UMKC Early Entry Program

What is it?	What are the down sides?
How does the program work?	What undergraduate degrees are available?
Who may participate?	What do I need to do to complete the program?

What is it? UMKC’s School of Law and the College of Arts and Sciences offer the motivated student a faster track to a legal education.  While an undergraduate degree is usually a requirement for admission into law school, UMKC offers students the opportunity to start law school after completing as little as 90 undergraduate credit hours.  You then complete your undergraduate degree with law school credits.   By overlapping credits, you can shorten the length of time necessary for completing your education by as much as one year. Top How does the program work? Your first 30 hours at UMKC’s School of Law may fulfill as many as 30 credit hours of non-Arts and Sciences electives toward your undergraduate degree.  Therefore, if you have completed all of your general education and major requirements, leaving only electives credits before you would your undergraduate degree, you may apply to the law school at UMKC.  If accepted, you can start law school without having actually graduated.  You will receive their undergraduate degree after you have received the requisite amount of law school credits to fulfill the remaining amount of undergraduate elective credit. Top Who may participate in the 90+ program? Any student who is pursuing an Arts and Sciences degree may participate.  Note, however, that the 90+ program does not guarantee admission into UMKC’s School of Law .  Participants must apply and otherwise qualify for Law School admission. Top What are the down sides? The 90+ program is not for every student.  Law school is a competitive, highly rigorous academic experience.  As such, not every student is ready for law school after completing an entire undergraduate program, and fewer still are prepared for law school even after completing 90 credit hours.  Participants also forego a broad range of electives that may enhance legal or other career choices.  Interested students should discuss the potential benefits and risks with the Pre-Law Coordinator.Top What undergraduate degrees are available? Any Arts and Science degree program will work.  The most popular are the Bachelor of Liberal Arts and the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Top What do you need to do to complete the 90+ program? Current UMKC students should meet every semester with a pre-law adviser.  Community college transfer students should consult with a UMKC pre-law adviser one full year before transferring to UMKC.  Given the number of requirements that must be satisfied in such a short period of time, potential 90+ students must carefully monitor their progress with great care.  The following checklist should help you get started: ·         The final 30 hours prior to enrolling in the Law School must be in UMKC’s College of Arts and Sciences. ·         All general education requirements must be completed prior to enrolling in the Law School . ·         For non-BLA students, all major requirements must be completed prior to enrolling. ·         36 hours of junior/senior (300/400 level) coursework must be completed prior to enrolling. ·         After you have earned approximately 60-75 hours of credits, you should apply for graduation; as part of this process, you will need to schedule an audit with a full-time adviser with the College of Arts & Sciences. ·         After you have applied for graduation and completed your audit, BUT PRIOR TO JANUARY 1 of the year you plan to enroll in law school, you must contact the pre-law coordinator to arrange to have a letter sent to the UMKC School of Law stating that you have a plan in place that will allow you to complete all of your requirements prior to enrolling in the law school the following fall.  The coordinator will send the letter after you have met with him, established a workable plan to finish the requirements, and you have communicated to him that you have completed and delivered your application to the law school.  This process should be completed prior to January 1 of the year you plan to enroll in the UMKC School of Law. Top