South Texas College of Law and the University of St. Thomas (UST), both in Houston, will launch a joint program this fall to allow students to earn a J.D. and an MBA on an accelerated schedule.

Students who participate in the program will earn the law and master of business administration degrees in as few as four years instead of the traditional five. The program calls for the students to attend South Texas for the first two years, then UST's Cameron School of Business for the third year, and then back to South Texas for the final year. Some of the law school courses will apply toward the MBA under the program.

“It's what students need and students want,” Robert Ivany, UST president, said on April 2, the day the law school and university announced the joint degree program.