MBA & JD DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM    top

The Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration (JD/MBA) Dual degree program is designed to broaden career opportunities in the fields of business and law. The program allows students to combine legal training with advanced management study. The Dual degree program will prepare students for a wide range of careers, including investment banking, accounting, international trade, industrial relations, corporate law, and management consulting where law and business overlap. Students completing the program will receive a MBA degree from the Jesse H. Jones School of Business and a JD degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law simultaneously. The program allows successful students to engage, not only with complex business problems in the corporate environment, but also to take private and difficult legal issues into account in all business decisions.

APPLICATION TO THE MBA/JD DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM    top

The JD/MBA Dual degree program is open to holders of baccalaureate degrees from accredited colleges or universities. Applicants to the program must meet the entrance requirements and follow the application procedures administered by both the TM School of Law and the JHJ School of Business.

Students applying for the dual program must apply after September 1 of the previous year and before April 1 of the following year to be considered for admittance in the fall. Both JD and MBA programs admit students only in the fall semester. Although students may apply for either the MBA or the JD program at any time during their course of study, students must be admitted to both programs before completing either program. Admission to both degree programs under the dual program concept permits the application of credits for one degree toward the other degree. Application to the program will be evaluated by both the TM School of Law and JHJ School of Business.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS    top

• Satisfactory LSAT score
• A minimum of 2.5 GPA in all undergraduate coursework
• Letters of Evaluation
• Personal Statement

• Acceptable GMAT score
• A minimum of 2.5 GPA in all undergraduate coursework
• Letters of Evaluation
• Career Objective Essay
• Socioeconomic profile

CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS    top

1. Required Law Courses in the JD/MBA Degree – 81 Semester Credits
   • LAW 502 (Civil Procedure) – 4 hours
   • LAW 504 (Contracts I) – 3 hours
   • LAW 505 (Contracts II) – 3 hours
   • LAW 530 (Criminal Law) – 3 hours
   • LAW 506 (Property I) – 3 hours
   • LAW 507 (Property II) – 3 hours
   • LAW 900 (Lawyering Process I) – 3 hours
   • LAW 930 (Lawyering Process II) – 2 hours
   • LAW 508 (Torts I) – 3 hours
   • LAW 509 (Torts II) – 3 hours
   • LAW 920 (Appellate Jurisdiction) – 2 hours
   • LAW 640 (Business Association) – 4 hours
   • LAW 610 (Commercial Law) – 4 hours
   • LAW 540 (Constitutional Law) – 4 hours
   • LAW 601 (Criminal Procedure) – 3 hours
   • LAW 600 (Evidence) – 3 hours
   • LAW 602 (Federal Jurisdiction) – 3 hours
   • LAW 620 (Professional Responsibility) – 2 hours
   • LAW 921 (Trial Simulation) – 2 hours
   • LAW 650 (Wills and Trusts) – 4 hours
   • Writing Seminar/ Research – 2 hours
   • Law Electives – 18 hours
2. Required Business Courses in the JD/MBA Degree - 30 Semester Credits
   • ACCT 631 (Seminar in Managerial Accounting) – 3 hours
   • FIN 621 (Economic Analysis) – 3 hours
   • FIN 652 (Managerial Finance) – 3 hours
   • MGMT 636 (Organizational and Management Theory) – 3 hours
   • MGMT 670 (Global Strategic Planning) – 3 hours
   • MGSC 624 (Statistical Analysis) – 3 hours
   • MGSC 671 (Information Technology) – 3 hours
   • MKTG 650 (Strategic Marketing Management) – 3 hours
   • Business Electives – 6 hours

     In order to be eligible to take the required MBA courses, students must have satisfied the following foundation course work (or equivalents) with acceptable grades:

   • Financial Accounting (ACCT 231)
   • Principles of Economics (ECON 231 or 232)
   • Principles of Finance (FIN 301)
   • Principles of Management (MGMT 300)
   • Principles of Marketing (MKTG 306)
   • Statistics (MGSC 239)
   • Operations/Production Management (MGSC 302)
3. Total Requirements for Dual JD/MBA Degree – 111 Semester Credits

