SCHOOL OF LAW CATALOG

Transcription

1 SCHOOL OF LAW CATALOG If you are a prospective student with a disability and need assistance or accommodations during the admission/application process, please contact the Director of Disability Services. 119B Service Center North, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD Phone: Fax: disabilityservices@usd.edu. 1

2 I. SCHOOL OF LAW The University of South Dakota School of Law was established in It has been accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) since 1923, the first year law schools were accredited, and has been a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) since You may find more information about the accreditation process and key information about all accredited law schools at or by contacting the ABA at: Office of the Consultant on Legal Education/Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar American Bar Association 321 N. Clark St., 21 st Floor Chicago, IL Phone: (312) Fax: (312) Iegaled@abanet.org The basic objective of The University of South Dakota School of Law has remained constant for 100 years: to prepare students for the practice of law and to train professionally competent graduates capable of achieving their career goals, serving their chosen profession, and advancing the interest of society. Although the law and legal education have evolved since the School of Law was established in 1901, our commitment to providing students with an outstanding legal education at a comparatively low cost has remained constant. A. MEMBERS OF THE LAW SCHOOL COMMUNITY Our students derive a direct benefit from restricted enrollment: a responsive and encouraging environment. Our historical target class size is around 75 students, which would yield a total of around 225 students. Currently there are approximately 200 total students enrolled. This low enrollment contributes to the quality of legal education. It also facilitates the development of close associations among the members of the Law School community and creates a setting in which individual student questions and concerns can be addressed. Students, faculty, administration, and staff become well-acquainted and develop enduring friendships with each other. Students at the Law School are a highly selective group who have demonstrated intellectual aptitude and personal characteristics desirable in the law profession, such as a desire to serve others. They are friendly and supportive of each other, both educationally and personally. Students come from many colleges and universities and have a variety of backgrounds. The Law School faculty members are energetic, highly motivated, and committed to continuing excellence in teaching, scholarship, and public service. They received their own primary legal training at law schools throughout the nation, and several members of the faculty have earned additional degrees in law and related disciplines. Beyond their formal academic credentials, faculty members have a breadth of experience that gives depth to their stimulating and often innovative teaching techniques. They have significant practical experience in law firms, government, the judiciary, business, and other organizations. The faculty is a community of active scholars who have written books, monographs, law review articles, and teaching materials. Many of the professors have been instrumental in drafting legislation; many have conducted continuing legal education programs in South Dakota and elsewhere. This essential public service is a natural extension of their teaching and scholarship. The administration provides the supervision and guidance necessary to ensure the delivery of superior service by the School of Law. In addition to administering the instructional program and promoting the interests of the School in the University, community, Bar, state, and nation, the administration oversees such vital matters as career development, admissions, student affairs, faculty recruitment and development, and alumni relations. The staff is a group of highly personable and dedicated individuals who provide valuable service to faculty, administration and students alike. The staff, who will likely know your name very soon after your arrival, is a highly valued and vital part of the Law School community. The Law School community functions much more efficiently because of their professional and friendly assistance. B. THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS The University of South Dakota School of Law has one of the more favorable student-faculty ratios in American legal education. There are 16 faculty members and a number of adjunct professors with whom students exchange ideas, study law, and meet the rigorous challenges inherent in legal education. Various members of the administration, including the deans, the library director, and the head of Career Services, also teach regularly. The student-faculty ratio and limited enrollment facilitate faculty accessibility, increased student participation in the classroom, and career counseling assistance. A primary objective of the Law School curriculum is to develop analytical and other skills that are fundamental for the legal profession. The faculty employs a variety of pedagogical techniques to achieve that objective, including Socratic dialogue, the case method, lecture, and simulation. The curriculum is designed to familiarize students with basic legal doctrines and to instill the values of the legal profession and the judicial system. Students also have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of co-curricular activities at local, regional, and national levels. These student activities complement the formal components of the curriculum and promote the development of legal skills. Skill building activities include, but are not limited to, participation in the South Dakota Law Review, the Moot Court Board, the Alternative Dispute Resolution Board, and trial competitions. C. TRADITION AND SUPPORT Graduates of the School of Law have helped our students and supported the School of Law since its inception. The Law School Advisory Council provides invaluable support and makes substantial contributions to student scholarships, faculty research and instruction, the Law Library, and to various student organizations. In addition to providing generous financial support, our alumni/ae share their knowledge and experience with students by sponsoring and participating in a variety of Law School programs. School of Law alumni/ae have distinguished themselves in a diversity of callings such as private practitioners of law in firms both large and small throughout the state and nation, members of the judiciary, corporate counsel, legal educators, government lawyers, and public officials. D. ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2

