The Dickinson School of Law (DSL) and the Smeal College of Business offer a joint degree program leading to a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.).
Admissions Requirements
Students must apply to DSL and Smeal separately and must meet each school's admissions requirements. Students are eligible to start taking classes in the Smeal M.B.A. program after successfully completing the first-year curriculum with the law school.
College Specific Admissions Requirements
DSL: We consider each application in its entirety, including academic transcripts, leadership activities, community activities, work experience, personal background, letters of recommendation, personal statement(s), LSAT score(s) and LSAT writing sample. Through consideration, the admissions committee seeks to identify candidates for law study who are academically prepared for the study of law and who will contribute to the promotion of diversity and excellence in the student body and the legal profession. The committee has no computational methods for making decisions. An applicant should have acquired significant oral and written communication skills before entering law school. The following are required of applicants: a completed electronic or paper application form for DSL; the $60 application fee (credit card payment acceptable) or the fee waiver application; the Law School Admissions Service (LSAC) Report, which should include the results from the Law School Admissions Test(s) (LSAT), transcripts from every undergraduate school attended, and letters of recommendation (academic references preferred) submitted via the LSAC LOR service; and finally, a current and complete resume, and the personal statement(s) which may be submitted as attachments with your electronic application or paper application.
Smeal: All applicants for the M.B.A. program must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and are required to take the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). They must also complete the online application (consisting of the application form, a professional resume, work history, and three essays); provide two copies of their prior academic transcripts; submit two letters of recommendation, and pay a $60 nonrefundable application fee. Students currently enrolled at DSL in the J.D. program may apply to the J.D./M.B.A. program during their first or second year of study by applying for admission to Smeal.
Application Process
Students must complete the following Penn State applications, along with any other requirements in the College Specific Admissions Requirements section above. These applications may be completed simultaneously.
- Select: Apply Now or Continue Application in Progress.
- Select: I am applying to, have been admitted to, or am currently enrolled in, the Penn State Dickinson School of Law and wish to apply to an approved joint degree program.
- Print and complete this application and mail it to the address indicated on the last page of the application.
International Applicants
All international applicants whose first language is not English or who have not received baccalaureate or master's degrees from an institution in which the language of instruction is English must take the Test of English as a Second Language (TOEFL) and submit the results of that test with the application for admission. A TOEFL score of 550 on the paper test or a score of 213 on the computer-based test, or 80 points on the new Internet-based test with a minimum of 23 points on the new speaking portion; or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum composite score of 6.5 is required for admission.
College Liaisons
DSL:
Department Liaison: The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
- Academic Advising Liaison: Shari Welch, Registrar, 303 Beam Building, University Park, PA 16802; telephone: (814) 863-9938; e-mail: slg1@psu.edu
- Faculty Liaison: Jeffrey H. Kahn, Professor of Law, 208 Beam Building, University Park, PA 16802; telephone: (814) 865 8957; e-mail: jkahn@psu.edu
Smeal:
Department Liaison: The Senior Associate Director of M.B.A. Admissions
- Academic Advising Liaison: Robin Brouse, Director of Student Services, 220 Business Building, University Park, PA 16802; telephone: (814) 863-0474; e-mail: rsb1@psu.edu
- Faculty Liaison: Dennis Sheehan, Associate Dean of M.B.A. Programs, The Virginia and Louis Benzak Professor of Finance, 220 Business Building, University Park, PA 16802; telephone: (814) 863-0474; e-mail: dps1@psu.edu
College Prescribed Curriculum
The J.D. degree at DSL requires a minimum of 88 credits and the Smeal M.B.A. degree requires a minimum of 60 credits. For students enrolled in the J.D./M.B.A. Program, DSL accepts the transfer of twelve (12) Smeal credits which all come from Smeal's required core curriculum. Similarly, Smeal accepts the transfer of twelve (12) credits from the DSL required core curriculum with the possibility of four (4) additional credits eligible for transfer from DSL's elective courses. Please contact the Smeal college liaison indicated above for the current list of DSL electives that may be transferred to the Smeal M.B.A. Students must take a minimum of 76 credits from DSL and 44 credits from Smeal in order to complete the J.D./M.B.A. program.
