SDSU and USD concurrent JD/MPA degree accepting applications

San Diego State University's School of Public Affairs offers a visionary degree opportunity through its JD/MPA Concurrent Degree Program with the University of San Diego's School of Law.

The degree enables students to earn both a Juris Doctor (JD) and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) in just eight semesters, preparing graduates to excel in the intersections of law and public policy.

Roddrick Colvin, director of the SDSU School of Public Affairs, said that the program was designed to meet a long-standing demand for professionals who can navigate both the legal system and the complexities of public administration.

“There's really so much crossover between the two fields. A person who wants to go into the public sector has to really know about law and ethics,” Colvin said. “And so you need to understand the framework for which the government operates. If you’re in the legal profession, you really need to know the mechanisms of government, what the essential institutions are, and how they operate,” he said. “A person who has public sector motivation, someone who wants to give back, who’s interested in civic life or civic community, really needs to understand the laws by which we operate.”

The JD/MPA program is the first collaboration between SDSU and USD, enabling students to take courses in both legal studies and public administration.

“We work closely with the folks at USD,” Colvin said. “Both schools are very cognizant that this is a new program, and we are both committed to making it work. From the School of Public Affairs, we have over 16,000 alums. This really just creates more opportunities for the students, creates more connections, creates an additional pool of resources that you might not otherwise have access to,” he said.

The degree’s structure is designed to be flexible, offering two main pathways: One year at SDSU followed by three at USD, or a model alternating between the two campuses. Both routes allow students to complete the degree in four years, all while gaining access to a global network of alumni.

SDSU’s School of Public Affairs emphasizes experiential learning through internships. During the 2024-2025 academic year, Public Affairs students contributed over 12,960 hours to the San Diego region, with placements at local, state, federal, and nonprofit agencies.

“We’re currently placing students in the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, the Public Defender’s Office, the Federal Defenders of San Diego, the SDSU Police Department, the U.S. Marshal Service, U.S. Pretrial Services, and the San Diego City Attorney’s Office,” Colvin said. “So we’re already in there. We have folks in lots of places that we think are strategically important. A person who’s leaving with this concurrent degree is going to be able to tap into that.”

By combining the new concurrent degree education with hands-on experience, SDSU’s School of Public Affairs prepares graduates to tackle complex societal challenges with expertise in both law and public administration. 

Specific courses range from public and urban affairs, administrative theory, quantitative methods in public policy, legal writing and research, constitutional law, and professional responsibility. Colvin said the integrated coursework will help students develop a well rounded understanding of decision-making in public service.

“From the MPA perspective, from our school's perspective, we're looking forward to some really interesting capstone projects that may be looking at ethics and government, which is a growing concern, you know, the possibilities are limitless,” he said. 

Colvin stated that the JD/MPA program with USD strengthens SDSU’s dedication to developing ethical, equity-minded leaders of the future, ultimately understanding that governance is a service to the greater community.  

“This is an effort for us to not be in our own silo,” Colvin said. “And I think this is a real opportunity for us to collaborate with the other universities in the region.”

For more information or to register, visit https://spa.sdsu.edu/graduate-programs/degree-program-jd-mpa.