Dual JD/MA in English

This program offers qualified students a unique opportunity to combine the study of law with coursework in English and American literature. “Law and literature” is an established scholarly field. The dual degree program facilitates inquiry into the common terrain of these two disciplines, including textual analysis and interpretative techniques, legal and literary theory, rhetoric, and the role of law in literature. Successful candidates receive both the Juris Doctor (JD) degree and a Master of Arts (MA) degree.

With careful planning, the dual degree program can be completed in six terms, rather than the eight terms required to obtain each degree independently because some courses can be credited toward both degrees.

Learning Outcomes

JD

Students will:

• Possess knowledge and understanding of substantive and procedural law;
• Possess the ability to perform:
  • Legal analysis and reasoning
  • Legal research
  • Problem-solving
  • Written communication in the legal context
  • Oral communication in the legal context;
• Understand the exercise of proper professional and ethical responsibilities to clients and the legal system; and
• Demonstrate the professional skills of collaboration, counseling, and negotiation needed for competent and ethical participation as a member of the legal profession. All students will also demonstrate a basic understanding of business fundamentals and be able to read and understand basic financial documents.

MA in English

Students graduating with an MA in English are expected to:

• Demonstrate advanced research and writing skills, including an ability to work productively with the critical literature and perform original critical analysis;
• Demonstrate either a broad knowledge of literature, theory, and research across several sub-disciplines in the field or an in-depth knowledge of one area of expertise;
• Follow ethical guidelines for work in the field; and
• Write and speak effectively to professional and lay audiences about issues in the field.

Academic Requirements

To earn the MA, students must complete eight graduate courses (normally 32 units) in English. To earn the JD, students must earn at least 85 School of Law (LAW) units and must comply with additional school requirements. The dual degree program allows students to receive joint units for some courses taken at BU Law and in the Department of English (“the Department”), subject to limitations described below.

The Department of English requires that dual degree students complete at least six graduate-level courses in the Department, including one course in literary theory and one Directed Study, which is devoted to the required JD/MA thesis. Of the six English courses, at least four must be graduate seminars (courses numbered 700 or higher). Examples of courses offered by the Department that may be of particular interest to dual degree students can be found here.

Four of the literature courses taken to satisfy MA requirements also may be applied to the JD degree, up to a maximum of 12 LAW units total. Students apply these literature courses to the JD degree during their second and third years of law school (typically one course per term). Students also must take at least two LAW courses during their second and third years of law school that are approved by the Joint Advisory Board as relevant to the dual program. Examples of recent LAW offerings that apply can be found here.

To complete the MA in English, students must take two English courses beyond those needed to complete the JD. These can be completed in one of four ways, three of which permit the student to earn the JD and MA degrees in six terms:

1. The JD/MA student will take two extra courses over the course of the second and third years, one English graduate seminar and one English Directed Study (used to write the interdisciplinary law/literature thesis). These courses will be taken as overloads during the academic year. The student completes the JD/MA program in six terms.
2. The JD/MA student will complete one or both of the extra courses over the summer by taking one 500-level English course and/or the Directed Study during either of the BU summer terms. The JD/MA student completes the program in three academic years and graduates with their entering law school class.
3. The JD/MA student combines Options 1 and 2 above by taking one overload course during one academic year and one summer course. The student graduates in three years with their entering law school class.
4. The JD/MA student completes the two extra courses after finishing the JD requirements, during the summer after law school graduation or during a seventh term after law school graduation.

Thesis Requirement

The core requirement of the joint JD/MA in English program is the thesis. Students must write a thesis that is a work of original scholarship and research and that substantially engages both legal and literary subjects, methods, texts, and/or analysis. This paper must:

• Satisfy BU Law’s Upperclass Writing Requirement;
• Be jointly supervised by one faculty member in the School of Law and one in the Department of English;
• Be registered and counted as a Department of English Directed Study course;
• Be approved, in its final form, by one faculty member in BU Law and one in the Department of English; and
• Not substantially duplicate written work submitted for other courses either in the Department of English or in BU Law.

Administration

The JD/MA program is administered by a Joint Advisory Board. The Board includes one faculty member from the School of Law (LAW) and one from the Department of English in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS). A member of the Board is appointed as the student’s advisor.