There is no set curriculum for the BA/JD 3+3 program. Students should focus on finishing their requirements in their major within the first three years, whether in Political Science, English, Psychology, or Criminal Justice. That said, here is a list of courses that help prepare a student to succeed in law school.POS 101 Introduction to Political Science
An introduction to the study of government and politics which surveys the discipline, including its scope, the issues involved and a comparison of political behaviors and systems. This course also includes a brief introduction to political theory.POS 201 Introduction to American Government
A study of the national and state governments of the American Constitutional system. Particular attention will be devoted to Congress, the presidency and the courts.POS 302 State And Local Government
A study of the government and politics of the state and local governments and their relationships to each other and to the federal government are studied.POS 3024 (formerly POS 303) Immigration Law Politics
An introductory course covering U.S. immigration law and policy from a political science perspective. Some topics include: the Constitutional powers of the federal government over immigration matters, admission and exclusion of immigrants, human rights of migrant workers and immigrants, international students, immigration reform and political asylum. This course is useful for students interested in law and human rights advocacy. It also may be taken to satisfy a similar requirement for Criminal Justice.INR 4408 (formerly POS 305) International Human Rights Law
An introductory course covering international human rights law and procedures including global, regional and national institutions to protect human rights. The course traces the development of contemporary concepts of human rights, including issues of universality vs. cultural determinism, whether or not certain categories of rights have priorities over others and the means of creating and enforcing human rights law. Issues such as torture, discrimination, genocide, starvation, human rights of women and children and violation of human rights will also be addressed. This course is useful for students interested in law and human rights advocacy.POS 3413 (formerly POS 310) The American Presidency
A study of the constitutional framework, historical background, campaigns for the office and developments of all aspects of the office, its relations to Congress and its leadership function in today’s government will be studied.PAD 3003 (formerly POS 311) Public Administration
A discussion of supervision and management with an emphasis on the differing philosophies and problems confronting public agencies that are primarily service oriented, the role of the public administrator vis-à-vis his/her organization, the public and other government agencies. Some historical perspectives on the bureaucratic model are discussed.POS 320 Law And Politics
An examination of the functions of the judicial branch in Western-style industrial democracies with special attention being paid to the United States Supreme Court.CJL 3063 (formerly POS 322) American Constitutional Law
A study of the organization and jurisdiction of the federal courts and the role of the Supreme Court in American society. Emphasis will be placed on contemporary constitutional issues affecting American public law. The landmark decisions will be studied in seminar discussions using the case method.POS 328 The Legislative Process
An examination of the function of the legislative branch in Western-style industrial democracies with special attention paid to the United States Congress.

AMH 2010 (formerly HIS 201) American History I
A consideration of the development of the United States from its colonial origins to the Civil War with an emphasis on the ideas, institutions, economics, social and political forces that have contributed to this development.

AMH 2020 (formerly HIS 202) American History II
A consideration of the United States from the Civil War to the present with an emphasis on the ideas, institutions, economics, social and political forces that have contributed to this development.

ECO 2013 (formerly ECO 201) Principles of Macroeconomics
A study of aggregate economic behavior including the role of government, monetary and fiscal policy, national income, economic growth, inflation and full employment.

ECO 2023 (formerly ECO 202) Principles of Microeconomics
A study of the economics of the firm including competition, market pricing, scarce resources and international trade.

ENC 303 Multigenre Research And Writing
An in depth study and practice of various forms of primary and secondary research such as text based and library research, interviews, surveys and observations. Students analyze, collect data and present information via various forms of media, print and electronic.

ENG 386 Multicultural America: Present
A multidisciplinary approach to America’s contributions and crises in such fields as history, literature, art, history, political science, sociology, law, science, economics, business, education and ecology. This course concentrates on the period from 1940 to the present and explores American feelings and experiences of each decade. This course may be also be used to fulfill a major requirement in Sociology.

Accelerated BA/JD 3+3 Law Program shall occur in two stages: initial selection by St. Thomas University as an undergraduate into one of the accepted majors and final selection by the St. Thomas University School of Law. Transfer students are not eligible for admission to the program.

1. Selection for the first phase of the program may occur:
a) As a high school senior with direct acceptance into the program as an incoming freshman. Incoming first-semester freshmen must have a high school G.P.A. of 3.0 as calculated by St. Thomas University. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we are allowing students to apply to the program without the SAT or ACT.

