WASHINGTON – Howard University is proud to announce the establishment of the Bachelor of Arts to Juris Doctor (B.A.-J.D.) joint degree program, open to incoming freshman students. The program is six years, allowing students to complete their Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees in a cost-effective way.
“Since 1869, Howard University School of Law has empowered lawyers to become specialized advocates capable of serving their communities,” says President Wayne A. I. Frederick. “In 151 years, the practice of law has expanded and changed, and Howard has evolved as well. Our B.A.-J.D. joint degree program will develop more lawyers with various disciplines from communications to sciences, focused on the growing issues that matter to all people, including Black people and the African diaspora.”
The inaugural cohort includes 10 freshmen who are majoring in political science, philosophy, or legal communications. Interested students were required to submit a 500-word essay on their interest in the joint degree program, and have stellar SAT or ACT scores, undergraduate GPA, strength in their high school course selection, a stand-out personal statement, and history of involvement in extracurricular activities. In the future, the selection committee plans to admit students from a wider variety of majors.
“We sought to admit students who have a firm commitment to practicing law and display an understanding of law as a tool for social change. We also looked for students who displayed maturity through their writing,” said Brandon Hogan, J.D., Ph.D., director of the B.A.- J.D.joint degree program.
This program allows a student to graduate with a B.A. and a J.D. in six years. Participating students will be in residence as undergraduates for their first three years and complete a minimum of 90 credits. Next, the student attends the Howard University School of Law in their fourth year and,after completing the 30 credits of the first year of law school, the student earn a B.A. degree. The 30 credits earned at the law school essentially become the credits for the B.A. degree, equaling a total of 120 credits. The student would then move forward to complete 58 additional credits at the law school over the next two years. At the end of those two years (accumulating a total of 88 credits), the student would be granted a Juris Doctor.
“Howard University has taken a momentous step with the creation of the BA-JD program. This program allows us to increase the critical pipeline of Howard students to law school,” said Danielle Holley-Walker, J.D., dean of the Howard University School of Law. “The B.A.- J.D.program will identify highly talented undergraduate students and expose them to the legal profession, mentors, critical legal analysis, and legal writing starting in their freshmen year. The program also builds the formal relationship between the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Communication and School of Law. We look forward to the outstanding achievements of our inaugural B.A.- J.D. cohort.”
The cohort’s current students are in a variety of majors within the College of Arts and Sciences and Cathy Hughes School of Communications. The students in the program include: Jy' Mir Starks, legal communications; Kayla Cofield, legal communications; Jamarr Johnson, philosophy; Taylor Courtney, philosophy; Kyla Warman, philosophy; Demetrius Stafford,political science; Obrian Rosario, political science; Savannah Sharpe, political science; Trinity Holt, political science; and Courtney Maccubbin, political science.
Students will complete a course scheme designed by their major department that is specific to this program. All students are encouraged to take law-related courses as electives as well, including Philosophy of Law, Legal Writing, Critical Race Theory, Judicial Process, Business Law, Constitutional Law, and Constitutional History.
“I’m excited about the B.A.- J.D. program because this is an opportunity to strengthen my ties with the D.C. and Howard communities, so that I’ll be more ready to serve them both with my J.D.,” said Starks, a student in the program. “I believe in the mission of truth and service, and that is why I plan on using my legal expertise to aid the marginalized communities within America in our quest for justice.”
For more information about the joint-program, email BAJD@howard.edu,
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About Howard University
Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.
Media Contact: Imani Pope-Johns, imani.popejohns@howard.edu
