N.C. State and Campbell University are partnering up to offer graduate students a unique opportunity to obtain both a law degree and a business degree in record time.
According to Melissa Essary, dean of the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University, graduate students will be able to obtain a J.D. and MBA more quickly than if pursued separately.
“The biggest benefit is for students who are interested in getting both a J.D. from Campbell and an MBA from N.C. State,” Essary said. “This dual degree program cuts off a full year of college, saving both time and money.”
Essary said the reasoning behind such a program is for students interested in either field to gain an appreciation for the other—since both business and law often work hand in hand.
“These students will have a huge leg up in attaining significant places of leadership in both areas in business and law,” Essary said. “It’s a different world out there from even 20 years ago, and students from this program will be ready.”
According to Mary Tetro, former coordinator of pre-law services who will be leaving the University as of June 14, this partnership will also dispel the myth that “all law schools students were humanities majors.”
“The College of Management is the second largest feeder from N.C. State into law schools, with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences being the first,” Tetro said. “Don’t confuse this as meaning everyone who goes to law school comes out of CHASS. We have law students from the College of Engineering, Management, and almost every other college within this University—except the College of Design.”
Essary said students enrolled in the dual degree program will pay “Campbell tuition for the Campbell part and N.C. State tuition for the N.C. State part” of the program.
According to Brian Boyd, associate dean for academic affairs at Campbell University, either degree on its own is praiseworthy, but together they provide students with an immense advantage.
“Both degrees are gateway degrees to gain employment and skill sets to navigate the challenging job market,” Boyd said.
Essary said she agrees with this, but added that the benefits of participating in such a program extend beyond its initial description.
“While some would say joining these two degrees would widen the gateway, I’d say there isn’t even a gate anymore because there are that many more opportunities available for people who have both degrees,” Essary said.
However, while the introduction of this program is being announced just a few months after the announcement of administrative cuts to pre-law services, both Tetro and Essary said this should not be viewed as connected events.
“This negotiation is done through the deans and the provost. This is not in the least affected by the transition of pre-law services. There are no negatives at all, and I think it is a great program,” Tetro said. “Now students don’t have to decide ‘Do I get a JD or an MBA?’ They can have both.”
While Tetro may be leaving N.C. State, she said this does not mean students interested in going to law school will be left without resources.
“There will be a change in the structure of pre-law services, but the law school fair is still happening,” Tetro said. “There will also be great new leadership in the pre-law student association as well as new student leadership.”
Boyd also said he can appreciate N.C. State’s efforts to find creative solutions to balance its dwindling budget, though this program will pose no financial burden on either university.
“The cost is pretty negligible. We will continue to operate as individual institutions, so there will be no extra cost—just great benefits,” Boyd said. “I hate to use the word ‘no-brainer,’ but it sort of fits here.”
According to Boyd, there are no current plans to hire new staff, though there will be an increase in academic counseling to be sure students’ classes line up so they can stay on track.
Despite cuts to the University budget as a result of state funding cuts, Tetro said she has high hopes for the program, and said she believes it will outlast either university’s economic difficulties.
“The interest [in a law program] is there, they [N.C. State and Campbell] just had to coordinate the details,” Tetro said. “I don’t think they’d put it in place if both institutions were not prepared to support the program.”