3 II. ADMISSIONS The University of South Dakota School of Law seeks graduates of approved colleges and universities who have a commitment to study law and who possess superior intelligence, sound judgment, good moral character, and a willingness to devote themselves to the service of others and the improvement of the legal profession. The Law School recommends that students contemplating a career in law take courses which require them to develop conscientious study habits, analytical skills, and critical thinking. The applicant should be highly literate and have developed a discriminating regard for facts, a capacity to make critical judgments, and the ability to engage in inductive and deductive reasoning. Evidence of an applicant s intellectual maturity is more important in making admission decisions than his or her major in undergraduate or graduate school. There is no prescribed or recommended pre-law curriculum. Undergraduate majors in entering law school classes range from political science, history, economics, business, and English, to foreign languages, sciences, engineering, mathematics, and the arts. A. APPLICATION INFORMATION All application materials are submitted online via the Law School Admissions Council Website ( Information regarding the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) as well as registration information can be found at Questions about admission to the School of Law can be directed to the Office of Admissions by phone at (605) ; by at law@usd.edu; or by mail at 414 East Clark Street, Vermillion, SD Applicants are admitted to the fall semester only. A paper application may be submitted for applicants seeking visiting status or for applicants who require accommodation. A paper application can be obtained by contacting the Office of Admissions. 1. MATERIALS REQUIRED Applications will be reviewed upon receipt of all of the following materials: - COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM Applications must be submitted using the LSAC electronic application service. The application along with the application fee may be submitted via this service. The LSAT and CAS Reports will accompany the application. The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) may be contacted via its website ( - LSAT All applicants must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). LSAT information such as deadlines, test dates, and registration can be found on the LSAC website at - CAS Applicants must have each college attended send official transcripts to the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). The CAS will guide the applicant on how and where to submit transcripts. The CAS will analyze the transcripts and send the analysis and LSAT score to any schools requested by the applicant. CAS registration forms and Transcript Request Forms are available by subscribing to CAS at An applicant expecting to be awarded a baccalaureate degree may have his or her law school application considered before graduation. Any such applicant should send CAS transcripts documenting the applicant s record during the first seven semesters or ten quarters of his or her undergraduate education. Upon graduation from undergraduate school, the applicant must also request the undergraduate registrar to send an official transcript to the School of Law. All records become a part of the applicant s official file and will not be returned. If an applicant s LSAT score is more than three years old when the application is considered, the Admissions Committee may request that the applicant retake the test and submit an updated CAS report. - TWO LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION The applicant must submit at least two letters of recommendation from instructors, employers, or supervisors. Applicants who have received their undergraduate or graduate degree within the preceding three years must include an academic letter of reference. No particular form is required for the letters of recommendation. In evaluating the applicant s aptitude, character, and promise, the Admissions Committee will discount any perfunctory letters from persons only casually acquainted with the applicant. - PERSONAL STATEMENT The statement should detail evidence of qualities beyond academic abilities, such as leadership ability, service to others, maturity, organizational skills, familiarity with other languages and cultures, a history of overcoming disadvantage, extraordinary accomplishment, or success in a previous career. The statement should also explain what contributions the applicant may bring to The University of South Dakota School of Law and the legal profession. Moreover, the statement should address the student s reason(s) for going to law school. - APPLICATION FEE An application fee of thirty-five dollars ($35.00). The check should be made payable to USD. NOTE: Applicants to the Law School are advised that there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to a state s Bar. The applicant, prior to matriculation, should determine what those requirements are in the state in which the applicant intends to practice. Contact information for state Bar examinations is located at 2. ADMISSIONS PROCESS Applications are accepted on a rolling basis each year. Early completion (September) of an applicant s file permits its prompt consideration by the Admissions Committee. In addition, entering merit scholarships are awarded to accepted applicants early in the admission cycle. However, scholarship offers to those applying after January 1 would first become