History BA/JD 3+3 Program

Attorneys are historians. They advocate for their clients by collecting historical evidence and testimony about historical events and by supporting a case with precedents set out in past cases. By piecing together this evidence, attorneys argue that history happened in a certain way. The outcome of a case will often depend on which version of the past is most convincing.

As a history major in our BA/JD program, you will learn the skills necessary to succeed in law school and graduate with a Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Akron School of Law. You will gather and analyze historical evidence, creating historical arguments supported by your evidence. In your historical writing, you will present your account of the past to convince the reader that it is a sound interpretation. And when you enter law school with the skill set of a historian, you will be ready to take the next step: learning to apply the tools of a historian to the practice of law.

Our BA/JD program allows you to complete your formal training as a lawyer more quickly, saving money and time. Our students complete each degree in 3 years (6 total) and are eligible for the History Department's generous scholarship program as undergraduates.

Admission Requirements

• Admission to the program as a freshman requires an ACT of 25 (SAT of 980) and a high school GPA of 3.4; admission of transfer and ICT students requires a GPA of 3.4.

Any University of Akron History major may apply for inclusion into the 3+3 program at the same time they apply for admission to the History BA program, or anytime while enrolled as a History major at the University of Akron. Students complete a separate application to the Law School during the third year of the undergraduate degree.

University of Akron History majors participating in the joint 3+3 program who have completed the equivalent of three years or more of a baccalaureate degree will be admitted into the University of Akron School of Law so long as they:

• Are in good standing academically, financially, and from a disciplinary perspective in the History BA program
• Satisfy the character and fitness standards required of all students admitted to the Law School
• Have an LSAT that is at or above the 25th percentile of the previous year’s entering class, and not below a 151 (GRE results can be considered if no LSAT score is available)
• Have an undergraduate grade point average at or above the median of the previous University of Akron Law School entering class.

History majors who are not enrolled in the 3+3 program, or who do not meet the automatic admission criteria set forth above will still be considered for admission into the Law School on a case-by-case basis.

Course Requirements

History Core

HIST: 310 (3 credits) Historical Methods

At least 6 credits from each of the following fields:

Note: A minimum of two courses from two different fields (6 credits total) must be taken at the 400 level.

• Field I (United States)
• Field II (Europe)
• Field III (Global, Latin America, Africa, Asia, Middle East)

See the list of electives by field here»

11 Elective credits chosen from the following:

• HIST 200: Empires of the Ancient World
• HIST 210: Humanities in the Western Tradition from Ancient Times to 1500
• HIST 221: Humanities in the World Since 1300
• HIST 250: US History to 1877
• HIST 251: US History Since 1877
• HIST 323: Europe from Revolution to World War, 1789-1914
• HIST 350: US Women's History

The following courses from the School of Law, taken during the fourth year at UA:

• LAWX: 601 Civil Procedure-Federal Jurisdiction (3 cr.)
• LAWX: 602 Civil Procedure-Federal Litigation (3 cr.)
• LAWX: 607 Criminal Law (3 cr.)
• LAWX: 611 Contracts (4 cr.)
• LAWX: 619 Legal Analysis, Research, & Writing I (LARW I) (3 cr.)
• LAWX: 620 Legal Analysis, Research & Writing II (LARW II) (3 cr.)
• LAWX: 625 Torts (4 cr.)
• LAWX: 645 Property (4 cr.)
• LAWX: 676 Legislation and Regulation (2 cr.)