Law, J.D. and Health Care Ethics, Ph.D. Dual Degree

Students begin their dual degree studies at Saint Louis University School of Law as traditional first-year students. In their second and third years of study, students are primarily law students but take six credits of courses at SLU's Albert Gnaegi Center for Health Care Ethics. 

In addition to the six credits in health care ethics, students enroll in a three-credit directed research course cross-listed by both programs. The directed research project is supervised by faculty from both programs and is treated as a traditional law-school-directed research project.

Dual-degree students ordinarily graduate with a J.D. in three years of full-time study. It is recommended that they sit for the bar exam in the summer following their graduation.

Beginning in the fall following their graduation from the School of Law, all academic work is dedicated to the Ph.D. program. The Ph.D. program recognizes nine credits of law school courses toward the Ph.D. (See details below.) Additionally, students will have completed nine health care ethics class credits during the J.D. program. Thus, students are expected to complete their Ph.D. coursework in two semesters following their J.D. program. Comprehensive exams and the dissertation ordinarily require an additional three semesters.

During the entire time that students are enrolled in the dual-degree program, they are expected to be engaged in both programs. Starting with their second year of law school, students will participate in Ph.D. seminars and other extracurricular programs offered by the doctoral program. Once they have completed their J.D. and are enrolled in the doctoral program, they are expected to remain engaged in relevant health law activities at the School of Law.

For additional information, see the catalog entries for the following SLU programs:

Health Care Ethics, Ph.D.

Law, J.D.

Accreditation

Saint Louis University School of Law has been continuously accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) since December 1924. The accrediting body is the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, 312-988-6738.

Students who wish to enter SLU's J.D./Ph.D. program must fulfill all admission requirements for the School of Law and the Albert Gnaegi Center for Health Care Ethics. They must apply to each separately.

Students may apply to both schools during the same admission period or may wait to apply to the Ph.D. program during their first year in the School of Law.

Students complete the usual curriculum in both the Juris Doctor and Ph.D. programs. However, as indicated below, 18 credits of coursework satisfy requirements in both of the programs.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

For additional information about the health care ethics program, contact hce_info@slu.edu or call 314-977-1060.