available after the LSAC s recommended enrollment commitment date of April 1. It is the applicant s responsibility to ensure completion of the application. Applicants are encouraged to take the LSAT in June of the preceding year. The applicant should also register with the CAS and ensure that transcripts of their undergraduate and graduate records are forwarded to that service so their files can be compiled by the Service and forwarded to the Law School. Applicants should keep the Law School advised of their current phone number, , and address. A non-refundable deposit is due by April 1. A second non-refundable deposit will be required in July. In order to matriculate, an accepted applicant must provide proof of the conferral of an undergraduate degree by submitting the applicant s official transcript showing an awarded baccalaureate degree no later than August 10 or as arranged with the Law School Registrar. The submission of the official transcripts to the Law School is in addition to the submission of the transcripts to the CAS and cannot be waived. Applicants who have not submitted an official transcript showing completion of an undergraduate degree, or made proper arrangements with the Registrar to provide such proof by August 10, will not be allowed to attend. In rare instances where the actual awarding of the degree is 3

4 delayed by a factor outside the applicant s control, the Law School may accept documentation from the undergraduate degree granting institution that verifies the degree requirements have been completed and provides the anticipated graduation date. 3. FOREIGN APPLICANTS It is required that foreign transcripts be submitted through the LSAC JD Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Any postsecondary work completed outside the US (including its territories) or Canada must use this service for the evaluation of foreign transcripts. The one exception to this requirement is if the foreign work was completed through a study abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a US or Canadian institution, and the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript. This service is included in the CAS subscription fee. A Foreign Credential Admissions Officer (AACRAO), which will be incorporated into your LSDAS report. All foreign applicants must submit a TOEFL score except when the applicant has completed a degree at an English-speaking institution. LSAC s TOEFL code for the JD Credential Assembly Service is The applicant s score will be included in the Foreign Credential Evaluation document that will be included in the applicant s LSDAS law school report. To use the JD CAS, the applicant must login to his or her online account and follow the instructions for registering for the service. Be sure to print out a Transcript Request Form for the University of South Dakota School of Law and promptly send it. More time is usually required to receive foreign transcripts. Questions about the JD Credential Assembly Service can be directed to LSAC at , or LSACINFO@LSAC.org. 4. TRANSFER STUDENTS A law student may apply for admission as a transfer student to the School of Law if he or she has complied with the requirements for admission and presents evidence of having satisfactorily completed at least one year of law study and eligibility to continue at any law school accredited by the American Bar Association. The School of Law awards a juris doctor degree to students who earn a minimum of 50 credit hours in residence along with all other applicable graduation requirements. 5. VISITING STUDENTS Students from other law schools may apply to be a visiting law student at the University of South Dakota School of Law. Visiting students should contact the Office of Admissions at law@usd.edu or by phone at (605) to request a paper application. Visiting students must submit a paper application, a copy of his or her CAS report from the current law school, and a letter of good standing from the current Dean. These materials may be submitted by (law@usd.edu) or by mail (USD School of Law, Office of Admissions, 414 East Clark Street, Vermillion, SD ). B. ADMISSION OPTIONS 1. FLEX-TIME PROGRAM The University of South Dakota School of Law has adopted into its traditional curriculum a flex-time program which permits students to take less than the normal load of credits each semester and to graduate with a juris doctor degree within five years instead of three years. The program is not intended to affect the traditional curriculum or the course schedules, nor to increase the number of students in the Law School but, rather, to admit a limited number (approximately five students per year) of students who could not otherwise attend law school on a full-time basis. The Law School does not offer first year evening or weekend courses. The admission requirements for the flex-time program are the same as the full-time program, except that applicants must also indicate on the application their flex-time program choice and provide a separate statement of reasons for application to the flex-time program as opposed to the full-time program. a. FLEX-TIME PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS Students enrolled in the flex-time program are required to take 15 or 16 credits, including Civil Procedure I & II and Fundamental Legal Skills I & II, in their first year of study and the remainder of the full-time first-year curriculum in their second year of study. Students in good standing at the end of the first year of law study (two years in the flextime program) may take summer courses if available. Flex-time students may apply to transfer to the full-time program after completion in good standing of first year of law studies (two years in the flex-time program). Students must complete four additional semesters. Flex-time students who are not in good standing at the end of the first year of law studies (two years in the flex-time program) are subject to the dismissal and probation provisions of the Law School s Academic Rules and Student Policies. Students who begin as flex-time students, including flex-time students who transfer to the full-time program, are not ranked with full-time students. Instead, each flex-time student is informed of the quintile in which the student s cumulative grade point average would rank in the class with which the student matriculated. Flex-time students may participate in co-curricular activities after the completion of 30 credit hours in Law School. b. SAMPLE CURRICULAR PLAN FOR FLEX-TIME PROGRAM FIRST-YEAR STUDENT (4 SEMESTERS) First semester Fall Torts 4 credits Foundations of Law 1 credit Fundamental Legal Skills I 3 credits Total: 8 credits Second semester Spring Property 4 credits Fundamental Legal Skills II 2 credits Legal Research Foundations 1 credit Total: 7 credits (15 credits total) 4

