Joint-Degree Programs

College of Business Faculty & Staff

College of Law Faculty & Staff

The J.D./M.B.A. program is designed for those students seeking advanced education in business administration in addition to education in the law.

Applicants for the J.D./M.B.A. program must apply separately to the College of Law and to the College of Business graduate programs and be accepted individually to both. The schools together will determine whether the applicant is eligible for the combined program.

Normal degree requirements of 90 credit hours (juris doctor) and 39 credit hours in 700- and 800-level coursework (master of business administration) are complemented and reduced to 81 credit hours (juris doctor) and 30 credit hours (master of business administration). Each degree program's requirements are reduced by 9 credit hours as each program accepts, as part of its elective requirements, 9 credit hours from the other program.

Program Requirements

Upon completion of the program, the student will be awarded two separate degrees. The requirements for both must be completed, however, before either degree can be awarded.  The student must be enrolled in both degree programs simultaneously to take advantage of the tuition and credit hour discounts.

Students failing to meet all of the requirements of the program are awarded the Juris Doctor or Master of Business Administration degree only if they fulfill the complete, non-reduced requirements for the individual degree as outlined in the College of Law or College of Business graduate bulletins, respectively.

• Juris Doctor | Degree Requirements
• Master of Business Administration | Degree Requirements

The J.D./M.P.A. program is designed for those seeking an advanced degree in the field of governmental administration. This program is offered by the University of New Orleans (UNO) through the UNO Graduate School. The program is interdisciplinary, with participation from the Graduate School of the Master of Public Administrative program at UNO.

Applicants for this joint program must apply separately to the College of Law and to the UNO MPA program and be accepted individually to both. The schools together will determine whether the applicant is eligible for the combined program. The applicant must present satisfactory evidence of having earned an undergraduate degree.

Normal degree requirements of 90 semester hours (juris doctor) and 42 credit hours including a six-hour thesis or project (M.P.A.) are complemented and reduced to 81 semester hours (juris doctor) and 33 credit hours (M.P.A.) plus the thesis or project. Each program is thus reduced by nine semester hours as each accepts, as part of its requirements, nine semester hours from the other program.

Upon completion of the program, the student will be awarded two separate degrees. The requirements for both must be completed, however, before either degree can be awarded. A student will not be allowed to enroll in Loyola College of Law courses in Clinical Seminar, Legal Research, or Independent Study. The nine hours of credit earned at UNO in the M.P.A. program will count toward the total earned hours at Loyola but will not affect the student’s cumulative Loyola grade point average. No credit will be awarded for a course taken in the UNO M.P.A. program unless the grade is at least equal to a C+ on the Loyola grading scale. No credit will be accepted until a student has successfully completed the first year of study at Loyola with an average of 2.3 or better. The student must maintain an average of 3.0 or better in the M.P.A. program.

Students failing to meet all of the requirements of the program are awarded either the juris doctor or master of public administration degree only if they fulfill the requirements for the individual degree as outlined in the Loyola College of Law or UNO graduate bulletins, respectively.

For further information on the M.P.A., please contact Dr. John Kiefer, University of New Orleans, at jkiefer@uno.edu or (504) 280-3842.

The J.D./M.U.R.P. program is designed for those seeking professional training in planning cities and regions with specific emphasis given to their social, economic, environmental, political, and physical aspects, as well as the interaction of these factors. This program is offered in conjunction with the University of New Orleans (UNO) through its Department of Planning & Urban Studies in the College of Liberal Arts. The objective of the program is to prepare students to be planners in city, regional, state, and federal planning agencies; private consulting firms and public service organizations; and other public or private institutions.

Applicants for this joint program must apply separately to the College of Law and to the UNO Department of Planning and Urban Studies and be accepted individually to both. The schools together will determine whether the applicant is eligible for the combined program. The applicant must present satisfactory evidence of having earned an undergraduate degree.

Normal degree requirements of 90 semester hours (juris doctor) and 45 credit hours (M.U.R.P.) are complemented and reduced to 81 semester hours (juris doctor) and 36 credit hours (M.U.R.P.)  Each program is thus reduced by nine semester hours as each accepts, as part of its requirements, nine semester hours from the other program.

Upon completion of the program, the student will be awarded two separate degrees. The requirements for both must be completed, however, before either degree can be awarded. A student will not be allowed to enroll in Loyola College of Law courses in Clinical Seminar, Legal Research, or Independent Study. The nine hours of credit earned at UNO in the M.U.R.P. program will count toward the total earned hours at Loyola but will not affect the student’s cumulative Loyola grade point average. No credit will be awarded for a course taken in the UNO/M.U.R.P. program unless the grade is at least equal to a C+ on the Loyola grading scale. No credit will be accepted until a student has successfully completed the first year of study at Loyola with an average of 2.3 or better. The student must maintain an average of 3.0 or better in the M.U.R.P. program.

