Joint Doctor of Laws and Master of Public Administration

Advisor: Dr. Daniela Schroeter
Room 220E
Walwood Hall

The joint J.D./M.P.A. degree program provides advanced practitioner-oriented education in legal, administrative, and policy processes that are essential to the effective management of legal practices as well as health care, nonprofit, and public organizations. The combination of skills and theory is also ideal for pre-career and in-career students who aspire to careers in court administration, criminal justice, regulation, drafting legislation, lobbying, senior management, and politics. Law courses are offered at the Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School. M.P.A. courses are offered in-person on the main campus in Kalamazoo as well as online.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the minimum requirements for each program. The Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School J.D. program and the Western Michigan University M.P.A. program maintain independent admission requirements, processes, and committees. Consequently, admission to one degree program does not guarantee admission to the second program.

Students are urged to consult an advisor before pursuing the joint J.D./M.P.A. degree.

1. Copy of passport identification page
2. Proof of English language proficiency*
3. Transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended or are attending, including diplomas, examination results, mark sheets and certificates.* Unofficial transcripts and other academic documents are acceptable for admission decision-making. Uploaded documents will show as received only AFTER an admissions counselor has completed the evaluation.

   The Office of International Student and Scholar Services (I3S) may accept credential evaluation reports from certain credential evaluation services to make admission decision at Western Michigan University for undergraduate and graduate international admissions. Although it is not required, we strongly encourage submission of evaluation reports to expedite application processing and decision-making. Admitted and enrolled students are required to send your official high school or university transcripts and proof of degree before the beginning of the second semester of your studies. Following are the evaluation agencies that you may use to get your transcripts evaluated: World Education Services: www.wes.org Educational Credential Evaluators: www.ece.org Academic Evaluation Services: www.academicevaluations.org Global Credential Evaluators: www.gceus.com Spantran: The Evaluation Company: www.spantran.com

4. $100 non-refundable application fee
5. Proof of sufficient funds for the first academic year of study at WMU according to estimated cost of attendance. Proof of sufficient funds is a bank statement in your own name for cost of attendance. If the bank statement is not in your own name, then additionally provide a letter signed by your financial sponsor indicating that they will pay your cost of attendance.

*Official documents are those sent directly to International Student and Scholar Services (I3S) from the issuing institution or testing agency. Hand-carried transcripts will be accepted if in a sealed envelope from the institution. Documents sent by the student cannot be accepted as official.If any original documents are not issued in English, also provide an official English translation of each document. 

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