5 Third semester Fall Civil Procedure I 3 credits Contracts I 2 credits Criminal Law 3 credits Total credits: 8 credits (23 credits total) Fourth semester Spring Civil Procedure II 3 credits Contracts II 3 credits Criminal Procedure 3 credits Total credits: 9 credits (32 credits total) SECOND-YEAR STUDENT (32 CREDITS+3 SEMESTERS) Fifth semester Evidence (required course) 3 Elective 1-4 Elective 1-4 Recommended Total: credits Sixth semester Legal Profession (required course) 3 Elective 1-4 Elective 1-4 Recommended Total: credits Seventh semester Constitutional Law (required course) 4 Elective 1-4 Elective 1-4 Recommended Total: credits THIRD-YEAR STUDENT (59 CREDITS+; 3 SEMESTERS) Eighth semester Code Course (required course) 3-4 Elective 1-4 Elective 1-4 Recommended Total: credits Ninth semester Skills Course (required course) 2-3 Elective 1-4 Elective 1-4 Recommended Total: credits Tenth semester Elective 1-4 Elective 1-4 Elective 1-4 Recommended Total: 8-9 credits Flex students must take a minimum of 8 credits in each semester after completion of the first-year curriculum (two years in the flex program). Flex students may also take 3 to 7 credits each summer, depending on course offerings. Course offerings during the summer sessions are very limited. Students must take at least 5 credits in in order to qualify for federal financial aid. 2. ACCELERATED ADMISSION An applicant may apply, become admitted to, and enroll in Law School without final completion of the requirements for the applicant s undergraduate degree. It is required that the undergraduate degree actually be attained by the applicant prior to graduation from the Law School. Graduation from the Law School will not be permitted until the undergraduate degree has been awarded. To be considered for accelerated admission, the applicant must have completed, prior to enrollment in the Law School, at least three-fourths of the required course work for the undergraduate degree. Additionally the applicant must submit a plan which shows precisely how the applicant intends to complete the requirements for the undergraduate degree prior to graduation from Law School. The plan must be approved as feasible by the applicant s undergraduate faculty advisor or dean or other appropriate representative of the applicant s undergraduate institution. Evidence of approval will be in writing and submitted with his or her application and to the Associate Dean of the Law School. The following factors will be considered in the review of applications seeking accelerated admission: - performance on the course work already accomplished; - performance on the LSAT; and - the extent to which the remaining work required for the undergraduate degree will interfere with the time and resources required by law school in the event an accelerated 5

6 admission is granted. Students who have not completed an undergraduate degree prior to attending law school may have difficulty obtaining financial aid for graduate coursework. An interested applicant should contact the Office of Financial Aid in addition. 3. LAW SCREENING PROGRAM Applicants who are not regularly admitted to the School of Law may be invited to participate in the Law Screening Program. The Law Screening Program consists of two courses, Agency and Personal Property, offered in a six-week period (five weeks of lecture and during the last week a final examination, which is graded anonymously). Of those participants who earn a grade of 70.0 or better in each of the two courses, the top ten participants will be admitted to the fall class. The rest of the applicants who earn a grade of 70.0 or better in each of the two courses will be placed on a rank-ordered waiting list and will be admitted on a space-available basis. Participants who do not receive at least a 70.0 in each of the courses offered are ineligible to reapply to the School of Law for at least two years, unless the admissions committee, the Associate Dean of Academic affairs, and the Law Screening program instructors otherwise recommend that the participant be allowed to apply sooner Participants who receive at least a 70.0 in both courses may reapply to the School of Law but are ineligible to retake the Law Screening Program and are considered for regular admission only. The application will be considered with all other applications in that year, and the applicant s performance in the Law Screening Program will be considered. Please note that this program is not held every year. Depending on levels of interest, administration officials will determine on an annual basis whether or not to make the program available. 4. ADMISSION UPON COMPLETION OF CLEO OR PLSI OF THE AILC Upon written recommendation of the Dean or any faculty member, and the review of the faculty evaluations by the USD law screening faculty, the Admissions Committee is authorized to accept in its discretion applicants who do not meet regular admission standards, but have successfully completed either a Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) program or the Pre-Law Summer Institute of the American Indian Law Center (PLSI of the AILC). The number of applicants accepted pursuant to this policy shall not exceed three from each program in any entering class. 