Students failing to meet all of the requirements of the program are awarded either the juris doctor or master of urban and regional planning degree only if they fulfill the requirements for the individual degree as outlined in the Loyola College of Law or UNO graduate bulletins, respectively. For further information on the M.U.R.P., contact Dr. Marla Nelson, University of New Orleans, mnelson@uno.edu or (504) 580-3110.

Loyola students have the option of completing a joint J.D./LL.M. in seven semesters. Students must apply and be accepted into both programs. Scholarships and financial aid are available. 

3Ls and 4Ls graduating in May 2025 must apply by April 15, 2025, to be eligible. Joint degree students will complete their requirements for the J.D. in the spring semester and may sit for a bar examination in summer before returning to complete the LL.M. semester.

Students graduating with a J.D. from Loyola College of Law may apply up to 9 credit hours in qualifying courses from the J.D. program of study to the LL.M. program of study, allowing them to complete the LL.M. program in one semester.

All of the required credit hours may be taken from among any courses in the College of Law’s course catalog, except courses that are associated with service on our law journals. 

• The J.D./LL.M. degree includes a writing requirement which may be fulfilled by taking a two-credit hour law school seminar or a two-credit independent legal research project (LAW L898) under the supervision of a faculty member. An LL.M. student may be able to substitute the two-credit independent legal research project by completing a more extensive thesis (LAW L898) under faculty supervision for up to a total of six credit hours. 
• Up to four credit hours may be earned through a pass / fail externship with a law firm, court, or government agency. The College of Law does not promise that an externship will be available to the potential LL.M. candidate, but we will make best efforts to assist. 

Loyola’s LL.M. with a Concentration in Health Law and Administration degree requires the completion of 24 semester credit hours and a thesis paper of publishable quality. The thesis requirement may be completed as part of a health law course or by undertaking an Independent Study Legal Research Supervised Paper (LAW L898).  

Students intending to complete the joint J.D./LL.M. must apply to and be accepted into the LL.M. program by the beginning of their last semester in the J.D. program. Students graduating with a J.D. from Loyola College of Law may apply up to nine (9) credit hours in qualifying courses from the J.D. program of study to the LL.M. program of study, allowing them to complete the LL.M. program in one semester. Students are cautioned to confirm that the necessary required courses are offered in the semester in which they plan to complete the program.

**Please note: not all courses are offered every academic year.**

Required Core Courses (11-12 hours total) 

LAW L807 Introduction to Health Law (3 hrs)
LAW L912 Health Law II:  Access, Regulation, Compliance, and Strategy (3 hrs)
LAW L898 Legal Research / Other Course (thesis paper - see above) (2-3 hrs) 

Plus one of the following:

LAW L844 Administrative Law (3 hrs)
LAW L847 Legislation and Regulation (3 hrs)
LAW L940 Risk and the Administrative State (3 hrs)

Elective Courses: Law (9-13 hours total)

LAW L746 Business Organizations I (3 hrs)
LAW L747 Business Organizations II (3 hrs)
LAW L781 Law and Poverty (2 hrs)
LAW L800 Health Care Privacy and Security (3 hrs)
LAW L801 Intellectual Property Law (3 hrs)
LAW L817 Mediation and Arbitration (3 hrs)
LAW L822 Bioethics and the Law (3 hrs)
LAW L825 Medical Malpractice (2 or 3 hrs)
LAW L830 Comparative Reproductive Bioethics and the Law (1 hr)
LAW L834 Environmental Justice (2 or 3 hrs)
LAW L854 Insurance Law (3 hrs) 
LAW L855 Children and the Law (3 hrs)
LAW L896 Professional Seminar: Medicare Law (2 hrs)
LAW L900 Approved Health-Related Academic Externship (1-3 hrs)
LAW L902 Elder and Disabled Law (2 hrs)
LAW L914 Health Care Compliance (3 hrs)
LAW L915 Healthcare Fraud and Abuse (3 hrs)
LAW L916 Disability and the Law (3 hrs)
LAW L917 Public Health Law (3 hrs)
LAW L937 Selected Topics in Immigration (2 hrs)
LAW L938 Health in Immigration and Citizenship Law (1-2 hrs)
LAWM L705 U.S. Law and Legal Analysis (1 credit)
LAWM L710 Graduate Seminar in Health and Environmental Law (3 hrs)

Elective Courses: Non-Law (0-3 hours) 

MGT B700 Organizational Behavior and Leadership (3 Credits)
MGT B705 Strategic Communication (3 Credits)
MGT B710 Operations and Process Management (3 Credits)
MGT B725 Quality and Performance Excellence (3 Credits)
MGT B740 Business of Healthcare (3 Credits)

For more information, please contact Nicole Tuchinda, Academic Director for the Health Law Program.  

