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Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies

Dodge Hall, Room 137
118 Library Dr.
Rochester, MI 48309-4479
(location map)
(248) 370-3229
Fax: (248) 370-3261
bis@oakland.edu

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
(except on recognized holidays)

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies

Dodge Hall, Room 137
118 Library Dr.
Rochester, MI 48309-4479
(location map)
(248) 370-3229
Fax: (248) 370-3261
bis@oakland.edu

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
(except on recognized holidays)

Man in suit standing in courtroom

Law School Partnerships

Since 2015, students have been using the 3+3 arrangement to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a law degree in six years. Students who can qualify for a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) Degree can then use their successfully completed first year of law school toward the completion of their OU degree.

Traditionally, earning a bachelor’s degree followed by a law degree would total seven years but with the 3+3 program, students transfer 30 credits from their law school courses back to OU to finish bachelor’s degree requirements.

To complete the degree they will need an approved plan of study to enter the BIS major and separately gain admission into one of our law school partnership programs. Tuition and fees will be paid to OU for classes taken at OU and to the law school for classes taken in the law program.

Is law school right for me?

Contact BIS for more information:
(248) 370-3229 
bis@oakland.edu

Wayne Law

Students will be able to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a law degree in six years through a partnership between Oakland University and Wayne State University Law School.

Traditionally, earning a bachelor’s degree followed by a law degree would total seven years. With this agreement, students will transfer 30 credits from courses at the law school back to Oakland to meet bachelor’s degree requirements.

In total, student will complete 90 credits at OU and 30 credits at Wayne Law. This allows students to double count their first year of law school with their last year at OU. This saves you 30 credits of OU tuition and the opportunity to enter the law career field a year sooner.

Wayne State Law School

Wayne Law Partnership Details

Wayne State University Law School Admissions
Justin Williams, Associate Director of Admissions and Diversity Recruitment
jmwilliams@wayne.edu

S/U grades
Admissions understands that there is a 2020 “lost semester.” An S option was offered to current law students as well. One semester with S grades is not a problem, but students need to be thoughtful when taking an S grade. 

Aside from that year, 3.4 GPA (including ALL classes taken) is required. 

Cumulative GPA’s
LSAC (Law School Admission Council) takes all of your grades that you have received and calculates a master GPA that shows up in the Credential Assembly Service Report that admissions uses as guidance. Admissions will look at all the grades along with the final master GPA when making their decision.

Preferred Majors
Law students come from a multitude of academic backgrounds with different types of academic experiences. The priority for admissions is excellence. Whichever degree you choose to pursue make sure you will excel in it. Take classes that interest you and classes that challenge you. Make sure to do very well in them. Worry less about what major you choose and more about how well you do.

Advice from a BIS 3+3 Law School program graduate: The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies program allows for flexibility. If you spread out your general education requirements and take upper level courses from various disciplines (you might find an area you would like to minor in) you will not only have the knowledge gained from multiple subject areas, but you will have had the opportunity to meet people from different fields.

LSAT Scores for Scholarship Opportunities
The median LSAT score for admission is 159. Early application is better. Wayne Law uses rolling admission, so early application means a smaller competition pool and a better chance for
scholarships.

Advice from a BIS 3+3 Law School program graduate: Get the highest LSAT score possible. Do not worry too much about taking it multiple times because as long as your score is improving it is fine. Admissions just does not want to see the score decrease. The prep companies for the LSAT are worth the money.

Wayne State Timeline

Year 1 

  • Complete 30 credits (including general education courses)

Year 2

  • Complete 30 credits (60 total).
  • Complete LSAT Prep Class in the Spring
  • Take LSAT in the summer (preferably in June)
  • Repeat LSAT if needed
  • Achieve major-standing with BIS
    1. Meet with BIS Adviser to discuss coursework and individualized major at the end of this year.
    2. Select coursework for a plan of study (minimum 28 credits).
    3. Write a professional rationale to justify coursework selections.
    4. Meet with your assigned Faculty mentor to review your proposed plan of study. The faculty council will review and issue admission decisions.

