Academics < Masters Degree < Degrees < Joint Degrees

Joint Masters Degrees

The School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) is well-known for its interdisciplinary approach to teaching, learning, and problem-solving. That interdisciplinary spirit is especially evident in our joint degree programs, which allow students to combine a Master of Public Affairs (MPA) or Master of Science in Environmental Science (MSES) with a second professional degree or area study. These programs, which are offered through partnerships with other Indiana University schools and departments, build bridges between disciplines, broaden students’ skills, and create opportunities for dialogue within the university community and the world.

Master of Public Affairs Joint Programs

MPA-Master of Science in Environmental Science (MPA-MSES)
SPEA’s dual degree prepares graduates for professional careers as scientists, managers, or policy analysts in a multidisciplinary professional environment in which a knowledge of laws and regulatory systems, environmental and natural resource science, policy development, and policy implementation is key to professional success.

MPA-Doctor of Jurisprudence (MPA-JD)
The modern practice of law increasingly involves use of information from other disciplines. Combining the JD with training in economics, public policy, management, and statistics equips graduates for a variety of careers beyond the traditional practice of law.

MPA-Master of Information Science
Combine public affairs with expertise in information architecture, technology, and management.

MPA-Master of Library Science
Combine public affairs with expertise in the development and management of library collections.

MPA-Master of Arts in African American and African Diaspora Studies
Combine public affairs with African descent studies concentrating in the arts, literature, or historical, social, and cultural issues.

MPA-Master of Arts in Central Eurasian Studies
Combine public affairs with specialized study of a Central Eurasian country, including culture, history, politics, and language.

MPA-Master of Arts in East Asian Studies
Combine public affairs with study of East Asian culture, history, and language (including Chinese, Japanese, and Korean).

MPA-Master of Arts in Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Combine public affairs with study of the languages and cultures of Latin America and the Caribbean.

MPA-Master of Arts in Russian and East European Studies
Combine public affairs with intensive study of Russian and East European issues, including language, culture, history, and democratic transition.

MPA-Master of Arts in West European Studies
Combine public affairs with highly individualized study of Western Europe, including language, culture, history, and politics.

MPA-MA Journalism
Combine public management and public policy with public affairs reporting and writing or the study of media in society.

Master of Science in Environmental Science Joint Programs

Master of Public Affairs-MSES (MPA-MSES)
SPEA’s dual degree prepares graduates for professional careers as scientists, managers, or policy analysts in a multidisciplinary professional environment in which a knowledge of laws and regulatory systems, environmental and natural resource science, policy development, and policy implementation is key to professional success.

MSES-Doctor of Jurisprudence (MSES-JD)
The combination of a law degree with strong preparation in the environmental sciences is invaluable for the aspiring environmental regulator, litigator, or public interest activist. MSES-JD graduates can critically analyze the science that informs public policymaking for the environment and are better prepared to shape and influence the future of policy.

MSES-MA Biology
Combine environmental science with a biology degree focusing on molecular biology and genetics or evolution, ecology, and behavior.

MSES-MS Geography
Combine environmental science with courses in meteorology, climatology, and geographical research methods.

MSES-MS Geology
Combine environmental science with a geology degree in which possible foci include biogeochemistry; environmental geosciences and hydrogeology; geobiology; stratigraphy and sedimentology; geochemistry, mineralogy, petrology, and economic geology; and geophysics, tectonics, and structural geology.

MSES-MA Journalism
Combine environmental science with reporting and writing or the study of media in society.

The MSES-JD Joint Degree

SPEA and the School of Law collaborate on a distinctive joint degree program to give students a powerful combination of skills. The combined Master of Science in Environmental Science-Doctor of Jurisprudence program is a four-year, 114-credit-hour sequence of courses and research that provides depth and breadth in both environmental science and law.

Why choose the MSES-JD program?

The modern practice of law increasingly involves use of information from other disciplines, including economics, public policy, statistics, and science. The MSES-JD program offers law students strong interdisciplinary preparation in science, including chemistry, ecology, and environmental engineering. This background can prove invaluable for the aspiring environmental regulator, litigator, or public interest activist.

Careers

Students graduating from the MSES-JD program are well-equipped for a variety of careers beyond the traditional practice of law and have more flexibility to alter the direction of their careers in response to changes in society. MSES-JD students can move into careers in private practice specializing in environmental law or government agencies, industry and consulting focusing on legal or technical issues or the nexus of both. For example, some alumni of this joint degree program are administrators responsible for environmental regulatory programs and compliance in the public or private sector; others are consultants who are hired for their scientific or technical expertise in addition to their legal knowledge.

The following table provides a short list of the jobs our alumni hold. The MSES-JD program provides comprehensive preparation for lawyers, policymakers, and leaders of the future.

