Blending Law and Public Health: Is a Dual JD/MPH Degree Right for You?

Published on: Oct 23, 2024
Julia Sturtz

WRITTEN BY

Julia Sturtz
Katherine Paul

REVIEWED BY

Katherine Paul, MPH

Dual degree programs in which students pursue both a JD (Juris Doctor) and an MPH (Master of Public Health) are growing in popularity1. Law is an essential tool to bettering the world of public health, making a background in both of these subject areas highly influential in truly making a difference within the health sphere. Law has already historically been applied in health matters—like helping to prevent the spread of disease—but as our knowledge of public health continues to evolve, attending both law school and a school of public health can prove effective to those who want to work in health law and public policy2.

In this article, you’ll understand reasons why you should consider a joint degree program for JD/MPH, what the curriculum might look like, potential career paths once your JD/MPH is obtained, admissions requirements associated with these graduate schools, and an outline of a few leading JD/MPH programs to consider in the United States.

Why Consider a Dual JD/MPH?

If you have an interest in the legal or policy implications associated with public health, a JD/MPH degree may be right for you. While lawyers with a JD and public health professionals with an MPH are both qualified to advise on legal and policy issues related to public health initiatives, professionals with both a JD and an MPH are most effectively primed to leverage both areas of expertise to influence public health policy and legal matters. This is because JD/MPH professionals learn how to apply legal tools to public health matters and understand the political landscape of public health more so than those without both degrees3.

Those with JD/MPHs are able to apply this knowledge on whatever scale they choose, whether it be global, national, statewide, or local. For many, this ability to easily engage in work with a variety of scopes is enticing4. For example, those with JD/MPHs have strong backgrounds due to their coursework and applied experiences related to both public health and legal matters to contribute to work related to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 20225. If engaging in cases such as these and influencing policy interests you, then a JD/MPH should be a strong consideration.

Curriculum and Academic Requirements

The curriculum of a JD/MPH program is designed to seamlessly integrate knowledge from both fields and ensure that students are just as well-educated in both disciplines as their non-dual degree peers. Many programs require that law students take a year of absence from their law school studies to fully pursue their public health studies. Because of this, most students take four years to complete both their JD and MPH degrees, with their MPH being awarded at the time of their graduation from law school.

Generally, programs have the required public health courses centered around policy-making and legal processes related to public health. Likewise, there are certain courses required of students in the dual JD/MPH program within their JD program. These classes are centered around health matters such as bioethics and administrative law. An example of this curriculum can be found from the University of Wisconsin here6 and one from Johns Hopkins University here7. In addition to coursework, most JD/MPH programs require practicum and internships in areas related to both law and public health.

Admissions Process and Requirements

Those pursuing a JD/MPH must be individually admitted into each program at the university of their choosing in order to obtain the dual degree. All law schools require an application with letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and an LSAT (standardized test) score to gain admission—along with any additional admissions requirements for each school LSAT scores range from 120 to 180; the most competitive law schools expect scores as close to 180 as possible8.

Admissions requirements vary slightly between MPH programs, with many no longer requiring standardized test scores but still anticipating components such as letters of recommendation and a personal statement9. Application cycles for both MPH and JD programs typically begin in August for programs beginning the following fall. A bachelor’s degree is required for all applications, but most do not require specific undergraduate coursework or set a minimum GPA requirement. 

Profiles of Leading JD/MPH Programs:

1. Harvard University

offers a JD/MPH program. Students at Harvard are able to apply to the MPH program in their first year, selectingt from either the Global Health or the Health Policy concentrations within the MPH program. While many other institutions feature a four-year program, the Harvard JD/MPH program is designed to be completed in three years—the same as the typical duration of a JD program10.

2. Washington University in St. Louis

offers a four-year JD/MPH program. Students apply to these programs simultaneously and must indicate on each individual application that they are applying for dual-degree status. The school emphasizes its high degree of departmental collaboration that allows for optimal research and practice opportunities for students12.

3. Johns Hopkins University

offers a JD/MPH program. Students can enroll in the MPH program at Johns Hopkins even if they do not gain admission to the law school there. This is because the program requires students  to take a full year leave of absence from law school after the first year to complete their MPH degree in 11 months. If a student attends a law school not at Johns Hopkins but receives their MPH from Johns Hopkins, they do not have the same opportunities for collaboration as a student enrolled at Johns Hopkins for both degrees—although they can still receive their MPH in less time than a typical, full-time program7.

4. The University of Maryland

offers a JD/MPH program. Students enrolled at Maryland may submit applications to the MPH program within the typical application window. Enrollment in this dual-degree program will add an additional year to students’ law school tracks, meaning students will graduate with their JD/MPH after four years of study12.

5. The University of Michigan

offers a JD/MPH program. Students apply simultaneously to each program and then notify one school of deferment while they pursue their first-year studies entirely at the other school. Their second year of study will then be as a full-time, first-year student in the other school before attending their last two years with a mix of public health and law courses. Students in this program concentrate on public health policy work13.

6. Columbia University

offers a JD/MPH program. Students apply either simultaneously to both schools or to the MPH program once they have begun their law studies. Students have the flexibility in this program to choose when they will complete certain requirements for each14.

