The emphasis on legal and moral studies within the philosophy major is a cooperative program between the Department of Philosophy and the UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. This early acceptance program allows students to earn a BA and juris doctor (JD) in six years of full-time study (effectively fulfilling their minor requirements with their first successful year at the Law School), and grants acceptance into the UA Little Rock School of Law to those students who maintain the required standing in the program and fulfill certain requirements. Students in the program enter the School of Law in the beginning of their fourth year of undergraduate study. At the end of successful completion of the first year of the law curriculum, the students are awarded a BA in philosophy. At the end of their third year of study (or equivalent) at the School of Law, they are awarded a JD. For more information about the joint program, visit our website. To achieve early admittance to Bowen, students must meet the following requirements:
- A major in philosophy with an emphasis in legal and moral studies.
- A cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or above.
- An LSAT score in the 75th percentile.
- Completion of all UA Little Rock Core Curriculum requirements, including the requirement of foreign language proficiency.
Students who do not meet these criteria may complete their undergraduate degree and apply to the William H. Bowen School of Law during the equivalent of their fourth year of undergraduate study.
Students in the program must submit an application to Bowen by January 1st for enrollment the following fall. Once accepted to Bowen, students must take one of the jurisprudence courses offered there in their second or third year of law school study.
General: 120 minimum total hours, including 45 hours of upper-level courses (3000-4000 level), and 30 hours in residence
