Business Law (3+3)

The Three-Plus-Three Business Law Program is jointly sponsored by the Mario J. Gabelli School of Business and the Roger Williams University School of Law allowing outstanding students to complete all requirements for both a baccalaureate degree in business administration and the Juris Doctor Degree in six years, as opposed to the traditional seven- year period of study. The modified course of study for the Three-Plus-Three Business Law Program student continues to preserve the distinctive hallmarks of Roger Williams University’s liberal arts approach to education. The program requires students to declare Business as their primary undergraduate major, and to take the core business school courses common to all business majors at the Mario J. Gabelli School of Business. Instead of choosing a specific business discipline as a major and taking business courses within that field, the student can substitute first year law school courses and commit to take law school electives in business related areas to meet major and elective requirements.

Selection for the Three-Plus-Three Program

Students who are accepted into the Mario J. Gabelli School of Business may apply for the 3+3 program during their third semester. Applications to participate in the Program will be considered based on superior academic record including performance on the SAT examination, secondary school graduating class rank and scholastic achievement during the student’s first two years at Roger Williams University. The application includes the following:

• A personal statement of the applicant expressing interest in the Program and explaining scholastic achievement to date as an undergraduate at RWU;
• A signed statement by the applicant indicating that he or she presents no serious character or fitness issues that would prevent admission to the 3+3 Program or admission to the School of Law;
• A copy of the applicant’s high school transcript with documentation stating the applicant’s SAT score and secondary school graduating class rank;
• A current transcript of undergraduate courses completed.

During their third semester, interested students will be required to submit an essay describing how their proposed core concentration will fit into their overall plan of study and how that core concentration will assist them in preparing for graduate legal education.

Admission into the undergraduate component of the Program will be determined by the University Pre-Law Advisory Committee with the advice of representatives from the Mario J. Gabelli School of Business, including the Mario J. Gabelli School of Business Pre-Law Advisor. Transfer students who have completed prior study at another higher education institution are not eligible to apply to the Three-Plus-Three Business Law program.

Satisfactory Progress in 3+3 Program

Roger Williams University undergraduate students admitted into the Three-Plus-Three Program must demonstrate superior academic performance in order to remain in good standing in the Program. That performance must meet the following criteria:

• Achieve a minimum grade of B- in the following courses: ECON 101, ECON 102, WTNG 102, WTNG 220, CORE 102, and CORE 104;
• At the end of the sophomore year, students must have earned a minimum of 56 credits with at least at 3.5 cumulative grade point average and must present no serious character and fitness issues;
• At the end of the junior year, students must have earned a minimum of 90 credits, with at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average, must have satisfied all requirements of the Modified Undergraduate Course of Study for the Program, must have taken the LSAT during their junior year and must present no serious character and fitness issues.

Failure to maintain these criteria will result in the inability to apply for, or result in the automatic removal from the Program.

During their third year, students accepted into the 3+3 Business Law program are required to take three undergraduate business electives. In selecting these courses, students may use one of the following strategies:

1. Focus in one discipline
   a) Take three 300-400 level courses in a single functional area
   b) The student would be responsible for any prerequisites required by these courses.
2. Focus in International Business
   a) Take the following courses which focus on international business
   i) MGMT 340
   ii) MRKT 340
   iii) FNCE 360
3. General Business
   a) Take three 300-400 level courses in two or three functional business areas.
   b) Courses must be selected to fulfill a specific purpose, such as industrial or career focus.

Students following the B.S./J.D. program will be considered candidates for the B.S. degree following the completion of the first year in law; i.e., the fourth year of the program. Such candidates for the B.S. must file an application for degree with the University Registrar before registering for their fourth-year courses (first year Law School courses).

Acceptance into Roger Williams University School of Law

Students enrolled in the Program must apply to the School of Law during the fall of their junior year. It is recommended that they sit for the LSAT during the October administration but no later than the December LSAT test administration of that year. Students enrolled in the Program who satisfy all undergraduate requirements, who achieve an LSAT score that is at or above the School of Law’s median accepted score for the previous year, and who present no serious character and fitness issues will be guaranteed admission to the Roger Williams University School of Law.