Public Health, M.P.H. and Law, J.D. Dual Degree
Saint Louis University School of Law and the College for Public Health and Social Justice have partnered to offer the dual Juris Doctor/Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in health management and policy.
A SLU law degree combined with a master's in public health gives students a unique set of skills — an in-depth understanding of the legal system and how laws and regulations affect public health, along with a comprehensive insight into the social, environmental and physical influences that determine the health and well-being of people and communities. The dual degree distinguishes graduates as highly trained and highly motivated and provides the chance to effect meaningful change through any chosen career path.
For additional information, see the catalog entries for the following SLU programs:
Program Highlights
- SLU's dual-degree program enables students to earn both degrees with significantly less time and expense than if obtained separately — roughly four years compared to five.
- SLU LAW's Center for Health Law Studies is consistently ranked as the premier health law program in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. The College for Public Health and Social Justice's public health program has been recognized among the top programs in the U.S.
- Students in this dual-degree program receive training from internationally renowned professors, unparalleled professional opportunities at field placements, and access to a robust alumni network.
Careers
Graduates of the dual-degree program have diverse employment opportunities. They often serve in influential positions in health care systems, nonprofit institutions, large health law firms, health policy and human rights organizations, federal and state regulatory agencies, think tanks, and pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology corporations.
Accreditation
Saint Louis University School of Law has been continuously accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) since December 1924. The accrediting body is the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, 312-988-6738.
Saint Louis University's College for Public Health and Social Justice is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). To see our most recent accreditation documentation, please visit the College for Public Health and Social Justice website.
Students must meet the admission requirements and be admitted into both degree programs according to the processes of each of the participating academic units in order to pursue a dual-degree program.
Individuals may apply to the Master of Public Health program concurrently with application to the School of Law or following admission to the School of Law; however, admission to the dual-degree program is contingent upon admission to both the Master of Public Health and the J.D. programs.
Six credits from the School of Law J.D. requirements will be used to satisfy M.P.H.-Health Management and Policy (HMP) degree elective requirements.
The courses used must be taken from the approved M.P.H.-HMP list. Approval for any LAW seminar course should be obtained from the M.P.H.-HMP advisor/program director before taking the course to ensure that it will be accepted.
Nine credits from the M.P.H.-HMP degree requirements will be used to satisfy J.D. requirements. J.D. advisor approval is required.
HMP 5000 Health Care Organization (3 cr) fulfills the M.P.H. core requirement for Health Management and Policy.
LAW 8000 Health Care Law (3 cr) substitutes for HMP 5510 Health Policy & Law (3 cr)
PUBH 5070 Translating Evidence and Theory for Community Practice (3 cr) is taken in semester three or four depending on participation in the health law semester in Washington, D.C.
Students pursuing the J.D./M.P.H. must complete between 117 and 121 credits, depending upon the area of concentration. All students pursuing a J.D./M.P.H. must also complete an internship in public health.
Continuation Standards
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
M.P.H. with Health Management and Policy Concentration
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| LAW 7000 | Civil Procedure | 4 |
| LAW 7005 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| LAW 7015 | Torts | 4 |
| LAW 7020 | Legal Analysis, Research and Communication I | 3 |
| LAW 7040 | Professional Identity, Practices and Skills I | 1 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| LAW 7010 | Contracts | 4 |
| LAW 7021 | Legal Analysis, Research and Communication II | 3 |
| LAW 7025 | Constitutional Law I | 3 |
| LAW 7030 | Property | 4 |
| LAW 7033 | Law Office Technology | 1 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Summer | ||
| HMP 5910 | HMP Internship (repeatable for credit) | 1 |
| Credits | 1 | |
| Fall | ||
| HMP 5000 | Health Care Organization | 3 |
| HMP 5500 | Health Policy | 3 |
| PUBH 5010 | Mission and Practice of Global Public Health | 2 |
| PUBH 5040 | Generating Evidence from Public Health Data | 3 |
| LAW 8000 | Health Care Law | 3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| Critical course: LAW Courses | 7 | |
| HMP 5200 | Health Economics | 3 |
| HMP 5720 | Government Financing of Health Care | 3 |
| PUBH 5030 | Methodological Approaches to Understanding Population Health | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Summer | ||
| J.D. Summer Experience | ||
| Credits | 0 | |
| Fall | ||
| Critical course: Law Courses | 9 | |
| HMP 5300 | Management of Health Care Organizations | 3 |
| PUBH 5060 | Environmental and Biological Determinants of Health | 3 |
| PUBH 5070 | Translating Evidence and Theory for Community Practice § | 3 |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| Students choose one of the following options: | 13-14 | |
Health Law Semester in Washington, D.C. (14 credits) |
||
| Or | ||
Law Courses (10 credits) & |
||
PUBH 5070 |
Translating Evidence and Theory for Community Practice (if not participating in Health Law Semester in Washington, D.C.) § | |
| Credits | 13-14 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| Law Courses | 13 | |
| PUBH 5020 | Ethical Issues in Public Health | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Law Courses | 9 | |
| HMP 5210 | Economic Evaluation | 3 |
| PUBH 5950 | Special Study for Examinations ‡ | 0 |
| PUBH 5960 | Capstone in Public Health Practice | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 123-124 | |
- 1
PUBH 5910: Internship/practice experience mentor approval required. Students in the health Management and policy concentration will take HMP 5910 in place of PUBH 5910. Students in the health management and policy/epidemiology and health management and policy part-time concentrations can choose between either course depending on their interests.
- 2
PUBH 5950: Registration in this class indicates student has completed coursework required to sit for the CPH exam in the spring semester.
- 3
4th year accelerated students may not take more than 12 graduate credit hours per semester in their first year of the program.
- 4
XXX-#### Elective: Academic advisor required. Students that are pursuing a Certificate on top of their MPH should, in consultation with their academic advisor, draw elective choices from the list of courses required for the Certificate.
- §
Either taken in third year fall, if participating in Health Law Semester in Washington, D.C., or third year spring.