La Salle-FEU MBA-JD Program

Infobox_University
name = De La Salle Professional Schools-
Far Eastern University Institute of Law
Master of Business Administration-
Juris Doctor Dual Degree Program


established = 2003
type = Dual degree, Academic consortium
dean(s) = Philip Ella Juico, M.B.M.
Andres D. Bautista, LL.M.
location = 5/F, Tower II, RCBC Plaza, Makati City, Philippines
website= [http://www.psi.dlsu.edu.ph/gsb/jd www.psi.dlsu.edu.ph/gsb/jd] |

The De La Salle Professional Schools and Far Eastern University MBA-JD Dual Degree Program or La Salle/FEU MBA-Law is a dual degree program offered by an academic consortium of two graduate institutions--De La Salle University Graduate School of Business and Far Eastern University Institute of Law.

The Consortium offers the first dual degree program in the postgraduate level to be offered in the Philippines.Directory of Higher Education Institutions. Commission on Higher Education, Issue 2006-2007.]

Beginnings

De La Salle University was planning to establish its own law program. However, Philip Ella Juico, Dean of the Graduate School of Business (GSB), decided to seek a partner law school instead. Juico conceptualized a program designed after double degree programs in the United States.Interview with Philip Ella Juico. Manila Standard. May 2003.]

Juico's preceding GSB Dean, Dr. Lydia B. Echauz, had just been appointed President of Far Eastern University. For its strong academic tradition, Far Eastern University Institute of Law was chosen as the partner law school of De La Salle Graduate School of Business. An academic consortium between the two schools was formed. In May 2003, the first batch of students were accepted.Interview with Philip Ella Juico. Manila Standard. May 2003.] Invitations for La Salle-FEU MBA-JD Pioneering Class. Philippine Daily Inquirer/Manila Bulletin/Philippine Star/Manila Standard. May 2003.]

Earning concurrent credits

The program is designed for students who intend to earn both a Juris Doctor degree (JD) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) concurrently. When taken jointly, students can complete both degrees in five years, instead of six years if taken independently.Official Program Information, Office of Admissions, De La Salle Professional Schools, May 2007.]

Program itinerary

MBA-JD students attend law classes at the De La Salle GSB Campus in RCBC Tower, Makati City. They have the option of taking MBA classes in any of four GSB campuses--Taft Avenue, Ortigas Center, RCBC Tower, and Canlubang.Official Program Information, Office of Admissions, De La Salle Professional Schools, May 2007.]

MBA-JD students must complete their first year at the law school, then take mostly MBA subjects in their second year. Students then pursue both law and MBA courses in the next three years toward the completion of the final requirements of each program.Official Program Information, Office of Admissions, De La Salle Professional Schools, May 2007.]

Academics

The Consortium requires the preparation, submission, presentation, and defense of a graduate level thesis that will address the academic requirements of both MBA and JD programs. Students are required to submit a thesis which should combine knowledge learned from both MBA and JD subjects. They shall also undergo a written "Written Comprehensive Examination (WCE)" or take a refresher course that shall cover all major aspects in business management.

Core courses and electives

The JD curriculum includes all law subjects required in the Philippine Bar Examinations (i.e., Constitutional Law, Labor Law, Criminal Law, Civil Law, Commercial Law, Taxation Law, Remedial Law, Legal Ethics) and electives on corporate legal theory and practice.Official JD Curriculum, Institute of Law, Far Eastern University, May 2007.]

The MBA curriculum includes preparatory MBA courses (i.e., Managerial Statistics, Business Economics, Information Management, etc.), core MBA courses (i.e., Financial Management, Marketing Management, Production and Operations Management, Organizational Behavior, etc.), elective MBA courses (i.e., International Business, Sports & Recreation Management, Culture & Arts Management, Property Management, Agribusiness, Entrepreneurship, etc.), and integrating MBA courses (i.e., Strategic Management, Digital Technology).MBA Program Flowchart, Graduate School of Business, De La Salle Professional Schools, May 2007.]

