Academics
The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.Acc. (Juris Doctor/Master of Accounting), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), and J.D./M.S.W. (Juris Doctor/ Master of Social Work).
The School of Law offers concentrations in environmental law, public interest law, and business law. In addition, upper-level students, who have completed or are enrolled in 60 credits, may participate in both in-house and outplacement clinics for up to 10 credits. Various 2-credit upper-level seminars are offered, including those on the First Amendment, and International Human Rights, Ethical Problems in the Representation of Children, Death Penalty, and Employment Discrimination. Internships are available when 60 credits have been completed. Directed research programs, worth 1 or 2 credits, must be supervised by a faculty member. Special lecture series include the William O. Douglass Lecture, Paul and Lita Luvera Lecture, International Law Symposium, public Issues and various law forums. There is a summer law program in Florence, Italy. Tutorial programs are available at a student’s request. The Academic Resource Program provides tutorial assistance to participating first-year students. The Student Bar Association sponsors group tutorials for all first-year courses. Minority programs are sponsored by the Multicultural Law Caucus, Black Law Students Association, Hispanic Law Caucus, and Sexual Orientation Diversity Alliance. Special interest group programs include the Public Interest Law Project, Street Law, Property Law Interest Group, and Criminal Defense Law Caucus. The most widely taken electives are Environmental Law, Tax Law, and International Law.
To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 90 total credits, of which 44 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.2 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 I and II, Property I and II, and Torts I and II. Required upper-level courses consist of a public service requirement, Constitutional Law II, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Legal Writing and Research III and IV, and Professional Responsibility. The required orientation program for first-year students consists of 3 days of introduction to the legal system, introduction to the law, and information regarding Gonzaga.
In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.2, 90 credit hours, and 30 hours of public service.