Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 Graduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Juris Doctor/Business Administration, J.D./M.B.A.


Overview

The combined full-time J.D./M.B.A. program is offered jointly by the SMU Dedman School of Law  and the Cox School of Business . The program is designed for students interested in either a career in law with a strong business focus or for students interested in business careers with a strong legal focus. The combined degrees may be obtained in four academic years.

This degree plan must be pursued on a full-time basis. The Cox School of Business and the Dedman School of Law have different academic calendars; therefore, students must refer to both calendars when scheduling courses for both schools in the same term. Students enrolled in the joint-degree program must complete all requirements of both programs. Cox School of Business required core courses are taken in the second year of the dual-degree program and must be taken in the same order as listed below. The remaining 14 credit hours of elective courses are taken during the third and fourth years of the dual-degree program. To provide students with a broad variety of elective courses, the classes are scheduled in the morning, afternoon and evening.

Under the structure of the dual program for students entering the Business School in the fall of 2013, the Dedman School of Law will award 12 hours of academic credit toward the J.D. degree for satisfactory completion of the academic requirements of the M.B.A. program. Similarly, the Cox School of Business will award 12 hours of academic credit toward the M.B.A. degree for satisfactory completion of the academic requirements of the J.D. program.

The tuition rate of the Dedman School of Law shall apply to the courses taken at the Cox School of Business.

Candidates will need to complete the regular admissions processes for both the law program and the M.B.A. program, including submission of all applicable test scores and supporting documents. For an application and additional information from the Dedman School of Law, students should see the Admissions section at www.law.smu.edu. For Cox School of Business admissions information, students should visit www.coxmba.com. To be admitted to the joint program, applicants are encouraged to apply to both programs before entering the Dedman School of Law but no later than during their first year of law school. Applications for study in the J.D./M.B.A. program are accepted for fall admission only.

J.D. admission questions should be addressed to the Dedman School of Law : phone 214-768-2550; fax 214-768-2549; lawadmit@smu.edu.

M.B.A. admission questions should be addressed to the Cox full-time M.B.A. program: mbainfo@cox.smu.edu; telephone 214-768-1214 or 1-800-472-3622; fax 214-768-3956.

Curriculum


Full-Time J.D./M.B.A. Class 2023: Entry Fall 2021 in Cox, Graduate Spring 2023

Total Credit Hours: 127

(52 Business + 75 Law)

Year 1 – Fall and Spring Terms at Dedman Law


Dedman Law courses - 32 credit hours

Year Total: 32 Credit Hours


Year 2 – Fall Term at Cox Business


Module B Courses


Term Total: 20-22 Credit Hours


Note: Students select the second accounting course based on their interest and anticipated concentration: either ACCT 6202 - Financial Accounting II  or ACCT 6205 - Strategic Cost Analysis . Students should consult the Concentrations and Minors section for specific information on which second accounting course is required for each concentration.

Year 2 – Spring Term at Cox Business


Term Total: 16 Credit Hours


Note:

Year 3 – Fall and Spring Terms at Cox and Dedman Law


Cox Business electives: four courses

Cox Year Total: 8 Credit Hours

Dedman Law courses

Dedman Year Total: 22 Credit Hours

Year Total: 30 Credit Hours


Year 4 – Fall and Spring Terms at Cox and Dedman Law


Cox Business electives: four courses

Cox Year Total: 8 Credit Hours

Dedman Law courses

Dedman Year Total: 21 Credit Hours

Year Total: 29 Credit Hours


Cox Credit Hours Summary for Full-Time J.D./M.B.A. Program


28 credit hours of required Cox courses
24 credit hours of elective Cox courses

52 credit hours total for Cox toward J.D./M.B.A. degree

Note: For the 24 credit hours of elective courses, students complete one concentration. Each concentration requires 12–16 specific credit hours. (Additional information is in the Concentrations and Minors section.)

Credit Hours Summary by School


Year Dedman Law Cox Business
1 32   0
2   0 36
3 22   8
4 21   8
Total 75 52