As an applicant to the three-year JD/MBA program, you must apply and be admitted separately by the Kelley School and the Law School, meeting the minimum requirements for admission to each program, including competitive LSAT and GMAT or GRE scores. You must have at least two years of significant work experience, and demonstrate a high degree of motivation to take on this aggressive three-year schedule. You must inform both schools that you intend to pursue the three-year JD/MBA program when you apply.
Common Questions
- Can I spend the first academic year in the MBA program? No, because of the condensed time frame, three-year students must spend the first full academic year (fall and spring semesters) in the Law School.
- Can I change my mind and switch to the four-year program at any point in the program? The four-year JD/MBA program remains available to participants in the three-year program if you, for any reason, find the three-year program no longer meets your needs. You can move from the three- to the four-year program, but you cannot move from the four- to the three-year program once you have begun your studies.
- Can I work during the academic year? Because the three-year program is such an intensive, full-time program, it cannot be successfully completed if you have other major time commitments.
- Are positions as teaching assistants or research assistants available to students in the program? Given the demands of the program, three-year JD/MBA students are not be eligible for graduate assistantships at the Kelley School. It may be possible to obtain part-time work as a research assistant at the Law School, but it’s not recommended given the academic rigor of the program.
Common Curriculum Questions
- Can I participate in a law journal and moot court program within the law school? Three-year JD/MBA students can participate in a law journal or moot court program, schedule permitting, but participation in the three-year program may limit the positions you will be able to hold.
- Will I be able to participate in semester abroad or summer abroad programs of either school? By planning far in advance, you can participate in a semester or summer abroad program even within the challenging requirements of the three-year program, but it will limit your ability to take other elective courses.
- Will I be able to take the courses which are typically covered on bar exams? You will be able to take courses typically covered on the bar exam, but the exact courses you are able to take will depend on each semester’s class schedule.
- What are my MBA major options? JD/MBA students have the option of pursuing a standard MBA major, but are encouraged to design their own major to provide greater flexibility in course selection. You can choose to concentrate on coursework in various tracks including entrepreneurship, corporate governance and investment banking; however, this is not required.
- Will I be able to participate in the MBA Academies? Yes—MBA Academies are a required part of the MBA curriculum. Since the JD/MBA has limited elective coursework, Academy participation provides invaluable specialized business experience and knowledge.
- What is the Entrepreneurship Law Clinic?Are there other clinics? Is clinic participation required? The Entrepreneurship Law Clinic is the only business-oriented clinic offered by the two schools, giving students the opportunity to work on actual business formation, including planning and strategy issues, in a multidisciplinary setting. This is a unique opportunity, but not required.
- Are there preparatory courses or self-study recommendations for those without a business background? The Kelley School offers online diagnostics and preparatory “Jump Start” courses, designed to prepare incoming students for the rigors of the Kelley MBA Program. For more information, contact the Kelley Admissions Office at 1-800-994-8622, 812-855-8006, or iumba@indiana.edu. Incoming students may want to take courses in accounting, business statistics and finance, and become comfortable with Excel’s advanced functions.
Gain experience during a law clerkship and business internship
Time to complete a summer law clerkship is built into the three-year curriculum during Summer Semester II. Time to participate in a business internship is built into the curriculum during Summer Semester III. Students are responsible for securing their own internships.
Pursue a job in both business and law
You will have a full law and business degree upon graduation. However, to practice law, you will also need to take and pass the bar examination of the state in which you plan to practice law.
Job search assistance
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Required: 121 total credit hours—79 in law and 42 in business.
Law
The first-year law curriculum is the same as for all JD students, but three-year JD/MBA students must enroll in the Law School in the summer start program and complete Legal Professions, a required legal ethics course, during the first year.
Business
In business, 28.5 of your 42 credit hours are required courses—for the remaining 13.5 credit hours, you can develop a specialization through electives. You can pursue an MBA major, but your elective MBA coursework options will be limited. We encourage a major you design with the MBA program for greater flexibility, concentrating on coursework in various tracks including entrepreneurship, corporate governance or investment banking. No law course credits count toward the MBA portion of the joint degree.
Summer Semester I June prior to Fall Semester I
• Criminal Law (LAW) | Fall Semester I • Civil Procedures (LAW) • Contracts I (LAW) • Torts (LAW) • Legal Writing I (LAW) • Legal Professions (LAW) | Spring Semester I • Civil Procedures II (LAW) • Contracts II (LAW) • Constitutional Law I (LAW) • Property (LAW) • Legal Writing II (LAW) | Summer Semester II Between your first and second year.
• Corporations (LAW) • Internship (LAW) | Fall Semester II • MBA Core (BUS): A 15 credit hour integrated course • Leadership, Professional & Career Development (BUS) • Academy Intensive I (BUS) • Washington Campus Program (BUS) | Spring Semester II • Academy Intensive II (BUS) • Law School Electives (LAW) • MBA Electives (BUS) | Summer Semester III Between your second and third year.
• Non-credit Internship (BUS) | Fall Semester III • Academy Intensive II (BUS) • Law School Electives (LAW) • MBA Electives (BUS) | Spring Semester III • Legal Writing Requirement (LAW) • Law School Electives (LAW) • MBA Electives (BUS) |
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