Accelerated 3+3 BA/JD Program

Are you interested in law school? Salem State University and the University of Massachusetts Law School offers undergraduate students the opportunity to complete their bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor degrees in six years.

Students who select the accelerated 3+3 BA/JD option spend three years at Salem State working towards their bachelor’s degree, and then transfer to UMass Law. Their first year of law school counts as the fourth year of their bachelor’s degree.

Program Details

  • The accelerated 3+3 BA/JD option is designed for students with a strong interest in law.
  • The 3+3 option is available to students of any major, but several majors—criminal justice, economics, English, history, interdisciplinary/American studies, philosophy, politics/ policy/international relations, and sociology—have clear pathways for participation.
  • Interested students must meet with the Salem State University pre-law advisor and the department chair of their major to declare interest in the program by the beginning of their sophomore year in order to be considered. Students are strongly encouraged to declare their interest in the program as early as possible in their academic career.
  • Students complete the first three years of their undergraduate studies at Salem State University, meeting all requirements for their program of study, including all specific programmatic requirements.
  • In their fourth year, qualifying students matriculate at UMass Law as first-year law students and earn credit toward the completion of their undergraduate degree by completing their first-year law courses.
  • Students earn their baccalaureate degree from Salem State University after successful completion of their first-year law courses and courses are transferred back to apply to the student’s undergraduate degree program.
  • Students earn their juris doctor form UMass Law upon successful program completion.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Students must successfully complete a minimum of 90 credits at Salem State University prior to matriculation at UMass Law.
  • Students must successfully complete all Salem State bachelor’s degree requirements other than those that will be fulfilled by first year law coursework.
  • Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 during their three years of undergraduate study.
  • Students must earn a minimum score of 150 on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
  • Students must complete and submit an application for admission to UMass Law.

Questions?

Contact:
Anne-Marie Hakstian, JD, PhD
Pre-Law Advisor
Professor, Bertolon School of Business

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