How does the schedule work?
For the first four semesters
Courses are offered in a blended format—2/3 in person and 1/3 online. Students come to campus twice a semester and spend the rest of each semester off campus, completing coursework online. The on-campus portions are intensive sessions filled with skills training and real-world case study. During the off-campus time, students have weekly deadlines but complete the work on their own schedule.
Starting in semester 5
Students have access to a range of courses in a variety of formats, including on-campus and fully online in addition to the blended format that makes up the first four semesters. For any courses they take in semesters 5-8 in the blended format, students come to campus for a Capstone Week.
Semester
1
Fall
Preparation Week
Beginning of semester
Capstone Week
End of Semester
2
Spring
Preparation Session
Beginning of semester (long weekend)
Capstone Week
End of Semester
3
Fall
Preparation Week
Beginning of semester
Capstone Week
End of Semester
4
Spring
Preparation Session
Beginning of semester (long weekend)
Capstone Week
End of Semester
5
Fall
Capstone Week*
End of Semester
6
Spring
Capstone Week*
End of Semester
7
Fall
Capstone Week*
End of Semester
8
Spring
Capstone Week*
End of Semester
* Only required for students taking courses in the blended format.
Note: Summer Session credits also available.
Customizing your J.D.
The curriculum for the first four semesters is essentially the same for all blended- learning students, but beyond that there are myriad possible paths to a J.D. You can tailor how long you’re in school, when and where and in what format you take courses, and what if any academic certificates you’d like to pursue.
Accelerated schedule
To finish your degree in three years, you could take courses in each of the summers after your first and second years.
Academic certificates
Blended-learning students can specialize in a variety of academic disciplines, which means taking courses specific to that discipline starting in semester 5. Students can take specialized courses toward a certificate in child welfare, law and business, Native American law, dispute resolution, health law, and health care compliance.
Prepping for the New York bar
New York allows a maximum of 15 fully online credits (and none the first year), which is less than the maximum allowed by the ABA. Students interested in taking the New York bar exam would tailor their course selection to have fewer fully online courses and more on-campus time.