The Vanderbilt J.D./M.S.F. certifies advanced training and expertise that is highly valued by law firms and their business clients, but rare among graduating law students entering careers in corporate and business law. Corporate law practice requires not only a deep understanding of the legal and regulatory environment in which businesses operate, but also mastery of increasingly complex financial transactions and instruments prevalent in 21st century business and finance, and the J.D./M.S.F. provides immediate advantages in the legal employment market.

Select Vanderbilt J.D. students can earn a master's in finance without increasing their time in school. The first two academic years (4 semesters) are completed at the law school, followed by one semester of intensive study at Owen Graduate School of Management, and a final (6th) semester mixing law and business courses while enrolled in the law school. Completing requirements for both degrees in three years requires careful planning and close coordination with program administrators.

Entering first-year J.D. students who were admitted to the M.S.F. program prior to enrolling will have their places at Owen reserved for their third year. Other Vanderbilt J.D. students may apply to the Owen M.S.F. program during their first or third semester at the law school, and if admitted, may complete the dual degree program without extending their time in law school beyond three academic years.

Limited Scholarship Funding

Through the generosity of an anonymous VLS graduate, the J.D./M.S.F. has been the only dual degree program for which the law school applies students’ J.D. scholarships to the dual-degree partner school’s tuition charges such that J.D./M.S.F. students receive their law school scholarship funding for their semester enrolled at the Owen School (Fall semester of the 3L year).
These “MSF scholarship” funds are limited, however, and while we can apply 100% of individuals’ law school scholarship funds toward the M.S.F. semester at Owen when a cohort’s cumulative scholarship total does not exceed total funds available, we must pro-rate individual awards when a cohort’s cumulative scholarships exceed available funds.

In addition, MSF scholarships are not permanently funded and may become unavailable in future years. However, limited funds have been designated for the J.D./M.S.F. cohorts enrolling at the Owen School in Fall 2024 and Fall 2025 with individual awards to be determined in the preceding Spring semester once the admitted student population can be identified.

Members of the J.D. Class of 2026 interested in joining the J.D. / M.S.F. cohort enrolling at Owen in Fall 2025 must have applied and been admitted to the M.S.F. program no later than Round 1 (November 2024) to be included in the determination of M.S.F. scholarship funding – 100% or pro-rated – in January 2025 once the full admitted cohort can be identified.

By combining study in management with study in law, a student can earn both the JD and the MBA in a total of four years (eight semesters), instead of the five years normally required to complete the two degrees. Students enroll for their first year of study in the dual-degree program on a full-time basis in either the Law School or the Owen School. Students should begin their dual-degree studies in the Law School and then attend the Owen School in their second year. The Owen School requires 62 hours for graduation and the Law School requires 88 hours. The Law School will grant transfer credit for 12 hours of course work taken at the Owen School; similarly, the Owen School will grant transfer credit toward the management degree for 12 hours of Law School course work. Applicants to the dual-degree program must make application to and be admitted by each school separately.

Learn more about the Vanderbilt MBA.

Dual-degree students pursue a J.D. and a Ph.D. concurrently in a fully integrated curriculum that combines economic theory and methodology with the study of law. The program is designed so that students complete both degrees in just six years. Admitted students receive a full funding package, including tuition for both degrees and a competitive annual stipend, for all six years of study. For more information, visit our Ph.D. in Law & Economics program page. 

Students accepted by both schools can earn the J.D./M.T.S. in four years or the J.D./M.Div. in five years. Visit Divinity School Admissions and Aid for more information.

Students accepted at both schools can earn both degrees in four years. The M.P.P. is a multidisciplinary program that provides you with a scholarly and applied understanding of the public policy process as it relates to education. The coursework serves as preparation for careers in policy analysis and public service leadership for governmental and/or private institutions. Learn more on their admissions page.

Students who wish to pursue a dual degree program with a graduate program with which the law school has no formal dual degree arrangements can propose a customized dual-degree program. In all cases, prospective students must seek and gain acceptance to both the law school and the other graduate program. Decisions regarding admission to the law school and the graduate program are made independently. For more information, contact the law school's Admissions office at admissions@law.vanderbilt.edu.