Accordion: Academic Work Load

Juris Doctor candidates must maintain a schedule of at least 12 credit hours per semester to be

considered  full-time. Candidates  without  substantial  outside employment  (no more than 20 hours per week) may take a program of study of 15 credit hours per semester. After the first year of study, full-time students may take courses in the evening only if they take a majority of their hours in day courses. The dean of students is authorized to approve programs of study of more than 15 credit hours in exceptional  cases; however, no program will be approved that would permit the student  to complete  requirements for the degree in less than 28 months  after be- ginning the first year of law study. Students with more than 20 total hours per week of outside employment must take a limited program of study not exceeding 11 credit hours; the minimum load is 8 credit hours, except in special cases when fewer hours may be approved by the dean of students  for a limited time. A minimum schedule of 12 credit hours is required for students  to be considered full-time.

Juris Doctor students  may take a maximum of 8 credit hours concurrently  in each summer session. Of those credit hours, no more than a total of 6 may be earned at other law schools’ summer programs (see Summer School Credit from Other Law Schools). In exceptional cases the dean of students  is authorized  to approve summer programs of study of more than 8 con- current credit hours.