The Joint J.D. / LL.M. with Concentration in Environmental Law allows students to complete both their J.D. and LL.M. in Environmental Law in as short as three and a half years. Typically, students complete their J.D. degree and then stay an extra semester to achieve their LL.M. Students enrolled in the J.D. program at Loyola University New Orleans, College of Law, may jointly pursue the LL.M. with Concentration in Environmental Law by completing added requirements during summer sessions, or in an additional semester. 

Students intending to complete the joint J.D./LL.M. must apply to and be accepted into the LL.M. program by the beginning of their last semester in the J.D. program. Students graduating with a J.D. from Loyola College of Law may apply up to nine (9) credit hours in qualifying courses from the J.D. program of study to the LL.M. program of study, allowing them to complete the LL.M. program in one semester. Students are cautioned to confirm that the necessary required courses are offered in the semester in which they plan to complete the program.

**Please note: not all courses are offered every academic year.**

Required Core Courses (15 credits total) 

• LAW L835 Natural Resources Law* (3 credits)
• LAW L844 Administrative Law OR LAW L847 Legislation and Regulation* (3 credits)
• LAW L858 Environmental Law* (3 credits)
• Capstone project (3 credits)
• One experiential offering, or other pre-approved equivalent offering or experience, including:
  • LAW L900 Approved Academic Environmental Law Externship (3 credits)
  • LAW L974 Advanced Legal Research: Community-Based Research Lab (3 credits)
  • LAW L976 Environmental Law and Policy Lab (3 credits)
  • LAW L976 S50 Environmental Law and Policy: Florida Keys (3 credits)
  • LAW L977 Environmental Litigation: Theory and Practice (3 credits) 
  • Any other experiential opportunity (including work experience) with approval

For the remaining credit hours necessary for the LL.M. degree, students may choose from an array of courses from law, environmental, non-law, and non-environmental offerings, (Note: generally, non-environmental and/or non-law courses are capped at six credits that apply toward the degree, unless otherwise pre-approved).

Elective Courses: Environment and Law (9 credits total) (no more than 6 hours combined non-environmental and non-law)

• LAW L817 Mediation and Arbitration (3 credits)
• LAW L819 Construction Industry & Sustainability Seminar (2 credits)
• LAW L822 Bioethics and the Law (3 credits)
• LAW L834 Environmental Justice (2 or 3 credits) 
• LAW L837 Property and Land Use Seminar (1-3 credits)
• LAW L838 Oil and Gas Law (3 credits) 
• LAW L856 State and Local Government Law (2 credits)
• LAW L864 Admiralty 1 (3 credits)
• LAW L879 Admiralty Seminar: Marine Pollution OR Intro to International Law of the Sea (1-3 credits)
• LAW L886 Environmental Law Seminar (2 credits) (may take more than one), including:
  • Law and the Climate Crisis; 
  • Environmental Enforcement and Compliance; 
  • Hot Topics in Environmental Law
• LAW L896 Professional Seminars (2 credits) (may take more than one), including:
  • Green Building
• LAW L900 Approved Academic Environmental Law Externship (3 credits)
• LAW L911 Introduction to American Indian Law: Overlapping Jurisdictions (3 credits)
• LAW L913 Disaster Law and Policy (2 credits)
• LAW L922 Toxic Torts (2 or 3 credits)
• LAW L929 Energy and the Environment in International Law (2 credits)
• LAW L974 Advanced Legal Research: Community-Based Research Lab (3 credits)
• LAW L975 Energy Law and Policy (2 or 3 credits)
• LAW L976 S50 Environmental Law and Policy: Florida Keys (May Term, 3 credits, in Florida)
• LAW L976 Environmental Law and Policy Lab (3 credits) 
• LAW L977 Environmental Litigation: Theory and Practice (3 credits) 

Non-Law Elective Courses (no more than 6 hours combined non-environmental and non-law)

• RELS V265 Eco-Feminist Theologies
• PHIL W245 Environmental Ethics
• PHIL U243 Environmental Philosophy
• SOCI A355 Environmental Sociology
• ENVA A105 Foundations in Environmental Studies
• SOCI X236 Global Environmental Crisis
• HIST Q234 Technology, Nature and the West

  For a fuller list of possible courses, review the topics below in the undergraduate bulletin:

  Environmental courses
  Food Studies courses
  Business, Decision Science and Entrepreneurship
  Political Science courses
  Sociology courses

For more information, please contact Marianne Cufone, Director of the Environmental Law Program. 

