Highly talented and qualified students have the opportunity
to complete both a bachelor of arts (B.A.) degree and a juris doctor (J.D.) degree in six years rather than
seven through the B.A./J.D. dual-degree program, a joint endeavor of the
Camden College of Arts and Sciences and the Rutgers School of Law–Camden.
This program provides the opportunity for dual B.A./J.D.
students to complete all general education requirements and all requirements for a
major in the College of Arts and Sciences in three years. Dual-degree
candidates must perform sufficiently well to be able to participate in the
Honors College. If determined to be qualified, they then enter the School of Law. Credits earned during the students' required first-year law
courses shall be deemed to complete the students' requirements for a B.A. degree, provided that the students have earned at least 92 credits in the College
of Arts and Sciences prior to matriculation at the law school. The
students will receive their B.A. degree upon successful completion
of all first-year law courses, normally at the end of their fourth year of
study, and dual-degree students shall be eligible to participate in the College
of Arts and Science's graduation ceremonies at the end of their fourth year.
Students selected for this program will need rigorous
advising so that they successfully meet the College of Arts and Sciences' graduation
requirements and School of Law's entry requirements. The Honors College director and the prelaw adviser for the College of Arts and Sciences will
serve as the primary points of contact with the students during their first
three years; however, students must also be sure to meet the requirements
of their academic major. Dual-degree candidates must be accepted into and
participate fully in the special prelaw advisory program for dual-degree candidates
and must be recommended for continuation in the dual-degree program by the
program's coordinator.
Eligibility
In order to qualify for the program, students will have to
meet admissions requirements for both schools. Students should note that
separate applications are required for the Camden College of Arts and Sciences and the
School of Law–Camden, and acceptance into the College of Arts and Sciences and/or
the B.A./J.D. program does not guarantee acceptance by the law school.
Dual B.A./J.D. students applying as freshmen to the College of
Arts and Sciences must have (1) a minimum critical reading and writing SAT of
600 each or combined (critical reading, writing, and mathematics) SAT of 1900
and (2) a high school grade-point average of 3.75 (on a four-point
scale). Students who do not meet these initial criteria may still apply
for consideration for the program at the end of their freshman year at
Rutgers University–Camden, provided that they have a minimum GPA of 3.5 and that space is
available in the program. ACT scores may also be submitted for
consideration. Given the intensive nature of the program, admission is
not available for transfer students. Students who are not admitted to the law school must complete additional coursework in the College of Arts and
Sciences in order to graduate.
After matriculation in law school and upon the student's
successful completion of the eight required first-year courses, the bachelor's
degree will be awarded. The juris doctor will be awarded upon successful
completion of the required 84 course credits of law school work and all other
J.D. requirements (typically after three years as a full-time student at the law school).
Application to the B.A./J.D. Program
Students entering Rutgers–Camden from high school should
apply to the program after they have been admitted to Rutgers–Camden.
For students already enrolled at Rutgers–Camden and seeking
admission after their freshman year: apply by September 15 of the sophomore year.
If you would like to apply to the program or ask any
questions, you should contact Dr. Allen Woll, the adviser for the B.A./J.D. program
for the Camden College of Arts and Sciences.
Application to the School of Law–Camden
Once enrolled in the Camden College of Arts and Sciences,
students should meet with Dr. Allen Woll, the adviser for the B.A./J.D.
program for the College of Arts and Sciences. To enhance their
opportunity for acceptance, dual-degree students should apply to the School of Law–Camden for early admission by January 15 of their junior year, and must complete the
application process required of all applicants to the law school. They
must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) by no later than December of
their junior year and should achieve a score equal to or exceeding the median
LSAT score achieved by students entering the law school in the preceding year.
The law school will admit students who achieve this score and meet all other
admissions requirements; however, failure to achieve the requisite LSAT score
will not automatically result in denial of admission to the law school.
In addition, they must present a minimum GPA of 3.4 or its equivalent at the
end of their fifth semester at Rutgers–Camden. At least three-fourths
of the College of Arts and Sciences requirements for the bachelor's degree must be completed before
matriculation at the law school. The law school may require a personal
interview of the applicant.
Applicants to School of Law–Camden from the dual-degree
program should present evidence of strong analytical and writing skills. To ensure that they have had opportunities for research, seminar, and/or independent
study experiences expected of applicants to the law school,
students should complete (1) at least two writing courses beyond basic first-year
writing and (2) an advanced level seminar or independent study in their major
field of study no later than their junior year. Additionally, it is
recommended that their prelaw courses include a basic course in each of the
American Constitution or system of government, logic, and statistics, and that
they be proficient in computer use, including at a minimum word processing,
email, and internet research.
Rutgers School of Law–Camden reserves the right to deny admission
to any person who is not deemed of good character and/or has been charged with,
arrested for, or convicted of the violation of any law (other than minor
traffic violations), dismissed, expelled, suspended, or disciplined within
Rutgers or elsewhere for academic or any other reasons.
Costs
During their three years at the College of Arts and Sciences,
students will pay tuition and fees to Rutgers at the undergraduate rate.
During the three years at the law school, students will pay tuition and fees at
the law school rate. Financial aid will be calculated in accordance with
the host school's then-current student eligibility policies and administered by
the host institution.
Any student holding a College of Arts and Sciences scholarship should note that this scholarship is
exclusively for students enrolled as undergraduates on the Camden Campus and
does not transfer to any program on the New Brunswick or Newark campuses or to
any graduate or professional program on the Camden Campus. Students
should be advised that while federal and private loans are available at both
the undergraduate and law schools, scholarships and grants must be applied for
and shall be awarded separately by each school and shall only apply while the
student is enrolled at the respective school. Students should discuss financing options with the financial aid office
as part of their planning process.
Contacts
For further information, contact Dr. Allen Woll, the adviser
for the B.A./J.D. program for the Camden College of Arts and Sciences. Honors
College students should meet with the director to discuss this opportunity.
The prelaw adviser for the Camden College of Arts and Sciences is
Dr. Alan Tarr.