5. LAW HONORS SCHOLARS PROGRAM The Law Honors Scholars Program seeks to identify and retain outstanding high school students dedicated to the mission of The University of South Dakota School of Law. The Program is a cooperative effort between the School of Law, the School of Business, the Farber Center for Civic Leadership, and The University of South Dakota Honors Program. Honors Scholars receive provisional (automatic) admission to the School of Law upon completion of the following requirements: - Pursue their undergraduate degree at The University of South Dakota. - Participate in, and successfully complete, the University s Honors Program. - Graduate from the University in four years, no later than the May commencement ceremony. - Graduate with a minimum grade point average of Take the LSAT for statistical purposes only (will not be used for admission purposes). - Enroll in and successfully complete an Honors Seminar taught or co-taught by a USD School of Law faculty member (if available). High school students should submit the University s Common Scholarship Application materials to the undergraduate Admission Office no later than December 17 of the year they plan to enter USD. The application form may be found at Applicants must include the application, transcripts of high school work, and confirmation of the ACT score. A selection committee will identify applicants who will be invited for interviews. Applicants must indicate on the form that they are interested in being considered for the Law Honors Scholars Program. A student applying for this program must be a graduating high school senior, have excellent grades at the time of application, and have a score of 27 or higher on the ACT. Beyond demonstrated academic accomplishment and potential the selection committee will seek students with the personal qualities required of a good lawyer. These include integrity, compassion, fairness with colleagues, and a capacity for leadership. The best candidates will have a keen desire to understand and help people. For additional information see: FAST TRACK OPTION Undergraduates who are enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of South Dakota also have the option of enrolling in the 3+3 fast track program. This program will allow students to enroll in law school after completing three quarters, or 90 credits, of their undergraduate education. In order to participate in this program, students must do the following: complete three quarters of their undergraduate degree; complete the units necessary for their major; successfully complete the designated 3+3 course; take the LSAT; complete the law school application process; and successfully gain admission to the University of South Dakota School of Law. Students who are able to meet these requirements may count the first year of law school coursework as a minor or a second major, which will allow them to complete simultaneously both their undergraduate degree and their first year of law school. 6

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8 III. PROGRAM OF STUDY The University of South Dakota School of Law is accredited as a full-time program leading to a juris doctor degree upon completion of 90 semester hours of courses in six fulltime semesters. Students enter the School of Law in the fall of each year. In order to qualify for the juris doctor degree, a student must complete six semesters or their equivalent in residence. A semester in residence is a fifteen-week semester during which a student enrolls for at least 12 credit hours and completes at least nine of these hours with passing grades. The equivalent of a semester in residence is obtained by a combination of at least six credits earned in the summer in courses for which Law School credit is awarded and a summer externship, provided that the combination yields at least 12 credit hours and the student completes at least nine of these hours with passing grades. Enrollment for the purpose of this rule must be continuous throughout the semester. A student may not satisfy the six-semester requirement by completing the summer externship and more credit hours than the normal course load in other semesters. A student who plans to complete the degree requirements in less than three calendar years shall notify the Law School before the beginning of the third semester in residence. All coursework must be completed no earlier than 24 months and no later than 84 months after a student has commenced law study in the Law School or another law school from which the school has accepted transfer credit. Students are expected to complete the full-time program within three years and the flex-time program within five years. Exceptions may be granted only for exceptional circumstances and may not extend the completion period beyond the 84-month maximum. A. FIRST-YEAR CURRICULUM The first-year curriculum is designed to give students a broad understanding of the American legal system and the role of law in society. The required first-year courses expose students to the fundamental principles of legal analysis. The traditional first-year curriculum also provides a foundation for the study of a variety of complementary subjects during the second and third years. Fall Semester Civil Procedure I 3 Contracts I 2 Criminal Law 3 Fundamental Legal Skills I 3 Torts 4 Foundations of Law 1 Fall credit hours: 16 credits Spring Semester Civil Procedure II 3 Contracts II 3 Criminal Procedure 3 Property 4 Fundamental Legal Skills II 2 Legal Research Foundations 1 Spring credit hours: 16 credits Students must complete all courses in the first year. B. UPPER DIVISION CURRICULUM Four required courses complete the Law School s core curriculum and are usually taken during the second year. Upper-division students also take elective courses in areas of interest to them. The upper class curriculum offers opportunities to develop and refine practice skills and to apply accumulated legal learning by resolving practical problems. Third-year students may enroll in the extern program to acquire practical experience in a law firm or governmental agency. 1. UPPER DIVISION REQUIRED COURSES Constitutional Law (2 nd year course) Evidence (2 nd year course) Legal Profession (2 nd year course) *Select one code course: Sales (Commercial Law) Federal Income Tax Secured Transactions Environmental Law *Select one skills course: Discovery Practice Legislation Mediation Trial Techniques Negotiation & Settlement SD Drafting & Legal Practice Low Income Taxpayer Clinic I and II+ Externship++ *Students must complete at least one of the above listed code courses for a minimum of three credits; and at least one of the skills courses for a minimum of two credits. Other code and skills courses may be taken as electives. +Students who sign up for Low Income Taxpayer Clinic I must also sign up for Low Income Taxpayer Clinic II. ++Students who enroll in the Externship course for the purpose of satisfying the skills requirement must earn a minimum of two credits. 8

