Criminal Justice with a 3+3 Track to Law (BS)

This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2025-Spring 2026 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a 3+3 Track in Law
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (AS)
Department: Criminal Justice
Academic Plan Code(s): JA _ _BS_3+3

Program Information

The College of Arts & Sciences and the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law have joined forces to create 3+3 Accelerated Law programs that allow eligible students in the College of Arts & Sciences to begin law school in their senior year of undergraduate study. Students substitute undergraduate major and elective requirements with the first 30 hours of law school, earning an undergraduate degree after their first year of law school and a Juris Doctor (JD) degree two years later. 

To be eligible to apply to the School of Law, participating students must complete three full-time academic years (90 credit hours--fall and spring semesters only) of postsecondary undergraduate coursework, including at least two full-time academic years (60 credit hours) of in-person instruction at the University of Louisville in a qualifying bachelor’s degree program.

Students who apply via the 3+3 Program must submit the same application materials as traditional first-year JD applicants, including a valid LSAT score, and are subject to the same entrance standards. Any offer of admission to a 3+3 Program applicant is contingent upon the applicant’s continued undergraduate academic performance and completion of undergraduate program requirements.

Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department’s Learning Outcomes Measurement. For details, contact the department.

Degree Summary

¹

Some credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the program, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. See the Degree Requirements tab for specific coursework.

²

It is strongly recommended that the student takes CJ 203 Introduction to Law and the Legal System   and CJ 306 Criminal Procedure

Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.

Departmental Admission Requirements

This program is designed for the high achieving student who plans to study law.  Students must complete 30 credit hours with a 3.5 GPA and meet with a criminal justice advisor before being accepted as a 3+3 to law in criminal justice major. 

The Application for Major form can be found on the Arts & Sciences Advising Center website.

Admission to Law School

Admission to the 3+3 track does not guarantee admission to the Brandeis School of Law. Students who apply via the 3+3 Program must submit the same application materials as traditional first-year JD applicants, including a valid LSAT score, and are subject to the same entrance standards. Any offer of admission to a 3+3 Program applicant is contingent upon the applicant’s continued undergraduate academic performance and completion of undergraduate program requirements.

To be eligible to apply to the School of Law, participating students must complete three full-time academic years (90 credit hours--fall and spring semesters only) of postsecondary undergraduate coursework, including at least two full-time academic years (60 credit hours) of in-person instruction at the University of Louisville in a qualifying bachelor’s degree program.

Participating students must successfully complete the full-time first-year law (1L) curriculum in order to be awarded their bachelor’s degree at the conclusion of the 1L year and be permitted to continue in the JD program. If a participating student does not successfully complete the 1L curriculum and thereby does not have enough credits to be awarded their bachelor’s degree at the conclusion of the 1L year, the student must attend a mandatory counseling meeting at which the student’s options for continuation in the JD program, if any, will be discussed.

For more information on Brandeis and its admissions requirements, please contact Brandeis School of Law, Office of Admissions. Their office can also arrange for you to visit the law school.

General Education Requirements

*All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above).  Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

College/School Requirements

Program/Major Requirements

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Completion of the second semester of a single foreign language; hours will vary depending on language taken

²

In addition to courses counted toward General Education

³

May be incorporated into other degree requirements

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Fulfills General Education requirement.

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Fulfills WR requirement.

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Criminal Justice electives must be from the approved list and recommended at the 400 level and above.

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It is strongly recommended that the student takes CJ 203 Introduction to Law and the Legal System and CJ 306 Criminal Procedure

Students must have a minimum of 50 hours at the 300 level or above and a minimum 121 hours total to graduate.  

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