The LL.M. with a concentration in Immigration and Citizenship Law offers practicing attorneys or students who have earned a law degree in the U.S. or overseas, the opportunity to explore in-depth the United States law of migration and citizenship, within the international framework.  The LL.M. program explores issues of migration through the lens of human rights, including the rights of persons who are members of racial and ethnic minorities, the rights of women and gender diverse persons, and social and economic justice.  Students are encouraged to think of migration in its global context as one of many interrelated forces, like climate change, economic stability, and political stability that pose continuing challenges for the United States in the 21st century.  The program emphasizes experiential learning, focusing on the work of attorneys in practice, whether in nonprofit, private or government practice.  The program offers students opportunities to develop more specialized knowledge through scholarship or projects primarily the result of the students’ design. 

LL.M. students complete 24 hours of coursework in immigration and citizenship law and related courses.  As part of their required course of study, students choose to author an academic research paper of high professional quality concerning immigration or citizenship law, or complete a capstone project. 

Students intending to complete the joint J.D./LL.M. must apply to and be accepted into the LL.M. program by the beginning of their last semester in the J.D. program. Students graduating with a J.D. from Loyola College of Law may apply up to nine (9) credit hours in qualifying courses from the J.D. program of study to the LL.M. program of study, allowing them to complete the LL.M. program in one semester. Students are cautioned to confirm that the necessary required courses are offered in the semester in which they plan to complete the program.

**Please note: not all courses are offered every academic year.**

Required Courses (14 credit hours total)

• LAW L832 Immigration and Citizenship Law (3 credit hours)
• LAW L933 Asylum and Refugee Law (3 credit hours)
• LAW L898 Independent Study (thesis or capstone - see below) (2-6 credits)***

     The remaining required credit hours are to be selected from the following courses:*

• LAW L897 Immigration Clinic – one semester (5 credits)
• LAW L932 Immigration Law Seminar (1-3 credits) (may be taken more than once)
• LAW L934 Detention and Removal Defense (2 credits)
• LAW L936 Immigration Justice:  Practice, Policy & Process:  Selected Problems (2 credits)
• LAW L937 Selected Topics in Immigration (2 credits)
• LAW L938 Health in Immigration and Citizenship Law (1-2 credits)

*Courses listed above are also available to complete the elective credit requirements, if they are not used to satisfy the required course credits.  These courses may not be offered every academic year.

Elective Courses (10 credit hour minimum)*

• LAW L781 Law and Poverty (2 credits)
• LAW L805 Law of the European Union (3 credits) 
• LAW L816 Comparative Law Seminar (1, 2 or 3 credits)
• LAW L820 Employment Discrimination (3 credits)
• LAW L823 First Amendment (2 or 3 credits)
• LAW L834 Environmental Justice (3 credits)
• LAW L840 Employment Law (3 credits)
• LAW L842 Courts in a Federal System (3 credits)
• LAW L844 Administrative Law (3 credits)
• LAW L847 Legislation and Regulation Law (3 credits)
• LAW L877 Constitutional Law Seminar (1-3 credits)
• LAW L878 International Law (3 credits)
• LAW L884 International Law Seminar (1-3 credits)
• LAW L885 Gender Law in Practice (3 credits)
• LAW L886 Environmental Law Seminar: Law and the Climate Crisis (2 credits)
• LAW L897 Immigration Clinic – one semester (5 credits)
• LAW L900 Academic Externship (up to 3 credits) (Academic externships must be approved by program faculty)
• LAW L911 Introduction to American Indian Law: Overlapping Jurisdictions (3 credits)
• LAW L912 Health Law II – Access, Regulation, Compliance and Strategy (3 credits)
• LAW L913 Disaster Law and Policy (2 credits)
• LAW L924 Human Rights Advocacy Project (3 credits)
• LAW L955 Advanced Constitutional Law: 14th Amendment (3 credits)
• LCOM L800 Family Law (3 credits)

* Not all electives are offered in every academic year. 

LL.M. Thesis  (2 to 6 Independent Study credits)

Students who choose the thesis option must complete an academic research paper of high professional quality concerning immigration or citizenship law.  Students fulfill this requirement in conjunction with one of the program’s required or elective courses and an independent study of two to six credits, under the supervision of program faculty.  The thesis paper is presented to program faculty and the law school community, and is advised or co-advised by program faculty.  Advance approval of the topic is required. 

Capstone Project (2 to 6 Independent Study credits)

Students may opt to complete a capstone project instead of a written thesis.  The project may take various forms including a performance essay, a case study, a data generating research project, surveys, or a product, and/or the presentation of a thesis or data through alternative media including film, cartoons, photographic series, posters or other types of presentations.  Projects may be undertaken in conjunction with an immigration and citizenship course under the supervision of the faculty member teaching the course, and through independent study of two to six credits under the supervision of program faculty.  Capstone projects are presented at the end of the course of study to program faculty and to the law school community.