University of Dayton - MyLife

Dual-Degree

A massive packet came in the mail recently from my new school, with way more info than I bargained for. Each page is chock-full of details; not to mention having to go through the whole loan application process all over again. However, it was the last page of that packet that I think was the most important.

The law school included a flyer for another school at Case Western, the Mandel Center for Non-Profit Organizations. How cool?! I've never heard of a university having an entire school dedicated to non-profit studies. Well anyways, this school has set up a dual-degree program with the law school. You can either get your law degree and a masters (but that takes a year longer), or you can simply get a Certificate in Non-Profit Management, which doesn't take any extra time at all.

So, that's what I'm going to do now! I'll officially be a JD/CNM candidate once I go through the entire application process one more time. The nice thing is that I have some time to get my stuff together, as I won't be able to take any classes for the certificate program until after my first year anyways.

It's exciting to realize there are options and combinations for me to really tailor what I want my education to be. I think the certificate program will make a clear statement, "Yeah, I went to law school, but I don't ever plan on being in a courtroom in front of a judge. What I really want to do is to simply understand the law so I can make it work for others." Plus, I guess if I ever want to start my own non-profit someday I would be able to manage it now.

Needless to say, I'm excited about putting this spin on my legal education, and am so glad I looked through every page in that packet.

Jul 26, 2008 5:47 PM Permalink