Business - Honors Law Program
The following is a description of the Business-Honors Law Program for students interested in obtaining a B.S. in Business Administration and a J.D. degree. While the B.S.B.A. program is a full 4-year program, students in the Business Honors Law Program have the possibility of accelerating the curriculum to complete the B.S. and the J.D. in less than the standard 7 years. This will require incoming Advanced Placement credit and/or summer school and should be discussed with an academic adviser.
Admission to the Business-Honors Law Program
Students apply to the Business Honors Law Program prior to the beginning of their freshman year. Business Honors Law students are guaranteed admission to Chicago-Kent College of Law provided they meet the following criteria:
- Maintain an undergraduate GPA of 3.25
- Take the LSAT exam by February of the third undergraduate year and obtain a score that is equivalent to or higher than the median score for the Chicago-Kent entering class
- Complete a law school application by April 15 of the third undergraduate year
- Fulfill the undergraduate requirements specified by the B.S.B.A program and complete the required undergraduate courses
- Maintain a record that the law school director of admissions determines to be consistent with the character and fitness requirements of the bar examining authorities
Students who participate in the program but do not meet the academic standards for guaranteed admission are invited to apply through the regular competitive application process for admission to Chicago-Kent College of Law after three years of undergraduate study.
Accelerated Program Features
Students in the joint B.S.B.A./J.D. program may accelerate their program of study by substituting a portion of their first-year law school courses for the two free electives and two business electives which are permitted as part of the B.S.B.A. program. The B.S.B.A. degree will be awarded upon completion of required number of credit hours provided the student has fulfilled all of the other degree requirements for the B.S.B.A. degree.
Students in the program may reasonably complete the combined degrees in six years by selecting an appropriate combination of the following opportunities:
- AP credit from high school, most students pursuing the accelerated option would be expected to have some AP credit
- Taking courses during the summer
- Using law school courses for up to two free electives and two business electives in the undergraduate program
- Taking an extra course over and above the recommended schedule in their freshman or sophomore year
Students may double count one IPRO for the law program and the undergraduate business program provided the IPRO is taken after the first year of law school.
Students interested in pursuing the six year program should work closely with their advisors to ensure the appropriate courses are taken in the proper sequence.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Business Honors Law Program is based on academic ability, recommendations, personal qualities and co-curricular activities. Applicants are expected to:
Applicants must submit an IIT application for admission and a supplemental Business Honors Law application by March 1 of their senior year of high school, and arrange for IIT to receive their high school transcript, SAT 1 or ACT scores and two recommendations from high school teachers.
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
- Have a minimum composite score of 29 on the ACT or 1280 on the SAT
- Arrange for a mandatory interview
Applications for the Business Honors Law Program will be reviewed by admissions staff from IIT and Chicago-Kent as well as the Business Honors Law Program.
