4.15.01 Introduction
The faculties of the Capital University Law School and the Ohio University
Sports Administration/Facility Management Program have created a joint
degree program that enables students enrolled in either school to seek
admission in the other school, and, if accepted, to complete both degrees
with a substantial reduction in total credit hours. Full participation
in the program makes it possible to complete the two degrees by taking
(1) 43 quarter hours of credit in the Sports Administration/Facility
Management Program (including a 5 credit hour internship) and (2) 78
semester hours of credit in the Law and Graduate Center. Without the
joint program, a student would have to complete 55 quarter hours of
credit in the Sports Administration/Facility Management Program and
86 semester hours of credit in the Law School. Thus, the student's hourly
requirement is decreased by 8 semester hours and 12 quarter hours through
participation in the joint program.
4.15.02 Advantages of the Joint J.D./M.S.A. Program
With increasing frequency, persons involved in sports administration
at both the professional and amateur levels are faced with a wide variety
of legal issues. Athletic departments at Division I universities and
the front offices of professional sports franchises increasingly are
relying on the legal training of in-house officials to assist with their
legal problems. An increasing number of professional and university
athletic administrators hold law degrees as well as degrees in sports
administration. Both courses of study are extremely useful in the businesses
of sports administration and facility management. Individuals holding
both degrees frequently are able to progress faster, utilizing the dual
training in law and sports administration to better achieve both professional
and personal goals. It is obvious that having both degrees provides
the graduate with the flexibility of pursuing a wide variety of career
opportunities.
4.15.03 Application to the Joint Program
A. Each student who desires to enroll in this joint program should
read thoroughly the relevant materials of both the Law and Graduate
Center and the Sports Administration/Facility Management Program prior
to scheduling a conference with the joint program advisor of either
school. If the student is already enrolled in one school, the student
should first talk with that school's advisor.
B. The Law and Graduate Center and the Sports Administration/ Facility
Management Program each have their own admissions offices and determine
their own admissions standards. Students applying to the joint degree
program must first be accepted for admission by each program separately.
Admission into the Sports Administration/Facility Management Program
requires completion and filing of its admissions application, the reported
results of one of the required standardized tests, and other required
information. Similarly, admission into the Law School requires completion
and filing of its admissions application, the reported results of the
LSAT, and other required information.
1. The LSAT exam (required by the Law School) and the other standardized
exams accepted by Ohio University are administered several times each
year. However, the examinations are not given at the same time, or
in the same location. Prospective students should consult the admissions
offices or publications of the respective schools for further information.
2. Thus the joint degree applicant must complete two applications,
submit required standardized test scores, pay two application fees,
and file the joint degree application with both schools.
3. Because each school admits students separately, admission into
either program does not signify or predict admissibility into the
other.
C. The student already enrolled in one program may apply for admission
into the other program as outlined in the relevant admissions materials
of each school. Also a joint degree application must be filed with each
program.
1. As indicated above, admission into one program does not signify
admissibility into the other program. In order to be admitted into
the other program the student will have to meet all admission requirements
of that program and be academically in good standing in the program
in which he or she already is enrolled.
2. A current student in either the Law School or the Sports Administration/Facility
Management Program may apply for admission as a joint student by notifying
the faculty advisor and Registrar of the school in which the student
is already enrolled, and then applying for admission to the other
school. Because the student is already enrolled in one program, the
student must complete the basic requirements of the program already
begun prior to starting courses in the other program. For the law
student, this means the completion of those courses required in the
first year day curriculum. For the sports administration student,
this means completion of the residency requirement, or two consecutive
quarters of academic work in the program totaling a minimum of 36
quarter hours.
D. A prospective student not already in either school may apply to
both schools at the same time and so indicate by filing the joint degree
application. However, the student must elect to start either the MSA
or the JD program first and complete the basic requirements of that
program prior to taking courses in the second. The applicant is advised
to start the law program first, unless first beginning the MSA program
before entry into law school.