9 2. UPPER LEVEL WRITING REQUIREMENT Each student shall complete an upper level writing requirement in order to be qualified to graduate from The University of South Dakota School of Law. This requirement may be satisfied one of four ways. The first way is by enrolling in and satisfactorily completing a W course during one semester of the student's second or third year of Law School. One or more such courses shall be offered each fall and spring semester, but not during the summer term. W courses will be identified on the schedule of courses by the presence of a W (writing required by professor as part of course) or W/O (writing requirement component at option of the student) near the number of the course on the schedule. The substance of the writing requirement of each W course will be determined by the professor teaching the course, who will also grade the written work. The requirement will be fulfilled by a substantial written product (a minimum equivalent of 25 double-spaced, typewritten pages) based on significant independent legal research by the student. At least two separate drafts must be submitted to the professor for the W requirement to be satisfied. The professor shall report satisfactory completion of the W component of the course separately to the Registrar in order for the Registrar to indicate on the student's record completion of the requirement for graduation. The percentage of the course grade allocated to the paper is at the discretion of the professor subject to syllabus notice requirements. The student must achieve a passing grade for both the paper and any separate course work in order to complete the writing requirement. Students do not earn additional credit for W courses because of the writing involved. The second way the upper level writing requirement may be satisfied is by taking Advanced Research with the express agreement by the professor that Advanced Research is to be taken in satisfaction of that requirement. The paper must be the equivalent of at least 25 pages double-spaced in length and be based on significant independent legal research by the student. At least two separate drafts must be submitted to the professor for the W requirement to be satisfied by Advanced Research. The agreement to use Advanced Research to satisfy the W requirement must be clearly indicated on the form submitted by the student and signed by the professor to initiate the Advanced Research. The third way the upper level writing requirement may be satisfied is by writing an appellate brief under the supervision of a faculty member. The brief must be the equivalent of at least 25 pages double-spaced in length. It must be based on significant independent legal research by the student. It may be on an issue that the student previously researched for a brief submitted with another student in a moot court competition. At least two separate drafts must be submitted to the faculty member for the W requirement to be satisfied by this option. The fourth way the upper level writing requirement may be satisfied is by writing a law review article under the supervision of a faculty member. The article must be the equivalent of at least 25 pages double-spaced in length. It must be based on significant independent legal research by the student. It may be on an issue that the student previously researched for a law review article submitted to the USD Law Review. At least two separate drafts must be submitted to the faculty member for the W requirement to be satisfied by this option. 3. UPPER DIVISION ELECTIVE COURSES The upper division electives are generally offered every year or every other year. Each spring, the Law School publishes a list of the courses that will be offered in each semester of the next two years. As a result, students can plan their curricular choices for the balance of their law school career. The two-year course offerings are listed on the School of Law website under the heading Academics. Course descriptions are listed on pages of this Guidebook. C. ACADEMIC HONORS STERLING HONOR SOCIETY Students who rank in the top ten percent of their graduating class at the end of the sixth semester will receive recognition as the Law School s Sterling Honor Graduates. DEAN S LIST Students achieving a grade point average of 85 or who are in the top ten percent of their class for that semester, whichever group is smaller, and who have enrolled in 12 credits, 10 of which are numerically graded, will receive distinction on the Dean s List. PRIZES AND AWARDS Law students are recognized in the spring with awards for outstanding contributions, including: ABA/BNA Book Awards Advocacy Award ALI-ABA Scholarship and Leadership Award American Bankruptcy Law Journal Prize Hannah Anderson Award* Roger & Claudia Baron Awards* Barristers Certificates Justice Frank Beiglemeier Award* Alan Bogue Memorial Excellence in Legal Writing Awards* Alan Bogue Moot Court Awards* CALI Excellence for the Future Awards Gary G. Colbath, Sr. Award* Fred & Luella Cozad Award* Alan Cross Tax Award* Dean s Certificate for Outstanding Performance Gavel Award John F. Hagemann Public Service Award* Roland W. Hagemann Prize in Water Law* Edward W. Hope Award* R.D. Hurd Volunteer Law School Society Certificates Indian Law Award Intramural Client Counseling Awards Intramural Negotiations Awards Horace R. & Dorothy L. Jackson Memorial Award* John W. Larson/Delta Theta Phi Award* Law Review Award* Lexis Law Publishing Award Sam Masten Intramural Moot Court Awards* George S. Mickelson Memorial Award* Moot Court Competition Awards National Association of Women Lawyers Award Phi Delta Phi Highest Grade Award Kurt Preszler Award* Roy K. Rietz Award* William K. Sahr Award* Donald R. Shultz Award* South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association Award State Bar Real Property, Probate & Trust Section Award* Thomas Sterling Honor Society Student Bar Association President Award Women in Law Eleanor M. Keuter Award* Gayla Gull Worthington Award* *Award has monetary prize. 9

