FAQs
A student with an undergraduate business background may be able to complete degree requirements for both the J.D. and the M.B.A. during the required three years of law school. In addition, students may graduate from law school even if they haven't completed all the requirements for the M.B.A.
At the time of acceptance to the M.B.A. program, the M.B.A. office will review your undergraduate transcript to determine if any of the basic core courses in the M.B.A. program can be waived based on your undergraduate record. It's possible to have all the basic core courses waived if you were an undergraduate business major. Even if you have all of the basic core courses waived, the School of Business requires that you complete a minimum of 40 credits hours in order for you to receive the M.B.A. degree. However, up to 9 credits from the Law School may count toward the M.B.A. degree. Thus, if you are a joint program student who has had all of the basic core courses waived, you must complete a minimum of 31 credits in the School of Business (assuming that you also take 9 credits in the Law School that count toward the M.B.A. degree).
Because the first year of law school is rigorous both academically and emotionally, students in the joint program are not permitted to start taking M.B.A. courses until the summer after their first year.
Students in the joint program pay full tuition to the Law School for six semesters (three years). Students pay for the M.B.A. courses on a per credit basis as courses are taken.
J.D. courses are offered in the daytime during fall and spring semesters. M.B.A. courses are offered in the evening during fall, spring, and summer terms. For further information, please see Sample Course Guide.
- In order to be admitted to the joint program, you must first apply and be admitted to Villanova University School of Law. Information about the application process can be found here.
- You then must apply separately to the Villanova University M.B.A. program. Information about the application process can be found here. This application can be filed when you apply to law school or you can wait and apply during your first year of law school. The M.B.A. program requires that you take the GMAT, which is a computer-adaptive test that is available year-round at local test centers. We strongly encourage students who are interested in the joint program to take the GMAT before entering law school. Given the rigors of the first year of law school, it is not advisable to spend time studying for the GMAT.
- Once you have applied and been accepted separately into J.D. program and the M.B.A. program, a determination is made by the Director of the Law School's joint program and the Director the M.B.A. Program at the Villanova School of Business whether you are an acceptable candidate for the joint program.
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