CURRICULUM

 

 

A student will not be permitted to enroll in an elective or an upper-level required course until the student has completed or is concurrently enrolled to complete the following:
 
Civil Procedure
Constitutional Law
Contracts I & II
Criminal Law
Evidence
Federal Income Taxation
Legal Research & Writing I & II
Property I & II
Torts I & II
 
If a student receives a failing grade in any of these required courses, the student must retake such course or courses not later than the next semester that course is offered and the student is enrolled. The student may be permitted to complete courses for which the student is registered if the failing grade is posted after a semester has started, subject to the Academic Deficiency Policy.
 
FIRST 39 HOURS
All students are required to complete the following courses with a passing grade in order to be eligible to receive the Doctor of Jurisprudence degree:  

 

COURSE SEQUENCE

Full-Time Students*

First Semester
Course
Hours
Legal research & Writing I
2
Contracts I
3
Torts I
3
Civil Procedure
4
Criminal Law
3
Total
15

 

Second Semester
Course
Hours
Legal research & Writing II
2
Contracts II
3
Torts II
3
Constitutional Law
4
Property I
3
Total
15

 

Third Semester
Course
Hours
Property II
3
Evidence
3
Federal Income Taxation
3
(Electives)
 
* Day sections of some courses will be scheduled during the summer sessions for those who want to attend.

 
COURSE SEQUENCE - FALL ADMITTEES
Part-time Students

 

First Year Fall

Second Year Fall

Course Hours

Course

Hours
Legal research & Writing I
2

Constitutional Law
4
Contracts I
3

Evidence
3
Torts I
3

Property II
3
 
8

 
10

First Year Spring

Second Year Spring
Course Hours Course Hours
Civil Procedure
4

Legal Research & Writing II
2
Criminal Law
3

Federal Income Taxation
3
Property I
3

Electives
3 - 6
 
10
  
8 - 11
First Year Summer**
Course Hours
Contracts II
3
Torts II
3
 
6
 COURSE SEQUENCE - SPRING ADMITTEES

Part-time Students

 

First Year Spring

Second Year Spring

Course Hours Course Hours
Legal research & Writing I
2
 Constitutional Law
4
Contracts I
3
 Evidence
3
Torts I
3
 Legal Research & Writing II
2
 
8
  
9

First Year Summer**

Second Year Summer**
Course Hours Course Hours
Contracts II
3
 Federal Income Taxation
3
Torts II
3
 Property II
3
 
6
  
6

First Year Fall
Course Hours
Civil procedure
4
Criminal Law
3
Property I
3
 
10
** The few part-time students not attending summers will set up individual programs in consultation with the Assistant Dean and Registrar.
 
 
First semester students will be administratively assigned to sections of their required courses. Students must take Legal Research & Writing I in their first semester. Fall part-time admittees must take Civil Procedure in their first spring semester; spring part-time admittees take it in their first fall semester. Legal Research & Writing I and II, Contracts I and Torts I are taught in the fall and spring only.
 
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY: Professional Responsibility is a required course and must be completed no later than the semester or session in which a student completes his/her 60th credit hour.
 

SUBSTANTIAL WRITING REQUIREMENT:  (after completion of 45 hours): In addition to Legal Research & Writing I and II, each student is required to complete a substantial research paper as a condition of graduation. The requirement for this paper may be satisfied by completion of at least one of the following:

1. A seminar where a research paper of not less than 20 typewritten, double-spaced,
    letter-size pages of text (or not less than 5000 words), plus appropriate footnotes for a paper of publishable quality, is the basis for a grade received in the seminar is C or better; or

    2. Supervised Research under the direction of a full-time faculty member with the
        resulting research paper receiving a grade of C or better; or

    3. Satisfaction of all the requirements for academic credit for Law Review, including
        completion of all writing requirements.

    4. Satisfaction of all the requirements for academic credit for Currents:
        International Trade Law Journal, including completion of all writing requirements
        and a minimum of two semester' service.

    NOTE: All required courses for graduation, including the substantial writing requirement, must be taken in residence.

 

Updated June 2004, - Please send comments or suggestions about this web page to: bmims@stcl.edu