CHENEY – Leaders from Eastern Washington University and Gonzaga University School of Law recently signed a joint agreement that creates a pathway for students to earn their bachelor's degree along with their juris doctor in six years, one year less than it would traditionally take to complete.
In an April 14 news release announcing the agreement, EWU officials said the program, which permits concurrent enrollment at both institutions, allows students to apply to Gonzaga Law during their junior year after they have completed most of the requirements for their undergraduate program at EWU. If accepted, students will use their first year of courses at Gonzaga Law to complete their bachelor’s degree at Eastern. The 3 + 3 program is open to students of all majors.
Leaders from both institutions said they believe the program will not only increase the accessibility of a law degree but offer students a unique alternative to the traditional path.
“The EWU and Gonzaga collaboration derives from an interest in advancing an innovative education of the highest caliber for a group of motivated, academically prepared students,” Gonzaga University Provost Deena Gonzales said in the release. “The partnership provides new methods of achieving a professional degree; it encourages students to plan for a professional career in an era of financial uncertainties.”
According to the program website, EWU students must apply for admission Gonzaga’s full-time regular J.D. program, with materials submitted no later than March 15 of the calendar year in which they hope to matriculate. Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher at EWU for credits that count towards a baccalaureate degree receive preference for admission or scholarships.
Once admitted to the J.D. program, students should maintain that cumulative 3.30 GPA. A drop may rescind Gonzaga’s decision to admit the student. Preferred students should also achieve a score at or above the 25th-percentile of LSAT scores for the previous admission year.
EWU students who apply or matriculate into the program may apply for any and all applicable scholarships and other financial aid at Gonzaga University Law on the same terms as other students. Those include the Thomas More Social Justice Scholarship program where one scholarship is reserved per academic year for and EWU student who meets the criteria.
“This public-private collaboration between Eastern and Gonzaga is a wonderful achievement that will give students more opportunities to excel and also the financial support to do so,” EWU Provost David May said. “The partnership also reflects the commitment both institutions have to providing high-quality educational offerings to the greater Spokane community.”
EWU students who are interested in applying to the program to start in the fall of 2021 are encouraged to meet with their faculty advisor soon to plan their course selection.
May said Eastern and Gonzaga are also working on a reciprocal agreement that similarly allows GU students to apply to graduate programs at Eastern in their junior year.
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