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 Political Science 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 Political Science with the Political Science Track.

Course Progression

Year 1: Fall

  • ENG 100 College Writing (3 cr)
  • POS 101 Introduction to American Government (3 cr)
  • Quantitative Reasoning Core Requirement (4 cr)
  • Elective (3 cr)
  • Elective (3 cr)

Year 1: Spring

  • POS 104 Introduction to International Relations (3 cr)
  • POS 203 Introduction to Political Scienec Research (3 cr)
  • Creative Expression Core Requirement (3 cr)
  • WRI 2 Core Requirement (3 cr)
  • Elective (3 cr)

Year 2: Fall

  • POS 205 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 cr)
  • POS 290 Introduction to Political Theory (3 cr)
  • POS Elective (3 cr)
  • Culture, Power, and Equity Core Requirement (3 cr)
  • Elective (3 cr)

Year 2: Spring

  • POS 300-level elective or higher (3 cr)
  • POS Elective (3 cr)
  • Science Exploration Core Requirement (4 cr)
  • Cultural Interpretation Core Requirement (3 cr)
  • Elective (3 cr)

Year 3: Fall

  • POS 300-level elective or higher (3 cr)
  • POS 300-level elective or higher (3 cr)
  • POS Elective (3 cr)
  • Ethical Inquiry, Social Responsibility, and Citizenship Core Requirement (3 cr)
  • WRI 3 Core Requirement (3 cr)

Year 3: Spring

  • Capstone (3 cr)
  • POS 300-level elective or higher (3 cr)
  • POS Elective (3 cr)
  • Elective (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