USD Announces JD/MA Dual Degree Program in Peace and Law

USD Announces JD/MA Dual Degree Program in Peace and Law

Program is first in the nation

SAN DIEGO-The University of San Diego (USD) has announced a first-of-its-kind concurrent dual degree program that combines a JD from the University of San Diego's School of Law and an MA in Peace and Justice (JD-MAPJ) from USD’s Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies. The JD/MA Peace and Law Dual Degree is designed as a four-year commitment. Students spend the first year completing required coursework through the law school. The second year is devoted to Peace and Justice coursework and the final two years involve a hybrid curriculum from both schools.

“History shows that there cannot be true peace without justice,” says Stephen Ferruolo, Dean and Professor of Law at USD School of Law. “This dual degree program will train lawyers who will have the knowledge and skills to be effective advocates for the rule of law and human rights. I am excited about this collaboration between the School of Law and the Kroc School of Peace Studies.

 

"Our university prepares innovative changemakers to confront humanity’s urgent challenges. These are complex multi-dimensional challenges that require creative problem solvers who can step out of their disciplinary training to develop more effective solutions. We are not going to solve the problems of the world doing more of the same," says Patricia Márquez, Dean of the Kroc School. "Graduates with a dual-degree in law and peace and justice will have a much broader understanding of current challenges than those who have completed either program alone. They will have a more robust skill set to make a difference in the world."

 

The dual degree program benefits students interested in issues of immigration, human rights or mediation; those who plan to advise a global clientele; those who wish to take a lawyer's route to influencing policy; and public interest lawyers seeking to tackle broader questions of social justice using both legal and policy frameworks. JD-MAPJ practitioners will be able to maximize efforts for advocacy, helping to build the rule of law and promote respect for internationally guaranteed human rights, both in the United States and abroad.

 

The program sets itself apart in balancing theory and practice. Students will develop the ability to diagnose the deep-seated roots and drivers of conflict and injustice, and to address these problems using a range of skills:  mediation, negotiation, facilitation, human rights documentation, advocacy, and project monitoring and evaluation, among others.

 

Whether it is focusing on rule of law reforms in Mexico, transitional justice in Colombia, or human trafficking issues in the United States, graduates with a dual-degree JD/MA in Law and Peace will come to the table with a much larger skill set than those who have completed either program alone. Interested students must be accepted into both the School of Law and the Kroc School. For more information on how to apply, please visit us here