B.P.S. in Legal Studies/Juris Doctor (B.P.S./J.D.)

This is a “33” program that allows eligible UM students to earn a bachelor’s degree and a law degree in six years, saving a full year of time and tuition. Students would start in the undergraduate Legal Studies Program, which emphasizes four correlated disciplines: (1) theory, process, application, and ethics of law; (2) research and investigation; (3) law-related technologies, and (4) professional decorum and communication skills. The standard Legal Studies degree requirements are compressed into three years and adjusted to ensure that students take specific courses to best prepare them for law school. Those with qualifying GPAs and LSAT scores may then apply to the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law early in their junior year. If accepted, students would enroll in first-year law school coursework during their senior year. Credits earned as a first-year law student would count towards the final 30 hours of undergraduate coursework. Students would graduate with a Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) degree in Legal Studies and then continue with their final two years of law school.Please Note: Enrolling in the BPSJD Program as an undergraduate does not guarantee admission to the law school. Students who are not accepted to the law school or who do not successfully complete all their law school courses may still finish their undergraduate degree in the Legal Studies Program.General Education (35-41 hours)See University General Education Program for the University General Education Program requirements. Students who have completed one year of American History in high school are exempted from the six credit-hour History General Education Program requirement; otherwise, students will have to meet the History requirement.Coordinated Study (54 hours; 24 at Law School)Many upper-division (30004000-level) courses have prerequisites that must be met prior to being permitted to register for those courses. You are responsible for knowing and satisfying all course prerequisites. Some (not all) prerequisites are listed below. For specific information about courses and the prerequisites they may have, please view course descriptions at: Course DescriptionsNo more than 15 hours of the Legal Studies Professional Core may be satisfied through transfer credit.Legal Studies CoreLEGL 2400 - Legal Ethics Credit Hours: (3)LEGL 2410 - Intro to Law Credit Hours: (3)LEGL 3150 - Legal ResearchWriting I Credit Hours: (3)LAW 111 - ContractsLEGL 3420 - Torts Credit Hours: (3)LEGL 3440 - Civil Procedure Credit Hours: (3)LEGL 3484 - Bankruptcy Practices Credit Hours: (3)LAW 126 - Criminal LawLAW 113 - Legal MethodsUNIV 4110 - Internship Credit Hours: (3-6) -LegalLaw-Related Electives (12 hours)LAW 115 - Property ILAW 125 - Property IILAW 112 - Torts ILAW 122 - Torts IIInterdisciplinary Electives (12 hours)LAW 114 - Civil Procedure IThree of the 12 interdisciplinary elective hours will be satisfied by first-year law school courses.College of Professional & Liberal Studies Requirements (9 hours; 6 at Law School)Thematic StudiesThematic Studies Course (3)LAW 121 - Contracts II (2)LAW 124 - Civil Procedure II (2)LAW 123 Legal Methods II (2)General Electives (16-22 hours)May be chosen to bring the total number of hours to 120 with a minimum of 42 upper-division hours.

All students, both freshmen and transfer, must apply online for admission as an undergraduate student.

• Freshman admission is competitive and based upon a comprehensive review of the student’s academic record. The primary factors include the high school/secondary grade point average and demonstrated English proficiency.
• Transfer admission is competitive and based upon the cumulative grade point average of all previously attended colleges/universities (international and domestic) and must be at least a 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale for consideration. Demonstrated English proficiency is also required of all international applicants.

Applicants should upload a copy of their unofficial international transcript or marks sheet (high school/secondary or college/university) using our secure document upload system.

All international transfer applicants must have their international documents evaluated by a US credentialing agency that holds membership with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

English proficiency may be satisfied two ways:

A minimum score or greater on any of the following English language tests:

• TOEFL - 61 on the internet-based test or 500 on the paper/pencil test
• IELTS - 6
• PTE - 50
• DUOLINGO - 95