Master of Science in Information Studies

The University of Texas Schools of Information (iSchool) and Law offer a dual degree program leading to two graduate degrees, the Master of Science in Information Studies degree (MSIS) and the Juris Doctor degree (JD). The dual degree program responds to an increased need for specialists trained in both of these fields who are thus positioned to help address issues arising from the increasingly complex and changing world of legal information use, retrieval, and storage. The program enables students to earn both degrees simultaneously in three academic years, including one summer.

While the length of the degree program is streamlined, students will still satisfy all of the existing requirements of both programs.

How to Apply

Students must meet the separate admissions criteria of each school and must be separately admitted to both schools before they can be approved for admission to the dual degree program. Applicants applying to both programs at the same time should submit a written statement of interest in the dual degree program as part of the separate application to each program. Students who begin work in one of the schools and then apply for admission to the other program will submit a written statement of interest in the dual degree program as part of their application to the second program; they should submit the same statement of interest to the advisor for the dual degree program in the school in which they are already enrolled.

Texas Law Requirements

To complete the MSIS/JD dual degree program, students must meet all of the requirements of the dual degree program. The degrees will be awarded simultaneously when the student has completed all of the dual degree program requirements. These requirements include 34 of iSchool courses (25 hours required including the capstone + 9 of electives) and 68-70 hours of School of Law courses. The Professional Experience and Project required in the MSIS degree can be completed by JDs doing the equivalent work in one of the law school’s clinical education programs. Two of the iSchool courses are already crosslisted with the School of Law.

The required 68-70 law credit hours must include all courses listed as ‘Required First-Year Courses’ and ‘Required Advanced Courses’ on the degree requirements page.

Advisors