J.D. Program Overview

The UNT Dallas College of Law offers the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree through a full-lime day program and a part-lime evening program. Both programs require completion of no less than 88 credit hours for students beginning study in 2014, 2015, and 2016 and 90 credit hours for students beginning study in 2017 and beyond, including first-year required courses; other required courses; completion of the writing requirement, the research requirement, the skills requirement, the experiential requirement, and the practice- ready technology requirement.

Design of the J.D. Curriculum

The curriculum at the UNT Dallas College of Law reflects three overall aims:

• Ensuring that all students graduate with practice-ready competencies; that is, the knowledge, understanding, and skills essential to the practice of law;

• Providing students with the opportunity to explore a range of interest areas through electives and experiences; and

• Providing students with the opportunity to develop deeper and specialized knowledge, skills, and understandings in areas that interest them.

The components of the J.D. curriculum fall within three general categories:

• Required Courses. Some required courses are taken in a specific semester; other required courses may be taken during any of several semesters.

• Requirements that do not require the taking of specific classes but that are satisfied by a specific type or sequence of for-credit coursework or noncredit classes or experiences.

• Electives

 Graduation Requirements for Award of the J.D. Degree

To graduate with a J.D. degree from the UNT Dallas College of Law, the following requirements must be met:

To graduate with a J.D. degree from the UNT Dallas College of Law, the following requirements must be met:
1.     Credit hour requirement. Students must complete no fewer than 90 semester credit hours.
2.     Residency requirement. Students must complete at least 53 credit hours in residence.
3.     Completion of required courses. For the required courses, see required courses listed in Curricular Requirements.
4.     Completion of Writing, Research, Experiential, Practice-Related Technology, and Advocacy Requirements.
5.     Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
6.    Complete all requirements in no fewer than 24 months and in no more than 6 years after matriculating at the College of Law or at a law school from which the student has received transfer credit. In exceptional circumstances, the College of Law may extend this requirement but for no more than 7 years.