Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris attended Howard University to complete her undergraduate degree and UC Law San Francisco for her graduate degree.
Future President Joe Biden selected California Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate in August 2020. However, the road to that moment started decades before when she enrolled at Howard University, an HBCU in Washington D.C in 1982.
Her time at Howard is only part of her higher education journey, which continued to a graduate law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of Law.
What Undergraduate Degree Did Kamala Harris Earn?
Vice President Kamala Harris earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Howard University in the class of 1986. Even though VP Harris was raised in California, attending an HBCU meant a great deal to her. VP Harris became the first African American woman to be elected Vice President and the first graduate of an HBCU to serve as President or Vice President.
VP Harris says her time at Howard was when she developed her love of politics. This passion led to career paths including practicing law, serving California as Attorney General and a senator, and ultimately as Vice President. Her degree is a Bachelor of Arts with concentrations in political science and economics.
<h2 id="section---WhatGraduateDegreeDidKamalaHarrisEarn">What Graduate Degree Did Kamala Harris Earn?</h2><p>Kamala Harris continued her education at the University of California, Hastings College of Law, now known as the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. Her, VP Harris earned her Juris Doctor (JD). A <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Is_a_Law_Degree_a_Masters_Degree_or_a_Professional_Degree.html">Juris Doctor</a> is a required graduate program for the bar exam to become a lawyer.
</p><p>Most Juris Doctorate programs take learners three years to complete, and VP Harris graduated with her JD in 1989 before being admitted to the California State Bar the following year.
</p><h2 id="section---HigherEducationSImpactOnKamalaHarris">Higher Education's Impact on Kamala Harris</h2><p>The role of higher education in Kamala Harris's success can't be ignored. Her undergraduate degree from Howard helped her pick the career path that led to her becoming Vice President and the Democratic Candidate for President in the 2024 election. If VP Harris had never attended Howard and found her love of politics, she might never have gone on to be a lawyer, attorney general, senator, or Vice President.
</p><p>Higher education isn't just for people who have set goals. Every year, students like Kamala Harris attend schools and find their passions, which can go on to help lead to careers that change the world.</p>
