Dual Degrees - List of Frequently Asked Questions
If I am a JD student at UNH Law, do I need to apply to UNH’s MBA or MSW program in order to enroll in one of the dual degree programs?
Yes.
Students must be separately admitted into both the JD program and the MBA or MSW program. For JD students that means:
- They can simultaneously apply to the MBA or MSW program when initially applying to UNH Law; or
- They can also apply during their 1st or 2nd year of law school. If a student chooses this option, she will not receive the tuition advantage.
Do I need to take the GMAT to apply to UNH’s MBA program?
No.
JD students applying to the MBA program do not need to take the GMAT. They can use their LSAT exam in place of the GMAT.
Do I need to take the GRE or GMAT to apply to UNH’s MSW program?
No.
The MSW program does not require an entrance exam. The program may request your LSAT.
Is there some transfer of credits between the programs?
Yes.
- UNH Law requires 85 credits to obtain the JD degree. For students enrolled in the JD/MBA or JD/MSW program, UNH Law will accept 12 credits from among a student's UNH courses for transfer.
- UNH Law will accept a maximum of 12 credits from the following MBA courses: Management Accounting, Organizational Behavior, Economics, Managerial Finance, Managerial Decision Making, International Business, and Strategic Management.
- UNH MBA will accept 9 credits from among a student’s JD courses for transfer. The law courses that UNH accepts credits from are: Contracts, Torts, and Property.
- The social work courses that UNH Law will accept for 12 credits depend on the track of the program and electives selected. Students are encouraged to speak with Admissions and/or a faculty advisor to further discuss this issue.
How long will it take to complete a dual degree program?
The JD/MBA is generally designed to be completed in 3 ½ years (or seven semesters). For the MBA, the student spends five semesters at UNH Law and two semesters at UNH’s business school in Durham. JD/MBA students spend roughly 11 months taking classes at Durham. UNH’s MBA program is an 11-month program that runs from July through June of a given year. The program is designed for students to spend 11 successive months taking classes at Durham.
The JD/MSW degree time will depend on the student's MSW track. See sample maps here.
For no significant additional charge students will be allowed to take six semesters, rather than five, to complete the JD portion of the degree if they so choose. If students choose the seven semester option, they must notify the registrar by the end of the add/drop period of their 5th JD semester. For the MSW, the timing and sequence of courses depends, again, upon the MSW track the student in following.
For more timing information, students should refer to the sample curriculum maps.
Can I take summer classes?
Probably not.
You should be working during the summer in a job to gain work experience in either business or social work. UNH Law and UNH will discourage students from enrolling in summer courses.
How much does the dual degree cost?
For students who matriculate as dual degree candidates on their first day of school, there is a tuition advantage. Tuition details are here.
The following additional policies apply to dual degree candidates:
- If you are receiving scholarships or waivers (e.g., the New Hampshire in-state waiver), they will apply during your time in the program.
- If you qualified as an in-state New Hampshire resident when you were admitted to UNH Law, you will also be eligible for the in-state tuition rate for the MBA program. If you did not qualify as an in-state resident at the time you were admitted to UNH Law, you will not become eligible for in-state tuition at any time during this program.
- Tuition covers courses, but excludes books, supplies, living and transportation costs, and student fees.
We will provide an informational and advising session to each JD enrolled student who wants to pursue the dual degree program to make sure the student understands the financial ramifications of the dual degree. Prospective students should contact the Admissions Office, which will facilitate responses to specific questions.
Can I still participate in upper level law programs?
It depends.
You could participate in law review by applying in the spring before your return to your JD studies. For moot court, you would also apply before your second year of law school. In both cases, the student will need to make sure that he or she is aware of the application deadlines.
Am I eligible to participate in the Daniel Webster Scholar Program?
Yes.
You would apply for DWS during your 1L spring. As part of the application process you would notify the DWS program that you were a dual degree candidate. You would then be considered for the following DWS class. For example, if you complete your 1L year in 2014, you would apply for DWS with your classmates, however, you would not be considered for DWS admission until 2015.
How is my JD grade point average calculated?
UNH Law will accept 12 credits from among a student's MBA or MSW courses for transfer. The grades you receive for those 12 credits will count towards your JD grade point average.
How would participating in the dual degree program impact my class rank?
In addition to receiving letter grades on the 12 transfer credits, your class rank will also be impacted in a second way. Your class rank will not be calculated based on your incoming class, but based on the class in the academic year in which you graduate.
For example:
- You started at UNH Law in fall 2010: Your incoming class is the Class of 2013.
- You graduate from UNH Law in December 2013 as a JD/MBA or JD/MSW: Your class rank will be calculated with the Class of 2014 since you are graduating in the same academic year as that class.
Who can I talk to for advice about the dual degree programs?
The Admissions Office can refer to you to the appropriate faculty or staff to talk with you about the program.
If I am interested in applying to the MBA program, whom do I contact?
Rebecca Barbour. She is the Admissions Counselor for Graduate Programs at the Whittemore School of Business & Economics.
Her contact information is:
Rebecca Barbour, MBA
Admissions Counselor, Graduate Programs
Whittemore School of Business & Economics
University of New Hampshire
McConnell Hall room 116
http://www.wsbe.unh.edu/grad
603-862-1367
If I am interested in applying to the MSW program, whom do I contact?
Dr. Sharon Murphy, Assistant Professor
sharon.murphy@unh.eduFor more information about MSW Admissions, contact Admissions Coordinator, Kim Kelsey at Kim.Kelsey@unh.edu.