Year 3

  • Fall term - Apply to Wayne Law. Priority scholarship deadline is in March.
  • Complete 30 credits of BIS coursework including BIS 3000 and BIS 4930.

Year 4

  • Attend Wayne Law School Fall and Winter
  • Transfer coursework back to OU to earn bachelor’s degree
Detroit Mercy Law

Students will be able to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a law degree in six years through a new partnership between Oakland University and Detroit Mercy Law.

Traditionally, earning a bachelor’s degree followed by a law degree would total seven years. With this agreement, accepted students will transfer 30 credits from courses successfully completed at Detroit Mercy Law back to Oakland to meet bachelor’s degree requirements. In total, there will be 90 credits at OU and 30 credits at Detroit Mercy Law. This allows students to double count their first year of law school with their last year at OU. This saves you 30 credits of OU tuition and the opportunity
to enter the law career field a year sooner!

Detroit Mercy Law School

Detroit Mercy Law Partnership Details

University of Detroit Mercy School of Law Admissions
Detroit Mercy Law Admissions Office: lawadmissions@udmercy.edu. Earning a 3.5 GPA (including ALL classes taken) is required. 

When to Apply
Apply to all the Law Schools you are interested in. The LSAT is a test you need to study for and not take lightly. Also, visit the schools you are interested in, your values should match the school’s values.

Advice from a current BIS 3+3 Law School program student: Take your LSAT and complete your applications early. When you schedule your LSAT make sure you give yourself enough time so when you get your score you can take it again if necessary before you apply to law school. Aim to take the LSAT once when ready.

Application Deadlines
Detroit Mercy Law has rolling admission. Students pursuing the 3+3 Law School Program will need to apply to Detroit Mercy Law by February 15th for priority admission and scholarship consideration, but they will continue to accept applications through early August on a space-available basis.

Common Application Website
Students can apply through the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC). The LSAC is a nonprofit corporation that coordinates and facilitates the law school admissions process for applicants and the council’s members. To fully utilize the services offered through the council, you will need to register for the council’s Law School Data Assembly Service, or LSDAS, and pay the required fee. In return, the LSAC will track the law schools to which you have chosen to apply, compile all of the information the individual schools require for application (including your LSAT scores), and forward all the information to each respective school as required.

LSAT Preferred Scores
Detroit Mercy Law looks at a combination of the LSAT score and cumulative GPA. To be considered for the 3+3 program, applicants must have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and scored at least a 154 on the LSAT. All admitted students are considered for scholarship opportunities.

Early application is better. Detroit Mercy Law uses rolling admission, so early application means a smaller competition pool and a better chance for scholarships. There are 10-15 full tuition scholarships are awarded each year.


Transnational U.S.-Canada Degree
Clinical experience will be done through Detroit Mercy Law

Detroit Mercy Timeline

Year 1

  • Complete 30 credits (including general education courses)

Year 2

  • Complete 30 credits (60 total)
  • Complete LSAT Prep Class in the Spring
  • Take LSAT in the summer (preferably in June)
  • Repeat LSAT if needed
  • Achieve major-standing with BIS
    1. To achieve major-standing, meet with BIS Adviser to discuss coursework and individualized major at the end of your second year.
    2. Select coursework for a plan of study (minimum 28 credits).
    3. Write a professional rationale to justify coursework selections.
    4. Meet with your assigned Faculty mentor to review the proposed plan of study.The faculty council will review and issue admission decisions. 

Year 3

  • Apply to Detroit Mercy Law: September 1 - February 15 (deadline)
  • Send updated transcript in January with Fall grades
  • Complete 30 credits of BIS coursework including BIS 3000 and BIS 4930

Year 4 

  • Attend Detroit Mercy Law School Fall and Winter
  • Transfer coursework back to OU to earn bachelor’s degree
LSAT Prep Programs

Advice from a current BIS 3+3 Law School program student: For studying for the LSAT look into prep courses. LSAT prep courses can make a big difference for helping to improve your LSAT test score compared to using study guides alone. They can help to create a balance between your LSAT studying and your current undergraduate coursework.

Khan Academy (free resource)

Kaplan

Princeton Review

PowerScore

LSAC