Getting a professional degree can be a long and rigorous process. Two of the most difficult advanced degrees are a Doctorate of Medicine (MD) and a Juris Doctor (JD). Some universities offer joint MD/JD programs to reduce the amount of time needed to get both degrees from seven years to six.
While medicine and the law often intersect in the real world, joint MD and JD degree programs focus on two very different curricula. The combination of both requires a studious and determined student. At most universities offering the program, including Duke University, students are required to apply separately to the School of Medicine and the School of Law. If accepted into both programs, they are eligible for the dual degree program. Many universities, like the University of Chicago's School of Medicine, encourage candidates to apply for the law school after the first two years of the medical school program to be sure that they are not overwhelmed by the academic challenge.