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3+3 Accelerated Law Program

 The 3+3 programs allow students to transition to law school after completing the first three years (90 hours) of their undergraduate degree. With these programs, the first year of law school transfers back as the fourth year of their undergraduate coursework, with both programs “sharing” the earned credits. These students complete 7 years of college in 6 years, saving them an entire year of undergraduate tuition and allowing them to pursue their career a year earlier than their peers.

Southern Illinois University students in the following majors can earn a Bachelor’s and a law degree in just 6 years:
  • Communication Studies
  • Criminology and Criminal Justice
  • Paralegal
  • Political Science

SIU Simmons Law also has 3+3 programs with these partner institutions.

  • Governor's State University
  • Tougaloo College

 If you are interested in applying as a 3+3 student, please speak with your academic advisor as soon as possible so that your advising can be modified to accommodate only taking law classes in your senior year.

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Admissions

Students will apply to the Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School during their junior year. Applicants need a cumulative undergraduate GPA and a Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score equal to or greater than the median for the previous year’s cohort (both numbers will be available from the SIU Simmons Law School upon request). The Simmons Law School will notify applicants of an admissions decision in a timely fashion to allow for scheduling senior-year courses.

Details

  • If the applicant withdraws from Simmons Law School during their first semester of law school without completing any courses, the applicant will have to reapply to enter the law school the following year.

  •  If the applicant completes one or both semesters of the first year of law school, but fails one or more law school courses, the applicant must return to the undergraduate institution to complete their bachelor's degree before being allowed to continue their studies at the Law School.

  • The grades received during the first year of law school will be used in calculating my final undergraduate grade point average.

  •  In the first year of law school, which will count as the last year of undergraduate work, the applicant will pay law school tuition, which is higher than undergraduate tuition, for the final 30 hours.

  •  If the applicant enters but does not complete the program, the applicant will have to pay back any loans taken out to pay for law school.

  •  If the applicant enters but does not complete the program, the applicant may have to complete up to 30 hours of undergraduate courses to receive an undergraduate degree.