The Philosophy Program in The Beeghly College of Liberal Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (BCLASSE) at Youngstown State University (YSU) is pleased to announce its new 3+3 undergraduate to law school program. The new program offers highly qualified and motivated students the opportunity to earn both their Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Philosophy and their Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree in six years instead of the usual seven.
The 3 + 3 program saves students a full year of undergraduate study, tuition, and living expenses. Program participants will graduate law school and get out into the world a year earlier than students who follow the traditional path, increasing their long-term earning potential and giving them a head start on making a difference in their chosen field.
A philosophy degree is an excellent way to prepare for the study of law. The critical thinking, analysis, writing, and argumentative skills not only prepare students for success in law school, but are also an excellent way for students to prepare for the LSAT. Philosophy majors on average has some of the highest LSAT scores of all the undergraduate disciplines.
The Philosophy Program at YSU currently has agreements with three law schools in Northeast Ohio:
- Case Western Reserve University School of Law
- Cleveland State University School of Law
- University of Akron School of Law
Contents
4. Admission Requirements: University of Akron School of Law
5. Admission Requirements: Cleveland State University School of Law
6. Admission Requirements: Case Western Reserve University School of Law
1. How it Works
Students interested in the 3 + 3 program through the Philosophy Program in The Beeghly College of Liberal Arts, Social Sciences, and Education will pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy through an Individualized Curriculum Program (ICP) in Philosophy. The BA in Philosophy consists of General Education courses, along with courses such as logic, philosophy of law, ethics, and social and political philosophy, which are to be completed at YSU in three years.
Students admitted to Akron Law will then begin their first-year law school courses at the University of Akron School of Law and apply those credits toward both their BSBA and law degrees.
Once a student has successfully completed the first-year law school courses at Akron, a transcript is sent to the YSU Office of Admissions. These courses are then applied to the student’s BSBA degree requirements at YSU and the degree is awarded after a final graduation audit.
2. Sample Curriculum
3. Admission Requirements YSU
Current YSU Students:
- 30 Earned Credit Hours in the BA program at YSU.
- 3.5 overall YSU GPA.
4. Admission Requirements: University of Akron School of Law
- 91 credit hours of the BSBA degree.
- Good Standing academically, financially, and from a disciplinary perspective at YSU.
- Complete and submit an application to Akron Law through the Law School Admission Council website (www.lsac.org).
- Satisfy the character and fitness standards required of al students admitted to Akron Law.
- Have an LSAT score that is at or above the 25th% of the previous year’s entering class, and not below a 151.
- Have an undergraduate grade point average at or above the median of the previous Akron Law entering class (information can be found at https://uakron.edu/law/admissions/facts.dot).
5. Admission Requirements: Cleveland State University School of Law
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.60 for 91 credit hours ofundergraduate education;
- Completion of all requirements for the student’s undergraduate Core and major;
- Completion of the LSAT no later than the February test of the student’s thirdyear at Youngstown State University with a minimum score not below themedian LSAT score of the current first-year class at CSU Law. Under exceptional circumstances and with permission of CSU Law, a student may complete this requirement with a later test in the student’s third year;
- Satisfaction of all admission requirements of CSU Law, including submissionof the admission application and required documents, and submission of a completed Undergraduate Authorization Form no later than March 1 of the student’s third year at Youngstown State University;
- The application for admission is complete and ready for review no later than March 1 of the student’s third year at Youngstown State University;
- The required disclosures relating to Character and Fitness in the application do not preclude admission to CSU Law; and
- Recommendation for acceptance to the 3+3 program by the student’s facultyadvisor at Youngstown State University and the Assistant Dean forAdmissions and Financial Aid at CSU Law.
- Candidates from Youngstown State University will be eligible for all scholarship opportunities available to regular applicants.
6. Admission Requirements: Case Western Reserve University School of Law
- The student attains a cumulative GPA or 3.60/4.00 or higher upon completion of the 4th semester and maintains it until entering CWRU Law School.
- The student takes the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) in June following his/her sophomore year or in October of his/her junior year and achieves a score of at least a 157/180.
- The student must fulfill expectations for outstanding personal development, including, but not limited to: involvement and leadership in undergraduate activities and community programs, scholarly pursuits and research, artistic or athletic activities, or other experiences that further add to a student’s personal growth.
- The student must maintain personal and academic integrity, including with respect to online materials of the student. All participants, regardless of admission track, will be subject to character and fitness review by the CWRU Law Admissions Committee. The Committee may vote to deny the applicant/withdraw the offer of admission based on character and fitness concerns.
- The student must complete the School of Law JD application by November 30 of his/her Junior Year of college and pay the Early Decision Deposit.
- Youngstown State University must provide CWRU Law School with a document confirming that the student meets all of the requirements to participate in the 3 + 3 Early Entry JD Program.
- Any 3 + 3 students who meet the program requirements and are admitted to CWRU Law School will automatically be considered for a merit scholarship award.
7. LSAT Test Dates
Registration Information for the LSAT can be found here
8. Contact Us
For more information, please contact Dr. Mark Vopat at mvopat@ysu.edu or Dr. Alan Tohmave aetomhave@ysu.edu