Program Overview

The Joint Juris Doctor (J.D.)/Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree program is offered by the partnership of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School and Western Michigan University. The program provides advanced practitioner-oriented education in legal, administrative, and policy processes that are essential to the effective management of legal practices as well as health care, nonprofit, and public organizations. The combination of skills and theory is also ideal for pre-career and in-career students who aspire to careers in court administration, criminal justice, regulation, drafting legislation, lobbying, senior management, and politics.

JD/MPA Frequently Asked Questions

JD/MPA Admission

The Thomas M. Cooley Law School's J.D. Program and the Western Michigan University's MPA program maintain independent admissions committees, criteria, and processes. Admission to one program, therefore, does not guarantee admission to the other program.

WMU Master of Public Administration: Admission Process

Thomas J. Cooley Law School JD: Admission Criteria and Process

JD/MPA Program Requirements

Students who complete the MPA Law Concentration can reduce, by up to 12, the number of credit hours that are needed to fulfill the JD and MPA program requirements. The concentration's law courses are available at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School facilities in Grand Rapids and Lansing.  The remaining MPA courses can be completed at the Western Michigan University campus in Kalamazoo and the Battle Creek and Lansing Regional Sites.

WMU Master of Public Administration: Program Requirements | Schedules  

Thomas J. Cooley Law School JD: Program Requirements | Scheduling Options