E. Occasionally an applicant to the joint J.D./M.S.A. program seeks
to apply, as transfer credit, course work taken at another law school
or another sports administration program. Each program determines how
many transfer credits from another institution will be accepted by its
program. However, in no case will the same transfer credit hours be
allowed to satisfy requirements in both programs (i.e., used to reduce
the total joint degree hours); each acceptable course must be applied
to one program or the other but not both. In addition, transfer hours
may not be used to satisfy the two quarter residency requirement of
the Sports Administration/ Facility Management Program, or the Law School
requirement that a minimum of 43 credit hours be earned while in residence
at the Law School.
4.15.04 Period of Enrollment
A. Normally, the full-time joint degree candidate is able to complete
both degrees within three and a half or four years, depending on summer
term enrollments. Part-time joint degree candidates can complete both
programs in five years, including summers. To participate in the joint
degree program, however, part-time law students will be required to
transfer to full-time status while enrolled in the two quarter residency
requirement of the Sports Administration/ Facility Management Program.
B. Both the Sports Administration/Facility Management Program and the
Law School require that students complete their respective programs
within six years from the term in which the student is first enrolled.
The joint J.D./M.S.A. program also must be completed within six years.
Waivers rarely are granted by either school, and then only because of
extraordinary circumstances and for a limited period of time.
4.15.05 The Program of Study
A. The Sports Administration/Facility Management Program classes are
held on the campus of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Law classes are
held at the Capital University Law School in Columbus.
B. The Sports Administration/Facility Management Program offers courses
on a full-time basis only. The Law School offers the J.D. degree either
on a full-time basis during the day or on a part-time basis during the
evening. A student may on occasion take both law and sports administration
courses during the same term, with permission of both advisors, providing
all basic requirements for both programs have been fulfilled.
C. As mentioned, simultaneous enrollment in the Law School and the
Sports Administration/Facility Management Program may be permitted if
all prerequisites have been completed. This means that the student must
have fulfilled: (1) the two quarter residency requirement of 36 hours
for the Sports Administration/Facility Management Program, and (2) the
29 semester hours of credit derived from the specific course requirements
found in the Law School curriculum of the first year day student (which
takes one year if enrolled as a full-time law student or two years if
part-time) before the student may begin to take classes concurrently
at both Ohio University and at Capital. However, the full-time student
may never concurrently take more than 16 total hours (semester or quarter)
in both programs at any given time. The part-time law student, after
completing the 29 hours noted above, may concurrently take courses in
both schools, but is prohibited from concurrently taking more than 11
total hours (semester or quarter) in both programs at any given time.
During summer terms, the joint degree candidate may not concurrently
take more than eight hours (semester or quarter) as a full-time student
or six hours (semester or quarter) as a part-time degree student, without
the express written permission of the appropriate official in each program
in which courses are to be taken.
D. Joint degree students registered only in one school should communicate
periodically with the other school. Each school's Registrar automatically
continues to mail registration materials to the joint degree candidate
until it is determined that the candidate no longer wishes to receive
them. It is the joint degree student's responsibility to notify both
the Law School Registrar and the Ohio University Registrar of changes
in mailing address.
E. The joint degree student may complete both degrees at the same time
or complete one ahead of the other. The student must petition the Registrar
of each school at the appropriate time to receive each degree. Students
must complete a minimum of 24 quarter hours of M.S.A. credit before
12 quarter hours (8 semester hours) will transfer to Capital. Degrees
are presented at the respective commencements of the two schools.
4.15.06 Definition and Operation of Joint Degree Credit
A. Ohio University counts up to 8 semester hours of credit of law work
for its 55 required quarter hours credit to complete the MSA, i.e.,
Ohio University permits 8 semester hours of specified law courses to
take the place of 12 quarter hours of Sports Administration/Facility
Management courses. The Law School will allow a J.D. candidate to apply
12 quarter hours of credit earned in the sports administration program
to count as 8 semester hours of credit towards its 86 credit hour degree
requirement. Credit hours earned in courses taken in one program and
accepted as joint degree credit by the other program will transfer in
the ratio of 2 semester hours of credit for 3 quarter hours of credit
and vice versa. The list of courses offered in each program that can
be accepted as joint degree credit by the other program may be obtained
from either advisor. See Appendices A, B, and C for the lists as approved
at the time of this writing.
