Juris Doctor and Master of Urban and Regional Planning (J.D. & M.U.R.P.) | Doctorate / PhD | Law | On Campus | 4 years | University of Richmond | USA

The professions of planning and law address the concerns of social and economic equity through the institutions which help shape the direction of urban change. While lawyers often are concerned with the impact of legislation and judicial decisions on groups and individuals, planners concentrate on social, economic, and political impacts of land use with the aid of legal strategies to guide community growth and development. The Master of Urban and Regional Planning and Juris Doctor dual degree program integrates these two professional curricula to provide the necessary expertise to apply legal and planning analysis to the resolution of urban and regional policy issues and problems. Some areas of cooperation include the development and enforcement of land use and growth management controls, environmental protection strategies, housing and community development, and numerous health and welfare programs. The dual degree is a four-year program of study designed to equip graduates for a variety of professional positions including staff or legislative committees, government agencies and commissions, private consulting, neighborhood advocacy, directorships of planning and related agencies, and executive or legal aids to elected officials. Applicants for this program are required to meet the admission standards of both the law school and the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at VCU. Typically, one semester's worth of dual degree work will be accepted toward the J.D. degree.