Dual Degrees

If you're interested in earning more than one degree, Albers offers several dual degrees within the School of Business as well as in conjunction with the Seattle University School of Law.

Albers Dual Business Degrees

The Albers dual degree programs are designed to allow students to complete both degrees in less time than if the two degrees were obtained independently outside the program. Due to the complexity of degree requirements, students should work closely with their adviser throughout their programs.

Students participating in this program must:

  • Apply to each program separately
  • Meet all admissions standards for each program
  • Complete all prerequisites for both programs
  • Declare their participation in the second program before completing at least 75% of the first degree program they enroll in.

Albers and the School of Law Dual Degrees

The Seattle University business and law dual degree program is designed to allow students interested in obtaining both the Juris Doctor and a graduate degree in business to complete the degrees in less time than if the two degrees were obtained independently outside the program. Full-time students are able to complete the two degrees sooner because specified courses taken at the School of Law may count toward the graduate business degree and specified courses taken in the Albers School of Business and Economics may count toward the JD degree. The dual degree program is also available to part-time students.*

Program of Study

The Seattle University Business and Law Dual Degree Program allows students to choose either to spend their first year in the Albers School of Business and Economics or in the School of Law**. Once a student chooses, the full first year must be spent in that school. The second year is spent in the other school (e.g., if the student chose law first, the second year would be in business, and vice versa). In the last two years (or more) students may take courses in both the business and law schools.

The Albers School of Business and Economics operates on a quarter system and the School of Law operates on a semester system. Therefore, specific schedules must be carefully coordinated with, and approved by, the School of Law Associate Dean and the Albers Associate Dean of Graduate Programs.

Admission Requirements for the Dual Degree Program

Students must be admitted separately to both the School of Law and the Albers School of Business and Economics, and should consult the Graduate Bulletin for the specific admissions requirements for each school. Students may be admitted to both schools before starting in the dual program; alternatively, students may seek admission to the other school during their first year of law or graduate business school. In any case, students will be expected to meet the respective school’s admissions deadlines for the coming year. Prospective applicants should note that the admissions requirements for the MBA program includes a current resume reflecting continuous full-time work experience in business. The work experience requirement will be waived for dual degree students who have completed the first year of law at Seattle University.

Length of Program

The minimum length of time required to complete the dual degree program is between three and four years for full-time students. Time to complete will be longer if the student is part-time and/or if the student must complete fundamental business classes or prerequisites for the graduate business degree.

Credit Requirements

The number of quarter credits required to complete the graduate business degree varies, depending upon which degree the student chooses in combination with the JD degree (see specific joint degrees below). In the joint degree program, students can satisfy the requirements for each degree by using a specified number of crossover credits** chosen from a list of approved courses in each school.

JD Degree

Students in the School of Law are required to complete 90 semester credits for the JD degree. Full-time law students ordinarily complete the JD degree in three years; part-time students may take four years or longer. In the full-time program, students complete 30 credits of required course work in their first year. In their second and third years, law students must complete 15 credits of required course work and 45 elective credits. For specific JD course requirements see the School of Law Curriculum.

*The American Bar Association, one of the accrediting agencies for law schools, requires that the JD degree be completed within a maximum of seven years.
***One quarter credit is the equivalent of .67 semester credits. A 3 quarter credit crossover business course could, for example, be used to satisfy 2 semester credits for the JD degree. One semester credit is the equivalent of 1.5 quarter credits. A 4 semester credit crossover law course could, for example, be used to satisfy 6 quarter credits for the graduate business degree.

Dual Business/Law Degrees