Master of Arts in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies

The School of Law and Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies offer a Dual Degree program leading to two graduate degrees: the Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) and the Master of Arts in Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies (MAREEES). This dual degree program is designed for those students who wish to study law and Russian, East European and Eurasian issues in an integrated and interdisciplinary manner. Students who expect to be involved in government service or legal practices with a Eastern European focus could benefit from this program.

The University of Texas is well positioned to offer a program of this nature. The Law School has long been considered to have one of the best faculties in the nation. Professors affiliated with the Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies are recognized world-wide for their resources. The Tarlton Law Library is sixth largest academic law library in the United States.

Program Structure

A student admitted to the Dual Degree Program must complete the normal first-year coursework at the School of Law during the first year of the program. This must be done before taking any courses relating to the Dual Degree Program. Both degrees are awarded simultaneously upon completion of all requirements of the Dual Degree Program. Therefore, students should arrange their course schedules so that all requirements for both degrees are completed in the same semester. Generally speaking, a student with the requisite language background can obtain both degrees in eight semesters.

Curriculum Requirements

School of Law

All Law School requirements applicable to students in the normal JD program must be satisfied. Eighty-six hours are required for graduation.

The Law School's first-year curriculum includes six one-term four-unit substantive law courses: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law I, Contracts, Criminal Law, Property, and Torts. One of these six courses will include a writing component, which adds a unit of credit to the course. The rest of the first-year curriculum includes Legal Analysis and Communication (3 units) in the fall, Persuasive Writing and Advocacy (2 units) in the spring, and an optional elective course of 2-3 units in the spring term. The first year program in the law school usually totals 30 units of credit.

The upper-class curriculum includes required advanced courses listed on the degree requirements page.

As a general rule, no courses taken in satisfaction of the Master's degree requirements other than offerings in the Law School itself may be credited toward the JD degree. Students must check with the Law School on their eligibility to take the bar examination.

No language coursework or courses pertaining to Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (or other coursework beyond the normal first-year coursework of the JD program) may be taken in the first year of Law School.

Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies

For more information, see the Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies website.

How to Apply

A prospective Dual Degree Program student should apply as follows:

  1. To the School of Law: Information on admissions may be obtained from the Admissions Coordinator, The University of Texas at School of Law, 727 E. Dean Keeton St., Austin, TX 78705. This information is also available on the Law School web site. The following steps must be taken:
    • Carefully read all Law School admissions information.
    • Take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) no later than February.
    • Complete and submit an application for admission no later than March 1.
  2. To the Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies: A student who wishes to pursue the graduate program in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies must have earned a Bachelor's degree and have completed at least nine upper-division, undergraduate semester hours (excluding language courses) that focus primarily or exclusively on Russia, the former Soviet Union, or Eastern Europe. In addition the following requirements must be met:
    • A grade point average of 3.0 in upper-division undergraduate courses and any graduate work already completed;
    • A combined score of 1,000 on the verbal and quantitative parts of the Graduate Record Examination;
    • 18 hours (three years) of formal language training (or the equivalent) in Russian or another language of the area.
  3. To the Dual Degree Program: After admission to the School of Law and to the program in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies, application to the Dual Degree Program shall be made by completing the application form and giving the additional information required by that form. Application forms for the Dual Degree Program may be obtained from either School.Students presently enrolled in the first-year program in the School of Law may apply for admission to the Dual Degree Program by following the procedures detailed in steps 2 and 3 above.

Financial Aid

The School of Law and the Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies have limited funds for qualified students who merit financial assistance and who can show need. Information with respect to such assistance appears in the admissions information provided by these institutions. In general, funding for the first year may be awarded only through the School of Law, and through either institution thereafter.

Advisors

  • Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies

    Director, Law/Russian, East European and Eurasian Dual Degree Program

    Center of Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies
    The University of Texas at Austin
    Geography 106
    Austin, TX 78712