Part-Time Program
A part-time program designed for your busy life.
By taking evening classes at the Tampa Law Center and the Gulfport campus, students can earn a law degree in as little as four years.
Stetson's Part-Time J.D. program is designed for working professionals or others with daytime commitments. Our part-time students come from diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences, and interests. Nearly one-fourth of students have already earned masters or doctoral degrees in other fields. No one career path or previous course of study is required to enter law school. Part-time students are required to meet the same rigorous admission and graduation requirements as students in the full-time program.
Program Requirements
Students must complete 88 credit hours to graduate and will be required to take classes at both the Gulfport campus and the Tampa Law Center.
The academic year begins in August, and the estimated time for completion is four years, including summer sessions. Part-time students typically will take eight to 10 credit hours in the fall and spring semesters and five to seven credit hours each summer session. There are short breaks between each academic session.
The first four semesters will be devoted primarily to completing required core courses. Most required classes are taken in the first two years (including the first summer session) and are held on weekday evenings, generally Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, between 6:15 and 9:30 p.m. During summer sessions, students may also have required classes on Wednesdays. Usually, one or two evenings of required courses are held in Tampa, with the other evening(s) in Gulfport. During the final two years, students take electives and complete the area requirements. After completing the required core courses, students may select courses from throughout the curriculum, including morning, afternoon, weekend, or evening courses. Students may take up to 45 total credit hours in Tampa (core courses and electives combined), with the remainder taken at the Gulfport campus.
After completing 28 credit hours, part-time students meeting certain academic criteria may apply to accelerate their program by converting to full-time status.
Our Campus
The main College of Law campus is in the residential beachfront community of Gulfport, which is adjacent to St. Petersburg. Part-time students have access to all campus offices and recreational facilities, and many departments have evening hours.
Part-Time Experience
Our part-time students come from diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences, and interests. Nearly one-fourth of students have already earned masters or doctoral degrees in other fields. No one career path or previous course of study is required to enter law school. A special orientation for entering part-time students is held in mid-August. Many part-time students participate in Stetson's study abroad programs.