3+3 Bachelor to Juris Doctorate Program

The 3 + 3 Bachelor to Juris Doctorate is a rigorous accelerated degree program that allows you to complete both your undergraduate degree and law degree in just six years! 

The 3 + 3 program is open to academically qualified Westfield State undergraduates who are committed to pursuing a law degree at UMass Law in Dartmouth.  You will complete the first three years of your undergraduate studies at Westfield State. In your fourth year, you will attend UMass Law as a first-year law student, and earn credit toward completion of your undergraduate degree by completing first-year law courses. In effect, you save one year of college tuition by substituting your first year of law school for your senior year of college!

The program is designed for students who enter Westfield State University with a strong interest in pursuing law, or who develop an interest early on and whose career goals and interest in legal education can be well served by UMass Law.  Completion of the program will yield a baccalaureate degree from Westfield State University as well as a Juris Doctor from UMass Law.

Topics Covered

  • Criminal Justice and Criminology 

  • Law

Undergraduate Admissions Requirements

  • You must meet with the Westfield State University Pre-Law Advisor to ensure you are able to complete all Program requirements.
  • You must complete the Westfield State University/UMass 3+3 Application available through the Westfield State University Pre-Law Advisor. Applications should be submitted to the pre-law advisor no later than October 1 of the student’s sophomore year.
  • You must maintain a GPA of 3.0, and be in good academic standing to remain in the program.
  • Prior to transfer to the UMass program, you must file the WSU UMASS 3+3 Intent to Leave Form, available from the Pre-Law Advisor. 

UMass Law Admission requirements

  • You must successfully complete no fewer than 90 credits at Westfield State prior to matriculation at UMass Law in Dartmouth.
  • You must successfully complete all Westfield State requirements for the bachelor’s degree, other than (1) free electives; and (2) requirements for which a first-year law school course is a substitute acceptable to your major.
  • You must maintain a cumulative institutional grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 during the three years of undergraduate study.
  • You must achieve a minimum score of 150 on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
  • Your application for admission to the Law School must include a letter of recommendation from the WSU Pre-Law Advisor.
  • You must fulfill all admissions requirements normally imposed by UMass Law.
  • You must demonstrate satisfactory character and fitness appropriate for admission to law school.
  • If you have a cumulative GPA or LSAT score below the minimums listed above, you are not guaranteed admission but will be evaluated on a case by case basis. 

Undergraduate Senior Year/First-Year Law School

You will normally be admitted only as full-time students in the law school and will follow the usual course of study for a full-time, first-year law student.

Your credit for courses completed at UMass will transfer to Westfield State as free elective credits or as credits for which a first-year law school course is a substitute acceptable to your major.

Your first-year law grades will not be included in the calculation of your cumulative institutional undergraduate GPA but will be included in the calculation of the cumulative overall GPA.

Westfield State students in their first year at UMass Law will pay the same tuition and fees to the law school as do other first-year students. Westfield State tuition and fees will be waived.

You may apply for financial aid through UMass Law.

Students who fail to complete successfully the first year of law school, or who elect for other reasons to withdraw, may return to Westfield State the following semester.

Application

Any Questions?

Contact: Hugh Jo, hjo@westfield.ma.edu