Program Overview

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Introduction to the JD/MIA Program

The JD/MIA program is a dual degree program offered by the City College of New York (CCNY) and the CUNY School of Law. This program combines the CUNY Law School's industry-leading program in public interest law with the Colin Powell School's expertise in international affairs, human rights, and global justice.

Program Overview

The JD/MIA program is designed to provide students with the theory, knowledge, skills, and professional training necessary to transform the global order and make it more equitable. The program is rooted in New York, with access to professional opportunities, network connections, and diverse classrooms.

Program Structure

The dual degree program allows students to earn both degrees in four years of full-time study. Students spend their first year at the CUNY Law School, pursuing the required first-year law curriculum. They then spend a year at CCNY, completing the requirements for the MIA degree. Finally, they return to the CUNY Law School for their final two years and finish the remaining coursework necessary for their law degree.

Faculty

The program harnesses the experiences of world-leading practitioners and award-winning academics to provide a dynamic classroom environment. The faculty includes:

• Jean Krasno, Lecturer, Department of Political Science
• Emily Coppel, Adjunct Lecturer
• Kimberly Gamble-Payne, Adjunct Lecturer
• Eduardo Albrecht, Adjunct Associate Professor
• Mario Baez, Lecturer

Curriculum

The JD/MIA curriculum gives students the broad background they need to lead a dynamic, constantly changing world and the specific knowledge they need to work on the issues that are most important to them. The curriculum includes:

• Theories of International Relations
• Digital Government: AI in Public Decision Making
• Conflict Prevention and Resolution

Degree Requirements

The program is designed to be a four-year program during which a student will earn a joint degree in law and international affairs. The program encompasses 33 total credits for the MIA degree, with 24 credits in residence at the CCNY MIA Program and 9 transfer credits from the CUNY School of Law that count toward the MIA degree.

Application Process

The committee evaluates candidates holistically, including an applicant's academic history, work experience, life experience, personal statement, and recommendations. Applicants from all majors are welcome, especially those who can relate what they have studied to a future career in international affairs.

Admissions Requirements

To apply, candidates must submit:

• An undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university
• Two letters of recommendation
• A written 500-word personal statement
• Applicants who did not complete their college studies in English must take a foreign language exam

FAQs

• Q: Do I have to apply to both CCNY and the Law School?
  • A: Yes, both schools consider applications separately and make admission decisions independently.
• Q: Do I have to take the LSAT?
  • A: Yes, the Law School requires the LSAT for admission.
• Q: Do I have to take the GRE?
  • A: No, the CCNY MIA program does not require the GRE for admission.
• Q: How long does the JD/MIA program take?
  • A: Four years total. Students spend three years at the Law School and one year at CCNY.
• Q: What kinds of careers do JD/MIA students get?
  • A: Our graduates secure jobs with organizations and law firms that span the gamut from international organizations like the United Nations to leading global firms.

Student Resources

• Fellowships
• Internships
• Scholarships and awards
• Advising
• Overtally form
• Financial Aid
• Emergency Grants
• CCNY resources

Alumni Profile

Juan Pablo Celis Garcia, a graduate of the JD/MIA program, currently serves as Programme Management Officer in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). He coordinates the engagement of stakeholders in the intergovernmental negotiations for a UN treaty on plastic pollution.