Political Science/JD Degree Accelerated, BA
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science/Juris Doctor Degree Accelerated (370017BA)
More on the Political Science Accelerated major
For undergraduates in select programs, you can earn your bachelor’s and law degrees in six years instead of seven. To complete law school, you typically need four years to complete a bachelor’s degree and three years to complete a law degree (juris doctor degree).
Akron Law’s new 3 + 3 Program allows eligible undergraduate students participating in partner programs to apply to Akron Law in their junior year of college.
Students admitted under the program fulfill their senior year of undergraduate credits through the successful completion of their first-year law school courses, allowing them to graduate with both a bachelor’s and law degree in just six years, saving a year of tuition and related costs, and they begin their legal careers a year ahead of time.
Applicants
Pursuant to Akron Law’s 3 + 3 policy, an applicant must be in his or her junior year and participating in a partner program. Applicants must also meet his or her undergraduate institution’s criteria for eligibility.
Typically, you must have a 3.4 grade point average and 150 LSAT score to qualify for admission. However, this might vary depending on your program. Each undergraduate institution determines which majors and programs are eligible for participation.
Application requirements
In addition to being an eligible junior in a partner program, applicants must take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), complete the law school application, and submit a certification of eligibility from the partner program. Applicants can request the certification form from the contact person at their institution as listed above. 3 + 3 candidates are considered alongside Akron Law’s regular pool of applicants.
Applicants to the 3 + 3 program are encouraged to take the LSAT in October or December of their junior year in college and apply in January after their fall grades are available. However, later applications, including those from June LSAT-takers, will also be considered.
The following information has official approval of The Department of Political Science, The School of Law and The Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences, but is intended only as a supplemental guide. Official degree requirements are established at the time of transfer and admission to the degree-granting college. Students should refer to the Degree Progress Report (DPR) which is definitive for graduation requirements. Completion of this degree within the identified time frame below is contingent upon many factors, including but not limited to: class availability, total number of required credits, work schedule, finances, family, course drops/withdrawals, successfully passing courses, prerequisites, among others. The transfer process is completed through an appointment with your academic advisor.
Requirements
Summary
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
General Education Requirements | 36 | |
College of Arts & Sciences Requirements | 14 | |
Political Science Core | 27-33 | |
Additional Credits for Graduation * | 13-7 | |
Total Hours | 90 |
- *
Bachelor's degrees require a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation. Students admitted to University of Akron School of Law will receive BA in Political Science after completing 30 credits during the first year of law school.
Note: A GPA of 3.4 overall is needed to complete the degree along with a minimum Political Science GPA of a 2.2
Recommended General Education Courses
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete the following General Education coursework. Diversity courses may also fulfill major or Breadth of Knowledge requirements. Integrated and Applied Learning courses may also fulfill requirements in the major. | ||
Students are not required to enroll in the specific courses listed below. However, to facilitate successful degree completion, the academic department strongly encourages completion of the following recommendations. | ||
Academic Foundations | 12 | |
Mathematics, Statistics and Logic: 3 credit hours | ||
Speaking: 3 credit hours | ||
Writing: 6 credit hours | ||
Breadth of Knowledge | 22 | |
Arts/Humanities: 9 credit hours | ||
Natural Sciences: 7 credit hours | ||
Social Sciences: 6 credit hours | ||
Government & Politics in the United States | ||
World Politics & Government | ||
Diversity | ||
Domestic Diversity | ||
Global Diversity | ||
Comparative Politics | ||
Integrated and Applied Learning | 2 | |
Select one class from one of the following subcategories: | ||
Complex Issues Facing Society | ||
Capstone | ||
Review the General Education Requirements page for detailed course listings. | ||
Total Hours | 36 |
College of Arts & Sciences Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Degree requirements in Arts & Sciences include the demonstration of ability to use another language by completion of the second year of a foreign language. | ||
2 Year Language Proficiency | 14 | |
101 Beginning I | ||
102 Beginning II | ||
201 Intermediate I | ||
202 Intermediate II | ||
Survey of Deaf Culture in America (American Sign Language option only) | ||
Students must also complete a minimum of 40 credits (excluding workshops) consisting of either: | ||
Upper-level (300/400) courses both in and outside of the student’s major; | ||
or other courses outside the major department approved by the student’s major department chair (permission should be obtained prior to enrollment); these may not include workshops |
Political Science Core
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
POLIT:100 | Government & Politics in the United States | 3 |
POLIT:150 | World Politics & Government | 3 |
POLIT:301 | Introduction to Political Research | 3 |
POLIT:300 | Comparative Politics | 3 |
POLIT:203 | Introduction to Political Thought | 3 |
POLIT:395 | Internship in Government & Politics | 3-9 |
POLIT:360 | The Judicial Process | 3 |
or POLIT:335 | Law & Society | |
POLIT:461 | The Supreme Court & Constitutional Law | 3 |
POLIT:462 | The Supreme Court & Civil Liberties | 3 |
Total Hours | 27-33 |
Recommended Sequence
1st Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall Semester | Hours | |
POLIT:100 | Government & Politics in the United States | 3 |
ENGL:111 | English Composition I | 3 |
MODL:101 | Beginning Modern Language I | 4 |
MATH:135 | Mathematics for Everyday Life | 3 |
COMM:105 | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
Hours | 16 | |
Spring Semester | ||
POLIT:150 | World Politics & Government | 3 |
POLIT:301 | Introduction to Political Research | 3 |
MODL:102 | Beginning Modern Language II | 4 |
ENGL:112 | English Composition II | 3 |
Arts Requirement | 3 | |
Hours | 16 | |
2nd Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
MODL:201 | Intermediate Modern Language I | 3 |
POLIT:203 | Introduction to Political Thought | 3 |
POLIT:300 | Comparative Politics | 3 |
Natural Science Requirement with lab | 4 | |
Humanities Requirement | 3 | |
Hours | 16 | |
Spring Semester | ||
POLIT:360 or POLIT:335 | The Judicial Process or Law & Society | 3 |
MODL:202 | Intermediate Modern Language II | 3 |
Natural Science Requirement | 3 | |
Arts/Humanities Requirement | 3 | |
Free Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
3rd Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
POLIT:461 | The Supreme Court & Constitutional Law | 3 |
Domestic Diversity Requirement | 3 | |
Upper Level Elective | 3 | |
Free Elective | 6 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring Semester | ||
POLIT:462 | The Supreme Court & Civil Liberties | 3 |
POLIT:395 | Internship in Government & Politics | 3-9 |
Complex Issues Requirement | 3 | |
Free Elective | 6 | |
Hours | 15-21 | |
4th Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
First Year Law courses | 15 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring Semester | ||
First Year Law courses | 15 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Total Hours | 123-129 |