American University’s School of Public Affairs (SPA) and the Washington College of Law (WCL) jointly offer a dual degree program in law and public policy. This unique combination of degrees is especially attractive for students intending to use their law degrees in the political, government or non-profit realms. The program provides a broad theoretical grounding in policy analysis, program evaluation, and successful policy implementation and provides attorneys with the necessary skills to creatively address the political, financial, organizational, legal, ethical and constitutional challenges inherent in developing sound public policies. The program is designed such that both degrees can be completed in as few as three semesters, assuming attendance during summer terms, for a total of 45 credit hours.

Admission to the Program

Applicants must satisfy the admission requirements of both the School of Public Affairs (SPA) and the Washington College of Law (WCL) to be admitted into this dual degree program. However, students already admitted to WCL will not be required to take the GRE. Students may begin their studies in SPA after completing one semester or the equivalent of full-time study at WCL.

Admission to either WCL or SPA does not guarantee admission to the other. Students who have been admitted to the MPP program may apply to WCL. For specific admission criteria employed by SPA, see the graduation admission and degree requirements for the Master of Public Policy.

Degree Requirements

• 45 credit hours of approved graduate work (if earned as separate degrees, students must complete 39 credit hours for the MPP degree and 24 credit hours to earn the LLM degree; however, dual-degree students may apply up to 12 credits from WCL courses to the MPP and up to 6 credits from SPA courses to the LLM. Students who test out of the PUAD-601 requirement noted below can earn the degree in 42 credit hours.)
• Comprehensive written examination
• The research requirement is satisfied by completing two of the following courses with grades of B or better:
• • PUAD-601 Methods of Problem Solving I (3)
  • PUAD-602 Methods of Problem Solving II (3)
  • PUAD-604 Public Program Evaluation (3)
  • PUAD-607 Economics and Politics of Public Policy (3)
  • PUAD-630 Public Managerial Economics (3)
  • LAW-516 Legal Rhetoric I and LAW-517 Legal Rhetoric II (4)

Course Requirements

• PUAD-601 Methods of Problem Solving I (3)
• (Students may test out of PUAD-601 without substitution of another approved course)
• PUAD-602 Methods of Problem Solving II (3)
• PUAD-603 Policy Process (3)
• PUAD-606 Foundations of Policy Analysis (3)
• PUAD-630 Public Managerial Economics (3)
• PUAD-631 Financing Government Services (3)
• PUAD-684 Organizational Analysis (3)
• PUAD-688 Policy Practicum (3)
• One of the following courses:
• • PUAD-604 Public Program Evaluation (3)
  • PUAD-607 Economics and Politics of Public Policy (3)
  • PUAD-685 Topics in Policy Analysis and Management: Cost Benefit Analysis (3)

Area of concentration (9 credit hours)

Students should consult their MPP advisor about selection of these courses. This requirement may be completed through courses at the law school, so long as the approved SPA graduate credits add up to at least 27 (24 if the student has waived out of PUAD-601). Students may create their own areas of concentration in conjunction with faculty and their academic advisor. Areas of consultation include: social policy; science, technology, and environmental policy; crime, public law and policy; public financial management; non-profit policy, management, and leadership; international development; applied politics, including campaign management and women and politics; comparative public policy; and advanced policy analysis. If not taken to fulfill the research requirement above, and with permission of the academic advisor, PUAD-604 and PUAD-607 may be taken as part of a concentration.
Internships

Students without a significant professional work background generally participate in an internship, which may be taken for credit (PUAD-691). For students already employed, a formal internship is optional.

Required Law Coursework

• LAW-601: Administrative Law (3-4) or an approved substitute from a list of courses available from the MPA advisor, which may include: LAW-877 Separation of Powers: Foundations of the Modern Administrative State (3); LAW-788 Federal Regulatory Process (3); LAW-852 Law of Nonprofit Organizations (2) or LAW-881 Advanced Problems in Administrative Law and Regulatory Policy (2)
• Completion of 18 credits of coursework required for the LLM