Academics
Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 6 credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.A.C.J. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in Criminal Justice), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.P.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration), and J.D./M.S.E. (Juris Doctor/Master of Science in engineering).
Students must take 14-16 credits in their area of concentration. The College of Law offers concentrations in criminal law, environmental law, intellectual property law, international law, and labor law. In addition, clinical programs include the College of Law Legal Clinic, Criminal Law Practice programs, the Domestic Violence Clinic, and the Dispute Resolution Clinic. These are offered to all upper-level students for 2 to 6 hours of credit. Upper-level units are required for graduation; offered to all upper-class students for 1 or 2 practical or research credits. Internships are available anywhere in the U.S. through the Criminal Law Practice programs and the Public Service Externship Program, which offers field experience in the chambers of a federal judge or magistrate or state appellate judge. Individual research programs allow students to develop their own research projects, which are pursued in consultation with a faculty adviser. The Cannon Lecture Series and the Stranahan National Issues Forum have hosted individuals of national prominence who provide the college and general public with timely discussions of legal and policy issues. Teaching assistants and tutors are available. The most widely taken electives are Administrative Law, Business Associations, and Federal Taxation.
To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 89 total credits, of which 42 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure I and II, Constitutional Law I, Contracts I and II, Criminal Law, Legal Research, Writing, and Appellate Advocacy I and II, Property I and II, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of Constitutional Law II, Evidence, and Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility. The required orientation program for first-year students lasts 2 days.
In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0 and have completed the upper-division writing requirement.