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Dual-Degree: Juris Doctor/Master of Library Science

Program: Juris Doctor/Master of Library Science
Cooperating Institution: Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven

Law schools, corporations, law firms, courts, and government agencies seek persons who have earned graduate degrees in both law and library science for leadership roles in law libraries. The School of Law collaborates with the Department of Information and Library Science at Southern Connecticut State University to offer this dual degree program.

Admission Requirements and Course of Study: All students who wish to pursue a dual degree program must first be granted separate admission into both programs. A dual degree enrollment form, approved by each school will also be required. Students in the dual degree program may obtain both degrees in 4 years, compared with five years, if both degrees were pursued separately. Candidates admitted to both schools in the same year will spend their entire first year at the School of Law. During second, third and fourth years, students will divide their time between the School of Law and Southern Connecticut State University depending on the students' choices and availability of desired courses. Additionally, all students must comply with the rules regarding credit load limitations. When credits from both programs are combined, without prior approval from the Associate Dean, full time students may not exceed 16 credits and part time students may not exceed 11 credits per semester.

Completion Requirements: In addition to satisfaction of the requirements of both programs of study, dual degree candidates are required to complete these programs concurrently. The final award of transfer credit is contingent upon completion of both programs.

Transfer Agreement: The JD degree program requires completion of 86 credits (including all required first-year courses, a course in Legal Ethics and Responsibility, and an intensive, analytical paper which satisfies a writing requirement). The MLS degree program requires completion of 36 credits (including the courses designated core requirements). Each school will accept 12 credits from the other as applicable for transfer.

Law Courses Acceptable for Transfer to the MLS Program (12 Credits) Include:

• Advanced Legal Research
• American Legal History
• Conflict of Laws
• Copyright
• Corporate Finance
• Jurisprudence
• Patent Law and Procedure
• Mental Health Law
• Special Research Project (Health Law focus)
• Taxation of Non Profit Organizations

MLS Courses Acceptable for Transfer to the JD Program (12 Credits):

• The School of Law will accept any course designated as an elective by the Department of Information and Library Science as appropriate for transfer.

Faculty Advisors

University of Connecticut School of Law
Professor Darcy Kirk
39 Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
860/570-5109

Southern Connecticut State University
Mary E. Brown, Chairperson
501 Crescent Street
New Haven, CT 06515
203/392-5781