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS    top

1. Required Law Courses:
   • LAW 502 CIVIL PROCEDURE (4 HOURS) This course covers modern civil procedure in the United States with emphasis on pre-trial procedure under the Texas and Federal Rules. The content includes constitutional and statutory aspects of jurisdiction including personal and subject-matter jurisdiction, the “Erie” doctrine, and procedural rules of leading, joinder of parties, joinder of claims, discovery, and pretrial motions.
   • LAW 504 & LAW 505 CONTRACTS I/II (3/3 HOURS) This course is a study of the contract process emphasizing: 1) offer, 2) acceptance, 3) consideration and other “formation” issues, 4) performance, breach and discharge, and 5) remedies. This course deals with the principal problems raised by agreements or promises for the breach of which the law gives a remedy, and examines what kinds of promises the law will enforce and why, and what remedies are available for breach. These issues will be explored both in terms of the common law and the Uniform Commercial Code.
   • LAW 530 CRIMINAL LAW (3 HOURS) Criminal law is a required first year course. In addition to providing basic training in legal analysis, the course focuses on theories of punishment, the requirements of actus reus and mens rea, concepts of proportionality and legality, and problems of causation. Particular emphasis is placed on the law of homicide. Theories of accomplice and conspiratorial liability are also examined. Principles of justification and excuse, such as self-defense and insanity, will be considered.
   • LAW 506 & LAW 507 PROPERTY I/II (3/3 HOURS) This course offers an introduction to law governing real and personal property. Course topics include acquisition of property, interest in land, concurrent ownership, conveyance, landlord/tenant, land use planning, and the economic and philosophical basis of property rights.
   • LAW 900 & LAW 930 LAWYERING PROCESS I/II (3/2 HOURS) This course provides introductory treatment of legal methods, case analysis, basic writing, legal writing, problem analysis, statutory analysis, and legal research. The legal methods component, which entails case analysis, synthesis and statutory analysis, exposes students to: 1) a comprehensive technique of briefing judicial opinions; 2) processes for synthesizing judicial decisions; 3) concepts basic to the common law system, such as the function of courts, stare decisis, and holding versus dictum; 4) concepts of relevance and the ability to distinguish and analyze common law, equity and legislation; 5) the concept of relevance and the ability to distinguish relevant from irrelevant facts; 6) the ability to identify and frame legal issues; 7) the ability to abstract legal principles from cases and apply them to other fact situations, and reason to a sound conclusion; 8) analogization techniques; and 9) the relationship between common law and legislation.
     
     The basic writing, legal writing and problem analysis components entail: 1) development of an appreciation for the differences between good and bad legal writing; 2) improvement of grammar, sentence structure, paragraph and organization; 3) techniques of persuasive prose; 4) techniques of answering traditional essay law exam questions; and 5) strategies designed to enhance the ability to answer multiple choice law exam questions.
     
