Dual Degree JD/MHSA
Joint Degree Program in Health Policy and Management and Law
The JD/MHSA dual degree program combines into four years of full-time study the Juris Doctor (JD) Program offered by the School of Law and the Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA) Program offered by the Department of Population Health in the School of Medicine. The JD/MHSA joint degree program is designed to offer students who plan to practice health law or health services management a thorough academic grounding in both disciplines.
The complexity of current national debates on health care suggests that an important relationship exists between health administration and the law. It is therefore not surprising to find individuals with law degrees holding managerial and executive positions in health care organizations or an increasing number of attorneys specializing in health care law. Lawyers who counsel health care executives must have a broad knowledge of the health care field to serve their clients well. Career opportunities for individuals with training in the law and health administration are available in a variety of settings including law firms, health services delivery organizations, insurance and managed care organizations, and government.
Admissions Requirements
To be admitted to the dual JD/MHSA Program, an applicant must hold an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, complete the admission processes and meet the admission requirements for both the School of Law and the MHSA Program, and be admitted by both the School of Law and the MHSA Program no later than the end of the first year of study in either program. Prior academic achievement should indicate a high likelihood that an applicant has the capacity to complete the curricula in law and health services administration. Full-time study is required for the dual JD/MHSA Program.
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is the only standardized test required for an applicant to the dual degree program. An applicant or student who is interested in entering the dual degree program should discuss his or her plans with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the School of Law and the MHSA Program Student Services Manager in the Department of Population Health as early as possible. No student may enter the dual degree program after completing more than the equivalent of two semesters of full-time enrollment in either the JD or MHSA curriculum.
Degree Requirements
To receive the JD/MHSA, a student must successfully complete a minimum of 123 credit hours. Of these, at least 80 credit hours must be from courses offered by the School of Law and 43 must be from the MHSA Program. Students in the degree program should note that while the School of Law requires a 2.0 grade point average in JD coursework to remain in good standing and for graduation, the MHSA Program follows the Graduate School regulation requiring a 3.0 cumulative grade point average for coursework that is counted toward the MHSA portion of the dual degree. In planning their enrollments, students should inform themselves of course prerequisites and plan their course schedules accordingly.
JD Requirements
All candidates for the JD degree must complete the following required courses.
First-Year | Upper-Class |
---|---|
LAW 804: Civil Procedure (4) |
Three courses from among the following: Law 837: Contracts II/ UCC Sales (3) and |
Students must complete all required first-year courses (29 credit hours) during their first year of Law School enrollment. In addition to these course requirements, the School of Law has an upper-class writing intensive requirements, an experiential requirement, a minimum grade point average requirement, a residence requirement, and a time limit for completion of the degree. Please refer to the current School of Law catalog for details.
In addition to the 43 credit hours of coursework (described above) required of all law students, students in the dual JD/MHSA degree program must complete the following coursework:
LAW 850: Administrative Law (3) AND
LAW 919: Healthcare Financing & Regulation (2) OR
LAW 920: Health Law and Policy(3)
Two of the following three courses:
LAW 903: Employment Discrimination Law (3)
LAW 925: Employment Law (3)
LAW 939: Labor Law (4)
Two of the following courses:
LAW 860: Alternative Dispute Resolution (2-3) |
LAW 931: Introduction to Elder Law (2) |
All courses must be taken as Law School courses from Law School faculty, except that on a showing of extreme hardship the Law School Academic Committee may grant a waiver of this requirement. The Academic Committee shall also have the authority to make changes or substitutions to this list upon showing of changed circumstances, such as changes in the fundamental nature of a course or the discontinuance of a course.
Students choose other Law School courses to complete the remaining hours necessary to reach the total of 80 hours of law school credit needed for the dual degree.
MHSA Requirements
Students entering the MHSA program must have completed a 3 credit hour course in statistics, with a grade of B or better in each prior to matriculation. This coursework must be completed in an accredited college or university. Applicants should consult the Student Services Manager to determine if the coursework they have taken or plan to take fulfills this requirement.
The following 43 credit hours of coursework is required for the MHSA portion of the dual degree.
GROUP I: All of these courses (27 credit hours):
Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
HP&M 810 | The Healthcare System |
3
|
HP&M 819 | Research for Healthcare Leaders |
3
|
HP&M 822 | Healthcare Economics |
3
|
HP&M 825 | Financial Concepts in Healthcare Management |
3
|
HP&M 830 | Healthcare Management |
3
|
HP&M 846 | Health Information Technology Management |
3
|
HP&M 850 | Introduction to Operations |
3
|
HP&M 858 | Organizational Behavior in Healthcare |
3
|
HP&M 860 | Internship |
1
|
HP&M 861 | Capstone Seminar |
2
|
GROUP II Options: 16 Credit Hours:
Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
HP&M 827 | Financial Applications in Healthcare Management |
3
|
HP&M 832 | Governance and Health Law |
2
|
HP&M 833 | Ethics |
2
|
HP&M 837 |
Health Policy |
3
|
HP&M 840 |
Organizational Foundations for Leading Change OR HP&M 830 |
3
|
HP&M 848 | Designing Healthcare Organizations |
2
|
HP&M 852 | Strategic Marketing |
2
|
HP&M 853 | Strategic Management |
2
|
HP&M 854 | Human Resources and Workforce Development |
3
|
BIOS 704 | Principles of Statistics in Public Health |
3
|
HP&M | Elective |
3
|
Waivers, substitutions, and all other degree requirements are governed by Department and Graduate School policies. Students should consult the Student Services Manager, if they have questions about MHSA degree requirements.
The following scheduling of MHSA courses is recommended for years two, three, and four in the JD/MHSA Program, with year one devoted to Law School coursework.
Fall Two
HP&M 810: The Health Care System (3)
HP&M 858: Organizational Behavior in Healthcare (3)
Group II Course
Spring Two
HP&M 822: Health Care Economics (3)
HP&M 850: Introduction to Operations (3)
Group II Course
Fall Three
HP&M 825: Financial Concepts in Health Management (3)
Group II Course
Spring Three
HP&M 846: Health Information Technology Management (3)
Group II Course
Summer Three
HP&M 860: Internship (1)
Optional: Group II Course (HP&M 852)
Fall Four
HP&M 819: Research for Health Care Leaders (3)
Group II Course
Spring Four
HP&M 830: Health Care Management (3)
HP&M 861: Capstone Seminar
Group II Course
Typical Program Format
Law School |
Dept. of HP&M |
Total | |
---|---|---|---|
First Year |
29
|
0
|
29
|
Second Year |
17
|
17
|
34
|
Third Year |
17
|
13
|
30
|
Fourth Year |
17
|
13
|
30
|
Total Credit Earned |
80
|
43
|
123
|
For more information, please contact:
Nichole Evans
MHSA Program Manager
Department of Population Health
University of Kansas Medical Center
5001 Student Center, MS 3044
3901 Rainbow Boulevard
Kansas City, KS 66160
913.588.1934; nevans2@kumc.edu
Elizabeth A. Kronk Warner
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
School of Law
University of Kansas
406 Green Hall
1535 W. 15th St.
Lawrence, Kansas 66045
785-864-1139; elizabeth.kronk@ku.edu