Penn State Harrisburg,
Dickinson School Of Law Develop Joint Degree
11-4-96
Harrisburg, Pa. -- Officials at The Dickinson School of Law and Penn State Harrisburg have announced agreement on a program creating a cooperative degree in law and public administration. The two schools will begin admitting degree candidates for the 1997-98 academic year.
"This program will permit students to earn a law degree (JD) from The Dickinson School of Law and a master's degree in public administration (MPA) from Penn State Harrisburg in less time and at a lower cost than would be possible otherwise," said Dickinson Dean Peter G. Glenn. "It will be extremely useful for students who are pursuing careers for which both degrees are helpful."
According to Christine Kellett, Dean of Institutional Planning at the Law School, public administration graduates most often work in government positions that require some knowledge of the law. "There is a great deal of overlap in the areas of public administration and law," said Kellett. "It is certainly academically sound to bring those disciplines together."
"We expect to attract highly motivated students, and the program will provide a unique learning opportunity for these students," said Dr. Howard Sachs, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at Penn State Harrisburg. "The scholarly interests of the faculties of the two institutions will also benefit from the interactions brought about by this program."
To be admitted to the JD/MPA degree program, students must first be admitted to The Dickinson School of Law under its regular admission procedures. Dickinson will forward to Penn State Harrisburg applications of students who are interested in and qualified for the program. Penn State Harrisburg will then make independent admissions decisions regarding these candidates. Some candidates will likely apply to and be admitted to both schools prior to their enrollment at Dickinson.
Under an agreement approved by officials at both schools, students will be required to complete the first year of the JD program at Dickinson before beginning the MPA program at Penn State Harrisburg.
A maximum of nine credits toward law school course work may be transferred for credit toward the MPA degree at Penn State Harrisburg and vice versa. Students in the program may complete six credits of relevant Law School clinic work in lieu of the field placement required for the MPA degree. All students in the program will have two advisers, one from Dickinson and one from Penn State Harrisburg.
"This is further evidence of the strength of the educational institutions which enhance and strengthen the capital region," said Gerald Morrison, chair of the Penn State Harrisburg Board of Advisers and a Dickinson School of Law graduate. "By forming alliances among the already successful institutions which exist in the capital region, we can better portray our community to the rest of the world as one which is rich in educational opportunities."
Contact: Steve Hevner 717-948-6029, email sdh4@email.psu.edu