     The legal research component entails the development of the ability to use the national reporter system, the digest system, legal encyclopedias, Shepard citations, legal periodicals, loose-leaf services and the Uniform System of Citation.
   • LAW 508 & LAW 509 TORTS I/II (3/3 HOURS) This course addresses the judicial treatment of claims based on personal injuries and property loss where the complaining party utilizes one or more of the following three major bases of liability: intentional torts, negligence, and strict liability. More particularly, the course covers: battery, assault, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of mental distress, trespass to land, trespass to chattels, conversion, defenses to the intentional torts, negligence, joint tortfeasors, damages, wrongful death and survival, contributory negligence defense, assumption of risk defense, comparative negligence defense, last clear chance, statute of limitations and repose, immunities, imputed negligence, strict liability, products liability, nuisance, misrepresentation, defamation, invasion of privacy and misuse of legal procedure.
   • LAW 920 APPELLATE JURISDICTION (2 HOURS) A study of the conduct of civil and criminal appeals. The course entails intensive instruction on skills involved in the preparation of an appellate brief and the conduct of an oral argument. It also includes a study of appellate procedures and scope of review.
   • LAW 740 BASIC FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION (4 HOURS) This course provides introductory treatment of income taxation using the Internal Revenue Code. The course explores: 1) those items that are included in gross income; 2) deductions that are allowed from gross income in arriving at taxable income; 3) tax credits that are allowed in determining the tax due; 4) when income is considered received for tax purposes; 5) whether one taxpayer may shift the incidence of taxation to another; and 6) those items of income that are specially treated. Student must take in their second or third year if GPA is below 3.0 after first year.
   • LAW 640 BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (4 HOURS) The course involves a study of the problems arising out of the creation, organization, and operation of the business entity (primarily corporations, but agencies, partnerships and joint ventures are also reviewed). Coverage includes an analysis of rights, duties, and financial rewards of corporate shareholders, directors and officers. Proxy regulations, struggles for control, transactions in shares by insiders, shareholder litigation, and fundamental changes in the corporate structure are other intended topics. Pre-incorporation problems, the law regarding disregard of the corporate entity, and defective incorporation may be included.
   • LAW 610 COMMERCIAL LAW (4 HOURS) This course involves an integrated study of the law governing modern commercial transactions including the Uniform Commercial Code: 1) Article 9 (secured transactions); 2) Article 2 (sales); and 3) Articles 3 and 4 (commercial paper). This course will consider the rights and obligations of parties engaged in the sale and financing of goods and services, and the use of negotiable instruments.
   • LAW 540 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW (4 HOURS) A study of the United States Constitution including judicial review, national power, state power, executive and congressional relations, substantive due process, procedural due process and equal protection.
   • LAW 711 CONSUMER RIGHTS (3 HOURS) Based on Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA), this course examines consumer transactions and considers how the law protects consumers when dealing with merchants, lenders and other providers of products and services. Areas covered are false and deceptive advertising, unconscionability, warranties, credit regulation, informal debt collection, relevant sections of the Insurance Code, and judicial enforcement procedures. Student must take this course in their second or third year if their G.P.A. is below 3.0 after the first year.
   • LAW 601 CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (3 HOURS) This is a course focusing on the processes of the criminal justice system and the constitutional guarantees stemming from the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Emphasis placed on the incorporation process, the right to counsel, the law of search and seizure and the exclusionary rule, and rules relating to interrogation, wiretapping and electronic eavesdropping.
   • LAW 600 EVIDENCE (3 HOURS) A study of the rules of evidence and reasons supporting them, state and federal. These include relevancy, impeachment, the burden of producing evidence, the burden of persuasion, presumptions, judicial notice, competency of witnesses, the presentation of evidence and its admission of exclusion, demonstrative evidence, writings, the hearsay rule and its exceptions and privilege. This course must be taken in the fall semester of students second year.
   • LAW 602 FEDERAL JURISDICTION (3 HOURS) A study of the procedure practice and procedure under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. This course focuses on: 1) the relationship between the federal judiciary and the executive and legislative branches of the federal government; and 2) the relationship between the federal courts and the states. The topics covered include Congressional power to control federal court jurisdiction, constitutional and statutory limitations on subject-matter jurisdiction, sovereign and official immunity, abstention, equitable restraint, and other limitations on the exercise of federal court jurisdiction, the Erie Doctrine, and federal common law. This course may be taken in the second or third year.
   • LAW 620 PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2 HOURS) A study of the rules of conduct that regulates a lawyer’s relation with clients, the courts, others of the legal profession, and the community at large. Among the topics covered are: organization of the Bar, discipline, duty to courts, clients, public and fellow lawyers, fiduciary duty, advocacy, and the adversary system, fees, solicitation and mortality of the bar. The course uses the ABA Code of Professional conduct as well as a casebook.
   • LAW 903 TEXAS PRACTICE (5 HOURS) This course is designed to acquaint the student with the procedures of litigating a case, either civil or criminal, in a Texas court. Topics range from issuance of process to the satisfaction of judgment, with some attendant substantive law concepts, from a practice point of view. Court structure, limitation of actions, jurisdiction, venue, process, parties, pleadings, motions, pretrial disclosure, calendar practice, preparation for trial, pretrial conference, jury trial, non-jury trial judgments and their enforcement, provisional remedies, special proceedings and appeals will be discussed. Also included in the course are criminal procedure and other substantive law concepts. Students must take this course in their second or third year if after first year G.P.A. is below 3.0.
   • LAW 921 TRIAL SIMULATION (2 HOURS) In this course, students who have already completed basic Civil Procedure, Evidence and several other required substantive courses, are expected to learn the pretrial and trial processes and the role of the lawyer in those processes. Emphasis will be on the trial, but interviewing, negotiating, discovery, pleading, trial preparation and jury instruction are also included. Students will actively participate in voir dire, opening statements, trial evidence, direct examination, cross examination, and closing arguments. Students will participate in exercises that involve making objections, impeachment, using depositions, and introducing exhibits. This course will further emphasize the importance of ethics, decorum and personal mannerisms in the courtroom. Each student will participate in at least one complete trial.
   • LAW 650 WILLS AND TRUSTS (4 HOURS) The “wills” component of the course covers intestate succession, problems common to inheritance and wills, formal requirements to wills, revocation of wills, restrictions on the power to disposition, components of a will, changes in beneficiaries and property after execution of the will, class gifts, contracts relating to wills and will contests.
     
