3+3 J.D. Program with Penn State Law
Wilkes University and Penn State Law will allow exceptional Wilkes students to apply for acceptance into the J.D. program at Penn State Law in their junior year, allowing for completion of both their bachelor’s and juris doctor degrees in six years.
Students accepted through this program may apply course credits from their first year at Penn State Law toward requirements for the Wilkes undergraduate degree, shortening the time to complete both degrees.
Students must meet the following criteria to apply for the 3+3 program:
- Students must be in their third year of studies at Wilkes.
- Students must have completed all of Wilkes’ graduation, distribution, major and certification requirements at time of application.
- Students must have completed 75 percent of the course credits required to earn an undergraduate degree from Wilkes.
- Students must submit a Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score no older than five years. An official score report is required.
Students who meet the eligibility criteria must complete the Penn State Law Admissions application by March 31 of the student’s third year of undergraduate studies. Penn State retains final authority to admit students into its J.D. degree program. Students who meet eligibility criteria are not guaranteed admission.
Accelerated Law Programs with Drexel
Reach your goals faster with two accelerated programs from Wilkes University and the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law.
3+3 Accelerated Bachelor/J.D. Program
If you’re an exceptional student with plans to practice law, you can apply to the J.D. program at Drexel’s Kline School of Law during your junior year at Wilkes. This accelerated program will allow you to complete both your bachelor’s and J.D. in six years.
In what would have been your senior year at Wilkes, you will be considered a full-time student of the Kline School of Law. Your course credits from that year will be applied toward requirements for your Wilkes undergraduate degree, shortening the length of time to complete both degrees.
To qualify for the Drexel/Wilkes 3+3, you must meet the following requirements:
- Submit a completed application to the Kline School of Law no later than March 1 of the calendar year in which you plan to attend.
- Receive a recommendation from the Wilkes pre-law advisor.
- Remain in good academic standing at Wilkes.
- Remain in good social standing with a satisfactory student conduct record and no unresolved disciplinary issues at Wilkes or any other post-secondary institution.
- Complete 90 credits and maintain a cumulative grade-point average that meets or exceeds the median GPA of the most recent incoming class at the Kline School of Law (a student with a lower cumulative GPA may be considered, but not automatically admitted).
- Take the LSAT by the fall of the junior year at Wilkes (you may take the LSAT more than once).
- Achieve an LSAT score that meets or exceeds the median LSAT score for the most recent incoming class at the Kline School of Law (a student with a lower LSAT may be considered, but not automatically admitted).
- Answer the criminal history disclosure question on the Kline School of Law application (a prior criminal history does not necessarily disqualify you).
- Comply with seat deposit and other deadlines established by the Kline School of Law.
3+1 Accelerated Bachelor/Master of Legal Studies Program
Want a deeper understanding of legal issues to advance your career but don’t want to practice law? Consider the Wilkes University/Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law 3+1 accelerated program leading to a master of legal studies degree.
After three years at Wilkes, qualified students enroll in the Kline School’s one-year MLS program, which provides a working knowledge of the law to enhance career opportunities in law enforcement, administration or management in a variety of settings. You can take this 30-semester-credit program fully online or supplement with live courses.
Choose one of eight concentrations:
- Criminal law
- Cybersecurity and information privacy
- Financial regulatory compliance
- Healthcare compliance law
- Pharmacy and medical device regulatory compliance
- Higher education compliance
- Human resources compliance
- NCAA compliance and sports law
In what would have been your senior year at Wilkes, you will be considered a full-time student of Drexel’s Kline School of Law. Your course credits from this year will be applied toward requirements for your Wilkes undergraduate degree, shortening the length of time to complete both degrees.
For the MLS 3+1 Program, you must meet the following requirements:
- Submit a completed application to the Kline School of Law no later than March 1 of the calendar year in which you plan to attend.
- Remain in good academic standing at Wilkes.
- Remain in good social standing with a satisfactory student conduct record and no unresolved disciplinary issues.
- Have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 for three years (90 credit hours).
- Comply with seat deposit and other deadlines established by the Kline School of Law.
You are not required to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) for admission to this program.
Contact
For more information on accelerated law programs, contact:
Kyle L. Kreider, PhD
Professor/Chair of Political Science
Pre-law Advisor
Wilkes University
570-408-4473
kyle.kreider@wilkes.edu