MPA-JD or MUP-JD
The MPA-JD or MUP-JD program from NYU Wagner and NYU’s School of Law will prepare you to become a leader, tackle a broad range of challenges, and deliver social change.
Whether you see yourself pursuing public interest law, writing legislation, or running an agency or organization, you’ll find the focus you need through our full-time, four-year, dual-degree program. You’ll walk away with a vast toolkit of analytical skills, ready to lead programs and institutions that create a positive impact.
Advisement
An important aspect of the dual-degree academic experience is the extensive, tailored, and coordinated advisement support. Students will work with advisors from both schools to carefully choose coursework that takes into consideration their unique academic and professional goals. The many sources of advisement that each school offers include faculty advisors, offices of career services, program administrators, and peer advisors.
Students leave the dual-degree program well supported and equipped with the frameworks and analytical skills that will serve them well in the complex and changing intersection of sectors and roles their careers may span.
MPA-JD and MUP-JD students can "double count" 12 credits between degrees. You'll earn 71 credits towards the JD, internally transferring 12 Wagner credits to reach the standard 83 required for the JD. You'll earn 33 credits towards the MPA or MUP, internally transferring 12 Law credits to reach the standard 45 required for the Wagner degree.
Your 33 MPA or MUP credits will be comprised of:
- 15 (MPA) to 18 (MUP) Core course credits [3 credits each]
- MPA and MUP students both take the following 12 credits of Core coursework:
- In addition to the courses above:
- MPA students take CORE-GP 1022 Intro to Public Policy
- MUP students take both URPL-GP 2660 History and Theory of Planning and URPL-GP 1603 Urban Planning: Methods and Practice
- If you waive any of the core courses, you would just replace them with elective MPA or MUP coursework for the same number of credits.
- 9 Specialization credits
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Each MPA-PNP and MUP specialization has three required courses [3 credits each], which you will find listed on the requirement checksheet for your intended degree program and specialization.
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The MPA Public & Nonprofit Management & Policy (MPA-PNP) specializations are:
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The Master of Urban Planning (MUP) specializations are:
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- 6 (MPA) to 3 (MUP) General Elective credits
- Electives can come from focus areas related to your specialization (find those listed at the bottom of your program requirement checksheet), from other areas of the Wagner curriculum, or even from approved coursework outside of Wagner.
- 3 Capstone credits
- You will complete the year-long Capstone course & project associated with your specialization in your final year of the program.
Note: In addition to the credit requirements above, all MPA and MUP students must satisfy Wagner's Professional Experience Requirement (PER), unless it is waived for you upon admission based on prior professional experience.
As an MPA-JD or MUP-JD student, you will complete the dual-degree program in four years of full-time study. Below is the standard sequence:
- Year 1: JD coursework (registration residency: School of Law)
- Year 2: JD coursework (registration residency: School of Law)
- Year 3 : MPA or MUP coursework (registration residency: Wagner)
- Fall: 12 credits
- Spring 12 credits
- Year 4: MPA or MUP coursework + remaining JD coursework
- Fall: 7.5 MPA or MUP credits + JD coursework (registration residency: Wagner)
- Spring: 1.5 MPA or MUP credits + JD coursework (registration residency: School of Law)
Admissions
Applicants are required to apply to each school. Once admitted to both schools, a student will qualify for the dual-degree program.
Students apply separately to each school and join the MPA-JD or MUP-JD dual-degree program once they are admitted to both schools. Students enrolled in dual master's degree programs with other NYU schools are not eligible for NYU Wagner Named Fellowship programs.