JD/MA Program
The Department of Economics and the UB Law School offer a collaborative program in law and applied economics that leads to a J.D. degree and an M.A. degree in economics.
Law and economics is a thriving and established school of legal theory, and the collaborative program is designed to meet a growing need for professionals with sound training in both areas for work as specialized attorneys, as management consultants, in government agencies, in academic settings.
Overview
The Department of Economics at the University at Buffalo is unique in offering an innovative and increasingly popular Master's degree in Applied Economics, a terminal degree that also can serve as a foundation for future doctoral work.
The current M.A. program provides rigorous exposure to economic theory and to statistical methods with advanced electives in financial economics, law and regulatory economics, intellectual property, information and Internet economics, international economics, health care services, and urban/regional studies.
Many of the courses offered as part of the M.A. program have elements that overlap with the Law School curriculum. Although many perspectives come into play in the study of law, economics can provide a focal point. the Law School has consistently offered a course in Law and Economics, and concern for the economic effects of law guide much of the teaching and analysis.
Program Requirements
The collaborative program in Law and Applied Economics is designed for students to obtain both the J.D. and the M.A. degree in three and a half (3.5) years or in three years plus two summer terms.
Students must be matriculated in the Law School for a total of six semesters, or for five semesters plus two summer terms.
Students typically are matriculated in the Department of Economics for one semester, and take a number of economics courses while in the Law School.
Students must complete 108 credits:
- 27 credits in the Department of Economics, with additional 3 credits in economics-related law courses to be counted toward the M.A. degree.
- 84 credits in the Law School, with additional 6 credits in economics-related law courses to be counted toward the J.D. degree
Please note: The program may change to allow 24 credits in the Department of Economics, with additional 6 credits in economics-related law courses to be counted toward the M.A. degree.
The Law School allows students to elect an area of concentration , resulting in the award of a certificate. With suitable planning, students in the collaborative law and economics program can still concentrate in a field of study in the Law School.
Admission
Prospective students must submit separate applications and be admitted to UB Law School and the UB Department of Economics according to the procedures and standards of the respective schools.
Application to both schools may be simultaneous, or students admitted to Law or the M.A. program may opt for the collaborative program after beginning their first year, and then seek admission to the Department of Economics and Law School, separately.
For application information, please visit the application info page.
Program Sequence
A student finishing in three and a half years will need to take an average of 15 credits per semester during seven semesters.
An accelerated three-year program requires an average of slightly more than 15 credits a semester for six semesters, plus six credits during each of tow summer terms at the law school.
In order to satisfy the Law School residency requirements, students will need to begin with a full year in the J.D. program and start the M.A. courses in the second year.
Upon entering the program, students take the required 32 units in the core first-year program of the Law School. After the first year, students matriculate for one semester in the Department of Economics, completing 15 credits in Economics.
Subsequently, during four additional semesters (or three semesters, plus two summers) in the Law School, students take a mix of Law School and Department of Economics courses.
Students, by the appropriate selection of courses, will receive both degree after completion of 108 credits drawn form the core program and electives of both schools.