Our Accelerated Graduate Pathway to the University of Maine School of Law allows you to complete both a Bachelor’s and a JD degree in as few as six years, rather than the usual seven. During your final year of undergraduate study, if you meet progress requirements and Law School admissions standards, you can begin taking graduate-level Law courses. These courses will satisfy credit requirements for your undergraduate program as well as the Law program. You’ll save up to 30 credits worth of undergraduate fees, tuition, and expenses.

This means that you’ll complete your undergraduate Philosophy credit requirements at the University of Southern Maine in 3 years, rather than the usual 4. This involves a rigorous full-time course schedule. The sample Course Progression below illustrates what your undergraduate course schedule could look like if you major in Philosophy.

Course Progression

Year 1: Fall

  • ENG 100 College Writing (3 cr)
  • 100-level PHI course (3 cr)
  • Quantitative Reasoning Core Requirement (4 cr)
  • International Core Requirement (3 cr)
  • Elective (3 cr)

Year 1: Spring

  • 200-level+ PHI course (3 cr)
  • Culture, Power, and Equity Core Requirement (3 cr)
  • Advanced Core Elective 1 of 3 (3 cr)
  • WRI 2 Core Requirement (3 cr)
  • Elective (3 cr)

Year 2: Fall

  • PHI 330 Early Modern Philosophy (3 cr)
  • Science Exploration Core Requirement (4 cr)
  • Creative Expression Core Requirement (3 cr)
  • Ethical Inquiry, Social Responsibility, and Citizenship Core Requirement (3 cr)
  • Elective (3 cr)

Year 2: Spring

  • PHI 310 Ancient Philosophy (3 cr)
  • History of Philosophy course (3 cr)
  • Cultural Interpretation Core Requirement (3 cr)
  • WRI 3 Core Requirement (3 cr)
  • Elective (3 cr)

Year 3: Fall

  • 400-level Philosophy Seminar (3 cr)
  • History of Philosophy course (3 cr)
  • 200-level PHI course (3 cr) [strongly recommended: PHI 260 Philosophy of Law]
  • 200-level PHI course (3 cr)
  • Elective (3 cr)

Year 3: Spring

  • PHI 410 Senior Thesis [optional; if not chosen, take elective]
  • 400-level Philosophy Seminar (3 cr)
  • 200-level+ PHI course (3 cr)
  • 200-level+ PHI course (3 cr)
  • Elective (3 cr)

If you’re admitted to the University of Maine School of Law:

Year 4: Fall

  • LAW 613 Civil Procedure (4 cr)
  • LAW 603 Contracts (4 cr)
  • LAW 607 Legal Research, Analysis, & Communication I (3 cr)
  • LAW 611 Torts (4 cr)

Year 4: Spring

  • LAW 620 Constitutional Law (4 cr)
  • LAW 605 Criminal Law (4 cr)
  • LAW 608 Legal Research, Analysis, & Communication II (3 cr)
  • LAW 610 Property (4 cr)

 Read more about University of Maine School of Law First Year Courses