SIUC offers law/education master's degree

SIUC is now offering a new combined academic program that will concurrently lead to both a master's degree in educational administration and higher education and a law degree or a juris doctorate degree.

Students may complete their coursework in three years, provided they attend full time including summers.

"The benefit of this joint degree will be to enhance students' knowledge of the increasingly litigious area of education law," SIUC administrators explained in a written document supporting the program.

Logistically, it combines course requirements so students work toward two degrees simultaneously, with a minimum requirement of 81 hours in law and 27 hours in educational administration.

"Much of school administration today deals with making day-to-day decisions about what can and cannot be done from a legal standpoint when it comes to student discipline, special education, First Amendment or civil rights issues, family matters such as child custody and myriad other issues," says Randy J. Dunn, professor and chair of the Department of Educational Administration and Higher Education.

So having a legal background can be a real plus for principals, superintendents and other school administrators, Dunn adds.

"Law has become part and parcel of the profession of educational leadership. So we see this dual degree with the law school as a tremendous asset for both programs -- something that adds value to both legal and educational administrative preparation here on the Carbondale campus," Dunn says.

Law school Dean Peter C. Alexander echoes the sentiment.

"A law degree has become an important part of business, industry, banking and education," Alexander says. "Earning a master's in education and a law degree is one way to come out of graduate school with both credentials and is evidence of a student's proficiencies in law and education administration."

SIU President James E. Walker OK'd the proposed program in fall semester. Interested students may apply now.

W. Bradley "Brad" Colwell, associate professor of educational administration and higher education, is coordinating the education component, housed in the College of Education and Human Resources.

Applicants must meet separate admissions requirements of the SIUC education college as well as the law school, also located on the Carbondale campus.

For more information, call the SIUC Graduate School at 618/536-7791.