10 IV. CURRICULUM CHOICES A. CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES In addition to classroom work, the School of Law offers students a number of co-curricular activities in which to participate. Each of these is designed to emphasize and hone various legal skills, as well as to provide avenues for competition, scholastic credit and achievement. SPECIAL ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS FOR JOURNALS AND BOARDS A cumulative grade point average of 75 is required for selection, participation, and continuation in any co-curricular activity, including The South Dakota Law Review, the Moot Court Board, the Alternative Dispute Resolution Board, and Trial Advocacy Team competition. Students will not be permitted to serve on more than one cocurricular activity board. A maximum of four credits may be earned for co-curricular activity. Co-curricular members of boards and staffs may receive pass/fail credit for participation. The faculty advisor for each Journal, Board or Team approves the award of credit. 1. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION BOARD The South Dakota Alternative Dispute Resolution Board is devoted to educating Law School students on the practical aspects of law. Its members enjoy a unique opportunity to develop and perfect the skills of negotiating and counseling on behalf of a client. The Client Counseling and Negotiation Board is comprised of 12 members who host an intra-school competition each semester. In addition, Board members are given the opportunity to compete against law students from across the nation in regional and national competitions. Board members also coordinate client-intake opportunities for students in conjunction with Legal Services. Board members earn academic credit for their active participation in competitions and helping other teams prepare for competition. In order to be eligible for membership on the Alternative Dispute Resolution Board, all interested students must participate in an intra-school competition hosted each semester. 2. SOUTH DAKOTA LAW REVIEW South Dakota Law Review is a journal of critical commentary on current legal issues with a state, national, and international circulation. Published three times per year, the Law Review contains articles by leading members of the legal profession, as well as student notes and comments. Students involved in the Law Review develop their research and writing skills while earning academic credit. A student Board of Editors is responsible for all editorial work. Students are selected for Board membership during their second year on the basis of their writing, leadership, and dedication to the success of the Review. 3. SOUTH DAKOTA MOOT COURT BOARD The South Dakota Moot Court Board is dedicated to developing the art of appellate advocacy. Its members enjoy a unique opportunity to refine their skills of appellate brief writing and oral advocacy. The Moot Court Board is comprised of six third-year and six second-year students. Board members compete against law students from across the nation at tournaments around the country. Recent teams of the Law School s Moot Court Board placed in the top four in the nation at the prestigious New York City Bar tournament and won the regional ABA moot court competition. In order to be eligible for membership on the Moot Court Board, all interested first-year law students must participate in the Law School s annual Sam Masten Intramural Moot Court Competition. The Intramural Competition culminates with a final round before a distinguished panel, usually comprised of Justices of the South Dakota Supreme Court. 4. TRIAL ADVOCACY COMPETITION Participation in trial advocacy competitions requires a commitment of time and offers unique educational opportunities to hone skills for courtroom presentation. Team members compete with students from other law schools. One credit per semester is earned by a student who participates in at least one tournament, with a maximum of two credits for a student who participates for two years and who participates in at least two trials. B. EXTERN EDUCATION PROGRAM The Law School s Extern Education Program is a credit-based program offered in the summer semester to students who have completed the second year of law school. An externship offers the student a direct personal experience in the lawyering process, client responsibility and applied legal ethics by involving the student in the actual practice of law under the South Dakota Supreme Court Rules of Student Practice and the corresponding rules of the United States District Court. The summer externship consists of two weeks of classroom instruction and nine weeks of field-supervised externship placement. Six pass-fail credits are awarded for the summer externship. 1. EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM POLICY The student must not only adhere to the demands required by the supervising attorney and the law firm concerned, but must also be available to participate in the irregular requirements of assisting in client needs and court calendars. Students do not observe academic holidays. Courses (other than those offered within the externship) and other academic or curricular obligations are inconsistent with the demands of the externship. Accordingly, registration for other law courses, including advanced research, is not authorized during participation in the Externship Program. C. DEVISING A STUDENT S UPPER-DIVISION, ELECTIVE COURSE CURRICULUM 10

