Political Science, B.A. to Law, J.D. Accelerated Program

Saint Louis University's accelerated Bachelor of Arts in Political Science to Juris Doctor program allows students to apply a maximum of 29 first-year law school credits to their undergraduate degree programs and receive their bachelor’s degree after successfully completing the first year at the SLU School of Law.  

For additional information, see the catalog entries for the following programs:

Political Science, B.A.

Juris Doctor

Accreditation

Saint Louis University School of Law has been continuously accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) since December 1924. The accrediting body is the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, 312-988-6738.

Admission Requirements

Students are eligible to apply to the political science to Law, J.D. accelerated program when they have completed between 15 and 48 hours at SLU and have 6 hours in Political Science. Students must be a declared Political Science major to apply. Students must maintain a 3.50 cumulative GPA to enter and continue in the accelerated program.

After having completed 75 credits, students will submit an application to SLU's School of Law. If admitted to SLU Law, these students will begin their J.D. program in their fourth year.

Students must complete at least 91 credits before beginning law school coursework. These must include the Undergraduate University Core requirements and political science major requirements.

Program Requirements

The first year of law school coursework will count as elective credit toward the undergraduate bachelor's degree, up to 29 law school credits. Students will have their bachelor's degree conferred after their fourth year of study once they reach the minimum of 120 credits. 

Undergraduate Program Requirement Met by Graduate Course
University Electives 29 credits Law school coursework

Students must maintain a 3.50 cumulative GPA to continue in the accelerated program. Any student whose cumulative GPA falls below the accelerated continuation standard of 3.50 will go on probation. If the student does not raise their GPA to the minimum level of 3.50 over the course of 30 subsequent credits, they will be suspended from the program.

If the student has achieved more than 45 credits, they must raise their GPA to at least 3.50 by the time of their application to SLU Law; otherwise, the student will be suspended from the accelerated program. Students suspended from the program will be allowed to continue as political science majors or minors according to the department's undergraduate standards.

For additional information about this program, please contact pols-admin@slu.edu or call 314-977-3035.