Suggested MD/JD Combined Degree Program of Study
The following is the suggested path for completing the MD/JD combined
degree. The typical MD/JD student will not follow this exact path, but
it is the preferred program of study.
Pre-Year 1
Summer
Law curriculum
12 hours, 4 courses
11 weeks, mid May to early Aug
Year 1
Fall Semester
Law Student Curriculum
15 hours, 5 courses
15 weeks, Aug to Dec
Spring Semester
Law Student Curriculum
13-16 hours
15 weeks, Jan to May
Summer
Law Student Curriculum
6 or 12 hours
5 or 11 weeks
mid May to end June or
end June to early Aug or
mid May to early Aug
Year 2
Fall Semester
Medical Student Curriculum
19 hours, 5 courses
17 weeks, Aug to Dec
Spring Semester
Medical Student Curriculum
19 hours, 4 courses
17 weeks, Jan to May
Summer
2nd year Law electives – same options as previous summer
Law externship – may earn up to 6 hours credit
MECO (clinical experience at an Iowa hospital)
Free summer
Year 3
Fall Semester
Medical Student Curriculum
20 hours, 4 courses
17 weeks, Aug to Dec
Spring Semester
Medical Student Curriculum
20 hours, 3 courses
17 weeks, Jan to May
Summer
Step 1 United States Medical Licensing Exam mid June
~2 weeks vacation after exam
Year 4
Fall Semester
Medical Student Curriculum
24 weeks clinical clerkships
June to Dec
Spring Semester
Medical Student Curriculum
24 weeks clinical clerkships
Jan to June
Summer Semester
Law Student Curriculum
6 hours, 5 weeks
end of June to early Aug
Year 5
Fall Semester
Law Student Curriculum
15 hours of electives
15 weeks, Aug to Dec
Spring Semester
Law Student Curriculum
15 hours of electives
15 weeks, Jan to May
Summer Semester
Bar Exam prep course & Bar Exam
(take exam last Mon-Wed of July)
end May to end July
Year 6
Fall and Spring Semesters
Medical Student Curriculum
August to May
32 weeks of clinical clerkships or 20 weeks if using 12 hrs from JD
2 parts of Step 2 US Medical Licensing Exam
MD and JD degrees conferred mid-May
Summer
Usually begin medical residency training
Graduation Requirements
College of Law – 78 hours plus 12 hours awarded for M.D. work = 90 semester hours required for JD.
Contact the College of Law at 319-335-9095, law-joint-degree@uiowa.edu
College of Medicine – 151 semester hours plus 12 semester hours awarded for JD work = 163 semester hours required for M.D.
Contact Damien Ihrig, Carver College of Medicine, 319-335-8046, damien-ihrig@uiowa.edu