B. Accreditation rules prohibit both programs from using transfer
credit achieved at a substandard level. The academic retention rules
of the Sports Administration/ Facility Management Program and the Law
School are different, and interested students are advised to consult
with the appropriate advisor.
C. Following is a brief summary of retention rules of each school as
they affect joint degree credit. The MSA student is required to maintain
a 3.00 cumulative grade point average to remain in the program. The
law student must maintain a 2.00 cumulative grade point average to stay
in the law program. Because a C or better is considered acceptable at
the Law School, a C or better earned in a course at the Law School which
satisfies the requirements for joint degree credit will be counted as
indicated below for joint degree credit. A course taken in the MSA program
which satisfies the requirements for the joint degree credit will be
counted for joint degree only if the student earns a B or better.
D. A student enrolled in the joint J.D./M.S.A. degree program will
have two official transcripts, one from each program. In order to have
a complete record, it will be necessary for a joint degree student to
request both transcripts.
1. Credits earned in the law program which satisfy the requirements
for joint degree credit, will appear on the Law School transcript
by course title, semester hours of credit, and letter grade. Those
same credits will be listed on the Ohio University transcript by course
title, quarter hours of credit, and an appropriate notation indicating
that credit has been earned. The letter grades will not be averaged
into the Ohio University cumulative grade point average.
2. Credits earned in the Sports Administration/Facility Management
Program which satisfy the requirements for joint degree credits, will
appear on the Ohio University transcript by course title, quarter
hours of credit, and letter grade. Those same credits will be listed
on the Law School transcript by course title, semester hours of credit,
and an appropriate notation indicating that credit has been earned.
The letter grades will not be averaged into the Law School cumulative
grade point average.
4.15.07 The Bar Examination
In states requiring a bar examination to be admitted to the practice
of law, such an examination is usually given at least once a year and
often twice a year, as in Ohio. A student should consult with the Supreme
Court or Board of Bar Examiners of the appropriate state relative to
requirements to sit for the examination. Ohio allows a law student to
sit for the examination upon certification from the Law School registrar
that the student has completed all requirements for the degree.
APPENDIX A
CAPITAL UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL
COURSES THAT WILL SERVE AS
JOINT DEGREE COURSES
(Courses listed below may change. Consequently, this list may not reflect
courses currently being offered at the law school. Additionally, new
courses may be added to the curriculum and not appear on this list.
Students are advised to check the Course Descriptions appearing in the
Manual of Policies and Procedures or contact the Law School Registrar.)
Labor Law Labor Arbitration
Products Liability Employment Discrimination Sports Law Women and the
Law
Law of Higher Education Negotiation
Interviewing and Counseling
Other Capital University Law School Courses may be approved, by the
director of the Ohio University Sports Administration/Facility Management
Program, on a course-by-course basis.
APPENDIX B
OHIO UNIVERSITY GRADUATE COURSES
THAT WILL SERVE AS
JOINT DEGREE COURSES
Because Ohio University courses may be taken from a wide variety of
offerings among many different colleges and schools of the university,
it is impractical to list each specific Ohio University graduate course
for which Capital University Law & Graduate Center will award credit.
Therefore specific Ohio University courses should be approved, by the
associate dean of the Law School, prior to enrollment in those courses.
APPENDIX C
THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE REQUIRED CLASSES
FOR THE SPORTS ADMINISTRATION/FACILITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
HSAD 607 (3) PROBLEMS OF COMPETITIVE ATHLETICS
HSAD 660 (5) INTERNSHIP IN SPORTS ADMINISTRATION
HSAD 691 (4) RESEARCH SEMINAR
HSAD 600 (2) INDEPENDENT STUDY
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