The combined JD and PhD or MA in Political Science is one of very few such degree tracks in the nation. The program offers a rigorous course of study intended for outstanding candidates interested in interdisciplinary perspectives on legal issues and institutions.
"I am a lawyer in private practice near Pittsburgh and I am on the Editorial Board of Litigation News, published by the American Bar Association Section of Litigation. If you are considering law as a profession, the MA in Political Science has proven valuable."
– Andrew Kennedy, MA in Political Science
To apply for the collaborative degree programs, students must submit separate applications and credentials with both the Department of Political Science and the School of Law.
Faculty in Political Science and Law and Jurisprudence have cooperated to establish the Baldy Center for Law & Social Policy. The Center sponsors interdisciplinary graduate seminars jointly taught by members of both faculties, brings distinguished scholars from other institutions to these seminars, funds select two-degree students, and acts as the coordinating body for the program.