Pre-Law

Stetson University's College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business Administration and College of Law have collaborated to offer an opportunity to reduce the time required to earn both a bachelor's degree and a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.

The Accelerated 3+3 Bachelor's/J.D. Program ("3+3 Program") allows certain high-performing undergraduates from the College of Arts and Sciences and School of Business Administration to matriculate to the College of Law before completion of a bachelor's degree.

Students seeking a J.D. degree typically complete a four-year undergraduate program followed by three years of law school. The 3+3 accelerated path allows qualified students to earn both their bachelor's and J.D. degrees within six years. Students spend three years at the DeLand campus and three years at the College of Law campus in Gulfport. Students' first year in the Stetson University J.D. program will count as elective credits toward the bachelor's degree and also serve as their final year of undergraduate study.

Stetson University 3+3 students will earn their baccalaureate degree no later than the end of their fourth year (i.e., 3+1). The program will be limited to students who can complete the major requirements by the end of the third year.

The 3+3 program also provides generous scholarship support for students once they start at Stetson University, reducing the overall cost associated with obtaining both degrees. Once admitted into the 3+3 program, students will be paired with a student, graduate and/or faculty member from the Stetson University College of Law who will serve as a mentor.

Interested students must meet the program's eligibility requirements, as outlined below:

1. Be a student in any major within the College of Arts and Sciences or the School of Business Administration;
2. Provide notice to the Pre-Law Advisory Committee of intent to apply for the 3+3 Program on or before September 1 of the year prior to the intended matriculation date at the College of Law (generally at the beginning of the student's junior year);
3. Complete the number of credits necessary in the undergraduate curriculum required for graduation except for the 31 credits to be earned during the first year at the College of Law. Such credits must be earned before matriculating at the College of Law and at least 48 credits earned in the undergraduate curriculum must be completed at the University;
4. Complete all general education requirements and all requirements for the student's major before matriculating at the College of Law;
5. Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 in courses taken in the undergraduate program as of the date of application to the College of Law;
6. On or before the application date, earn a minimum score on the LSAT at the 75th percentile of the most recent class to matriculate at the College of Law;
7. Receive the written recommendation of the Pre-Law Committee no later than December 1 in the academic year before the student intends to begin JD study;
8. Apply to the College of Law for admission into the full-time JD program between October 1 and January 15 in the academic year before the student intends to begin JD study;
9. Meet the College of Law's character and fitness requirements and comply with the College of Law's general admissions policies; and
10. Participate in the College of Law's Academic Success Workshop during the student's first year of law school.

Alternative Eligibility for the 3+3 Program: An exemplary student who (A) wishes to participate in the 3+3 Program, (B) did not qualify to apply for the Program because of his or her LSAT score, but (C) who meets all other Stetson eligibility requirements may petition the University Pre-Law Committee for an exception. The Pre-Law Committee will determine whether the student is eligible to apply to the College of Law under the 3+3 Program; the College of Law will consider admission of these students on a case-by-case basis.

CATALOG

Stetson University faculty in the undergraduate program and in law encourage students with a serious interest in law to take full advantage of the undergraduate program over four years. The 4+3 program, with direct admission to the College of Law, is thus an attractive option.

The 4+3 Direct Admissions Program allows undergraduate students studying at the University and University alumni to gain admission to the College of Law based on certain academic credentials. If a student meets these credentials, admission to the College of Law will be virtually automatic, assuming the student also meets the College of Law's character and fitness requirements.

Interested students must meet the program's eligibility requirements, as outlined below:

1. Be an alumnus or student in any major at the University who has completed at least 90 credits; 48 of these credits must have been completed at the University;
2. Complete all requirements for the Stetson University Bachelor's degree before matriculating at the College of Law;
3. Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 in courses taken at Stetson University;
4. Earn a minimum score on the LSAT at or above the 50th percentile of the most recent class to matriculate at the College of Law;
5. Apply to the College of Law for admission into the full-time J.D. program between October 1st and May 15th in the academic year before the student intends to begin J.D. study and
6. Meet the College of Law's character and fitness requirements and comply with the College of Law's general admissions policies.

Alternative Eligibility for the Direct Admissions Program: An exemplary student who (A) wishes to participate in the Direct Admissions Program, (B) did not qualify to apply for the Direct Admissions Program because of his or her LSAT score, but (C) who meets all other eligibility requirements, may petition the College of Law Office of Admissions and Student Financial Aid for an exception. The College of Law Faculty Committee on Admissions will determine whether the student is eligible to gain admission to the College of Law under the Direct Admissions Program.

CATALOG