History BA / Law JD

Major: History and Law 
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Juris Doctor (JD)
Calendar Type: Quarter and semester
Total Credit Hours: 181.0 quarter credits & 85.0 semester credits
Co-op Options: No Co-op (Six years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 54.0101
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-3093

About the Program

This accelerated degree program combines the BA in History in the College of Arts and Sciences and the JD offered by the Kline School of Law. It is a "3+3" program, allowing qualified students to earn both their BA in History and their JD in six years. The study of history provides a strong foundation for success in law school.

Admission Requirements

For the BA: Standard admission requirements for all Drexel undergraduate programs

To be admitted to Drexel's Kline School of Law, students must:

  • Maintain a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.45
  • Earn a LSAT score that meets or exceeds the Kline School of Law's current LSAT median (as determined by point of entry into the undergraduate program) no later than December of year 3 of undergraduate program
  • Actively participate in pre-law and BAJD activities
  • Meet regularly with academic advisor and the pre-law advisor
  • Maintain satisfactory progress towards completing required undergraduate coursework as set out in the plan of study in three years
  • File complete, binding application to the Kline School of Law by December 31 of year 3 of undergraduate program
  • Comply with all admission and seat deposit requirements of the Kline School of Law
  • Comply with all character and fitness requirements of the Kline School of Law

Students who do not meet these qualifications may still be granted admission if space is available. 

Degree Requirements

General Education Requirements
ENGL 101Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research3.0
or ENGL 111 English Composition I
ENGL 102Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing3.0
or ENGL 112 English Composition II
ENGL 103Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres3.0
or ENGL 113 English Composition III
UNIV H101The Drexel Experience1.0
UNIV H201Looking Forward: Academics and Careers1.0
CIVC 101Introduction to Civic Engagement1.0
Math courses6.0-8.0
Science courses **6.0-8.0
Foundation Requirements
Studies in Diversity electives6.0
Two Consecutive Foreign Language courses (must complete level 201) ***8.0
Humanities/Fine Arts electives12.0
Social Science electives12.0
International Studies electives6.0
Core History Requirements32.0
Introductory Seminar in History I †
Introductory Seminar in History II †
Research Methods in History I †
The Study of History †
Research Methods in History II †
Senior Seminar I †
Senior Seminar II †
Any 1 Advanced History Seminar (Topics will vary)
Advanced History Seminar
History Distribution Courses (Only 200-level and above HIST courses will fulfill this requirement)20.0
Any 2 non-U.S. History courses
Any 1 U.S. History Course
Any 1 History course covering pre-1700 history (May not be HIST 201)
Any 1 History of Science, Technology, and Environment course
History Concentration courses or any 7 History courses (at least four must be 200-level and above)28.0
Free electives fulfilled by 22 semester credits from first-year law courses33.0
Law School Requirements
Torts
Contracts
Civil Procedure
Legislation and Regulation
Property
Criminal Law
Constitutional Law
Legal Methods I
Legal Methods II
Professional Responsibility
Electives and Menu Requirements including:49.0-50.0
One Upper-Level Writing Course (WUL)
One Statutory Course
One Professional Practice Course
Upper-Level Writing (WUL) Courses (may also be used as electives one requirement is fulfilled):
LAW 610SReproductive Rights Law2.0-3.0
LAW 611SSex, Gender, & the Law3.0
LAW 614SSupreme Court Seminar3.0
LAW 647SThe Rights of Children2.0
LAW 656SJustice Lawyering Sem (if full-year paper)1.0-3.0
LAW 673SCrime and Community2.0
LAW 790SToxic Torts2.0
LAW 791SRegulating Patient Safety2.0
LAW 793SMental Health Law (if paper option)3.0
LAW 827SImmigration Litigation2.0
LAW 828SInternational Business Transactions2.0-3.0
LAW 832SContract Theory Seminar2.0-3.0
LAW 836SLegal History2.0-3.0
LAW 838SFoundations of Legal Analysis2.0
LAW 840SLiterature and The Law Seminar2.0
LAW 842SLaw and Mind Sciences2.0
LAW 844SLaw and Social Movements3.0
LAW 848SCourts and Public Policy2.0-3.0
LAW 882SLitigation Drafting2.0
LAW 884SContract Drafting2.0
LAW 910SAppellate Advocacy2.0
LAW 920SDrexel Law Review (if WUL option)1.0-6.0
LAW T880SSpecial Topics in LAW1.0-5.0
Statutory Courses (may also be used as electives once requirement is fulfilled):
LAW 620SAdministrative Law4.0
LAW 622SEmployment Discrimination3.0
LAW 623SElection Law3.0
LAW 624SEnvironmental Law3.0
LAW 642SSpecial Education Law2.0-3.0
LAW 674SHealth Care Fraud and Abuse2.0
LAW 675SFederal Criminal Law2.0-3.0
LAW 676SWhite Collar Crime2.0-3.0
LAW 700SBusiness Organizations3.0-4.0
LAW 701SFederal Income Tax4.0
LAW 702SEnterprise Tax4.0
LAW 706SSecured Transactions3.0
LAW 708SPayment Systems3.0
LAW 710SBankruptcy3.0-4.0
LAW 711SSales3.0
LAW 714SSecurities Regulation3.0
LAW 740STrusts and Estates3.0
LAW 760SCopyright3.0
LAW 764STrademarks & Unfair Competition3.0
LAW 792SFood and Drug Law3.0
LAW 796SInsurance Law2.0
LAW 820SImmigration Law3.0-4.0
LAW 821SEuropean Union Law2.0-3.0
LAW 826SRefugee and Asylum Law2.0
Professional Practice Courses (may also be used as electives once requirement is fulfilled):
LAW 924S
& LAW 653S		Entrepreneurial Law Clinic
and Entrepreneurial Law Clinic Seminar		7.0
LAW 931S
& LAW 654S		Law Co-op
and Lawyering Practice Seminar		8.0-9.0
LAW 941S
& LAW 942S
& LAW 656S		Criminal Litigation Clinic I
and Criminal Litigation Clinic II
and Justice Lawyering Sem		14.0-15.0
LAW 943S
& LAW 944S
& LAW 656S		Civil Litigation Clinic I
and Civil Litigation Clinic II
and Justice Lawyering Sem		14.0-15.0
LAW 947S
& LAW 948S
& LAW 656S		Federal Litigation and Appeals Clinic
and Federal Litigation and Appeals Clinic II
and Justice Lawyering Sem		14.0-15.0
LAW 950S
& LAW 951S
& LAW 656S		Community Lawyering Clinic I
and Community Lawyering Clinic II
and Justice Lawyering Sem		14.0-15.0
Free Electives (may require permission to enroll)
Any other unspecified LAW course numbered 550S and above may count as JD elective

