Juris Doctor/Master of Health Administration

The Juris Doctor/Master of Health Administration program offers an unparalleled opportunity to gain both a law degree and a health administration degree on an accelerated pathway. Delving into the legal complexities of Canadian health care from both perspectives will hone your skills and open doors.

Through four years of intensive and rewarding study, you will complete requirements for both degrees—and emerge with valuable and much-needed expertise.

Graduates of the JD/MHA program have successful careers in the private practice, in public- and private-sector policy development, as general counsel for health facilities, and as executive leaders in health organizations.

You will not experience the two programs as entirely distinct pathways: the JD/MHA program is an integrated, collaborative effort for Dalhousie’s Schulich School of Law and the School of Health Administration.  Health law is a major area of specialization for the Schulich, which hosts the Dalhousie Health Law Institute, and the School of Health Administration hosts other health law programs.  As a JD/MHA student, you will join a tight-knit, supportive community of health law experts: you will have access to distinguished faculty who are not only leaders in their field; they are also passionate about training the next generation of health leaders.

You will need to apply to both programs separately, and you will need to be accepted onto each program through their independent admissions processes.  You might also apply for one of the two programs and start your classes, and then only apply for the second program once your first year of study is underway.  

The combined JD/MHA program then takes four years to complete. 

Year 1: You will have the option of completing the first year of the combined JD/MHA program at either the School of Health Administration (taking first-year MHA courses and then completing your residency), or at the Schulich School of Law (completing your first-year JD courses).

Year 2: You complete the first year of the other program.

Years 3 and 4: You will follow Years 3 + 4 of the standard JD curriculum but with a slightly reduced course load that allows you to complete your 5 remaining MHA courses.  You will therefore take 3 MHA courses in one year and 2 in the other, with 23-25 course credits per year at the Schulich School of Law.  Law courses are typically between 1 and 5 credits. 

If you were to pursue the degrees separately, it would require five years of study.

The JD/MHA program is open to students who have earned or are pursuing an undergraduate degree in any discipline. If you have an interest in how the law informs, shapes and structures healthcare and policy, this program is worth your consideration.

As noted above, you will need to apply for both programs: these are separate processes.  The only difference will be that you can use your LSAT score for both the law and MHA applications (you do not need the A- in a graduate or undergraduate course, or the GMAT/GRE/MCAT). 

There is no preferential treatment or additional requirements for those applying for both programs - both of your applications will be considered by the individual Schools without any conferring between the two.  When you are accepted to both programs, you are eligible for the combined pathway. 

You will find the MHA Admissions information here: (link to Admissions (opens in new tab).

You will find the JD Admissions information here: (link to Admissions (opens in new tab). 

If you have questions about admissions, you can reach out to the School of Health Administration: healthadmin@dal.ca

You can use the following links to learn more about the key elements of the program, but please don't hesitate to reach out with questions, or to sign up for an online Open House. 

• Contact us
• Register for an Open House
• Information on Admissions and Fees
• Information on the MHA Curriculum
• Our MHA Graduate Destinations