Overview
The JD/MBA dual degree program between the Cox School of Business and the Dedman School of Law offers business law–focused students an opportunity to boost their careers by having both law and business degrees.
We offer two program formats to accommodate those with different academic backgrounds and post-graduation goals. By taking law and business courses simultaneously, you can gain a valuable understanding of commercial affairs from two different perspectives.
4-Year Degree
The four-year JD/MBA degree combines the rigor and experiential learning of the Two Year MBA program at the Cox School of Business with the premier legal education provided by the Dedman School of Law. Students earn both degrees in four academic years (the JD degree normally requires three years to complete, and the MBA normally requires two years to complete), made possible because each school awards academic credit for a limited numbers of subject-appropriate courses taken in the other school.
Who It's For
The 4-year format is designed for:
- Candidates with any undergraduate degree or major
- Candidates interested in the option to seek either a business role or law profession
- Candidates that would gain from completing a concentration within the MBA curriculum
Your first year of this program is completed entirely at the law school, and the summer after your first year is usually spent completing a law internship. The second year is spent exclusively in the business school, and includes a global leadership experience abroad, with that following summer at a business internship. In your third and fourth years, you take a combination of business and law electives in both schools to satisfy degree requirements, with your final summer internship is in the field you plan to pursue after graduation.
Learn more about the SMU Cox Full-Time MBA program
Learn more about the Dedman School of Law JD program
3-Year Degree
Launched in 2016, the Cox School of Business and the Dedman School of Law have introduced a 3-year JD/MBA dual degree, which allows students with specific academic backgrounds and career goals to complete both degrees in three years. The 3-year format is made possible by the One Year MBA Program at the Cox School of Business. Students are able to complete both degrees on an accelerated timeline because each school gives students credit for a limited number of subject-appropriate courses taken in the other school.
Who It's For
This highly selective program is for students who:
- Candidates with an undergraduate degree in a business discipline, economics, or similarly quantitative field
- Candidates seeking to practice a law profession with business applications only
- Candidates seeking a general graduate business coursework rather than a specific concentration within the MBA curriculum
This combined degree program is aimed at the very motivated and able student who starts with a solid grounding in business concepts, and seeks advanced training in business and a professional legal education in a time- and cost-effective manner. We expect students in the 3-year format to pursue careers in the legal field.
Your first year of this program is completed entirely at the law school, followed by full-time classes at the business school during the summer. During your next two years, you will take both law and business courses to satisfy requirements for both degrees. Your summer between the second and third year are spent doing a law internship.
Learn More about the SMU Cox One-Year MBA program
Learn More about the SMU Dedman JD Program
Admissions
Candidates interested in pursuing the JD/MBA dual degree must submit applications to both the Cox School of Business and the Dedman School of Law. Students must be accepted to both programs.
Because the admissions process for the Dedman School of Law has fewer deadlines than the Cox School of Business, and there are also fewer dates to take the LSAT exam each year, we recommend contacting the Law School Admissions Office for questions pertaining to the law school admissions process. We of course are happy to address any questions specific to our application process and timeline for review.
For more information, please contact the Dedman School of Law
We offer two program formats to accommodate those with different academic backgrounds and post-graduation goals. By taking law and business courses simultaneously, you can gain a valuable understanding of commercial affairs from two different perspectives.