     The “trusts” component of the course covers the Texas Trust Code, express trusts; resulting trusts; constructive trusts, creation of trusts, inter vivos and testamentary trusts, revocable trusts, charitable trusts, resulting trusts, transfer of beneficiary’s interest, termination of trusts, administration of trusts (trustee powers and duties), principal and income problems and jurisdiction and proceedings concerning trusts.
2. Required Business Courses:
   • ACCT 631 SEMINAR IN MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING (3 HOURS) An examination of the theoretical and practical issues involved in managerial accounting. Emphasis is on contemporary issues in managerial accounting. Prerequisites: ACCT 231 or ACCT 636
   • FIN 621 FINANCIAL & ECONOMIC ANALYSIS (3 HOURS) The business principles using a managerial approach to financial and economic analysis. Covers theories of consumer, firm, and markets with emphasis on managerial decision-making; applied topics include demand estimation, forecasting, exchange rates and exports, and long-term investment. Prerequisites: ECON 231 and ECON 232 or equivalents; FIN 301, and MGSC 239
   • FIN 652 MANAGERIAL FINANCE (3 HOURS) The theory and practice of financial decision making, including tools and techniques for making financial decisions, including those arising from globalization and ethical challenges. Prerequisites: FIN 301 or equivalent; MGSC 624
   • MGMT 636 ORGANIZATIONAL AND MANAGEMENT THEORY (3 HOURS) Individual, group and inter-group behavior within organizations in the context of technological change, workforce diversity, ethical challenges, and globalization. Prerequisites: MGMT 300 or equivalent
   • MGMT 670 GLOBAL STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT (3 HOURS) A cross-functional approach to the analysis of strategic decision making in the context of a global economy. Prerequisites: MGMT 636; FIN 652; ACCT 631; MKTG 650
   • MGSC 624 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS (3 HOURS) Use of statistical techniques for business research, analysis, and forecasting. Includes regression analysis and other econometric tools and the use of computer software. Prerequisites: MGSC 239; MGSC 302
   • MGSC 671 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (3 HOURS) The use of information technology to analyze business problems. Includes the development of computer software skills.
   • MKTG 650 STRATEGIC MARKETING MANAGEMENT (3 HOURS) Key marketing problems of domestic and international organizations, including those arising from issues related to globalization, environmental protection, ethical issues, social trends, and legal constraints. Prerequisites: MKTG 306 or equivalent

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS    top

The JD/MBA dual degree student must meet the graduation requirements of each school individually, including minimum grade point average and time-limit policies.

• Maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA in the JD portion of the program
• Satisfactory completion of the writing and optional oral defense requirements of the JD portion of the program
• Not more than 6 semester hours of “C” work in the MBA portion of the program
• Have an average of 3.0 cumulative GPA in the MBA portion of the program

APPLICATION TO THE MASTER'S PROGRAM    top

Application for Admission to the Master's Degree Program