JD/MA in Computer Science/Technology

The general objective of the joint JD/MA degree program at DePaul University College of Law Center for Intellectual Property Law & Information Technology (CIPLIT®) and its School of Computer Science, Telecommunications and Information Systems (CTI) is to offer law students the opportunity to acquire technology knowledge that will support them in their work in information technology law, intellectual property law, or patent law. This joint degree accommodates JD students without a technical or scientific background who are interested in intellectual property by offering a depth of knowledge and ability to communicate in technical terms. These tools are invaluable, as future intellectual property lawyers will require at a minimum a general understanding of computer and information systems, given the prominence of cyber- and telecommunications issues in today's legal practice. The JD/MA also accommodates JD students with technical or scientific backgrounds who may be interested in a broad-based exposure to computer or information systems. Where the JD/MS degree offers students an in-depth approach to specific computer science or information systems topics, the JD/MA presents a broader view that will prepare graduates of the joint degree program to interact successfully with clients and experts in computer-related fields.

Characteristics of the program include:

• This joint degree is designed to provide intensive technological training to students with non-technical backgrounds who wish to pursue legal careers focused on high technology.
• Some students may wish to use the JD/MA program as a means to fulfill the technical education requirements for the patent bar exam. Such students will need to consult closely with faculty advisors in both Schools and to contact the USPTO for specific eligibility requirements.
• It is expected that most students who pursue this joint degree will also obtain a Certificate in Intellectual Property: General, Intellectual Property: Patent or Information Technology from the law school.
• This program simultaneously offers a variety of curriculum options encompassing key technological topics along with legal courses which prepare the student for transactional and/or litigation work.

In this program, students will acquire:

• An in-depth understanding of the legal issues that confront present and future technologies.
• An understanding of legal principles and application of those principles to a growing number of legal issues facing technology
• A broad exposure to current IT theory and practices including telecommunication and data communication fundamentals, database, computer and network security, B2C e-commerce technologies, object-oriented concepts, and client server architecture.

Course Requirement Reductions in the Joint Degree Program:

• Joint degree students may substitute up to 8 law semester hours in place of up to 3 CTI master’s degree courses, reducing their CTI course requirements to 10 courses plus any necessary prerequisite coursework. Courses to be substituted must be selected from the elective and required courses for the College of Law certificates in Intellectual Property: General, Intellectual Property: Patent and Information Technology. Please see the certificate pages on the College of Law website for lists of qualifying courses.
• Joint degree students may substitute up to 15 CTI credit hours in place of up to 10 of the 86 required law semester hours, reducing their law course requirements to 76 semester hours. Only CTI courses taken after enrollment in the College of Law may be substituted for law courses.
• Joint degree students may not substitute CTI credit hours for required courses in the College of Law, such as the Professional Responsibility and Senior Seminar courses
• Joint degree students must graduate from both schools on the same date, in the same semester/quarter, and in the same year. Double counting of credit hours occurs only after the student concurrently completes both degree programs. Students should consult with the joint degree advisors regarding any questions about coordinating the completion of the two degrees.

Admission Procedures and Requirements

Admission to this joint program requires: (1) completion with a 3.0 grade point average or better of the first-year required courses in the JD program at the DePaul University College of Law (part-time students must have completed three semesters) and (2) acceptance to CTI. Students should indicate their interest in the joint degree program when applying to CTI.

Application to the joint degree program should be made to Assistant Dean Diana White at the College of Law after the above requirements have been met. Applicants should submit a letter indicating their intent to apply for the joint degree program along with a copy of their first year (or first three semesters for part-time students) law grades demonstrating compliance with the 3.0 grade point average requirement. Students are encouraged to make an appointment with Dean White to discuss their joint degree applications and plans for pursuing the joint degree.