Private Practice
Attorney At Law	Law Offices of Steven L. Parker	Fayetteville	AR
Attorney At Law	Eli Lilly and Company	Indianapolis	IN
Partner	Montgomery McCracken Walker Rhoads	Philadelphia	PA
Counsel	Dechert LLP	Philadelphia	PA
Government
Sr Counsel for Environmental Compliance	National Oceanic & Atmospheric Admin	Silver Spring	MD
Attorney/Advisor	US Environmental Protection Agency	Washington	DC
Assistant Regional Counsel	US EPA Region 9	San Francisco	CA
Attorney At Law	Indiana Dept Environmental Mgmt	Indianapolis	IN
Industry
Patent Attorney	Motorola Inc.	Schaumburg	IL
Academia
Part-Time Instructor	University of New Mexico	Los Alamos	NM
Research & Writing Professor	University of Cincinnati	Cincinnati	OH

Program Faculty and Advising

Students in the MSES-JD program have the opportunity to learn from an outstanding group of faculty in environmental science, law, and policy. Click here to explore the interests and expertise of our faculty.

Students enrolled in the combined program are assigned co-advisors—one faculty member from the School of Law and another from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. The co-advisors help each student tailor the curriculum to meet his or her educational and career goals and are responsible for reviewing coursework plans to assure that requirements for both degrees are fulfilled.

Curriculum

Students are required to complete 37 credit hours of courses distributed among the environmental science core, environmental management and policy core, and a specialization area. Students are required to complete 77 credit hours of law courses and to satisfy all requirements for the degree Doctor of Jurisprudence. Students may enroll in courses through the School of Law in the first year of their programs and through the School of Public and Environmental Affairs in the second year of their programs. Alternatively, joint MSES–JD students have the option of enrolling in courses through SPEA in the first year and in the School of Law in the second year. In the third and fourth years, or until the joint program is completed, students should enroll through the school in which the majority of their credit hours resides in each enrollment period.

For a comprehensive list of degree requirements and course listings, refer to: http://www.indiana.edu/~bulletin/iu/spea_grad/2007-2009/bloomington.shtml#msesjdp.

Application and Admission

The student must have a strong background in science, preferably a bachelor’s degree in a physical or life science, engineering, or related field. Students must apply to both the School of Law and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Students normally apply to both schools simultaneously for the combined program but it is possible for a person already enrolled in the School of Law to apply for admission to SPEA up to the time he or she completes the second year of law study. A student enrolled in SPEA may seek admission to the School of Law up to the end of the first year of the MSES program.

Master of Science in Environmental Science–Master of Arts in Biology or Master of Science in Geological Sciences (M.S.E.S.–M.A./M.S.)

The combined Master of Science in Environmental Science and Master of Arts or Master of Science degree program, with major fields in biology or geological sciences, respectively, is a 60-credit-hour program. The M.S.E.S.–M.A./M.S. degrees are awarded after the student has completed the requirements for both programs.

Application and Admission

The student must apply to, and be accepted by, both the School of Public and Environmental Affairs and either the Department of Biology (M.A.) or the Department of Geological Sciences (M.S.).

Supervisory Committee: The student must select a supervisory committee of at least three faculty members, representing both SPEA and either the Department of Biology or the Department of Geological Sciences, to guide the course of study.

Program Requirements

(60 credit hours)

Program requirements meet all requirements for the Master of Science in Environmental Science degree and for the major chosen for the Master of Arts or Master of Science degree of the University Graduate School. Courses to satisfy the specific requirements of the Department of Biology and the Department of Geological Sciences are included in the respective area requirements. The program requires 60 credit hours distributed among the environmental science core, environmental management and policy core, area requirements, research, and general electives.

Environmental Science Core
(15 credit hours)
SPEA E526 Applied Mathematics for Environmental Science (3 cr.)
SPEA E527 Applied Ecology (3 cr.)
SPEA E536 Environmental Chemistry (3 cr.)
SPEA E538 Statistics for Environmental Science (3 cr.)
SPEA E552 Environmental Engineering (3 cr.)

Environmental Management and Policy Core
(9 credit hours)
SPEA V517 Public Management Economics (3 cr.)
     Select two of the following, equivalent substitutes,
     or other policy/management graduate courses approved by an advisor:
SPEA E560 Environmental Risk Analysis (3 cr.)
SPEA V520 Environmental Policy Analysis (3 cr.)
SPEA V539 Management Science for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA V540 Law and Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA V541 Benefit-Cost Analysis of Public and Environmental Policies (3 cr.)
SPEA V625 Environmental Economics and Policy (3 cr.)
SPEA V640 Law, Public Management, and Public Policy (3 cr.)
SPEA V643 Natural Resource Management and Policy (3 cr.)
SPEA V645 Environmental Law (3 cr.)

Area Requirements (24 credit hours)
The student develops a program of courses in consultation with the supervisory committee to meet the Master of Arts (BIOL) or Master of Science (GEOL) major requirements.

Research Requirement (6 credit hours)
Each student must complete a minimum of 6 credit hours in research approved by the student’s supervisory committee.

General Electives
Each student must take sufficient additional courses approved by the student’s supervisory committee to meet the program requirement of 60 credit hours.

Master of Science in Environmental Science–Master of Arts in Journalism (M.S.E.S.–M.A. in Journalism)

The combined Master of Science in Environmental Science and Master of Arts in Journalism is a degree program that addresses the demands of information specialists who combine environmental science with reporting and writing or the study of media in society. The program prepares students for positions in the media, government, and business.

Candidates for the combined degree complete the core requirements for the M.S.E.S. and 12 additional credit hours selected from an approved list of courses offered by the School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

Candidates also complete core requirements and elective courses from the School of Journalism. Candidates must be admitted to both schools.

Program Requirements

(57 credit hours)