Neither the JD nor the MBA curricula require students to take the Comprehensive Law Examination.

tudy abroad options

The Consortium offers a study abroad tie-up with law schools in the United States and Europe. Upon completion of at least two years in the program, students can enroll in partner law schools abroad for one summer term. MBA-JD General Assembly presided by Dean Andres D. Bautista. Sept. 2005.] In 2006, ten MBA-JD students went to Italy and attended special courses offered by the University of San Diego Extension Program."Filipino MBA-JD Students sent to Italy." "Philippine Daily Inquirer. May 2006.]

Admission requirements

The Consortium requires applicants to hold at least a bachelor's degree in any field. They must achieve a satisfactory mark in a combined MBA-Law entrance examination that is administered by both schools. The examination is patterned after the GMAT and LSAT programs offered by the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, New Jersey, USA.Guidance and Testing Center, De La Salle Professional Schools. March 2005.] Separate admission interviews shall be conducted by De La Salle Graduate School of Business and Far Eastern University Institute of Law.Official Program Information, Office of Admissions, De La Salle Professional Schools, May 2007.]

Compared with the cut-off score for the regular MBA Program, a higher cut-off score is applied to applicants of the dual degree program. Work experience is waived for all applicants.Official Program Information, Office of Admissions, De La Salle Professional Schools, May 2007.]

Faculty pool

The Consortium has a pool of full-time and part-time faculty who are law and management practitioners holding law, business, and other graduate degrees from such schools as University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas, San Beda College, Far Eastern University, Asian Institute of Management, Harvard University, Yale University, Complutense University of Madrid, University of Michigan, University of Melbourne, Yale University, Columbia University, New York University, National University of Singapore, Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania, INSEAD, Northern Illinois University, Duke University, University of Bristol, and University College London. Official Faculty List, De La Salle Professional Schools-Far Eastern University Institute of Law, May 2007.]

Several are topnotchers in the Philippine Bar Examinations, established authors, court magistrates, senior partners in law firms, and top corporate executives. Official Faculty List, De La Salle Professional Schools-Far Eastern University Institute of Law, May 2007.]

Administration

The Consortium is jointly administered by Far Eastern University Institute of Law Dean Andres D. Bautista and De La Salle Professional Schools Graduate School of Business Dean Philip Ella Juico. Inter-faculty program relations is handled by MBA-JD Coordinator Prof. Aeneas Eli S. Diaz, the topnotcher of the 2003 Philippine Bar Exams.Official Program Information, Office of Admissions, De La Salle Professional Schools, May 2007.] The list of bar topnotchers can be found at the [http://www.supremecourt.gov.ph Official Supreme Court Website] .]

The program is overseered by an external Board of Advisors whose members include: Alfonso Yuchengco, former Ambassador and Chairman of the Yuchengco Group of Companies (which owns [http://www.rcbc.com.ph RCBC Plaza] ); Washington SyCip, Founder of [http://www.sgv.com.ph SyCip Gorres and Velayo Accounting Firm (SGV)] ; and Atty. Roman Mabanta, Managing Partner of [http://www.rmbsa.net Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc and De Los Angeles Law Offices] .Official Program Information, Office of Admissions, De La Salle Professional Schools, May 2007.]

Graduates

May 14, 2008 marked the 1st MBA-JD Graduation. The ceremony was held at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater in RCBC Plaza, Makati City. From the initial 112 students, the program had 31 graduates. Ambassador Alfonso T. Yuchengco was the Commencement Speaker to the graduating class. How Arroyo Can Help Produce Better Lawyers, Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 2008.] [http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20080413-130019/How-Arroyo-can-help-produce-better-lawyers]

ee also

*Ramon V. del Rosario Sr. Graduate School of Business
*Far Eastern University Institute of Law
*Legal education in the Philippines

External links

* [http://www.psi.dlsu.edu.ph/gsb/jd La Salle/FEU MBA-Law Official Website]
* [http://www.dlsu.edu.ph De La Salle University]
* [http://www.feu.edu.ph Far Eastern University]
* [http://www.makati.gov.ph Makati City, Philippines]

References