Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements

To qualify for the Juris Doctor degree, a student must:

  • Successfully complete all required courses (all first-year courses, Evidence, Professional Responsibility, 5 menu courses, and 6 hours of Experiential Learning courses).
  • Successfully complete one rigorous writing course during the second or third year of law study under the direct supervision of a faculty member
  • Successfully complete at least 60 hours at the College of Law
  • Successfully complete additional work sufficient to total 90 semester hours
  • Attain a cumulative grade point average of at least a 5.00 (C) in all work taken in the College of Law and a grade of C on all work taken at other approved law schools
  • Complete all degree requirements within five years of initial enrollment
  • File an official Application for Graduation


The student is responsible for ascertaining whether these requirements are fulfilled.

Credit Hour Policy

The Law School adheres to the federal and ABA definitions of a credit hour. ABA Standard 310(b) provides:

A "credit hour" is an amount of work that reasonably approximates:

(1) not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and two hours of out-of-class student work per week for fifteen weeks, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or

(2) at least an equivalent amount of work as required in subparagraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution, including simulation, field placement, clinical, co-curricular, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

The academic calendar at the Law School consists of a fourteen-week class session and a two-week examination period in both the fall and spring terms. The summer term includes one seven-week class session and a one-week examination period. The winter session is a one-week term with an examination, paper, or project.

Credit for Classroom Instruction

Students are required to complete 90 credit hours to graduate. Each hour of classroom credit is based on at least 50 minutes of direct faculty instruction. For each credit hour of classroom instruction, students shall spend, on average, a minimum of 2 hours (based on a 60-minute hour) on out-of-class work during the semester.

Fall and Spring Terms

A four-credit course will ordinarily meet for 200 minutes each week for 14 weeks, followed by an examination period. Students are expected to spend, on average, a minimum of 8 hours on out-of-class work per week during the semester.

A three-credit course will ordinarily meet for 150 minutes each week, followed by an examination period. Students are expected to spend, on average, a minimum of 6 hours on out-of-class work per week during the semester.

A two-credit course will ordinarily meet for 100 minutes each week, followed by an examination period. Students are expected to spend, on average, a minimum of 4 hours on out-of-class work per week during the semester.

A one-credit course will ordinarily meet for 50 minutes each week, followed by an examination period. Students are expected to spend, on average, a minimum of 2 hours on out-of-class work per week during the semester.

If a class does not meet every week or does not have an examination, an equivalent amount of time will be allocated during the term to direct classroom instruction and student out-of-class work per week.

Summer Term

A four-credit course will ordinarily meet for 400 minutes each week for 7 weeks, followed by an examination period. Students are expected to spend, on average, a minimum of 16 hours on out-of-class work per week during the term.

A three-credit course will ordinarily meet for 300 minutes each week for 7 weeks, followed by an examination period. Students are expected to spend, on average, a minimum of 12 hours on out-of-class work per week during the term.

A two-credit course will ordinarily meet for 200 minutes each week for 7 weeks, followed by an examination period Students are expected to spend, on average, a minimum of 8 hours on out-of-class work per week during the term.

A one-credit course will ordinarily meet for 100 minutes each week for 7 weeks, followed by an examination period. Students are expected to spend, on average, a minimum of 4 hours on out-of-class work per week during the term.

If a class does not meet every week or does not have an examination, an equivalent amount of time will be allocated during the term to direct classroom instruction and student out-of-class work per week.

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J.D. ProgramM.L.S. ProgramLL.M. ProgramLegal Assistant Education Not sure? Learn more about admissions at OU Law