7. Emory University

offers a JD/MPH program. Students must be admitted to each program individually and must complete at least two semesters, primarily at the School of Public Health. Students in this program may choose from all the MPH concentrations offered at Emory, including Epidemiology and Environmental Health15.

Career Paths and Professional Opportunities

Those with a JD/MPH can take their public health law careers in a variety of directions. There are many areas to tackle if you would like to specialize in one particular area. These include, but are not limited to, access to care, safety of public resources, health management, public administration, injury prevention, social justice, maternal and child health outcomes, quality of care, food policy, environmental justice, and constitutional law16. You can even work in governmental entities (at federal, state, or local levels) like the CDC17, nonprofits, private firms geared toward public interest, health-focused companies, or in private practice. You can have a practice in litigation, regulation, legal advising, transactional law, and legislation. Overall, because there is renewed interest in the power of those with JD/MPH degrees in the public health space, the opportunities in the field are abundant.

Overall, a JD/MPH is a fantastic educational option if you’re interested in pursuing a career in public health law. This dual degree option allows you to gain in-depth knowledge about public health as well as critical technical skills in legal as well as policy proceedings. The COVID-19 pandemic was just one example that showed the world just how important policy and law are to protecting the population’s health18. If issues like these speak to you, contact admissions offices and alumni networks to learn more about JD/MPH dual degree programs.

Pursue a JD/MPH dual degree today and contribute meaningfully to bettering the health sphere in its entirety.

Sources:

  1. https://masterspublichealth.com/master-of-public-health-courses/

  2. https://scholarship.law.bu.edu/faculty_scholarship/932/

  3. https://sph.emory.edu/academics/dual-degree/jd-mph/index.html

  4. https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/epidemiology/mph/prospective-students/program-options/joint-mph-degree-programs/jdmph/#:~:text=The%20JD%2FMPH%20program%20positions,communities%2C%20states%20or%20the%20nation.

  5. https://www.npr.org/2022/06/24/1102305878/supreme-court-abortion-roe-v-wade-decision-overturn

  6. https://www.med.wisc.edu/education/master-of-public-health-mph/dual-degrees/jd-mph/

  7. https://e-catalogue.jhu.edu/public-health/departments/master-public-health/jd-mph/

  8. https://www.lsac.org/applying-law-school/jd-application-process/jd-application-requirements

  9. https://masterspublichealth.com/masters-in-public-health-requirements/

  10. https://hls.harvard.edu/academics/degree-programs/special-programs/joint-degree-in-law-and-public-health/

  11. https://law.washu.edu/academics/jd-degree-program-overview/joint-jd-mph-degree/

  12. https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/epidemiology/mph/prospective-students/program-options/joint-mph-degree-programs/jdmph/

  13. https://michigan.law.umich.edu/resource-center/dual-degree-law-and-public-health-jdmph

  14. https://www.law.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/2020-04/jd.mph_publichealth_overview_-_updated.pdf

  15. https://sph.emory.edu/academics/dual-degree/jd-mph/index.html

  16. https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2012HealthLaw-1.pdf

  17. https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/php/index.html

  18. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic#:~:text=Federal%20laws%2C%20including%20the%20Fair,during%20the%20COVID%2D19%20pandemic.

About the Authors

Written by:

Julia Sturtz, MPH

Julia Sturtz is a graduate student currently pursuing her Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in epidemiology with a certificate in health policy and practice at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. At Columbia, she engages deeply in the community by serving as a peer advocate in the Sexual Violence Response program, a teaching assistant for multiple courses, a leader in the Student Well-Being Collective for Mental Health Literacy, and a mentor to first-year students in her certificate program. Academically, she is currently working toward completion of her thesis which focuses on psychiatric-physical comorbidities amongst the children of 9/11 first responders. 

Prior to starting her program at Columbia, Ms. Sturtz attained her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, with a major in biology and a minor in English. After completion of her undergraduate studies, she worked at Jhpiego where she was seconded to the Baltimore City Health Department. In this role, she helped bring vaccines, other medical resources, and health information to underserved communities within Baltimore city as part of the pandemic response. 

Opinions and information published by the author on MastersPublicHealth.com are her own and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of her employer.

Julia Sturtz

Julia Sturtz, MPH

Contributor

Education: Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

Knowledge: Epidemiology and Community Health

Reviewed by:

Katherine Paul, MPH

Katherine Paul, MPH is a senior project manager at a leading medical communications and publications organization. She supports multidisciplinary teams handling large-scale accounts, the deliverables of which improve health outcomes and patient well-being. Ms. Paul holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in Health Promotion from Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health and passed the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) shortly after graduation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Dickinson College.

Ms. Paul previously worked at a public health non-profit where she managed all aspects of diverse health-related projects, including the implementation of a randomized controlled clinical trial on sexual health for teens with developmental disabilities, as well as the evaluation of a statewide tobacco cessation program with more than 20,000 annual cases. She has developed and delivered posters and presentations at national conferences including the American Public Health Association (APHA) annual meeting. 

Opinions and information published by the author here on MastersPublicHealth.com are of my own and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of my employer or other organizations for my designated roles.

Katherine Paul

Katherine Paul, MPH

Editorial Lead

Education: Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health

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