Programs by Campus
Bloomington
Law
Maurer School of Law
Departmental E-mail: lawadmis [at] indiana [dot] edu
Departmental URL: www.law.indiana.edu
Curriculum
Degrees Offered
Doctor of Philosophy in Law and Social Science, combined M.A. in Journalism and J.D. in Law, combined M.A. or M.S. in Telecommunications and J.D. in Law, and a Ph.D. minor in law. In addition, although they are not graduate degrees offered through the University Graduate School but instead professional degrees offered through the Maurer School of Law, the School offers the Master of Laws (L.L.M.), the Master of Comparative Law (M.C.L.), the Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.), and the Doctor of Jurisprudence degrees. Joint degree programs include the combined M.B.A. and J.D. in Law, the combined M.P.A. or M.S.E.S. and J.D. in Law, and the combined M.L.S. and J.D. in Law. For information regarding these degrees, see the website or bulletin of the Maurer School of Law.
Special School Requirements
(See also general University Graduate School requirements.)
Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Law and Social Science
This program is designed to allow qualified students to pursue interdisciplinary research and problem solving in areas where law and social science overlap. The specialized Law and Democracy track within this degree program provides an interdisciplinary course of study focused on the way that law structures democracy. This track allows students to learn about the role of law in new and fragile democracies through coursework and experience in the field, training in the law and the social sciences, and comparative analyses of the experience of the United States and other countries. Inquiries about the general degree or the specialized track may be addressed to the Office of International Programs of the School of Law.
Joint Degree Programs
The Law School offers several formal joint-degree programs that allow students to combine a law program with programs from other Indiana University schools and departments. These joint-degree programs allow students to earn a J.D. and either a master’s degree or a Ph.D. in another discipline. Joint degrees decrease the time, typically by a year, that students would spend earning both degrees separately. Joint-degree programs with other disciplines may be individually designed and structured to meet students’ learning and career goals. Proposals for such individually designed programs should initially be submitted to the School of Law. The School of Law will coordinate with the other school or department to establish the joint or concurrent program.
Candidates for joint-degree programs are encouraged to apply for admission to each school at the same time. However, law students can apply for admission to the other school or department before the end of the second year of law study. Students enrolled in master’s programs at other schools and departments should apply for admission to the Law School before the end of the first year of the master’s program. Each degree has required course work. Joint degrees are awarded at the same time, and all requirements in both schools must be completed in order to receive each degree.
Whether in a formal or individually structured joint-degree program, students typically spend their first year at the Law School. Thereafter, course time is divided between the Law School and the other school or department in whatever way best meets the educational objectives of the student and the program requirements.
As a general rule, joint-degree programs do not require academic work during the summer recess, permitting joint-degree candidates to take advantage of opportunities for internships, clerkships, and summer associate programs.
Joint Degree: Master of Arts in Journalism and Doctor of Jurisprudence in the School of Law
Admission Requirements
Students may apply to the School of Journalism on the Bloomington campus at the same time they apply to the School of Law on the Bloomington Campus. Students already enrolled in School of Law may apply to the School of Journalism up to the completion of their second year of law study. Students enrolled in the School of Journalism may apply to the School of Law up to the end of their first year of the master’s program. Students would customarily spend the first year in the School of Law and thereafter divide the second, third and fourth years between the two units.
Credit Hours
The joint program would require a minimum of 79 hours in law and 30 hours in journalism, including a thesis.
Curriculum
Master of Arts Degree, Research and Teaching Track
A total of 30 credit hours in journalism, including J500, Introduction to Mass Media Research; J510, Media and Society Seminar; J800, M.A. Thesis and 21 additional credit hours in journalism.
Master of Arts Degree, Professional Track
A total of 30 credit hours in journalism, including the core offerings of J560, Intensive Reporting, Writing, and Editing Workshop I; J560, Intensive Reporting, Writing, and Editing Workshop II; J510, Media and Society Seminar; J572, The Press and the Constitution; one visual professional skills course, two other professional skills courses, and nine additional hours of electives.
School of Law Requirements
Students must complete 79 credit hours in law, including all degree requirements for the J.D.
Joint Degree: Master of Arts/Master of Science in Telecommunications and Doctor of Jurisprudence in the School of Law
The Law School and the Department of Telecommunications offer joint Doctor of Jurisprudence—Master of Arts/Master of Science degrees. Under the program, students may complete both the J.D. and the M.A. or M.S. in telecommunications in eight semesters.
Interested students usually apply to the Law School and the Department of Telecommunications at the same time; however, a person already enrolled in the Law School may apply for admission to the Department of Telecommunications up to the completion of the second year of law study. A student enrolled in telecommunications may seek admission to the School of Law up to the end of the first year of the master’s program.
Students customarily spend the first year in the School of Law and thereafter divide the second, third, and fourth years between the two units. Requirements for graduation are 79 credit hours in law (including all degree requirements) and 27 credit hours in telecommunications courses (including all of its required coursework) as well as a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.3 on all work taken in the School of Law and at least 3.0 on all work taken in the Telecommunications department.
Ph.D. Minor in Law
The School of Law offers a minor in law for Ph.D. students from other fields, which requires completion of 13-16 credit hours of course work. There are two required courses: a basic methodological course, such as contracts, torts, property, constitutional law, criminal law, or civil procedure; and either a research seminar (2 credits) or independent research (2 credits). Other courses to be taken will depend on the student’s interests and needs and shall be recommended by the assigned faculty advisor from the School of Law and approved by the student’s Ph.D. advisory committee and the appropriate chairperson or the dean of the student’s school. Examinations are required for individual courses, but none is required for the minor itself.
The minor chairperson in the School of Law is Associate Dean Leonard Fromm, Room 024, (812) 855-5361.