Accelerated 6-Year Law Scholars Program
The accelerated Bachelor/Juris Doctor Degree Program (3 + 3) allows excellent business administration students, who know they want to be a lawyer, to reach that goal a year early by beginning their law studies in their senior year of college. The 3 + 3 Program allows eligible students to complete both an undergraduate degree as well as a law degree in six years, instead of the traditional seven years of full-time study. Eligible students may apply for admission to Detroit Mercy Law during their junior year at their undergraduate institution. If they are admitted under the 3+3 Program their first year of law school will be what would have been their senior year of college. Students then complete three years of full-time law study (ninety credits). Upon satisfactory completion of their first year of law school, thirty law credits transfer to the undergraduate school as electives after which the undergraduate institution confers the undergraduate degree. Therefore, an eligible student must be able to complete all the College and major requirements for his/her undergraduate degree (other than elective credits) within three years.
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Standards for Admission to the Program
Third-year Detroit Mercy undergraduate students in an approved major must meet the following criteria to be considered for admission to Detroit Mercy Law:
- Completed at least three years of appropriate coursework at Detroit Mercy;
- Completed the undergraduate major and core curriculum requirements with at least 90 credits;
- Earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 by the end of their junior year;
- Scored at least a 154 on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT);
- Remained in good academic and disciplinary standing;
- Completed the application process for Detroit Mercy Law; and
- Met all of the fitness, character, and other criteria for admission required by Detroit Mercy Law.
Participating in the 6-Year Law Scholars Program does not guarantee entrance to law school. If Detroit Mercy Law does not grant admission, then a student remains in the undergraduate program to complete the bachelor’s degree. Students may then apply to law school through the regular law school admission process and should consult with their academic advisor for the best course of action.
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Additional Program Details
- A minimum of 120 credits is needed for completion of the undergraduate degree. More credits will be required in order to satisfy the degree requirements if courses are not able to be double-counted. Summer courses may be necessary to ensure timely completion of all 3 +3 program requirements at the undergraduate level. Business Administration students in the program must take an upper-level international business elective at the undergraduate level.
- The deadline for a decision of whether the student is granted admission to Detroit Mercy Law will be March 1 of the applicant’s junior year.
- Transferability of law credits to the undergraduate degree will be at the discretion of the undergraduate program.
- Students must complete the full-time, first-year curriculum at Detroit Mercy Law and earn an overall grade point average of 2.2 to remain at Detroit Mercy Law. Students must satisfy all requirements to receive their undergraduate degree prior to taking additional credits beyond the first year at Detroit Mercy Law.
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Scope
Eligible students may apply only to the American J.D. Program. Students are not eligible for admission to the Canadian and American Dual J.D. (Dual J.D.) Program. If a student is interested in the Dual J.D. Program, they must apply through the regular admissions process. Students who do not meet all of the criteria for admission under the program or who are denied admission are welcome to apply for regular admission at Detroit Mercy Law in their senior year. -
Financial Considerations
In accordance with University policy on similar joint programs, students admitted under the program are considered graduate/professional students for financial aid purposes and will be considered for scholarship consideration at the time of admission to Detroit Mercy Law. -
Program Contact Information
College of Business Administration
University of Detroit Mercy
4001 W. McNichols Road
Detroit, MI 48221-3038Location: Commerce and Finance, CF 112, McNichols Campus
Telephone: 313-993-1202
Fax: 313-993-1673
Email: petersea@udmercy.edu
Dean, College of Business Administration : Joseph Eisenhauer, Ph.D.
Telephone: 313-993-1204
Email: joseph.eisenhauer@udmercy.edu
Office: Commerce and Finance, CF 122Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs : Leonard Kloft, Ph.D.
Telephone: 313-993-1200
Email: leonard.kloft@udmercy.edu
Office: Commerce and Finance, CF 109Director of Undergraduate Business Programs : Evan A. Peterson, J.D., Ph.D.
Telephone: 313-993-1202
Email: petersea@udmercy.edu
Office: Commerce and Finance, CF 115
Office Manager : Wendy Marshall, M.A.
Telephone: 313-993-1200
Email: marshawl@udmercy.edu
Office: Commerce and Finance, CF 112