The College of Education and the Dickinson School of Law now offer a joint degree program in both education and law. Participants will be able to obtain both a juris doctor and a master's or doctoral degree from one of the following College of Education programs: college student affairs, educational leadership, educational theory and policy, or higher education.
Preston Green, associate professor of education leadership and law in the College of Education and the Law School, emphasizes that graduates from this new program will be able to pursue careers in both educational law and policy.
"Many lawyers represent school districts and universities as part of their legal practice. Also, as Brown v. Board of Education illustrates, lawyers have been in the forefront in advocating for equal educational opportunity for all children. Further, attorneys work as policymakers in state and federal departments of education," said Green.
The joint degree program will appeal to educators who want a thorough knowledge of the law, but do not wish to practice. Furthermore, the joint degree program offers two graduate level degrees in less time that it takes to complete the two degrees separately.
"It took me three years to attain a law degree, and three years to attain my doctorate in educational administration, for a total of six years. By contrast, a person participating in the joint degree program could conceivably earn both degrees within 4 to 5 years," said Green.
More information regarding the program is available at http://www.ed.psu.edu/educ/eps/law-eps-joint-degrees/law-eps-joint-page online.