THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

Degree Types: JD/PhD

Northwestern’s Graduate School and School of Law offer an integrated JD and PhD program for students interested in pursuing a career in academia or another research setting (e.g., a policy research organization) and whose teaching and research will be enriched by both the JD and PhD degrees. The JD/PhD Combined Degree Program prepares students to conduct innovative research on law at the cross section of disciplines. Recognizing that a growing trend among top law schools is to hire faculty who have PhDs as well as law degrees, Northwestern offers the most efficient, cohesive, and affordable option for future academics wishing to pursue their doctoral and law degrees simultaneously.

The program’s curriculum allows students to complete both degrees more efficiently than they would through consecutive degree programs. Students can complete the entire program (including dissertation) in as few as six years, depending on the requirements of the particular PhD program.

Students can select a doctoral program in any discipline, provided they can incorporate their interest in law with their graduate research and they can complete a dissertation that draws on both disciplines.

Application to the JD/PhD program requires acceptance into both The Graduate School and the Law School.

Additional resources:

• Department website
• Program handbook(s)

Contact

Program Co-Director: Kyle Rozema
Program Co-Director: Nadav Shoked

Program Overview

Northwestern's JD-PhD program is open to students who intend to pursue an academic or research career and whose teaching and research will be enriched by both degrees. The program is designed to allow students to complete both degrees more effectively than they would through consecutive degree programs.

Graduation Requirements

The JD and PhD degrees are awarded concurrently after all degree requirements are satisfied for both programs, including completion of:

• Two years of Law School credit (at least 59 credit hours) in addition to the 14 credit hours awarded for law-related interdisciplinary graduate course work, 
• All Law School JD requirements (apart from course hours), and
• All course work and other requirements, including the dissertation, that are necessary for the PhD (as prescribed by TGS). 
  • 12 credit hours will be awarded toward the JD upon completion of the dissertation
• JD-PhD students are required to have a member of the Northwestern Law faculty on their dissertation committee.

Typical Program Structure¹

Program Structure

Year	Course
Year One	Graduate School course work
	Summer - Graduate School research
Year Two	Graduate School course work
	Summer - Graduate School research
Year Three	Law School course work
	Summer - Graduate School and/or Law School research
	Advancement to PhD candidacy before start of year four
Year Four	Law School course work and Graduate Assistantship or TA
	Summer - Submission of prospectus before start of year five
Year Five	Research at the Law School or Graduate School
	Summer - Submission of prospectus before start of year six
Year Six	Writing and completion of dissertation

¹

 Subject to PhD departmental requirements.