Rowan University and Delaware Law School collaborate on path to law degree

Rowan University and Widener University Delaware Law School have entered an articulation agreement that will give Rowan undergraduate students the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree and a juris doctor degree in six years. The agreement also includes a pledge by the law school to furnish renewable merit scholarships to students who pursue study through the agreement.

Under the agreement’s 3+3 program, students will be admitted to Delaware Law School if they successfully complete all major and core curriculum requirements and complete 75 percent of their bachelor's degree requirements at Rowan. They must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher through six semesters of undergraduate study.

Students must also meet Delaware Law’s admissions standards for character and fitness and for the Law School Admission Test, or LSAT.

An express admissions program also detailed in the agreement calls for Rowan students, who are graduating after a traditional four-year track of undergraduate study, to be granted admission to Delaware Law School if they complete all Rowan degree requirements, earn a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, and meet the law school’s admissions standards for character and fitness and for the LSAT.

In recognition of the Rowan students’ accomplishments, Delaware Law School will award minimum $10,000 merit scholarships to all Rowan students who meet the criteria for the 3+3 program or the express admission program, and attend Delaware Law full-time. The awards will be renewable provided students remain in good academic standing.

Delaware Law School Dean Rod Smolla said he was pleased to see the two schools collaborate.

“This agreement outlines an outstanding education plan created by two schools that are committed to helping students along the path to engaging careers,” Smolla said. “Those who choose to pursue law as their profession will find enormous possibilities for meaningful lives.”

Rowan Provost James Newell concurred.

“When two excellent universities partner to improve the lives of students, everyone wins,” Newell said. “This partnership provides our students with an accelerated pathway to an excellent law school.  It will speed their time to graduation and reduce their costs – both through one less year of tuition and through a $10,000 renewable merit scholarship.”

The agreement, which was signed earlier this month and takes effect immediately, also provides Rowan students with a unique externship opportunity to audit a law school class at Delaware Law. And each year, up to four students in the externship program will be guaranteed admission to Delaware Law's Jurist Academy, a law school preparatory immersion program for rising college juniors and seniors.

For more information about the program, contact Rowan University admissions at (877) RU.ROWAN (877-787-6926) or Delaware Law School admissions at 302.477.2703.

About Rowan University

Rowan offers bachelor’s through doctoral programs to 16,100 students through its campuses in Glassboro, Camden and Stratford, New Jersey. In the past four years, Rowan created a School of Biomedical Sciences & Health Professions; opened the Camden-based Cooper Medical School of Rowan University; and incorporated the School of Osteopathic Medicine and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, making Rowan only the second university in the nation to grant both M.D. and D.O. medical degrees. Rowan is collaborating with Rutgers-Camden to create degree programs to meet the growing need for medical services in the City of Camden. One of only three state-designated comprehensive public research institutions in New Jersey, Rowan comprises the University's William G. Rohrer College of Business, the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering and colleges of Communication & Creative Arts, Education, Humanities & Social Sciences, Performing Arts, and Science & Mathematics and the Division of Global Learning & Partnerships, as well as the medical schools. Visit www.rowan.edu for information.

About Widener University

Widener University is a metropolitan university that connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention, applied leadership, and experiential learning are key components of the Widener experience.  Its Delaware Law School is the First State’s only law school, providing juris doctor, legal graduate and paralegal degree programs with an emphasis on developing legal professionals who reflect the Delaware Way and its traditions of civility, integrity and mutual respect. The school offers signature programs in corporate and business law, environmental law, family health law and policy, and trial advocacy. Widener University is proud to be tobacco free. Visit delawarelaw.widener.edu for more information.