The BA/JD (3+3) program offers high-achieving undergraduate students early, conditional admission to the College of Law while they complete their bachelor’s degree.
Students are admitted simultaneously to the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences or College of Communication and to the College of Law. Students complete their first three years in the college that hosts their BA program and their final three years in the College of Law. The BA degree is awarded after successful completion of the first year of law school.
Throughout the program, BA/JD students meet regularly with advisors in both colleges and have access to academic and professional resources designed to support their progress toward law school.
Key Program Features
- Students receive early conditional admission to the College of Law
- Students earn a BA and JD in a total of six years—three years undergraduate; three years law school
- Credits earned in the first year of law school apply toward the BA degree
- Students save one year of undergraduate tuition and living expenses and accelerate entry into the legal profession
- Students benefit from curricular offerings and collaborative activities designed to prepare them for law school
- During their fourth year, students may opt out of the College of Law segment of the program and continue in the college that hosts their BA degree
- If students withdraw after the first semester in the College of Law, they return to the college that hosts their BA program the following winter quarter
Participating Majors
The BA/JD Program is available for students pursuing the following majors at DePaul University's College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (LAS):
- African & Black Diaspora Studies
- Anthropology
- Art, Media & Design
- Chinese Studies
- Criminology
- Economics
- English
- French
- Geography
- German
- History
- History of Art & Architecture
- International Studies
- Islamic World Studies
- Italian
- Japanese Studies
- Latin American & Latino Studies
- Peace, Justice & Conflict Studies
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Public Policy
- Religious Studies
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Writing, Rhetoric & Discourse
The BA/JD Program is available for students pursuing the following majors at DePaul University's College of Communication:
- Communication & Media
- Communication & Technology
- Communication Studies
- Journalism
- Media and Popular Culture
- Organizational Communication
- Public Relations & Advertising
- Sports Communication
For specific program requirements, students should refer to the university catalog.
Admission
Students may begin the application process by contacting the Undergraduate Admission Office.
To matriculate in the College of Law, students must register with the Law School Admission Council, submit the College of Law’s online application, comply with all character and fitness requirements for admission, and submit an LSAT score no later than February 1st of the student’s third undergraduate year.
LSAT scores are used only for consideration of merit scholarships and is not a factor in admission to the program.
Financial Aid
BA/JD students are not eligible for undergraduate scholarships once they begin law school. All students receive a merit scholarship from the College of Law, with awards beginning at $1,500 per academic year. Students whose LSAT scores and GPAs meet or exceed the College of Law’s median LSAT and GPA are the most likely candidates for larger merit scholarships. College of Law students are not eligible for DePaul’s Double Demon discount.
If you would like to learn more about the BA/JD (3+3) program, please review our Frequently Asked Questions.