May 20, 2024

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Political Science BA/Law JD

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Admission Criteria

To be eligible for matriculation to the School of Law, Accelerated BA to Law JD students must meet the Law JD Admission Criteria

Course Requirements

Two Political Science Introductory Courses (6 credits)

PSC 101LEC - Introduction to American Politics Credits: 3
And one of the following:
PSC 102LEC - Introduction to International Politics Credits: 3
PSC 103LEC - Introduction to Comparative Politics Credits: 3
PSC 104LEC - Introduction to Political Philosophy Credits: 3

Ten Political Science Core Courses (30-31 credits)

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

One Methods of Inquiry Course

PSC 200LEC - Empirical Political Science Credits: 3
PSC 393LEC - Game Theory and Politics Credits: 3
PSC 408LLB - Basic Statistics for Social Science Credits: 4

Or an approved substitution from the following:

ECO 480LEC - Econometrics I Credits: 3
GEO 211LLB - Univariate Statistics in Geography Credits: 4
MGQ 301LR - Statistical Decisions in Management Credits: 3
PSY 207LLB - Psychological Statistics Credits: 4
SOC 294LR - Basic Statistics for Social Sciences Credits: 4
STA 119LEC - Statistical Methods Lecture Credits: 3 AND
STA 119REC - Statistical Methods Credits: 1

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 495 , PSC 496 , PSC 497 and PSC 499 .

JD Requirements

JD First Year Requirements (32 credits)

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

JD Second and Third Year Requirements (58 credits)

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

Experiential Course options

LAW 523TUT - Judicial Externship - Intensive Credits: 3-5
LAW 567LEC - Lawyers as Change Agents: Pathways to the Public Good Credits: 3
LAW 637LEC - Corporate Negotiations Credits: 3
LAW 686LEC - Food, Drug, & Medical Device Law Credits: 3
LAW 817LEC - International Arbitration Credits: 3

Seminar Course options

LAW 639SEM - 9^th Amendment Credits: 3
LAW 695SEM - Land Use Planning Credits: 3
LAW 822SEM - Gender, Sexuality, & Law Credits: 3

Research/Writing Course options

LAW 722SEM - Intensive Research & Writing Sports Law Credits: 1-4
LAW 762SEM - Adv Topics in Law & Society Research: Foundations Credits: 3
LAW 956LEC - Introduction to Appellate Advocacy Credits: 3

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.

Double Major in Global Affairs and Political Science

For those majoring in both Global Affairs and Political Science, 3 courses can be shared (be applied to both majors).

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

UB Seminar Credits: 3
PSC 101LEC - Introduction to American Politics Credits: 3
Political Science Introductory Course Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
ENG 105LEC - Writing and Rhetoric Credits: 4 OR Pathway Credits: 3

Total Credits: 15-16

First Year Spring

ENG 105LEC - Writing and Rhetoric Credits: 4 OR Pathway Credits: 3
Pathway Credits: 3
Pathway Credits: 3
PSC Methods of Inquiry Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3

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

UBC 399MNT - UB Curriculum Capstone 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 Analysis, Writing & Res II Credits: 3
LAW 511LEC Constitutional Law 1 Credits: 4
LAW 500TUT Professional Development 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 knowledge about fundamental concepts and scholarship in the following four fields: American politics, international relations, comparative politics, and public law.
Develop writing skills to intellectually communicate their ideas and research findings about political topics.
- Develop the ability to communicate ideas clearly and persuasively in writing.
- Develop the ability to effectively take a position and defend an argument against criticism.
- Be able to write an essay or paper presenting a clear thesis supported by relevant research.
Develop the analytical skills necessary to think critically about political, social, and economic behavior.
- Be able to identify and critically evaluate the arguments of scholarly research in political science.
- Engage in conceptual analysis and theoretical interpretation of political ideas and phenomena.
- Develop the ability to analyze a scholarly question in political science by drawing logical inferences from qualitative and/or quantitative data.
Demonstrate an understanding of the role of engaged citizens in democracy.
Demonstrate the ability to conduct original research about political phenomena with the appropriate use of statistical analysis.

(HEGIS: 22.07 POLITICAL SCI & GOVERN, CIP: 45.1001 Political Science and Government, General)