2. Final selection by the STU School of Law. To be considered students must:
a) Finish all of the undergraduate program requirements prior to attending Law School (See below program requirements at the undergraduate level).
b) provide an official notice to St. Thomas Law from the 3+3 Director, verifying eligibility to proceed with law school.
c) Apply for admission to the STU Law School by March 1st of the student’s junior year or as otherwise established by the STU School of Law.
d) Take the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) no later than the February Administration during the student’s junior year and achieve a minimum score of 150, or as otherwise established by the STU School of Law
e) Meet the St. Thomas University School of Law requirements for moral fitness and character as set out in its admissions application.

St. Thomas University School of Law agrees to notify applicants by June 1st of its admissions decisions. Enrollment of admitted students to St. Thomas School of Law will be contingent upon their completion of all St. Thomas University baccalaureate degree requirements for their chosen major during their first three (3) years of undergraduate study. Upon admission to the Law School, the students are deemed first-year law students.
Upon successful completion of 30 (thirty) law school credits, St. Thomas University will award the participating student his or her St. Thomas University bachelor’s degree.
The student will then continue with the remaining years of law study and upon successful completion of all requirements will be awarded the J.D. degree.

Participating students may complete their St. Thomas University bachelor’s degree in residence at St. Thomas University in four (4) or more years under the following circumstances:
1. Students not accepted by the STU School of Law may complete a fourth year at St. Thomas University and fulfill their remaining requirements for graduation from St. Thomas University with a bachelor’s degree and may elect to reapply for admission to St. Thomas School of Law.
2. Students who decide to opt-out of the BA/JD program may elect to fulfill their remaining requirements for graduation from St. Thomas University with a bachelor’s degree.
3. Students who do not successfully complete their first year of course work at the St. Thomas University School of Law may elect to return to St. Thomas University to fulfill their remaining requirements for graduation from St. Thomas University with a bachelor’s degree.
4. Students who are removed from the BA-JD program because they have not met some or all of the requirements of the BA-JD while doing their undergraduate degree may complete their course work towards their bachelor’s degree with no penalty.

Program Requirements at the Undergraduate Level:

1. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 throughout all their undergraduate years in the BA/JD program. If the student’s G.P.A. falls below a minimum cumulative 3.0 at the conclusion of any semester they are no longer considered part of the BA/JD program and are ineligible for reentry or reapplication in perpetuity. Students can, however, continue with their course of study towards their bachelor’s degree with no penalty.

2. Students selected for participation in the program must complete 90 (ninety) hours of their baccalaureate degree program prior to be eligible for early admission to the St. Thomas University School of Law under the BA/JD program. Student with less or, more than 90 credit hours may not be eligible for early admission to the Law School.

3. All major requirements must be met prior to being accepted to the Law School. It is the student’s responsibility to meet with their major advisor to ensure that all requirements are met.

4. Students must fulfill the BA-JD contract obligation of required course work, attendance to BA-JD events and others set by the BA-JD advisors.

5. Students must meet not only with the major adviser but with the BA-JD advisors at least once each semester to evaluate progress.

Transfer of Credits from the Law School to the Undergraduate Degree
1. Standard St. Thomas University transfer of credit policies apply for articulated and non-articulated course work.
2. Only law school courses with grades of ‘C’ or better can be transferred to the St. Thomas University’s program of study.
3. Transfer credits from the St. Thomas University School of Law will be identified as such in the student’s St. Thomas University academic transcript.
4. Although St. Thomas University agrees to accept certain coursework from the St. Thomas School of Law, that coursework may not be accepted by other colleges or universities in transfer, even if it appears in an academic transcript from St. Thomas University. The decision to accept coursework in transfer from any institution is made by the institution considering the acceptance of credits or coursework.

Tuition and Fee Costs
Charges will be based on the student’s enrollment status. For the first three years of undergraduate studies, the student will pay the regular undergraduate rates. Once the student begins study at the School of Law, the student will be charged the applicable School of Law tuition and fee costs.

As undergraduates, students are eligible to apply and be considered for all federal aid programs, (i.e., Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Family Educational Loan Program (FFELP), Federal Work-Study), as well as state aid and undergraduate scholarship programs. Upon enrolling at the School of Law, students are considered graduate/professional students and hence are no longer eligible for federal and state grants. As law students, both federal loans and private loans are available to qualified students. Candidates may be considered and awarded School of Law scholarships. Eligibility for scholarships is based on the LSAT score and undergraduate GPA.

Withdrawal from the Program
A student who withdraws from the School of Law at any time prior to the end of the first Year School of Law study and leaves in good standing may return to the undergraduate school as if s/he were on a leave of absence. Credits earned while in the School of Law may be applied towards the undergraduate degree but will only count towards elective credits. The student must complete all appropriate degree requirements to receive the bachelor’s degree.