MS IN SOCIAL POLICYMaster in Law

This dual degree program prepares graduates for careers in law and social policy that may overlap with our legal system including advocacy, criminal justice, immigration, management, policy, and more. The Master of Science in Social Policy (MSSP) program prepares professionals with knowledge and skills to use policy to increase equality, promote equity, and forge social change. The Master in Law (ML) degree is intended to provide broad-based exposure to critical issues in the law; however, it will not permit a student to sit for the bar examination and American Bar Association regulations do not permit the application of ML classes toward a JD degree.

The MSSP/ML dual degree program allows students to earn both degrees by completing a total of 14 credit units (CUs). This is done by cross-counting up to two courses between the ML and MSSP degrees. Completed individually, the ML requires eight credits and the MSSP requires ten credits.

Students can count up to two ML credit units as MSSP outside electives and up to two MSSP credit units as ML courses.

Students in the dual MSSP/ML may substitute up to two of the following courses from the MSSP curriculum to satisfy one or two CUs toward the ML:

• MSSP 6280: Policy Analysis of Issues, Strategy & Process
• MSSP 6310: Law & Social Policy

Students may request courses not listed here for approval and substitution instead of those listed above, subject to approval by both programs.

Although students in the ML program are encouraged to complete their ML foundational coursework before taking JD courses, MSSP students may choose the sequence that works best with their MSSP scheduling. If doing so will not disrupt their MSSP schedules, students may take one or more law classes in semesters in which the MSSP curriculum allows.