J.D./M.B.A.

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The Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management in Claremont, CA

J.D./M.B.A. Programs with The Drucker Graduate School of Management

Southwestern and The Drucker School of Management jointly offer a concurrent-degree program to expand students' educational and career options. Students at Southwestern and the Drucker School of Management, part of Claremont Graduate University (CGU), are able to concurrently earn a J.D. and Masters of Business Administration (M.B.A.).

The concurrent degree program enables students to acquire the combination of legal training and management skills that is increasingly in demand in a complex global environment. Students at Southwestern can pursue concentrations in Civil Litigation and Advocacy, Criminal Law and Advocacy, Entertainment and Media Law, Labor and Employment Law, Public Interest Law, and Technology and Entrepreneurship. Students at the Drucker School can pursue concentrations in Entrepreneurship, Finance, Human Resources Management, Information Technology Management, Leadership, Marketing, Strategy, and Supply Chain Management. 

About the Drucker School of Management

The Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management prepares leaders with powerful, ethical, and universal management skills.  The Drucker School offers customizable programs grounded in the guiding principles of Peter Drucker, the father of modern management.  The school embraces Peter Drucker’s philosophy that the practice of management requires a holistic perspective, blending analytical skills with a firm grasp of the human dimension of business.  The Drucker School routinely hosts industry events and brings experts into the classroom to ensure that the theory taught is directly linked to the latest industry trends.  The Drucker School's global network is composed of bold individuals who are leading organizations, impacting society, and making positive changes worldwide.  The Drucker School’s locations in Claremont and Los Angeles provide an ideal setting for learning about management in creative, cutting-edge organizations. 

What is the course of study for the concurrent-degree program?

Students entering Southwestern or Drucker are advised to spend the first year at Southwestern, taking 1L coursework. During the second year in the program, students generally attend Drucker full-time (16 or more units), taking the core M.B.A. coursework. The curriculum in the third and subsequent years will include the remaining required courses and electives for both degrees as necessary.

As part of the M.B.A. coursework, students may use their elective options in connection with the Drucker School’s areas of concentration in Entrepreneurship, Finance, Human Resources Management, Information Technology Management, Leadership, Marketing, Strategy, and Supply Chain Management. 

Drucker students pursuing a J.D. at Southwestern may also choose a curricular concentration such as Civil Litigation and Advocacy, Criminal Law and Advocacy, Entertainment and Media Law, Labor and Employment Law, Public Interest Law, or Technology and Entrepreneurship.

Can third and fourth-year students take courses at both schools concurrently?

 Yes, depending on their course schedule.

Will any courses be offered online?

While a fully online program is not currently available, select courses may be offered in a hybrid or online format. 

Can concurrent-degree students participate in Southwestern's honors programs?

Yes, although students may have to defer participation in these co-curricular activities (Law Review, Law Journal, and the Moot Court, Negotiation or Trial Advocacy honors programs) until the third and fourth years in the program, after taking Drucker's required courses.

Is there an honors program at Drucker?

Yes. Graduating students who are in the top 20% of their class are invited to join Beta Gamma Sigma, a business honor society that recognizes the most outstanding students of business at institutions accredited by AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business).

Will I be able to participate in externships/internships as part of these programs?

Yes, students may participate in Southwestern's Externship Program, most likely during their third and fourth years in the concurrent-degree program. Students will also be able to take advantage of the Drucker Career Strategy Office, each of which has programs to help students find internships that will expose them to the real-world skills they will need when they leave school.

Will I have access to both schools' career planning offices throughout my course of study?

Yes.

May I complete the program at one school and then commence the other program sequentially?

Yes.

What happens if I change my mind and just want to pursue one program or the other?

No problem. You can withdraw from the concurrent-degree program and complete the degree you want.

Are students in all Southwestern and Drucker programs eligible for the concurrent-degree program?

Yes. Prospective as well as current students in Southwestern's Day, PLEAS/Part-time Day and SCALE programs may apply along with current and prospective Drucker students and recent alumni (five years out or less).

Can students who have already started law school or business school still apply to the concurrent-degree program?

Yes. Students may apply for admission to the concurrent-degree program at any point during law school or business school, but the length of time necessary to complete the two degrees may vary depending upon when the student applies. Students applying for admission to both Southwestern and Drucker will be allowed to enroll at Drucker only upon satisfactory completion of their first year at Southwestern.

Can graduates of Southwestern Law School and The Drucker School apply to the concurrent-degree program?

Southwestern alumni within five years of graduation may apply to the M.B.A. program and, if accepted, can apply law school credits toward their business degree and their business school credits toward their J.D. Alumni must meet the same admissions requirements as other applicants.

Drucker alumni within five years of graduation may also apply to the J.D. program and, if accepted, can apply Drucker credits toward their law degrees.

What if I graduated more than five years ago?

Southwestern alumni who graduated more than five years ago may also apply to Drucker but, if accepted, they will not be able to apply Southwestern credits toward their Drucker degree. Moreover, Drucker will not give special consideration to alumni applicants more than five years post-J.D. Drucker alumni who graduated more than five years ago may also apply to Southwestern but, if accepted, they will not be able to apply Drucker credits toward their law degree. Moreover, Southwestern will not give special consideration to alumni applicants more than five years post-degree.

