VMD | Master Degree in Law and VMD | Certificate in Law
Veterinarians are faced with unique challenges that may require specialized legal training in how to come up with ways to solve policy issues related to animals, humans, and their environments. In an effort to address these challenges in veterinary medicine, Penn Vet offers two degree options, VMD | Master Degree in Law and a VMD | Certificate in Law.
Why Combine a VMD With a Master or Certificate in Law?
Veterinarians trained in the law gain a solid understanding of the US Legal framework and are uniquely positioned to lead and respond to policies and threats such as food supply challenges, bioterrorism and pandemic-related issues. They are then able to apply this knowledge to their specific areas of interest, for instance, Animal Law.
Other areas of interest may include:
- Prescribing, dispensing, and administering FDA approved versus compounded drugs
- Human resource and employment law issues; laws relating to ownership of pets with or without microchips
- Companion animal welfare and food animal welfare
- Legal issues involved in the racehorse industry as well as the performance horse world
About the Program
The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine | Master in Law (VMD | ML) dual-degree program allows students to earn both degrees in four years. Typically students will be in residence at Penn Vet but would be considered a law student during summer sessions. Students may take one law class per academic semester in their pre-clinical years.
Similarly, students enrolled in the VMD | Certificate of Law are able to complete their studies within their four years of veterinary education.
Penn Carey Law’s Master and Certificate program teaches students the fundamentals of the law and allows them to customize the experience through electives. Veterinarians trained in these programs can gain insights into issues and approaches that will affect their own practice, the industries they enter, and the clients and patients they treat. By attending classes with graduate students, faculty and staff from multiple departments and professions, VMD | ML students also become part of a uniquely interdisciplinary network of colleagues.
While the American Bar Association does not permit students in neither the master’s nor certificate programs to sit for the Bar exam or to practice law, graduates of this program receive broad based education in the law and enhance their ability to advocate for their profession, colleagues, clients, and patients.
Application Details
Separate applications and acceptances are required for both the ML and VMD degrees. Students interested in the dual degree option will be required to articulate their interests and career aspirations in a separate essay and interview that will be evaluated in conjunction with all application material provided to Penn Vet, by the VMD | ML advisory group.
Veterinary students can apply for admission to the dual degree program during the fall of their first or second year.
Prospective dual degree students may contact Ameena Atif at onehealth@vet.upenn.edu.
Financial Aid
All Dual degree students are eligible for scholarships and financial aid as per policies associated with their home schools.