Introduction
The JD/MBA is an attractive alternative for individuals wishing to practice law and/or business in an increasingly dynamic and complex environment. It is designed to augment the knowledge of students who seek to expand their expertise in the business arena. Accordingly, the number of semester hours required to obtain the joint degree is fewer than the number required if each degree is pursued independently.
Admission Process and Requirements
New Students
Applicants for the JD/MBA degree program must apply to and meet the separate admission requirements for each college.
The College of Law operates a dual-division program, which accommodates both full-time and part-time students. The Haile/US Bank College of Business accepts students in summer, fall and spring terms. Applicants may apply for admission as either full-time students or part-time students in both sections of the program, though the length of the program will be extended considerably for part-time evening JD/MBA students.
To be considered for admission to the MBA program, an applicant must submit the following:
A portfolio approach is used in evaluating prospective students for acceptance into the MBA program. Factors considered for admission include:
- Online application and fee
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) coursework from accredited institutions with a minimum undergraduate overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.75. Acceptable transcripts should show evidence of successful completion of quantitative courses.*
- Current resume with 3 years of professional work experience.
- No longer than one page (single spaced) essay stating your motivation for pursuing an MBA.
- If an international applicant, IBT, TOEFL or equivalent with a minimum score of 550 or IELTS minimum score of 6.5 must be submitted to the NKU Office for International Students and Scholar Services.
*Students are required to take the GMAT or GRE if their transcripts do not show evidence of successful completion of quantitative courses. Although scores make up only one factor in the admissions process, it is anticipated that successful applicants will have a minimum overall score of 520 on the GMAT (comparable GRE scores will also be considered).
For application deadline dates and a more complete description of the MBA admission materials, see previous section on MBA program or information on the web at http://www.nku.edu/academics/cob/programs/graduate/mba.html.
JD Application:
J.D. applicants are required to receive a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university prior to enrollment and are required to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
Chase seeks to admit those applicants who have the best prospect of high-quality academic work; thus, the Admission Committee relies heavily on the applicant’s undergraduate grades and performance on the LSAT during the application review process. Additional factors considered include upward trend of undergraduate grades; time between college graduation and application to Chase; college grading and course selection patterns; outside work while in college; letters of recommendation; graduate study; cultural, educational, or sociological deprivation; employment background; leadership ability; speaking or linguistic ability; and demonstrated competence in another profession or vocation. Chase seeks diversity in the student body by considering, in no particular order, sex, age, cultural or geographic background, and minority status. Full-time students enter in the fall semester; part-time evening students may begin in either the summer or fall semester.
The priority deadline for applications is March 15 for summer start and April 1 for fall start.
Visit https://chaselaw.nku.edu/prospective/juris-doctor/jd-application.html for a complete description of the NKU Chase College of Law application process and deadlines.
Currently Enrolled Students
Students currently enrolled in either the MBA or JD program may elect to pursue the joint degree if they comply with the admission requirements of each program. Students enrolled in the joint program will be eligible for membership in student organizations, fraternities and clinical programs of each college as well as for law review, mock trial, and moot court at NKU Chase College of Law.
Transfer Credit
Normally no more than 30 semester hours of law courses may be transferable toward the JD degree; no credit will be transferred for any course where a grade of less than C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) was received. Students wishing to transfer credit must have been in good standing at an American Bar Association approved law school. All credit transferred will be with the grade of “credit.” For transfer policies, refer to the graduate catalog.
Academic Standing
A student entering the joint JD/MBA program is required to complete 108 credit hours, consisting of 81 hours in the College of Law and at least 25 hours in the Haile/US Bank College of Business. If the same student were to complete each degree separately, he or she would be required to take 90 credit hours in law and at least 33 in business. Thus, at least theoretically, the joint degree program allows the student to take 9 fewer law credit hours and 8 fewer business credit hours and to complete the joint degree program as much as a year earlier. Students failing in one college but meeting passing requirements in the other college and desiring to complete their degree there will be allowed to do so as long as they continue to maintain a passing average. Students who do not complete the joint program, however, will be required to meet the regular degree requirements that were in effect when they entered the joint program.
♦ Indicates prerequisite.
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