Simultaneously earn a Juris Doctor and Ph.D. or Ed.D. on an accelerated track
The Drake University Law School and the School of Education offer a joint degree program that enables students to earn a Juris Doctor from the Law School alongside either a Doctor of Philosophy in Education (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Education in Leadership (Ed.D.) from the School of Education on an accelerated and integrated track.
The joint program is designed for students whose professional goals include education leadership, policy development, or academic careers at the intersection of law, education, and public policy.
When the degrees are pursued simultaneously, the joint program is designed to be completed in approximately five to six years, depending on dissertation progress, with graduates being awarded both degrees concurrently upon completion of all requirements. Students also have the option to first pursue the Juris Doctor before enrolling to earn their Ph.D. or Ed.D. The accelerated format is made possible in part through courses eligible for cross-credits toward both degrees, which include Law School courses such as Education and Law Policy, Administrative Law, and Civil Rights Litigation, as well as School of Education courses such as Foundations of Doctoral Education, Program Evaluation, and Policy and Cultural Diversity.
Prospective students must apply to and be accepted by both the Drake University Law School and the School of Education independently. Candidates may apply to both programs simultaneously or seek admission to the second program during their first year of initial enrollment. Students will focus exclusively on the Juris Doctor curriculum during their first year of law study before beginning concurrent coursework in both programs.