Joint Degree in Law and International Affairs (M.I.A.)

Students must apply to the J.D. program at Penn State Dickinson Law and apply to the M.I.A. program at the School of International Affairs (SIA) separately, and must meet both school's admissions requirements. You may complete these applications simultaneously during the time you are applying to the law school OR you may hold off on applying to the Master of International Affairs program until you are enrolled in the law school.

J.D./M.I.A. students must meet the admissions requirements of both programs, and each program makes its own admissions decision. Learn more about Penn State Dickinson Law’s admissions requirements. Learn more about the School of International Affairs' admissions requirements.

The application process opens in August. Students must apply by January 15 to attend in the fall. Students will receive an admissions decision by April 15. Information on Penn State Dickinson Law’s admissions process can be found here.

Students in the J.D./M.I.A. program fulfill all requirements to earn a J.D. from Penn State Dickinson Law and an M.I.A. from the School of International Affairs.

Sequence of Courses

Joint degree students will complete their M.I.A. core courses by the end of the second year of the joint degree program. The third and fourth year of the joint program will be in residence with Penn State Dickinson Law and will include both required law classes and remaining electives to fulfill the M.I.A.

Double-Counting Credits

A maximum of twelve (12) credits for M.I.A. course work may be transferred for credit toward the J.D. degree at Penn State Dickinson Law. Courses eligible for cross-counting towards the J.D. and M.I.A. include the courses on the current M.I.A. electives list and any other courses taken as M.I.A. electives with the express written permission of the S.I.A. and J.D. advisors. Students must obtain a grade satisfactory to the law school for the course work to be credited towards the J.D. degree.

A maximum of twelve (12) credits of Penn State Dickinson Law course work may be applied to the M.I.A. degree. Courses eligible for double-counting towards the J.D. and M.I.A. include the courses on the current M.I.A. electives list and any other courses taken as M.I.A. electives with the express written permission of the S.I.A. and J.D. advisors.

For more information about the School of International Affairs, contact the SIA Admissions Team at admissions@sia.psu.edu.

For more information about applying to Penn State Dickinson Law’s J.D. program, contact Rebecca Schreiber, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, at rms822@psu.edu or 717-240-5297.