Political Science BA / Law JD

Major: Political Science and Law 
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Juris Doctor (JD)
Calendar Type: Quarter and semester
Minimum Required Credits: 180.0 quarter credits & 85.0 semester credits
Co-op Options: No Co-op (Six years)
BA Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 45.1001
BA Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-3094
JD Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 22.0101
JD Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 23-1011

About the Program

This accelerated degree program combines the BA in Political Science 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 Political Science and their JD in six years. The study of government and politics provides a strong foundation for success in law school.

For more information about this program, contact Academic Advisor, Jenna Gregory 215.895.2590 or email jeg362@drexel.edu

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 three 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 three 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

Degree Requirements

University Requirements
CIVC 101Introduction to Civic Engagement1.0
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
College of Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum *
Developing Quantitative Reasoning *6.0-8.0
Two courses in MATH based on placement exams OR *
Symbolic Logic I
Symbolic Logic II
Engaging the Natural World *6.0-8.0
Analyzing Cultures & Histories *6.0-8.0
Understanding Society & Human Behavior *6.0-8.0
Cultivating Global Competence *6.0-8.0
Perspectives in Diversity *3.0-4.0
Political Science Major Requirements
Required Introductory Courses
PSCI 110American Government4.0
PSCI 120History of Political Thought4.0
PSCI 140Comparative Politics I4.0
PSCI 150International Politics4.0
Required Research Methods Courses
PSCI 131 [WI] Research Design for Political Science4.0
PSCI 231Qualitative and Mixed-Methods Research in Political Science4.0
PSCI 232Quantitative Research Methods in Political Science4.0
Required Intermediate Courses12.0
Any three 200-level PSCI courses EXCEPT for research methods courses (PSCI 231 and PSCI 232) **
Political Science Upper-level Elective Courses20.0
Any five PSCI courses at 300-level or above **
Free Undergraduate Electives28.0
Free electives fulfilled by 22.0 semester credits from first-year law courses (Law School Requirements)33.0
Law School required courses
LAW 550STorts3.0-5.0
LAW 552SContracts3.0-5.0
LAW 554SCivil Procedure3.0-5.0
LAW 555SLegislation and Regulation3.0
LAW 556SProperty3.0-5.0
LAW 558SCriminal Law3.0-5.0
LAW 560SConstitutional Law3.0-5.0
LAW 565SLegal Methods I2.0-4.0
LAW 566SLegal Methods II2.0-4.0
LAW 830SProfessional Responsibility2.0-3.0
Electives and Menu Requirements including:49.0-50.0
One Upper-Level Writing Course (WUL). See list below.
One Statutory Course. See list below.
One Professional Practice Course. See list below.
*

See Core Curriculum List for complete list of core options.

**

See political science course list

Law School Electives and Menu Requirements:

Upper-level writing (WUL) courses may also be used as electives once requirement is fulfilled
Reproductive Rights & Justice
Sex, Gender, & the Law
Supreme Court Seminar
The Rights of Children
Justice Lawyering Sem
Crime and Community
Toxic Torts
Regulating Patient Safety
Mental Health Law
Immigration Litigation
International Business Transactions
Contract Theory Seminar
Legal History
Foundations of Legal Analysis
Literature and The Law Seminar
Law and Mind Sciences
Law and Social Movements
Appellate Advocacy
Drexel Law Review
Special Topics in LAW
Statutory Courses (may also be used as electives once requirement is fulfilled):
Administrative Law
Employment Discrimination
Election Law
Environmental Law
Health Care Fraud and Abuse
Federal Criminal Law
White Collar Crime
Business Organizations
Federal Income Tax
Enterprise Tax
Secured Transactions
Payment Systems
Bankruptcy
Sales
Securities Regulation
Trusts and Estates
Copyright
Trademarks & Unfair Competition
Food and Drug Law
Insurance Law
Immigration Law
European Union Law
Refugee and Asylum Law
Professional Practice Courses (may also be used as electives once requirement is fulfilled):
Law Co-op
Lawyering Practice Seminar
Co-op Intensive
Lawyering Practice Seminar
Criminal Litigation Clinic I
Civil Litigation Clinic II
Justice Lawyering Sem
Civil Litigation Clinic I
Civil Litigation Clinic II
Justice Lawyering Sem
Federal Litigation and Appeals Clinic
Federal Litigation and Appeals Clinic II
Justice Lawyering Sem
Community Lawyering Clinic I
Community Lawyering Clinic II
Justice Lawyering Sem
Entrepreneurial Law Clinic
Entrepreneurial Law Clinic Seminar
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 101 or 1113.0CIVC 1011.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0VACATION
PSCI 1104.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0PSCI 120, 140, or 1504.0 
PSCI 140, 120, or 1504.0PSCI 120, 140, or 1504.0Analyzing Cultures & Histories3.0-4.0 
UNIV H1011.0PSCI 1314.0Perspectives in Diversity3.0-4.0 
Developing Quantitative Reasoning3.0-4.0Developing Quantitative Reasoning3.0-4.0  
 15-16 15-16 13-15 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
PSCI 2324.0PSCI 2314.0PSCI Intermediate Course4.0VACATION
PSCI Intermediate course4.0PSCI Intermediate Course4.0Understanding Society & Human Behavior3.0-4.0 
Cultivating Global Competence3.0-4.0Cultivating Global Competence3.0-4.0Engaging the Natural World3.0-4.0 
Analyzing Cultures & Histories3.0-4.0Understanding Society & Human Behavior3.0-4.0Upper-level PSCI elective4.0 
 14-16 14-16 14-16 0
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
UNIV H2011.0Upper-level PSCI electives8.0Free Electives16.0VACATION
Upper-level PSCI electives8.0Free Electives9.0 Student transitions to First Year of Law School
Engaging the Natural World3.0-4.0   
Free elective3.0-4.0   
 15-17 17 16 0
Total Credits 133-145

Law School course credits are semester credits

First Year Law course credits (22 semester credits) are counted toward the Political Science 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 Requirements/Electives10.0Law Requirements/Electives12.0
 14 14
Sixth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Law Requirements/Electives14.0Law Requirements/Electives14.0
 14 14
Total Credits 85