Philosophy and Law Dual Degree
This joint degree, offered through Duquesne University’s Kline School of Law and McAnulty Graduate School of Liberal Arts, allows you to benefit from rigorous study of philosophy while completing your law degree.
Philosophy is widely regarded as among the best majors for students aspiring to a future in law, as it develops analytical acuity, logic, clarity and the incisive ethical reasoning needed by legal professionals. Students with a background in philosophy tend to score well above average on the LSAT and to outperform other students.
Candidates may begin in either the Kline School of Law or the McAnulty Graduate School of Liberal Arts. A 15-credit limitation, per semester, is placed on all students in the program except during the first year of legal study, when students are not permitted to take any graduate philosophy courses.
See the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University for additional information.
Program Type
Dual Degree
Degree
Master's, Doctorate
Required Credit Hours
88
Program Requirements
Students complete credit hours required by each degree and satisfy any additional graduation requirements dictated by each program’s guidelines.
Students must obtain 88 credit hours, 12 of which may derive from graduate philosophy courses. All graduate philosophy courses being worth 3 credit hours, a student may apply only four courses toward the J.D. credit requirement.
Students must complete 30 credit hours, 24 of which must be earned in courses offered through the graduate Department of Philosophy. That is, students are required to take eight graduate philosophy courses, while the 6 additional credits needed to reach 30 may be earned in qualifying courses offered through the School of Law.
Because courses in the School of Law vary regarding the credit hours they carry, participating students have flexibility concerning the manner in which the 6 credits are obtained.