions and the CSSW Office of Admissions directly.

Degree Requirements

  • Credit Requirements:
    • 71  Law School credits; 45 CSSW credits 
  • Minimum Residency Requirements:
    • 5 semesters at the Law School; 3 semesters at CSSW 
  • Academic Requirements:  
    • Students in the J.D./M.S.W. program must satisfy all academic requirements for the J.D. degree, including: (1) all first-year Foundation Courses; (2) a course in Professional Responsibility; (3) the Major Writing credit; (4) the Minor Writing credit; (5) a minimum of 40 hours of Pro Bono service; (6) a course in Legislation and Regulation; and (7) six points of Experiential Coursework credit.  The primary distinction is that, for students in the dual degree program, the Law School will accept one term of full-time residency and up to 12 academic credits toward the J.D. degree for work completed at CSSW.  For more information on the J.D. requirements, please visit the J.D. Rules Page.
    • Although students are in residence at CSSW for only three semesters, their CSSW coursework spans four semesters, including four semesters of Field Instruction.  For information about CSSW’s academic requirements for J.D./M.S.W. students, please click here.

Program Structure

Students in the J.D./M.S.W. dual degree program earn both degrees in four years, spending five semesters (or 2.5 academic years) in residence at the Law School and three semesters (or 1.5 academic years) in residence at CSSW.  Students should work closely with Registration Services at the Law School, the Office of Enrollment and Student Services at CSSW, and their academic advisers at both schools to determine the sequencing of their enrollment.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Students in the J.D./M.S.W. dual degree program will be charged tuition according to the rates effective at the school in which they are in residence each term.  For more information regarding tuition and financial aid, prospective students should contact the Law School Financial Aid Office and the CSSW Office of Financial Aid.

Contact Information

Columbia Law School
Columbia School of Social Work

J.D./M.P.A. Joint Degree Program

Columbia Law School and the Princeton School of Public & International Affairs offer a joint degree program that enables students to earn a J.D. and M.P.A. in four years. Students spend five terms in residence at the Law School and three terms in residence at the Princeton School of Public & International Affairs.

Admissions

Prospective students must separately apply and be admitted to both Columbia Law School and the Princeton School of Public & International Affairs. Applicants may either apply simultaneously to both schools or apply initially only to one school and then apply to the other school during their first year of study.

For information regarding the admissions process at each school, please contact the Columbia Law School Office of Admissions and the Princeton School of Public & International Affairs Office of Admissions directly.

Degree Requirements 

  • Credit Requirements:
    • 71  Law School credits; 12 Princeton School of Public & International Affairs credits 
  • Minimum Residency Requirements:
    • 5 semesters at the Law School; 3 semesters at Princeton 
  • Academic Requirements:  
    • Students in the J.D./M.P.A. program must satisfy all academic requirements for the J.D. degree, including: (1) all first-year Foundation Courses; (2) a course in Professional Responsibility; (3) the Major Writing credit; (4) the Minor Writing credit; (5) a minimum of 40 hours of Pro Bono service; (6) a course in Legislation and Regulation; and (7) six points of Experiential Coursework credit. The primary distinction is that, for students in the dual degree program, the Law School will accept one term of full-time residency and up to 12 academic credits toward the J.D. degree for work completed at the Princeton School. For more information on the J.D. requirements, please visit the J.D. Rules Page.
    • For information about Princeton School of Public & International Affairs’ academic requirements, please click here.

Program Structure

Students in the J.D./M.P.A. joint degree program earn both degrees in four years, spending five terms (2.5 academic years) at the Law School and three terms (1.5 academic years) at the Princeton School. Students should work closely with Registration Services at the Law School and Princeton’s Graduate Program Office to ensure proper registration.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Students in the J.D./M.P.A. joint degree program will be charged tuition according to the rates effective at the school in which they are in residence each term.  For more information regarding tuition and financial aid, prospective students should contact the Law School Financial Aid Office and the Princeton School of Public & International Affairs Office of Admissions.

Contact Information

Columbia Law School
Princeton School of Public & International Affairs