Dual Degree Program JD/MHA

Students apply and must be admitted to both programs. Deadlines for each program may vary so it is important for prospective students to track application processes carefully. See these websites for the most up-to-date application information and admission criteria:

• https://academics.uky.edu/programs/masters/health-administration

• https://law.uky.edu/admissions

The Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree is a two-year (full-time, residential), 50-hour program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) and offered through the College of Public Health. The Juris Doctor (JD) degree is a three-year (full-time, residential), 90-hour degree program of the College of Law that is accredited by the American Bar Association. Under the dual degree program, each college would accept nine credit hours earned in the other college, allowing the student to complete both JD and MHA degrees with a total of 131 credit hours, and taking a total of four years rather than five.

Student Advising Support

There are designated advisors in each degree program assigned to the student upon admission. Additionally, students will receive career and professional advising from the MHA Program Director and academic advising from the College of Public Health Graduate Coordinator. A program of study will be developed for each student.

Students consult with an advisor in the MHA Program and the Law School to determine the best path for them. The curriculum sequencing has some flexibility in timing and in emphasis areas.

Students entering the joint degree program benefit from starting as full-time MHA students as it allows them to begin with their cohort, gain fundamental healthcare administration knowledge, and prepare for and complete their summer internships (CPH 688). This is not the only way to complete the program. Prospective students should contact the MHA Program Director and JD/MHA Advisor as soon as they start planning for admission (See contact at the bottom of this page).

Year 1: MHA full time.

Year 2: JD and MHA.

Year 3: JD and MHA.

Year 4: JD and MHA.

A student in the JD/MHA Dual Degree Program may complete the requirements for one of the degrees and be awarded that degree prior to completing all the requirements for the other degree; provided, however, that the student shall have successfully completed at least two semesters of work towards the other degree. All courses in one program that will count towards meeting the requirements of the other must be completed before the awarding of either degree. Students will be required to fulfill all requirements for each degree in order to be awarded that degree, subject to the inter-program transfer of credits.

• Decisions on financial aid will be made by each school according to that school’s procedures. The University of Kentucky offers scholarships that might be available to graduate students – check here: https://gradschool.uky.edu/scholarships-and-fellowships.

• Paid MHA Practicum Internships – JD/MHA students will participate in this program for year one and may opt to continue after year one. See “Experiential Learning” for more details.

The combination of healthcare management education and legal expertise opens many doors in health systems and the public sector. The University of Kentucky offers students the opportunity to complete professional degrees in these two areas jointly in less time than they would take separately.

Graduates who earn the MHA and JD degrees are not limited to the traditional law career path of working in a government agency or law firm—they can also expand their opportunities to take on roles in health services organizations.

Who Should Consider this Joint Degree?

This program is designed for students who have an interest in law as it applies to healthcare and healthcare leadership. The combination of degrees offers students healthcare-specific topics including the organization behavior and structure, health policy, delivery of health care, health care financial management, operations, quality and safety, leadership development, human resources, and more. Completing both degrees will be especially helpful for students with an interest in healthcare systems, risk management, healthcare legal counsel, the insurance industry, compliance, medical device companies, health care facilities as well as the pharmaceutical industry or health policy organizations.

• Admissions and Application Questions – glenn.means@uy.edu.
• Content and Course Sequencing – Dr. Julia Costich julia.costich@uky.edu.