Are there a limited number of spots available in the concurrent-degree program?

There is no formal limit, but both schools are looking for students who have demonstrated exceptional ability and a compelling interest in combining business and law.

If I complete the program successfully will I receive one diploma or two?

You will receive two diplomas - the J.D. from Southwestern and the M.B.A. from Drucker.

What are the admission requirements for the concurrent-degree program?

Prospective Students:

Applicants must complete the Concurrent Degree Program application on the Southwestern Law School website found here. As part of the application, applicants are required to include transcripts, a resume, a statement of purpose and two letters of recommendation. At least one letter should explicitly address the candidate's fitness for the concurrent-degree program (see question below regarding letters of recommendation). Interviews may also be part of the application process.                

Current Southwestern Students:

Southwestern students must submit a statement of intent to apply to the concurrent degree program to Erin Bair, Director of Student Services at Southwestern Law School. The statement of intent can be found on the Interdisciplinary Programs page on the Southwestern Student Portal. Upon submission of the statement of intent, a copy of the student's Southwestern application and transcript will be sent to Drucker. Additionally, an interview with an Admissions representative at Drucker will be required. 

Prior to submitting their statement of intent to the concurrent degree program, all applicants (prospective and current law students as well as recent graduates) should contact Erin Bair, Director of Student Services at ebair@swlaw.eduor (213) 738-6657 to discuss the application process.   

Who should I ask to write the letter of recommendation and what should it say?

Business school and law school are each intense academic experiences requiring a high level of skill and commitment. To assess whether applicants have the ability to complete two demanding degrees, we want to hear from someone who knows you as a student, intern or employee. We urge current business and law students to ask one of their professors at Southwestern or Drucker to write on their behalf. New applicants to either school should submit a letter from a college professor or their current employer. Recommendation letters should address the applicant's academic abilities, interest in pursuing the concurrent degrees and other qualities or experiences that bear upon his or her qualifications for this program.

What are the application deadlines for the concurrent-degree program?

Southwestern reviews applications on a rolling basis. The application deadline is April 1st, but later submissions will still be considered. The Drucker School's priority deadline is February 1st, but applications submitted after the priority deadline will be considered on a space-available basis. Applicants who submit their applications by February 1st will receive priority consideration for financial aid.

When can I take the LSAT?

The LSAT is offered multiple times a year. The test is administered by the Law School Admission Council and more information can be found at www.lsac.org. Southwestern is an LSAT test site.

If I am a current Southwestern student or recent graduate, do I have to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)?

No.  For applications to the MBA program, the Drucker School will accept the LSAT in lieu of the GMAT for current Southwestern students and Southwestern alumni within five years of graduation. 

How much will the concurrent-degree program cost?

Students are responsible for paying the tuition and fees based on the units they take at each school. These costs are charged by the schools respectively. Click here for more information on Southwestern's tuition and fees.

How will financial aid be handled?

A student's "home" school will disburse funds to the other institution during terms of concurrent enrollment. Southwestern will be the "home" school for anyone who starts the program there; Drucker will be the "home" school for current business students who are admitted to the concurrent-degree program. Click here for additional information on financial aid.

If I still have questions, who should I contact?

At Southwestern, contact Erin Bair, Director of Student Services at ebair@swlaw.eduor (213) 738-6657.

At the Drucker School, contact admissions@cgu.edu or (909) 607-7811.

What concurrent degrees are available to Southwestern students through this collaboration?

Students at Southwestern will be able to earn a J.D. and Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.).

Why have Drucker and Southwestern created this partnership?

The combination of legal training and management skills is increasingly in demand, and we believe graduates of these concurrent degree programs will find enhanced career opportunities and be able to make a positive difference.

What is the advantage of earning these degrees through thus concurrent-degree program?

Southwestern students pursuing the J.D./M.B.A. degree can apply 10 units earned at Southwestern to the 48 units required for the M.B.A. They will complete the additional 38 units at Drucker. Law students will also be able to apply 10 of the units earned at Drucker toward the 87 units required for the J.D. degree, leaving 77 units to be completed at Southwestern.

Program Unit Trans*  Required Units
(Southwestern)
Required Units (Drucker) Status

J.D./M.B.A.

10 77 38 Full-time

*Number of transferable units that can be applied to each degree

How long will it take students to earn the two degrees?

Most full-time students should be able to complete both degrees in three-and-a half to four years.

The length of the program will vary depending on the student's schedule. Part-time students, including those in Southwestern's Evening and PLEAS programs, generally take longer to complete requirements for both degrees than full-time day students. Drucker students enrolled in the full-time M.B.A. program are required to take core courses during the daytime and take up to 16 or more units of coursework per semester. 

A special program has been tailored for SCALE® students who are interested in earning a J.D./M.B.A. in three years. SCALE students interested in a J.D./M.B.A. may be able to complete the program in three years depending on their curriculum track.

How far apart are the campuses?

Depending on where a student lives, he or she could choose to commute from either campus. The Drucker School’s Claremont campus is about an hour from Southwestern by freeway or by train. The Drucker campus is within walking distance from the Claremont Metrolink station and the Southwestern campus is within walking distance from the Vermont/Wilshire Metro Red Line stop.

Some Drucker courses are offered at the Los Angeles location of Claremont Graduate University at the Reef building, 1933 S. Broadway.