MJ-MS Agricultural Law Program
Program Overview
Take advantage of our unique, first-of-its-kind MJ-MS in Agricultural Economics to drive innovation and design solutions in the increasingly complex and emerging agricultural law field! This dual degree program consists of the Master of Jurisprudence (MJ) and Master of Science (MS) in Agricultural Economics, bringing together expertise from two highly ranked institutions to provide a unique educational opportunity in agricultural law.
Agriculture is a mainstay of Indiana’s economy and way of life, and legal services are often required to help sustain and support it. The Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University covers a wide array of issues from development, trade, macroeconomics policy implications, agribusiness, production and consumption all the way to environmental and resource issues. Agricultural law is a far-ranging, complex, and growing area which requires expertise to facilitate agricultural and related businesses to operate successfully. Agricultural law topics are as varied as drainage issues, probate issues, environmental considerations, food safety and food law, interstate commerce, technology, patents, agriculture-based tourism, and much more. Beyond traditional legal services, university-led research can help identify issues to address and assist in disseminating information on relevant topics.
Purdue University’s Department of Agricultural Economics and Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law have joined forces to create the first MJ-MS Agricultural Economics and Law Program in the nation. This unique curricular offering capitalizes on both institutions’ signature specialties – law and agriculture – to provide an essential foundation in agricultural law. Purdue’s agricultural economics expertise offers an in-depth understanding of the food system’s economics and the economic concepts and theories required to make effective decisions in a dynamic industry. IU McKinney’s legal training emphasizes understanding regulatory oversight, administrative agencies’ roles, policy questions, and transactional structures.
MJ-MS students with a multidisciplinary education in agricultural economics and law will be able to make creative and significant contributions to their companies, the food and agribusiness industries, and food and agriculture policies in Indiana and elsewhere. The joint institutional proximity to agribusinesses and other agriculture-based employers provides cutting-edge access to training and practical applications of legal and agricultural economics concepts in the field.
MJ-MS Advantage
Dr. Nicole Widmar discusses the advantage of the MS/MJ dual degree program offering from Purdue University's Department of Agricultural Economics and Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. The program consists of the Master of Jurisprudence (MJ) and Master of Science (MS) in Agricultural Economics, bringing together expertise from two highly ranked institutions to provide a unique educational opportunity in agricultural law.
Your Classmates
Those enrolled are expected to be from a diverse and varied number of agricultural, food and natural resource relevant industries. However, this program takes advantage of two areas of expertise simultaneously and can be valuable to professionals in a wide variety of industries, those working with or under regulations or compliance guidelines, or those desiring more advanced skills in economic analyses and legal concepts.
Requirements
51 credits total (21 Purdue University Agricultural Economics credits, 30 McKinney law credits). Below is a sample plan of study for the MJ/MS Program. Upon admission, you will consult with the graduate program administrator to complete a final, approved plan.