English Major: Law 3+3 Option (B.A.)

The Law 3+3 program offers highly motivated UNH undergraduate students of English the possibility to earn both a bachelor's degree (B.A.) and a law degree (J.D.) in six, rather than seven, years of study. After completing three years as an undergraduate and gaining admission to the UNH Law School through the approved process, the 3+3 program participant will become a full-time first-year law student. Upon successful completion of the first year of law study, the credits earned will be counted toward the JD degree and as elective credits sufficient to complete UNH's requirements for the bachelor's degree.

Eligibility and Admission Process

STEP ONE: Application to the 3+3 English/Law B.A./JD option

Students apply to the program either when they submit their applications to UNH, selecting the English/J.D .option on the online application, OR after they are admitted to UNH, by applying directly to the English Department’s “English/Law 3+3 Committee.” In both cases, undergraduate applicants must fulfill the general requirements for admission to the English major.

Students applying at the time of admission to UNH will typically present the following high school credentials:

• A 3.5 GPA in high school (UNH recalculates high school GPA’s to a 4.0 weighted scale)
• A rigorous high school curriculum defined as the following:
  • 4 years of college prep (CP) or higher English
  • 4 years of CP or higher mathematics
  • 4 years of CP or higher social studies/history
  • Completed at least level 3 of a foreign language
  • 3 or more years of CP or higher laboratory sciences.
• A recommended score of 1200 or better (combined Math and Verbal) on the SAT or a 29 on the ACT.

Currently enrolled UNH students applying to the program must:

• Have a 3.5 GPA in college courses at the time of application. The English Department committee governing admission to the 3+3 program will also consider past SAT scores, maturity, and the ability to complete a highly demanding program of study based on performance thus far.
• For both groups, it is important to note that satisfying these requirements does not guarantee admission to this program. The review process is holistic (meaning all parts of the application carry weight and influence the final decision) and other components of the application will influence any admission decisions. Available space within the program will also influence who is admitted and how many students can be accepted.

STEP TWO: Application to UNH Law school

To be eligible, students must:

• Complete all Discovery and major requirements, and accrue at least 98 credits before beginning law school in their 4th/"1L" year of academic study.
• Maintain at least a 3.5 GPA (including transfer credits) at time of application to law school, and at the end of their Junior year.
• Take the LSAT or the GRE no later than December of the final undergraduate year (i.e. the Junior year). Students opting to take the LSAT must earn a score of 155 or above. Students opting to take the GRE must score in the 80% of concurrently tested students.
• Submit the law school application through the Law School Admissions Council by March 15 of the calendar year in which the student wishes to enroll in law school.
• If, for some reason, students are not admitted to UNH Law, they will complete their final, fourth year at UNH, following the typical undergraduate program. 

Questions about the English/Law 3+3 undergraduate program should be directed to Carla Cannizzaro, Senior Academic Advisor, Department of English, 230F Hamilton Smith Hall, (603) 862-1313.

Questions about UNH Law School entry should be directed to Kevin Sousa, UNH pre-law advisor, 110 Murkland Hall, (603) 862-2062.

Sample Degree Plan

This sample degree plan serves as a general guide; students collaborate with their academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan to meet their academic goals and program requirements.

TOTAL: 98 Credits (40 Discovery, 44 English, 4-8 Foreign Language, 4-8 Elective)

NEED: Beyond ENGL 401 First-Year Writing, 3 more WI courses, one in major, one at 600 level.

Students should take LAW 475 Getting Ready to Succeed in Law School at some point during their Sophomore year but no later than the first semester of their Junior year. This 2-credit course, taught by a UNH Law School faculty member, will teach students how to prepare for a legal education. If LAW 475 is not offered during the appropriate timeline for student progression to their "1L"/Senior year of study, other 2-credit options that are suitable preparation for law school study include JUST 550 Mock Trial and JUST 551 Mock Trial. For other possible 1-2 credit courses, see the Time & Room Schedule and consult with your academic advisor. The 1-2 credit courses can be completed at any point in your first 3 years at UNH-Durham. You can also complete them during the January term [see, e.g., THDA 531 The London Experience: Discovery, a 2-credit study abroad program] or in the summer. 

