Dual Degrees: MS/JD and PhD/JD

CU-Boulder has nationally renowned programs in both environmental law and environmental studies. Those who wish to pursue advanced degrees across these fields have the option of two dual degree programs: MS/JD and PhD/JD. Students will complete coursework in the core areas of the law, the natural and social sciences, values and ethics, and policy. Graduates of our dual degree program in law and environmental studies have the skills to impact future policies in government, industry, and  non-profits or to pursue research-focused careers.

General Program Overview

Students who are enrolled in both the MS/JD and PhD/JD combined degree will need to complete the following:

  1. Guidance Committee Meeting - During the first six weeks of a student’s first semester taking ENVS courses, a guidance committee of at least three faculty members will examine a student’s past academic and professional record and recommend a program of coursework for that student.
  2. Complete required coursework – Students may count up to 9 credits hours of law classes towards the MS degree. In addition to the courses recommended by their guidance committee, students will complete the following required courses:
    • ENVS 5000 – Policy, Science and the Environment 
    • ENVS 5003 – Conceptual Foundations of Environmental Studies 
    • ENVS 5004 – Research Design in Environmental Studies 

Below are the specfic requirements for each degree:

MS/JD Program Overview

To complete the MS portion of the degree, students must complete 30 hours of course credit and complete either an original master’s thesis or a graduate internship. The major milestonesfor the MS portion of the degree are as follows. Students should also review the requirements to complete a JD degree as outlined by the School of Law.

  1. Guidance Committee Meeting: In the first six weeks of the first semester, a guidance committee of at least three faculty members will review the student’s academic and professional background and recommend a tailored coursework program.
  2. Thesis Proposal Meeting: By the end of the first academic year, students must propose an original research project to their thesis committee.
  3. Thesis Defense Meeting: At the end of the fourth semester, students present their research findings and defend their thesis.
  4. Complete a thesis or internship
    1. Thesis option – Students will complete an original master’s research project that counts towards 6 hours of course credit. In their first or second year of the program, students will assemble a thesis committee of three faculty members and present to this committee a proposal that summarizes their planned research and expected outcomes. After completing the work, the student will defend the thesis in front of their committee. Students must pass this defense in order to complete their MS degree.
    2. Internship option– Students must complete a graduate internship with a faculty sponsor that counts towards 2 hours of course credit. Graduate internships are part- or full-time positions with a public, private, or non-profit organization in a substantive area related to the student’s degree program.

PhD/JD Program Overview

To complete the PhD portion of the degree, students must complete 30 hours of coursework plus an additional 30 hours of dissertation credit hours. The major milestones for the PhD portion of the degree are as follows. Students should also review the requirements to complete a JD degree as outlined by the School of Law.

  1. Guidance Committee Meeting: Within the first six weeks of the first semester, a committee of at least three faculty members reviews the student's past academic record and devises a personalized coursework program.

  2. Preliminary Examination: In the fourth or fifth semester, students take a written exam testing knowledge from core ENVS classes and the student’s chosen fields of inquiry.

  3. Prospectus Defense: In the fifth or sixth semester, the committee review coursework completion from previous meetings and evaluates the student's dissertation research plan. 

  4. Dissertation Defense: By the end, the student will write a dissertation based on original research demonstrating mature scholarship and critical judgment, This includes a public presentation and a closed-door meeting with the committee.

Admissions Requirements

To enroll, you must apply separately to the ENVS graduate program and the law school, and you must be admitted separately into each program. For more information, visit the Colorado Law's Dual Degree Programs Page.