First Agricultural Economics and Law Program in the Nation
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law and Purdue University’s Department of Agricultural Economics have joined forces to create the first MJ-MS Agricultural Economics and Law program in the nation. Students who complete the program will receive a Master of Science (MS) in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University and Master of Jurisprudence (MJ) from IU McKinney.
“This new program will provide students with a multidisciplinary education in agricultural economics and law and equip them to make creative and significant contributions to their companies, the food and agribusiness industries and food and agriculture policies,” said Karen Plaut, the Glenn W. Sample Dean of the Purdue College of Agriculture. “This unique offering capitalizes on the strengths of both universities to provide an essential foundation in agricultural law.”
IU McKinney’s legal training emphasizes understanding regulatory oversight, administrative agencies’ roles, policy questions, and transactional structures.
Purdue’s agricultural economics program 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.
“We are delighted to partner with Purdue on this important initiative as it will distinguish graduates in the dynamic agricultural law industry and equip them with the tools they need to be effective change makers and leaders in this growing field,” said Cynthia Adams, IU McKinney Vice Dean and Clinical Professor of Law. “We are happy to announce that interested students can also apply for significant funding as we will be offering two 50% fee remission scholarships toward the M.J. degree for entering students.”
Students would first receive a Master of Science (MS) degree from Purdue University after completing 21 credits from Purdue’s Department of Agricultural Economics and 15 credits from the IU McKinney School of Law. The student would receive the Master of Jurisprudence degree after completion of an additional set of 15 law credits from IU McKinney School of Law. The MJ-MS program consists of 51 total credits.
The MS in Agricultural Economics degree consists primarily of online courses with three required periods of in-person residency – where students will receive a continuation of the online education courses required for the MS degree. The MJ degree program offered by IU McKinney offers evening, online, and hybrid courses.
Both programs are now accepting applications for the program. Prospective students must separately apply to and be accepted by both universities.
