Juris Doctor/Master of Divinity Joint Degree

Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

The Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University and the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary have developed a program offering both the Juris Doctor and Master of Divinity degrees. In the Judeo-Christian tradition the contact is very close between justice and law, and the ministry of the people of God. The practice of ministry is frequently intertwined with the administration of law.

This double competency program enables a student to earn both the Juris Doctor and Master of Divinity in five years of post-baccalaureate study instead of the usual six. This dual-degree program provides a full course of study in both theology and law. This is accomplished by allowing certain courses taken in each school to be used as electives in the other.

  • Candidates must begin their study in the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University prior to substantially completing the requirements for the master's degree

Credit Requirements

Specific course requirements and limitations may be obtained from the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University Registrar's Office.

15 credit hours of course work permitted per semester

3 credit hours may be permitted for a Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University clinical course

Students are required to provide the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University Registrar with a copy of their graduate elective course schedule

Applications

Candidates must be admitted to each school independently. Students interested in this program should also contact the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary at:

Office of Admissions
618 North Highland
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
1.800.451.4194
www.pts.edu

Program Information

The Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University and the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary have developed a program offering both the Juris Doctor and Master of Divinity degrees. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, the contact is very close between justice and law, and the ministry of the people of God. The practice of ministry is frequently intertwined with the administration of law.

Program Type

Dual Degree

Degree

Doctorate

Duration

5-year

Required Credit Hours

140

Modality

In-Person

Learning Outcomes

A. Knowledge and understanding of substantive and procedural law

A.1. Fundamentals & Bar Exam: Remember and explain the black-letter law in the core doctrinal areas.

A.2. Legal Policy: Recognize the law's theoretical frameworks and trace their influence and the influence of extra-legal factors (e.g., politics, history, culture, etc.) on the development of substantive doctrine.

A.3. Legal System: Explain and differentiate among key conceptual categories of law and understand the hierarchy of authority.

A.4. Practical Knowledge Development: Integrate information from multiple sources (e.g., opinions, statutes, regulations, rules, scholarly analysis) to identify operative legal rules, principles and concepts.

A.5. Specialty Areas: Remember and explain the black-letter law in the substantive and procedural law on specialized topics.

B. Legal analysis and reasoning, legal research, problem-solving, and written and oral communication in the legal context

B.1. Interviewing, Counseling, and Negotiating: Investigate and analyze facts to achieve a client's objectives or otherwise solve a legal problem and recommend a solution.

B.2. Legal Analysis and Reasoning: Critically read the applicable authority, including identifying the key rules within each authority; synthesize the relevant rules into an analytical framework, identifying which rules the court is most likely to apply, and apply the rules to the relevant facts.

B.3. Legal Research: Create and execute an effective, efficient legal research strategy to conduct legal research with the appropriate use of sources and technology.

B.4. Problem Solving: Develop systems and procedures for effectively working with other people and to ensure that time, effort, and resources are allocated efficiently in a legal practice.

B.5. Written and Oral Communication: Draft legal and non-legal documents in the manner expected of a competent new lawyer and communicate orally in a manner appropriate for the audience and purpose.

C. Exercise of proper professional and ethical responsibilities to clients and the legal system

C.1. Cultural Competence: Work with others of diverse backgrounds and understand the importance of building an inclusive community characterized by interdependence, dignity, equality, compassion, and respect.

C.2. Diligence: Demonstrate a strong work ethic, engage in productive time management, understand the principles of timely project submittal, and be punctual and respectful.

C.3. Leadership: Exemplify servant leadership through ethical conflict resolution and emotionally intelligent engagement in teambuilding, collaboration, and cooperation.

C.4. Pro Bono: Possess knowledge and understanding of the lawyer's professional and civic responsibility to advance the mission of community service.

C.5. Professional Integrity: Uphold a strong sense of honor and conduct affairs with honesty, dignity, and care, while treating others with civility, fairness, and respect.

D. Other professional skills needed for competent and ethical participation as a member of the legal profession

D.1. Judgement: Recognize the importance of relevant non-legal considerations when advising clients regarding available outcomes and avenues, such as moral, emotional, economic, social, and political considerations.

D.2. Respect for Others: Practice in a diverse society and world by engaging competently with persons from a variety of backgrounds and holding a variety of views.

D.3. Reflection and Self-Evaluation: Develop an ability to critically evaluate the performance of self and others when performing legal tasks including recognizing, evaluating, and understanding one's own roles in resolving ethical dilemmas.

D.4. Self-Care: Seek and use resources when necessary to address personal challenges including managing workload and stress; recognize common causes of lawyer misconduct and be aware of sources of support for lawyers.