Mar 29, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Political Science BA/Law JD


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Course Requirements


Ten Political Science Core Courses (30-31 credits)


Eight (24 credits) of the ten must be at the 300/400 level.

Three Political Science Field Courses (9 credits)


From among the four fields of: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Politics and Public Law.

Six Political Science Electives


  • 6 PSC courses, at least 4 of which (12 credits) must be at the 300/400-level.
  • UB Seminars (198/199) are excluded.
  • A maximum of 2 courses (6 credit hours) can be from: PSC 496 PSC 497  and PSC 499 

JD First Year Requirements (32 credits)


  • LAW 509 - Torts Credits: 4
  • LAW 501 - Civil Procedure Credits: 4
  • LAW 507 - Property Credits: 4
  • LAW 515 - Legal Analysis, Writing and Research I Credits: 4
  • LAW 503 - Contracts Credits: 4
  • LAW 505 - Criminal Law Credits: 4
  • LAW 511 - Constitutional Law Credits: 4
  • LAW 516 - Legal Analysis, Writing and Research II Credits: 3
  • LAW 500 - Professional Identity Credits: 1 

JD Second and Third Year Requirements (58 credits)


  • LAW 564 - Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility Credits: 3
  • LAW Experiential Course(s) (6 credits) 
  • LAW Seminar Course (3 credits) 
  • LAW Research/Writing-intensive Course (3 credits) 
  • LAW electives at the 500-level or above (43 credits)

Experiential Course options


  • LAW 523 - Judicial Externship
  • LAW 567 - Lawyers as Change Agents
  • LAW 637 - Corporate Negotiations
  • LAW 686 - Attorney for the Child
  • LAW 817 - International Arbitration

Seminar Course options


  • LAW 639 - 9th Amendment
  • LAW 695 - Land Use Planning
  • LAW 822 - Gender, Sexuality, and Law

Research/Writing Course options


  • LAW 722 - Intensive Research & Writing Sports Law
  • LAW 762 - Adv Topics in Law & Society
  • LAW 956 - Introduction to Appellate Advocacy

Total Credits Required for Undergraduate Major: 36-37


Additional Undergraduate Degree Requirements Include:


  • Additional coursework to fulfill UB Curriculum requirements
  • 13-14 undergraduate elective credits.

Total Undergraduate Credits Required: 90


Total Credits Required for Graduate Degree: 90


Total Credits Required for Graduation: 180


Total Credit Hours Required represents the minimum credits needed to complete this program, and may vary based on a number of circumstances. This should not be used for financial aid purposes.

Academic Requirements


Minimum GPA of 2.000 overall and in the undergraduate major required for graduation.
Minimum GPA of 3.000 overall and in the undergraduate major is required for all internships.

Transfer Credit Policy

The department gives transfer credit for a maximum of five political science courses. 

Curricular Plan


A Curricular Plan provides a roadmap for completing this academic program and the UB Curriculum on time. Your actual plan may vary depending on point of entry to the university, course placement and/or waivers based on standardized test scores, earned alternative credit and/or college transfer credit.

First Year Fall


Total Credits: 15-16


First Year Spring


Total Credits: 15-16


Second Year Fall


  • Pathway Credits: 3
  • Pathway Credits: 3
  • Scientific Literacy 1 Credits: 3
  • Scientific Literacy Lab Credits: 1
  • Math and Quantitative Reasoning Credits: 4

Total Credits: 14


Second Year Spring


  • PSC Field Requirement Credits: 3
  • PSC Elective Credits: 3
  • Pathway Credits: 3
  • Scientific Literacy 2 Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 3

Total Credits: 15


Third Year Fall


  • Communication Literacy 2 Credits: 3
  • PSC Elective Credits: 3
  • PSC Field Requirement Credits: 3
  • PSC 300/400-level Elective Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 3

Total Credits: 15


Third Year Spring


  • Credits: 1
  • PSC 300/400-level Elective Credits: 3
  • PSC 300/400-level Elective Credits: 3
  • PSC 300/400-level Elective Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 2
  • PSC Field Requirement Credits: 3

Total Credits: 15


First Year JD Fall


  • LAW 515LEC - Legal Analys, Writing & Res I Credits: 4
  • LAW 501LEC - Civil Procedure Credits: 4
  • LAW 509LEC - Torts Credits: 4
  • LAW 507LEC - Property Credits: 4
  • LAW 500TUT- Professional Identity Credits: 0

Total Credits: 16


First Year JD Spring


  • LAW 505LEC Criminal Law Credits: 4
  • LAW 503LEC Contracts Credits: 4
  • LAW 516LEC Legal Analys, Writing & Res II Credits: 3
  • LAW 511LEC Constitutional Law 1 Credits: 4
  • LAW 500TUT Professional Identity Credits: 1

Total Credits: 16


Second and Third Year JD


  • LAW 564LEC - Legal Ethics and Pro Respon Credits: 3
  • LAW Experiential Elective Credits: 6
  • LAW Seminar Elective Credits: 3
  • LAW Research Writing Elective Credits: 3
  • LAW 500+ Electives Credits: 43

Total Credits: 58


Total Credits Required: 180


Note: Some classes may count toward both a major and UB Curriculum requirement.

Learning Outcomes


Upon successful completion of all requirements, the student will have knowledge of:

  • Demonstrate the ability to navigate substantive and procedural law, the democratic political system, and government policies
  • Identify relevant legal and factual issues, undertake legal research, and employ these skills in legal analysis, reasoning, and problem solving.
    • Develop the ability to apply reasoning in the analysis of a wide range of political and legal issues and problems.
    • Engage in theoretically-informed interpretations of political, social, and legal ideas and phenomena.
  • Communicate proficiently in both written and oral form.
    • Develop writing skills to intellectually communicate ideas and research findings about political and legal topics.
    • Develop the ability to effectively take a position and defend an argument against criticism.
    • Present a predictive analysis and a persuasive argument orally.
  • Fulfill professional values and ethical responsibilities to clients, the legal system, and the public.
  • Apply professional skills needed for competent and ethical participation as a member of the legal profession in the appropriate cultural and social context.

 

(HEGIS: 22.07 POLITICAL SCI & GOVERN, CIP45.1001 Political Science and Government, General)

 

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