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JD/MBA Dual-Degree Program

Future CEOs, policy makers, and attorneys can earn their JD and MBA together at Willamette. Save time and money with one of the best JD/MBA programs in the Pacific Northwest.

Program Snapshot

Degree Type

Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration

Program Type

Graduate

Credit Hours

120

Time to complete

4 Years

Campus

Salem

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A Willamette law student reads a book in front of a large window overlooking several trees

Our Dual Degree JD/MBA Program

This comprehensive, four-year program awards two degrees: a Juris Doctor (JD) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Our accelerated format integrates real-world learning from day one by combining clinic and externship experience with investment fund and boardroom strategy opportunities. Willamette prepares you for leadership across law, business, and government. 

Why pursue a JD/MBA dual degree program at Willamette?

  • Put theory into practice through hands-on learning. Willamette prioritizes experiential learning through both programs. Participate in a legal clinic, moot court, or an externship through the law school. Work with non-profit organizations, gain venture capitalist experience, or manage portfolios while earning your MBA.
  • Reputations and connections that stand out. Our MBA program is nationally ranked by publications such as Poets & Quants, Forbes, Princeton Review, and Businessweek. Our law students are steps away from the State Capitol and Supreme Court. You’ll build an expansive network that helps you achieve career goals and broadens your career perspective.
  • Powerful resources in a smaller, supportive community. Students have access to brilliant faculty, career resources, and academic support from both schools. Take advantage of our bar exam support, attorney mentor program, and PACE course. Through small class sizes, you'll be surrounded by faculty who know your name and can offer you the support you need throughout your education.

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Student Success

Henry Harder BA'20 JD/MBA'23 took the legal and business skills to secure an internship with the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps not once, but twice.

Henry's Story

Corps training: From Law School Bound to the JAG Corps

Henry spent a summer at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, where he gained hands-on experience with different types of law practice. He assisted with trials and housing issues and completed legal analysis. Henry committed to earning a second internship the next year, which he spent at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

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Headshot of Henry
The internships with JAG allowed Henry to not only develop his legal knowledge, but also his leadership skills. Being on the base, he was treated as part of a unit and participated in drills and formation.

Alumni Stories

Our alumni are making the most of the opportunities that come with a law and business degree. Learn how our graduates have used their background in law and business to achieve their goals.

  • Julie Wolff JD/MBA’95

    As chief legal officer for Sarcos Robotics, Julie Wolff JD/MBA’95 has utilized both of her graduate degrees. The dual degree allowed her to widen her scope and develop skills that worked together for a corporate career.

  • Lucy Jensen JD/MBA ’13

    After graduating from the dual degree program, Lucy Jensen quickly established herself as a prominent lawyer, eventually landing a role as principal legal counsel for SunRun. The hands-on learning she experienced at Willamette allowed her to build the practical skills she needed to jumpstart her career.

MBA and Law Faculty

With distinguished faculty in both schools, students can find mentors who inspire. Our MBA and law professors are actively contributing to their fields and have expertise in different disciplines. Dive into the world of finance or business law through faculty members who have built careers in specialized industries.

Atkinson Graduate School of Management MBA office hours with Ashley Nixon at Ecotrust Graduate Professional Center

Curriculum

Our joint program helps students develop both legal and business acumen. Students will have the choice of which elective courses to take, spanning across a variety of subjects and specialties. We also offer a business law certificate to gain specialized knowledge.

  • GSM5108: Pace 1

    Work as part of a student consulting team, helping clients improve their operations while developing practical business and leadership skills that support your career goals.

  • LAW109 Torts

    Explore how the law compensates people who have been injured through real-world civil cases. Covers topics like negligence, product liability, and wrongful death.

Degree Requirements

Students will complete the JD/MBA program in four years. Students generally take courses at the law school during their first year and transition to the business school during the second year.

Two Willamette law school students on internship walk through the Oregon State Capitol in Salem

How to Apply

Students can choose to apply to both programs simultaneously or apply to one while already enrolled in the other. Please indicate your interest in the JD/MBA program on your application materials. Current students can reach out to the other program's admissions team for additional information on the application process.

A Willamette professor writing on a whiteboard in class.

Financial Aid

All students are automatically considered for merit scholarships. Dual degree programs at Willamette qualify for the same financial aid as stand-alone graduate programs. Federal loans and work study programs are also available.

Three students in a row looking up in a classroom

FAQs

A JD/MBA is a dual degree program. Students are able to pursue a Juris Doctor and a Master of Business Administration degree at the same time.

Willamette offers a top JD/MBA program where students can earn both graduate degrees within four years. This saves students time and money by pursuing both degrees together at one university.

Our dual degree is a four-year JD/MBA program. That’s one year faster than completing both degrees separately, saving students both time and money by avoiding an extra year of tuition.

By combining a law degree with a business degree, graduates are positioned for career paths that require both legal insight and business strategy.

If you're interested in the legal field, consider roles in corporate law, such as in-house counsel, a law firm partner, or compliance counsel. Those roles benefit from business expertise.

If you're more interested in business, consider roles such as CEO/COO/CFO, strategy director, and venture capitalist. A law background provides a rich understanding of regulation that is powerful in the right position.

Other opportunities include working in the public sector, in academic roles, in startups, or even consulting.

Willamette is one of the best JD/MBA schools around because we prepare students for the future. We support internships and externships, provide hands-on coursework, and provide a clear path towards a dual degree. JD/MBA students will learn from industry-leading experts from a variety of backgrounds.

The JD/MBA program follows a structured path that typically spans four years. Here’s a sample of what your academic journey might look like:

Years 1+2

  • Law Fall Semester - 15 Law Credits
    • Civil Procedure
    • Contracts I
    • Lawyering
    • Torts
  • Law Spring Semester - 14 Law Credits
    • Contracts II
    • Lawyering
    • Property
    • Constitutional Law
    • Criminal Law
  • MBA Fall Semester - 15 MBA Credits
    • Data Analysis, Modeling & Decision Making
    • Managing Individuals, Teams and Organizations
    • Accounting for Managers
    • PACE I: Practical Application for Careers and Enterprises
    • Finance and Economics I
  • MBA Spring Semester: 17 MBA Credits
    • Marketing: Creating Satisfied Customers
    • PACE II: Practical Application for Careers and Enterprises
    • Finance and Economics II
    • Operations and Systems Management
    • MBA Elective

Years 3+4

  • Beyond elective selections, the third and fourth year courses encompass a diverse business and law curriculum, including:
    • Politics and Public Policy for Managers 
    • Strategic Management 
    • Constitutional Law II 
    • Evidence 
    • Professional Responsibility 

MBA Concentrations

  • You’ll have a chance to choose a concentration area that aligns with your career interests. Learn more about the available MBA concentrations

Yes. Current JD or MBA students can add a second degree. Reach out to admissions for guidance and additional information. 

Real-world experiences, personal faculty access, and a location that connects you directly to Oregon’s legal and business centers.

Willamette University

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