Application to CTI may be made at any time, but law students will ordinarily find it most advantageous to apply to CTI after receiving first-year law grades (ordinarily in early July following the first year.) Students accepted into the joint JD/MA Program must meet the CTI prerequisite phase course requirements for the MA degree, either through their undergraduate coursework or by adding a prerequisite phase to their joint degree program. Students who need to take prerequisite courses during their pursuit of the joint degree may require more than four years from admission to Law School to complete the Joint Degree. It is highly recommended that law students interested in the joint degree program contact Prof. Danny Mittleman or Prof. Curt White at CTI to discuss their individual circumstances before applying to CTI.

Transfer students or students who have enrolled in CTI before applying to the College of Law should consult with the joint degree program advisors to determine how their special circumstances may affect their qualifications for the joint degree.

Further information about admission requirements and procedures may be found in the general description of Admission Requirements for Joint Degrees found on the College of Law website under Academic Programs.

Financial Considerations:

• Joint degree students will pay on a per-credit-hour basis in both the College of Law and CTI
• Because the joint degree program permits double-counting of coursework, the total cost for the two degrees will be significantly lower under the joint degree program
• Admission to the joint degree program will ordinarily not affect College of Law scholarship awards. However, students should consult with Dean White about their specific scholarships
• Financial aid recipients must consult with Clare Timm at the financial aid office to obtain a revised (often increased) financial aid award based on their participation in the joint degree program

Sample Law School/CTI four-year course plan

The student must complete the regular first year JD program before being admitted to the Joint Degree. The second and third years might consist of three law courses in Fall Semester and two law courses in Spring Semester as well as one CTI course Fall Quarter, two CTI courses Winter Quarter, and two CTI courses Spring Quarter. The fourth year might consist of three law courses Fall Semester, one CTI course Fall Quarter, three CTI courses Winter Quarter, and three CTI courses Spring Quarter. This schedule allows for completion of the JD as well as completion of 14 CTI courses (the MS program plus four prerequisite courses). It is possible that, because of prerequisite coursework, the program may take some students more than four years.

Since each student will require a different number of CTI prerequisites and each student will select courses based on semester/quarter availability, any particular curriculum might be different from the sample curriculum shown. All joint degree students will be encouraged to select courses with the assistance of Joint Degree program advisors at both the Law School and CTI.

Prerequisite Phase

The Prerequisite Phase is intended to insure that all students enter CTI coursework with adequate preparation for successful work. Students may receive waivers for the Prerequisite Phase based on prior experience, previous coursework, or performance on a Graduate Assessment Examination (GAE). The following coursework constitutes the Prerequisite Phase:

Graduate Phase

Two CTI elective courses [numbered 420-599] for which the student has completed adequate prerequisites.

Culminating Thesis

The Culminating Thesis is an independent research article that demonstrates a student's ability to integrate both technical expertise and legal knowledge. Normally, it is undertaken during the student's final year in the Joint Degree program.

In this work, the student is guided and assessed by a Committee of three faculty, at least one of whom is fulltime at CTI and at least one of whom is fulltime at the College of Law. It is the responsibility of the student to find an advisor (Committee Chair) and assemble this committee.

The Masters Thesis will use the course number IT 698. It may be taken for two or four credits per quarter. Students may register for this course only after their advisor has approved a written proposal for their thesis. Students must continue to register for this course every quarter after their first registration in it until they complete their thesis to the satisfaction of their committee. They earn two hours of credit for each such registration but only four hours of credit will apply for degree credit.

Electives

12 additional quarter hours fulfilled by courses from the IP Certificate courses. These courses will also be counted toward the JD degree.

Joint Degree Program Advising and For Further Information

Students are encouraged to consult with the following advisors regarding their participation in the joint degree program:

• Assistant Dean Diana White - College of Law - dwhite@depaul.edu - For questions regarding administrative aspects of the joint degree and College of Law programs
• Professor Katherine Strandburg - College of Law - kstrandb@depaul.edu - For questions regarding substantive aspects of the College of Law IP and IT programs
• Professor Danny Mittleman – CTI - danny@cs.depaul.edu - For questions regarding substantive aspects of the CTI program
• Professor Curt White – CTI - cwhite@cs.depaul.edu - For questions regarding substantive aspects of the CTI program

Last Modified on: Tuesday, May 26, 2009