MS/PhD in Law and Public Policy

The Law and Public Policy (LPP) graduate program is designed for students who want a solid background in public policy as well as law.

The master’s degree (MS) in LPP is an interdisciplinary public policy program that prepares students for careers in government, nonprofit and legal organizations, and research. Students first complete the law degree, taking the specific courses indicated. After completing the Juris Doctor (JD), students  take one year of courses in LPP, ending with a capstone course. Students examine a full range of strategies for creating policy change, including legislation, litigation, the ballot box and civil action. Students engage in policy analysis and applied research that develops real-world solutions to public policy challenges.

The PhD in Law and Public Policy is an interdisciplinary public policy program that provides a comprehensive view of the policy making process and its outcomes. Our interdisciplinary focus means that students come from a variety of backgrounds. And our students typically have several years of work experience. Students quickly find that engaging in a classroom with other students who hold degrees such as the MBA, JD, MPH or other social science degrees is quite an intellectually stimulating experience. Areas of policy emphasis include health, environment, crime and justice, education and the labor market, urban policy and race and gender.

Students pursuing dual degrees plan their schedules with the assistance of advisors from the law school and the LPP Program. Applicants to the School of Law interested in pursuing a concurrent degree do not need to duplicate each school’s request for letters of recommendation, transcripts and standardized test scores. Applicants should complete the law school application and note on it that they are applying to LPP and submit the LPP application form to LPP, noting on it that they are applying to the School of Law. The application deadline for LPP is February 15.

Further details on the Law and Public Policy Program may be obtained by contacting:
Joan Fitzgerald
Director, Law and Public Policy Program
Northeastern University
205 Holmes Hall
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: (617) 373-3644
E-mail: jo.fitzgerald@neu.edu or lps@neu.edu