HONORS: It is not necessary to complete the honors program, but it is possible: Honors in Discovery + Honors in Major with Thesis (See addendum I) .

SEQUENCE:  With the exception of ENGL 419 and ENGL 787, English courses don’t need to be taken in any specific order; the guide above is only a suggestion. In general, 500-level courses should be taken before 600-700 level ones. However, a student could take a class that satisfies the Race Requirement in Semester I of Junior year rather than Semester II, or a pre-1800 600-700 level literature course in Semester II of Junior year.  As long as all the categories listed above are met, students have the flexibility to choose the courses that best meet their interests and schedules. There are some writing and journalism courses that have prerequisites, and students should be careful to note these before choosing upper-level courses in those fields.

ADVISING: It is very important that students progressing through the 3+3 English/Law program maintain close contact with their degree advisor. This will help students remain “on track” to complete degree requirements, and the advisor will guide the student into the next phase of the program, admission to the Law school. Students who plan early and work closely with their advisor may find it possible to include study abroad and participation in other University programs, if desired, but only with careful planning.

Law School Degree Plan

This is a sample Law School course planning outline. Variations to this suggested path of courses may be undertaken with the approval of the student’s Law school advisor. 

Senior/First Year Law (31 credits)

The schedule and track of the second and third years of law school are directed by each student with careful advising from the law faculty.

Degree Requirements

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Students in the English/law 3+3 option fulfill the BA degree requirements and English major. See the Degree Plan for the recommended path through the English major.

Participation requires that students:

• Complete all discovery and major requirements and at least 98 credits before beginning law school
• Maintain a 3.5 or above grade point average, including transfer credits
• Take the LSAT or the GRE no later than December of the final undergraduate year (i.e. the Junior year). Students opting to take the LSAT must earn a score of 157 or above. Students opting to take the GRE must score in the 80% of concurrently tested students.
• Submit the law school application through the Law School Admissions by January 1 of the year in which the student wishes to enroll in law school.

Major Requirements

1. Students must complete a minimum of 40 credits of with a minimum grade of C-.
2. The required minimum overall GPA is 2.0.
3. ENGL 401, ENGL 415, ENGL 444, ENGL 620 and ENGL 788 may not be used to satisfy major requirements.
4. A total of six courses must be at the 600-level or above.
5. One major-required course may be used to satisfy one Discovery category requirement.
6. Only one online course may count toward major requirements.
7. Special Topics in Literature courses (e.g. ENGL 693, ENGL 787, ENGL 797) may be used to satisfy Pre-1800 or Post-1800 and/or Race requirement areas if the designated topic is appropriate. 

8. Capstone must be completed with a minimum grade of C. May not be double-counted toward major requirements. Submit a Capstone Declaration form indicating the English course to be taken at the time of registration.

Please see your advisor if you have questions about other courses that might fulfill these requirements.

Juris Doctor Requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

• Proficiency in analytical writing, critical thinking, and public-speaking.
• Knowledge of important literary genres and subgenres.
• Fluency in literary terminology.
• A broad understanding of British-and-American literature, from the medieval period in England and the moment of first contact in America to the present day.
• Demonstrated proficiency in writing an analytical essay that offers a sophisticated close-reading or explication of a literary text. This essay will have a clear thesis and proceed in a logical fashion, with interpretive claims supported by evidence from the text.
• Demonstrated proficiency in literary research and in writing an extended thesis-driven research paper in which sources are correctly and responsibly cited.
• Demonstrated understanding of how to read across the color line in the US and /or how to analyze literary works written in English from outside the UK and the US--from India, Africa, and the Caribbean, for example.