Psychology BS / Law JD

Major: Psychology and Law 
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS) 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)
BS Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 42.2799
BS Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-3031
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 BS in Psychology within the College of Arts and Sciences with the JD in Law within Thomas Kline School of Law. Through this program, potential BS/JD students may be identified when first admitted as entering freshman psychology majors. Finally, this is a "3+3" program allowing qualified students to earn their BS and JD in six years.

Additional Information

For more information about the Psychology major, visit the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences webpage. 

Admission Requirements

For the BS: 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 at least meets 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 BSJD 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

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
Introduction to Analysis I
Calculus I
Any additional MATH course OR
Symbolic Logic I
Symbolic Logic II
Engaging the Natural World *6.0-8.0
Analyzing Cultures and Histories *6.0-8.0
Understanding Society and Human Behavior *6.0-8.0
Cultivating Global Competencies *6.0-8.0
Perspectives in Diversity *3.0-4.0
Departmental Requirements
Business Elective **4.0
COM 230Techniques of Speaking3.0
Fine Arts Elective ***3.0
Free Electives16.0
General Psychology Course Requirements
PSY 111Foundations of Psychological Science for Majors I 3.0
PSY 112Foundations of Psychological Science for Majors II 3.0
Select two of the following:6.0
Developmental Psychology
Approaches to Personality
Introduction to Social Psychology
Required Psychology Courses
PSY 212Physiological Psychology3.0
PSY 240 [WI] Abnormal Psychology3.0
PSY 264Statistical Methods in Psychology I3.0
PSY 265Statistical Methods in Psychology II3.0
PSY 280Psychological Research3.0
PSY 290History and Systems of Psychology3.0
PSY 325Psychology of Learning3.0
PSY 330Cognitive Psychology3.0
PSY 360 [WI] Experimental Psychology3.0
PSY 370Forensic Psychology3.0
PSY 371Law and Psychology3.0
PSY 380Psychological Testing and Assessment3.0
Advanced Psychology Electives
Any non-required PSY course at the 200-level or above.18.0
Free electives fulfilled by 29 semester credits from first-year law courses43.5
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
*

See Core Curriculum List for a complete list of course options.

**

Any course from the following programs will count towards meeting this requirement: ACCT, BLAW, BUSN, ECON, FIN, INTB, MGMT, MIS, MKTG, ORGB, SMT, and STAT

***

Any course from the following programs will count towards meeting this requirement ARTH, DANC, MUSC, PHTO, THTR, and VSST.

Students with AP psychology, or transfer students with PSY 101 credit, should check the AP Student Placement Exam Crosswalk or check with their advisor.

Upper-Level Writing (WUL) Courses (may also be used as elective once requirement is filled)
LAW 610SReproductive Rights & Justice2.0-3.0
LAW 611SSex, Gender, & the Law2.0-3.0
LAW 614SSupreme Court Seminar3.0
LAW 647SThe Rights of Children2.0
LAW 656SJustice Lawyering Sem1.0-3.0
LAW 673SCrime and Community2.0
LAW 790SToxic Torts2.0-3.0
LAW 791SRegulating Patient Safety2.0-3.0
LAW 793SMental Health Law2.0-3.0
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 Seminar2.0-3.0
LAW 842SLaw and Mind Sciences2.0-3.0
LAW 844SLaw and Social Movements2.0-3.0
LAW 848SCourts and Public Policy2.0-3.0
LAW 882SLitigation Drafting2.0
LAW 884SContract Drafting2.0
LAW 910SAppellate Advocacy2.0
LAW 920SDrexel Law Review1.0-6.0
LAW T880SSpecial Topics in LAW1.0-5.0
Statutory Courses (may also be used as electives once requirement is filled)
LAW 620SAdministrative Law3.0-4.0
LAW 622SEmployment Discrimination3.0
LAW 623SElection Law3.0-4.0
LAW 624SEnvironmental Law3.0
LAW 642SSpecial Education Law2.0-3.0
LAW 674SHealth Care Fraud and Abuse2.0-3.0
LAW 675SFederal Criminal Law2.0-3.0
LAW 676SWhite Collar Crime2.0-3.0
LAW 678SJuvenile Justice Law2.0-3.0
LAW 700SBusiness Organizations3.0-4.0
LAW 701SFederal Income Tax3.0-4.0
LAW 702SEnterprise Tax3.0-4.0
LAW 706SSecured Transactions3.0
LAW 708SPayment Systems3.0
LAW 710SBankruptcy3.0-4.0
LAW 711SSales3.0
LAW 714SSecurities Regulation3.0
LAW 740STrusts and Estates3.0-4.0
LAW 760SCopyright3.0
LAW 764STrademarks & Unfair Competition3.0
LAW 792SFood and Drug Law2.0-3.0
LAW 796SInsurance Law2.0-3.0
LAW 820SImmigration Law3.0-4.0
LAW 821SEuropean Union Law2.0-3.0
LAW 826SRefugee and Asylum Law2.0-3.0
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
PSY 1113.0PSY 1123.0UNIV H2011.0VACATION
UNIV H1011.0PSY 120, 140, or 1503.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
ENGL 101 or 1113.0CIVC 1011.0PSY 2403.0 
MATH 101 or 1214.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0PSY 120, 140, or 1503.0 
Engaging the Natural World3.0-4.0Engaging the Natural World3.0-4.0Cultivating Global Competencies3.0-4.0 
 Developing Quantitative Reasoning3.0-4.0Fine Arts Elective3.0 
 14-15 16-18 16-17 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
PSY 2643.0COM 2303.0PSY 2803.0VACATION
PSY 2903.0PSY 2653.0PSY 3603.0 
Psychology Elective3.0PSY 2123.0Psychology Electives6.0 
Cultivating Global Competencies3.0-4.0PSY 3713.0Understanding Society and Human Behavior3.0-4.0 
Free Electives3.0Analyzing Cultures and Histories3.0-4.0  
 15-16 15-16 15-16 0
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
PSY 3253.0PSY 3303.0Psychology Elective3.0VACATION
PSY 3803.0PSY 3703.0Business Elective4.0Student transitions to First Year of Law School
Free Elective3.0-4.0Perspectives in Diversity3.0-4.0Understanding Society and Human Behavior3.0-4.0 
Analyzing Cultures and Histories3.0-4.0Psychology Electives6.0Free Electives6.0 
Free Elective3.0   
 15-17 15-16 16-17 0
Total Credits 137-148

Law School course credits are semester credits

First Year Law course credits (29 semester credits) are counted toward the Psychology BS.

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 558S (Counts toward UG Free Elective)4.0
LAW 565S (Counts toward UG Free Elective)3.0LAW 566S (Counts toward UG Free Elective)3.0
 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