J.D./M.B.A. PROGRAM COURSE REQUIREMENTS * |
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M.B.A. Required Courses |
J.D. Required Courses |
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| Marketing | 2 |
First-Year Curriculum | 31 |
| Management | 2 |
Professional Responsibility | 2 |
| Team Process and Performance | 1 |
Seminar | 2-3 |
| Ethical Leadership | 2 |
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| Negotiations Immersion | 1 |
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| Supply Chain & Operations Management | 2 |
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| Financial Accounting | 2 |
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| Risk and Decisions | 2 |
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| Leadership Communications | 4 |
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| Introduction to Managerial Accounting | 2 |
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| Information Technology | 2 |
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| Introduction to Finance | 2 |
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| Economics for Managers | 2 |
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| Global Perspectives | 1 |
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| Global Business Environment | 1 |
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| Strategies for Converging Economics | 2 |
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| Introduction to Statistics | 2 |
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| 2nd Year Practicum Capstone | 4 |
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| International Immersion | 2 |
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| Career Immersion | 0 |
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| Service Immersion | 0 |
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Degree credits from required courses |
38 |
Degree credits from required courses |
35-36 |
| Transfer credits from J.D. Required Courses | 12 |
Transfer credits from M.B.A. Required Courses | 12 |
| M.B.A. Electives (minimum) | 6 |
J.D. Electives (minimum) | 40-41 |
| Additional M.B.A. Elective Credits or transfer credits from J.D. electives * | 4 |
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| Minimum Required Credits | 60 |
Minimum Required Credits | 88 |
* subject to revision |
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Pursuant to University policy, the transfer credits may not be applied to their corresponding joint degree until a participant has completed at least one year of study in both DSL and Smeal. Smeal credits completed prior to enrollment in the joint degree program will not be permitted to count toward the J.D. degree.
Sequence of Study
Students may choose to conduct their study in either of the two sequence options shown below. Each “Year” refers to the traditional academic year beginning in late August and concluding in May. In addition, DSL offers a limited number of courses during the summer term. Smeal does not offer any classes over the summer term. You will find more detailed information below regarding course sequencing for the J.D./M.B.A. joint degree
| Option 1 |
Year 1: J.D. Foundation Coursework at either the Carlisle or the University Park location Year 2: M.B.A. Foundation Coursework at the University Park location Year 3: Combination of J.D. and M.B.A. Coursework at the University Park location Year 4: J.D. Upper Level Coursework at either the Carlisle or the University Park location |
| Option 2 |
Year 1: J.D. Foundation Coursework at either the Carlisle or the University Park location Year 2: J.D. Upper Level Coursework at either the Carlisle or the University Park location Year 3: M.B.A. Foundation Coursework at the University Park location Year 4: Combination of J.D. and M.B.A. Coursework at the University Park location |
J.D./M.B.A. PROGRAM SEQUENCING * |
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J.D. Foundation Coursework Year 1 at Carlisle or University Park Campus |
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FALL |
SPRING |
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Orientation/Preterm Activities |
2 weeks |
15 weeks | |
| First-Year J.D. Curriculum | 15 weeks | ||
M.B.A. Foundation Casework Year 2 or Year 3 at University Park Campus |
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FALL |
SPRING |
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Orientation/Preterm Activities |
2 weeks | Introduction to Finance; Marketing; Supply Chain; Global Perspectives; Leadership Communications |
7 weeks |
| Financial Accounting; Strategies for Converging Economies; Management; Team Processes & Performance; Leadership Communications | 7 weeks | International Immersion | 1 week |
| Career Immersion | 1 week | Risk & Decisions; Ethical Leadership; Information Technology; Leadership Communications; Elective Course | 7 weeks |
| Global Business Environment; Economics for Managers; Introduction to Statistics; Introduction to Managerial Accounting; Leadership Communications | 7 weeks | Executive Panel Case Competition | 3 days |
Combination of J.D. and M.B.A. Coursework Year 3 or Year 4 at University Park Campus |
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FALL |
SPRING |
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| M.B.A. Elective Courses (2 sessions) | 7 weeks | M.B.A. Elective Courses (2 sessions) | 7 weeks |
| J.D. Elective Courses | 15 weeks | J.D. Elective Courses | 15 weeks |
| Negotiations Immersion | 1 week | Service Immersion | 7 weeks |
J.D. Upper Level Coursework Year 2 or Year 4 at either Carlisle or University Park Campus |
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FALL |
SPRING |
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| J.D. Elective Courses | 15 weeks | J.D. Elective Courses | 15 weeks |
*subject to revision |
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Recommended Program of Study and Advising
All students in the program will have two advisors, one from DSL and one from Smeal. Periodic interaction between the two advisors will be encouraged. A program of study will be developed for each student, taking into account the fact that some courses at both locations are offered on a rotating or intermittent basis. Many courses are offered every year but some are offered every two or three years.
Tuition
Students will be charged the applicable Dickinson School of Law tuition to cover the J.D. program and the applicable graduate tuition for the Smeal College of Business for the M.B.A. courses.
Financial Aid and Assistantships
Decisions on financial aid and assistantships will be made by each school according to that school's procedures.
