JD-MBA Program

Set yourself apart in business and law

Our JD-MBA Program gives you the tools to become successful, whether you aspire to be a business leader with legal expertise, or want to pursue a law career with a solid foundation in business. In only three years — rather than the five it would take to complete both degrees separately — you’ll earn a Juris Doctor from the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and a Master of Business Administration from Kellogg. Our program enables you to follow the career path of your choice and provides you with a skill set that truly differentiates you from others.

Integrated business leadership and legal expertise

Eligibility

If you’ve earned a bachelor’s or equivalent degree from an accredited college or university, you’re eligible to apply.

Prior study in business or law-related fields is not required. Most students enter our program with a wide variety of work experiences. Check out the Kellogg profile and the Northwestern Law profile for more information about class makeup.

You can apply with one integrated application through Kellogg with an eligible GMAT or GRE score. You do not need to submit an LSAT score or a separate law school application. Admissions decisions are only for the dual degree program — candidates will not be admitted to only one program (unless a Kellogg alternate choice program is indicated within the application). 

Please note the law school has an additional application requirement.

All JD-MBA applicants must register with the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) Credential Assembly Service (CAS).The CAS report is a summary of each applicant's post-secondary transcript(s) and results of the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), if a valid score is on record with LSAC. Note: Recommendations are not required through LSAC and applicants are not required to take the LSAT. Applicants will receive further instruction from Kellogg admissions regarding the CAS report after their application submission.

START THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Academics

Program Structure and Curriculum

• First year
  Students spend the first year at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in downtown Chicago where they complete the standard first-year law curriculum. Students join clubs and organizations at the Law School during the first year.

• Summer term
  Students must earn a minimum of 3.0 Kellogg credits during the first summer through Kellogg’s MBA program. Students may choose from courses at the Law School, like Entrepreneurship Law, or enroll in Corporate Counsel Practicum, for Kellogg credit. Students can take Kellogg courses on Evanston’s campus, or downtown through Kellogg’s Evening and Weekend program. Some students choose to pursue a full-time or part-time internship.

• Second year
  Students register in the full-time program on Kellogg’s Evanston campus and will complete the minimum 16 Kellogg credits MBA requirement, including the core classes, by the end of this year. JD-MBA students have a fully immersive Kellogg experience throughout the second year, engaging in experiential learning courses, club leadership, KWEST, social events, etc. Students may also continue participation in Law School student organizations.

• Summer internship
  Students participate in a summer internship in law or business following their second year in the program. Students pursuing a law internship will go through recruiting with the Law School during their first year and through the summer term. Students pursuing a business internship will participate in Kellogg's recruiting activities in the fall/winter quarter of their second year. Students have full access to both the Kellogg and Northwestern Pritzker Law Career Centers.

• Third year
  Home base during the third year is at the Law School to complete remaining required courses. Students may take Kellogg electives if there is space in their credit offerings for each quarter and provided they do not exceed the 20 Kellogg course credit limit. Most JD-MBA students take 1–4 Kellogg courses during their third year.

Course waivers

If you have previously completed relevant coursework, we encourage you to consider waiving specific courses so you can focus on electives.

Available courses to waive:

• Financial Accounting
• Finance I
• Marketing Management
• Business Analytics I
• Business Analytics II
• Microeconomic Analysis
• Operations Management

Regardless of waivers or course load, you are required to complete 16 credits from Kellogg and 85 credit hours from Northwestern Law.

Majors and specializations

As a JD-MBA student, you’ll participate in the same classes and coursework as your counterparts seeking only the MBA or law degree. Our strong MBA core curriculum creates a well-balanced academic foundation. You may opt to choose one of seven majors, or none at all, or build expertise through a specialization. Learn more about Full-Time majors and specializations.

Electives

We offer a flexible curriculum to fit your needs and future plans. Our catalog contains more than 200 MBA courses that constantly adapt to the changing business landscape.