BA or BS/JD (3+3) Curriculum

Students will use the first year of law school for their fourth year of undergraduate credits and count up to 30 law school credits toward their undergraduate degree. Students will earn a bachelor’s degree by the end of their first year of law school/fourth year of undergraduate.

The program is structured as follows:

Years 1 through 3 (Undergraduate)

Students will focus efforts on working toward their undergraduate degree program requirements according to the Academic Catalog and guidance from their academic and pre-law adviser.

By the end of the third year, students must:

• Complete all major and University Curriculum requirements for a total of at least 90 credits (which can include any AP or advanced standing credits as determined when they enter as first-year students) with a minimum cumulative 3.50 GPA.
• Complete at least 75 undergraduate (non-law) credits at Quinnipiac immediately prior to matriculation at the School of Law.
• Take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and achieve an LSAT score equal to, or greater than, the law school’s first-year class median.
  • Students who do not meet the GPA and/or LSAT score requirements may still be considered by the Admissions Committee to determine whether they are eligible for early admission to the law school, and if so, whether they will receive merit scholarship funds.
• Submit an application to the law school by March 15 of their third undergraduate year.

If those prerequisites are met, there are no character and fitness issues, and the applicant has a demonstrated record of maturity and leadership that would reflect the ability to succeed in law school, the student would be admitted to the law school and guaranteed a scholarship in the amount awarded to them as undergraduates, subject to the law school renewal policy.

Year 4 (Law)

Students will be full-time law students upon entering the law school. Students will complete their undergraduate degree (BA or BS) by the end of the spring semester of their fourth year and will participate in the undergraduate Commencement ceremony in May. All courses in this option will be day courses.

Summer courses are not required.

Years 5 and 6

Students will complete the remaining JD program requirements, including optional clinics and externships, according to the Law Academic Catalog and with the guidance of a law faculty adviser.

The fall semester of the fourth year will be a “bridge” semester during which students can complete 6 credits of undergraduate work (for example, a senior “capstone” course) along with 10 credits in the School of Law. Up to 10 of those law course credits will count toward the 120–122 credits required for the undergraduate degree.

Years 1 through 3 (Undergraduate)

Students will focus efforts on working toward their undergraduate degree program requirements according to the University Catalog and guidance from their academic and pre-law adviser.

Year 4 (Law)

Students will complete their undergraduate degree (BA or BS) by the end of the fall semester of their fourth year and will participate in the undergraduate Commencement ceremony in May. The law school will be flexible in designing a schedule of first-year law courses to accommodate each student’s needs for the completion of the undergraduate requirements.

Summer courses:

• Courses vary depending on need. Generally students will complete 6 credits in the summer term.

Years 5 and 6

Students will complete the remaining JD program requirements, including optional clinics and externships, according to the Law Academic Catalog and with the guidance of a law faculty adviser.