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study

Undergraduate course credits are quarter credits

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ENGL 1013.0CIVC 1011.0ENGL 1033.0VACATION
HIST 1014.0ENGL 1023.0Math3.0-4.0 
UNIV H1011.0HIST 1024.0U.S. History course4.0 
Non-U.S. History course4.0Math3.0-4.0History electives8.0 
Language (103-level or higher)4.0Language3.0-4.0  
 16 14-16 18-19 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
HIST 2964.0HIST 3964.0Non-U.S. History course4.0VACATION
HIST 3014.0History of Science, Technology, and Environment course4.0International Studies elective3.0 
Science3.0-4.0Humanities/Fine arts elective3.0Social Science3.0 
History course covering pre-1700 history4.0Social Science3.0Humanities/Fine arts elective3.0 
 Science3.0-4.0History Elective4.0 
 15-16 17-18 17 0
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
HIST 4904.0HIST 3804.0History Electives8.0VACATION
UNIV H2011.0HIST 4914.0Humanities / Fine Arts Elective3.0Student transitions to First Year of Law School
History Elective4.0Humanities/Fine arts elective3.0Diversity Elective3.0 
Social Science elective3.0History Electives8.0Social Science Elective3.0 
International Studies Elective3.0   
 15 19 17 0
Total Credits 148-153

Law School course credits are semester credits

First Year Law course credits (22 semester credits) are counted toward the History BA.

Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
LAW 550S (Counts toward UG free elective)4.0LAW 555S (Counts toward UG free elective)3.0
LAW 552S (Counts toward UG free elective)4.0LAW 556S (Counts toward UG free elective)4.0
LAW 554S (Counts toward UG free elective)4.0LAW 558S4.0
LAW 565S (Counts toward UG free elective)3.0LAW 566S3.0
 15 14
Fifth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
LAW 560S4.0LAW 830S2.0
LAW Reqts/Electives10.0LAW Reqts/Electives12.0
 14 14
Sixth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
LAW Reqts/Electives14.0LAW Reqts/Electives14.0
 
 14 14
Total Credits 85
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