Graduation Requirements

A. Degree Awarded: The degree awarded by the School of Law is the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.

B. Combined Degree Program: The University offers a program through which qualified students may obtain their B.A. or B.S. and J.D. degrees in six years instead of the seven years normally required to obtain the two separately. To receive the B.A. or B.S. degree, participants in this program must pass the courses prescribed by the University with an average grade of "B" or better and must also complete the first-year curriculum of the School of Law as a student in good standing after having passed all first-year courses. In addition to the first year of law school, participants in the program must spend at least one year in resident study and obtain at least 32 credits at the University to obtain the B.A. or B.S. degree. Performance in the program at the undergraduate level is monitored by the law faculty Admissions Committee in making selections for admission to the School of Law. Ultimate authority in regard to the award of the undergraduate degree shall remain with the student's undergraduate Dean.

C. Course Requirements: The School of Law requires the successful completion of 90 semester hours of work for awarding of the J.D. degree. A student who has failed a course must either repeat the course or stand for re-examination in the course at the option of the faculty member teaching the course.

D. Residence Requirements: To earn the J.D. degree, a student must spend three academic years (six semesters) in full-time residence at the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law or, in the case of a transfer student, at the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law and another law school approved by the American Bar Association. To complete one semester's residency, a student must complete no less than 10 hours of work during the semester. No provision is made for part-time study. All requirements for the degree must be completed within three uninterrupted academic years.

E. Minimum Average: Candidates for the J.D. degree must attain a cumulative average of at least 75 by the end of the first year and maintain a cumulative average of 75 in all required courses throughout the second and third years of study in the School of Law.

F. Good Standing: Students in good standing are those students eligible to continue the study of law who are not on academic probation.

Grading System

The School of Law has a numerical grading system for most courses and a descriptive grading system for some courses. Students may choose to take up to two elective courses under the descriptive system with the permission of the instructor.

Numerical Grading System

• 93 to 99 -- Demonstrates a superior level of competence.
• 84 to 92 -- Demonstrates an above-average level of competence.
• 75 to 83 -- Demonstrates that level of competence that is expected within the profession.
• 68 to 74 -- Demonstrates an unsatisfactory level of performance but sufficient potential
  to provide a foundation for competence.
• 60 to 67 -- Requires re-examination in or repetition of the course
  for receipt of academic credit.

The numerical grades described above do not represent percentages of correct answers to examination questions; rather, they are designed to allow professors to reflect differences of achievement within levels of competence. Unless otherwise announced by a professor, a written examination will be given at the end of each course.

Descriptive Grading System

• Honors: Demonstrates a superior level of competence and distinctively superior level of achievement.
• Satisfactory: Demonstrates a good to an above-average level of competence.
• Unsatisfactory/Passing: Demonstrates an unsatisfactory level of performance in the course, but demonstrates sufficient potential to provide a foundation for competence. Academic credit is awarded for the course.
• Unsatisfactory/Failing: Demonstrates an unsatisfactory level of performance in the course and requires re-examination in or repetition of the course for receipt of academic credit.

The above-listed descriptive grades will be posted on each student's transcript. They are not used for the calculation of semester or cumulative grade point averages; rather, grade point average and class rank are based solely on the cumulative average of numerically graded courses.

The grade of "Honors" will be earned only when, in the professional opinion of the faculty member, a student's performance has met the standard set forth above. It is therefore possible for there to be no "Honors" grades in some courses in some years. In no event shall an "Honors" grade be given to any student who does not rank in the top 1/3 of students taking the course. This rule is intended to preserve the integrity and meaningfulness of the "Honors" designation.

Other Academic Regulations

Students and prospective applicants should refer to the "Academic Regulations" outlined in the School of Law Bulletin for information regarding the minimum academic standards for law school students, academic probation, academic exclusion, and academic appeals.