JD/MS-Government Organization and Leadership Dual Degree

Program Mission and Goals

The JD/MS-GOAL program is designed as a dual-degree program to prepare Creighton law students to assume leadership positions as attorneys working for government entities. Students in the program acquire valuable information and skills useful across the full array of government activity. While the program focuses primarily on the roles of lawyers within the federal government, GOAL graduates emerge from the program well equipped to succeed in state and local government as well. The program is both theoretical and practical: students develop a sophisticated construct of the role of lawyers in government and apply their learning during an intensive full-time externship in a federal governmental office. GOAL offers students:

  • A legal/organizational framework for understanding the role of government counsel;
  • A set of core competencies to understand and effectively participate as lawyers in leadership and organizational roles in government;
  • An enhanced capacity for working as government lawyers in federal agencies;
  • Practical skills and techniques in strategic planning, problem solving, collaboration, decision making, and consensus building;
  • A detailed understanding of government standards of ethical conduct and ethical principles arising from core values of our society and the Jesuit tradition; and
  • Tools to enhance performance and achieve desirable outcomes in career pursuits.
  • Graduate in 3 years with dual JD/MS-GOAL degrees.

Program of Study

The degree is a Master of Science in Government Organization and Leadership (MS-GOAL).  This degree is only available to students who are enrolled in law school and pursuing their JD degree. This degree requires completion of 35 credit hours, including an externship in Washington D.C. and a major paper. Thirteen credit hours may be satisfied by courses taken for the JD degree. Five credit hours of GOAL courses may serve as credit toward the JD degree. The program includes a full-time externship at a government office in Washington, DC. While in DC, students take classes, participate in conferences, networking events, and other opportunities as they arise. Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 to remain in the program.

MS-GOAL Degree Program requirements (35 Credits)

Required Courses
LAW 307Administrative Law3
LAW 406State and Local Governments in a Federal System3
GOL 615Seminar in Interdisciplinary Leadership Theory3
GOL 690Applied Political Philosophy in Governance2
GOL 670Government Organization and Research1
GOL 720Ethics in Government2
Courses taken Fall semester, 3rd year of Law School.
GOL 710Counsel Roles and Leadership in Government Agencies3
GOL 730Externship Program11
Electives
Select at least 7 credits of elective courses from the following. These courses count toward both the J.D. and M.S. degrees.7
Comparative Constitutional Law
Advanced Constitutional Law
Copyrights
Employment Discrimination
Health Care Insurance Law
Environmental and Natural Resources Law
Elder Law
Estate and Gift Taxation (Federal)
Energy Law
Food & Drug Law
Federal Courts: Jurisdiction and Procedure of the District Courts
Current Topics in Public Health Law
Federal Income Taxation
First Amendment Freedom of Speech
Health Information Privacy
Immigration Law
Health Care Organizations
Climate Change & International Environmental Law
Mergers and Acquisitions
International Criminal Law
Land Use Law
Race and Law
Cyberlaw
Employment Law
Law of Armed Conflict
Native American Law
Patent Law
International Law
Education Law
Securities Regulation
Trademarks and Unfair Competition
White Collar Crime
Total Credits35

Courses

GOL 615. Seminar in Interdisciplinary Leadership Theory. 3 credits.

This course focuses on the field of leadership in interdisciplinary contexts to enhance students' proficiency in facilitating organization-and system-wide improvements. Leadership theories and practices are related to emerging interdisciplinary approaches to promote students' knowledge, skills, and ability hierarchies, varied job roles, and diverse expertise. Through examination of theoretical perspectives and interdisciplinary work, students will develop an ability to integrate the contributions of different points of view and ways of thinking crucial to effectively lead high performing organizations in a dynamic world.

GOL 660. Local Government Law. 3 credits. (See LAW 306)

This course examines the basics of Local Government Law: (1) the configurations and powers of the various types of local governments (e.g. cities, counties, and special districts); (2) the allocation of power between states and their local governments; (3) sources of revenue for and debt limitations that apply to local governments; and (4) interlocal cooperation and regional governments. The course also considers how these law basics affect current issues in metropolitan “megaregions.” The course also develops skills of particular relevance to local governmental and political decision making: statutory interpretation, analyzing the dynamics and context of local government proceedings, and tracing the connection between applicable legal doctrine and current public policy issues.

GOL 670. Government Organization and Research. 1 credit.

Students are oriented to the organizational structure of federal entities and the organization of the federal government. They are trained in government documents research; emphasizing agency records and legislation. GOL 670 meets as part of the last half of the Advanced Legal Research [LAW 313] course. Credit hours awarded for this course do not count as credit toward the JD degree.

GOL 690. Applied Political Philosophy in Governance. 2 credits. FA

This workshop focuses on current issues in government. The course looks at current events in the news relating to government. The course also focuses on understanding the teachings of leading social and political philosophers such as Plato, Locke, Hume, Rousseau, Mill, and others. Students are required to write a paper on a current political, social, or economic problem that could be addressed by government action. The paper completed for this course satisfies the major paper requirement for the MS degree. Credit hours awarded for this course do not count as credit toward the JD degree.

GOL 710. Counsel Roles and Leadership in Government Agencies. 3 credits.

The course will provide a comprehensive look at the major functions of government lawyers. Heavy emphasis is placed upon exploring the question of "who is the client?" and upon developing knowledge and skills in working with other managerial stakeholders within agencies and with external stakeholders such as OMB, Congress, other agencies. The course will be offered on a 2-week intensive basis just prior to commencement of the externship; part of the course will be aimed at preparing the student to get the most out of the externship.

GOL 720. Ethics in Government. 2 credits.

This course offers a detailed introduction to the Office of Government Ethics, designated agency ethics officials (DAEO), and the Standards of Ethical Conduct. Students will also look at broader ethical concepts as well as comparing formal government ethics with other ethical systems, including the Model Rules of Professional Conduct. The course will run during the externship time period and will meet one evening each week.

GOL 730. Externship Program. 11 credits. (see LAW 370)

This program is a full time government externship spanning approximately 3 months, providing an opportunity for intensive study of government legal processes and counsel office operations. Externships will be aimed at developing skills through in-depth work on a variety of assignments. Each week, students will meet together with a member of the law faculty (some weeks in person, others, on-line) to discuss issues and experiences; students will also be invited to a variety of presentations and activities involving government lawyers. Students are expected to work closely and cooperatively with administrators of the GOAL program to secure externships. Failure to do so will reduce placement opportunities. With guidance and advice from GOAL administrators, students should secure housing in advance of the semester.

GOL 740. Immigration Law. 3 credits. (See LAW 370)

This course explores the history of United States immigration legislation from the Alien and Sedition Acts to the present, with emphasis on the McCarran-Walter Act of 1952 and the 1965 and 1976 Amendments. Coverage includes immigrant and nonimmigrant visas including visas based on employment, refuses and political asylum; excludable classes; entry procedure; deportable classes; the deportation process; and naturalization.

GOL 750. Native American Law. 3 credits.

The subject matter of this class centers on discovering the range, depth and complexity of law and policy both emanating from and directly affecting American Indian tribes. Treaties concluded between tribes and the U.S. government during America's westward expansion and the attendant assumption of fiduciary responsibility by Congress form the basis on which subsequent laws and policies are examined. Issues to be studied include tribal court structure, federalism questions, gaming and hunting rights and exemptions, and the implementation of major statutes under U.S. Code Title 25 such as the Indian Child Welfare Act and the 1990 Native American Graves & Repatriation Act.