Degree Requirements

Candidates for the degree of Juris Doctor must successfully complete a minimum of 90 credit hours with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (C). A minimum of 76 credit hours must be in courses involving attendance at regularly scheduled class sessions at the School of Law. Certain special programs and internships do not meet the requirement of regularly scheduled class sessions.

With prior approval of the Dean, a maximum of six credit hours for courses taken in other departments of the University may be submitted in partial satisfaction of the credit hour requirement.

Three courses are required of all students. They must successfully complete Law 160 (Legal Process), Law 162 (Brief Writing and Appellate Advocacy), and Law 232 (Professional Responsibility). In addition, all students must complete two substantial writing projects after the first year.

The degree of Juris Doctor, with distinction, is conferred upon those students who complete their course of study with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 (B) or higher. For students entering without advanced standing, residence for six semesters is required. The period of residence may be proportionately reduced for students entering with advanced standing, but ordinarily the last four semesters of law study must be completed at this law school. To receive full residence credit for a semester, a student must have been enrolled in a schedule of work represented by a minimum of ten class hours a week and have passed a minimum of nine class hours. Students may not take less than 12 hours nor more than 17 hours of course work during any semester except with the permission of the Dean. Students must complete the requirements for the degree of Juris Doctor within a period of five calendar years from the date of first enrollment in the degree program.