Qualified Capital University students may earn a baccalaureate degree and a graduate law degree (J.D.) in six rather than the customary seven years. A student seeking to complete the accelerated Bachelor of Arts/Juris Doctor may earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in the major and minor of the student’s choice en route to the Juris Doctor. An eligible student must complete all general education, major and minor requirements for the Bachelor of Arts. Successful completion of the first 24 hours of graduate credit hours earned at Capital University Law School with the letter grade of C or better may be applied as elective credit toward the Bachelor of Arts degree. The Bachelor of Arts degree will be conferred after the successful completion of the first 24 hours of law school credit.
Because a student may earn an accelerated BA in any recognized major or field of study, major and minor requirements for each student will vary according to chosen field of study. The general education core will remain unchanged for students in the accelerated program.
For consideration of admission to the Capital University Law School as part of the accelerated BA/JD program, an eligible student must meet the following requirements:
- Complete a minimum of 100 semester undergraduate hours. Sixty semester credit hours must have been earned from Capital University (i.e., transfer credit, credit by-examination, and credit recognized through prior learning may not be counted.)
- Complete all general education, major, and minor requirements. Note that the requirements for some courses of study may exceed 100 credit hours.
- Meet the presumptive requirements for admission to the Capital University Law School, including a specified LSAT score and cumulative GPA. Contact the Capital University Law School Admission Department for the specific requirements.
It is recommended that 3+3 students take the LSAT no later than the summer before their third year of undergraduate studies. 3+3 students should apply to Capital Law during their third year of undergraduate studies by the priority application review date of March 1st. Contact CapLaw Admissions at admissions@law.capital.edu for personalized guidance, timeline assistance, and any other application questions.
An eligible student must apply to Capital University Law School for admission by following the instructions at: http://law.capital.edu/JD_Application_Instructions/. We recommend accelerated program student self-identify their participation to their advisers as quickly as possible.
Once matriculated to the Capital University Law School, a student is subject to all Law School policies and procedures, tuition rates, and financial aid awards. A student may apply for baccalaureate graduation and count up to 24 graduate credit hours earned with a grade of C or better toward undergraduate elective requirements. If a student discontinues his or her legal education for any reason (e.g., withdrawal, suspension, dismissal) prior to earning the baccalaureate degree, then the student must apply for readmission to the Undergraduate College. As student who discontinues his or her legal studies may still apply toward undergraduate elective credit any graduate credit hours successfully completed at the Law School.
Articulation Agreements with Other Undergraduate Institutions
Capital University Law School may offer accelerated baccalaureate/juris doctor programs with other regionally accredited institutions. In such cases, the baccalaureate degree would be awarded by the partnering institution.
Depending upon the course of study, careful planning of sequential and major courses with prerequisites is needed to complete requirements in 6 semesters. Contact your major advisor or the Advising Office for assistance with planning.”
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