One of the more popular combined-degree programs at Iowa is Law (J.D.) combined with Urban and Regional Planning (M.A. or M.S.). Joint Law-Planning degree graduates typically obtain employment as city managers, city attorneys, city planners or planning administrators. They also practice at law firms or advocacy organizations as land use, housing, transportation or environmental law specialists.
The J.D. degree requires 84 credit hours, typically completed in three years; the M.A. or M.S. requires 50 credit hours, typically completed in two years. Law will apply a maximum of 12 hours of planning courses toward the J.D. requirement. (Six of those hours may be outside of Law [example, URP] and the other six are discretionary credits.) Planning will apply 15 hours of law courses toward the M.A. or M.S. requirement. Therefore, joint-program students typically complete both degree requirements in four years. Taking classes over a summer term may be required to meet this target. A total of 107 hours of graduate work is required for the joint degree, including a minimum of 35 hours in planning and 72 hours of law.
A brochure describing this joint degree is available here.