11 The USD School of Law offers a flexible curriculum after the first year. The Upper Division Required Courses are identified on page 2 of this Guidebook. Beyond the required courses, course selection presents upper division students with choices. Various factors can be expected to inform each student in devising an individual curriculum, including the desirability of pursuing a broadly-based or a more focused course of study. Students who anticipate a particular career track or who have a special interest in certain areas of legal study should consider the Curricular Tracks in making informed course selection decisions. Students who prefer to pursue a broader based course of study should consider the suggestions made in A Diversified Curriculum before determining what elective courses to take. One basis for the categorization in such a diversified curriculum is the primary analytical focus of various courses. The decision to include any individual course in any single category or in multiple categories is somewhat subjective. Nonetheless, students may find the categories helpful in selecting courses that will provide instruction on a variety of legal disciplines and develop the range of skills necessary to practice law and serve society. The course listings in A Diversified Curriculum and in the Curricular Tracks are offered as suggestions. They are intended to inform, rather than to dictate student course selection. D. A DIVERSIFIED UPPER-DIVISION CURRICULUM Note that many of the courses listed below appear in more than one category. Upper division students who wish to pursue a diversified curriculum are advised not to double count any such courses. For example, a student who decides to take Business Associations as one of the courses that covers subjects tested on the Multi-State Essay Exam should not count Business Associations as one of the survey courses; a student who decides to take Commercial Law in order to fulfill the Code Course requirement should not count Commercial Law as one of the other survey courses. Business Organizations Subjects covered: Agency, Partnership, Corporations Sales (Commercial Law) Subjects covered: Sales, Leases Conflict of Laws Family Law Secured Transactions Trusts & Wills Courses Covering Subjects Tested on the Multi-State Essay Examination Suggested Minimum Number of Courses to Take in This Category: 4 This category is included for two reasons. First, students may want this information to help assure their course selection provides a platform on which they can build in preparing for the licensure exam of the profession. Second, the subjects covered in these courses may be important for reasons relating to why they are tested on the Multi-State Essay Exam. One reason for that decision is that these subjects cover matters that are within the common body of knowledge of all lawyers. Moreover, courses addressing these subjects expose students to basic conceptual building blocks that are used in all areas of the law and in other Law School courses. Finally, a knowledge of these subjects provides a common language and vocabulary with which lawyers and judges communicate on a daily basis. Credit hours for some courses may vary in different years. Along with other required courses in the Law School curriculum, these courses cover all the subjects on the Multi-State Essay portion of the South Dakota Bar Examination. Students who anticipate taking a bar exam in any other state should consult the Bar Exam Information site for further information regarding what subjects are tested on the essay portion of other states bar exams. Business Organizations Children and the Law Elder Law Employment Law Environmental Law Family Law Insurance Federal Income Tax Health Law and Policy Remedies Trusts & Wills Water Law Survey Courses Addressing a Variety of Legal Topics Suggested Number of Courses to Take in This Category: 3-4 Administrative Law Advanced Criminal Procedure Constitutional Rights Selected Issues Federal Jurisdiction First Amendment Rights Legislation Indian Law Public International Law Administrative Law Business Entity Taxation Survey Courses with an Emphasis on the Relationship Between Law and Government Suggested Number of Courses to Take in This Category: 1-2 Survey Courses with an Emphasis on Statutory Analysis Suggested Number of Courses to Take in This Category:

12 Sales (Commercial Law) Debtors and Creditors Rights Environmental Law Federal Income Tax Legislation Secured Transactions Survey Courses with an Emphasis on Abstract Analysis Suggested Number of Courses to Take in This Category: 1-2 Conflict of Laws Constitutional Rights - Selected Issues Federal Jurisdiction First Amendment Rights Indian Law Legislation Public International Law Courses with an Emphasis on Skills Training Suggested Number of Courses to Take in This Category: 1-2 Business Planning Estate Planning Externship Program Legislation Mediation Moot Court Board Negotiation and Settlement SD Drafting & Legal Practice Trial Advocacy Board Trial Techniques Advanced and Other Special Topics Courses Suggested Number of Courses to Take in This Category: 1 2 Advanced Criminal Procedure Independent Research Advanced Torts Contemporary Legal Problems Introduction to Intellectual Property International Business Transactions Modern Real Estate Transactions Patent Law E. COURSE TRACKS Some students may desire to focus their studies and activities in a particular area of law. For these students, the Law School offers curriculum and career planning advice in the form of curricular tracks. Curricular tracks are provided in the following areas: business, civil litigation, commercial law, constitutional law, criminal law and procedure, employment law, estate planning, Indian law, natural resources and environmental law, real estate, and tax law. The catalogue of curricular tracks was compiled by the Law School s Curriculum Committee. Upon invitation from the Committee, faculty members suggested courses that students might consider taking in order to acquire a fuller understanding of particular areas of the law. Courses listed under each track are designated as either core (essential to an understanding of the specified area), highly recommended, or recommended. The course listings are suggestive rather than prescriptive. They are provided to inform students of courses that might be most useful in acquiring an understanding of particular areas of the law; they do not prescribe an invariable curriculum for students who anticipate becoming specialists. 12

13 1. BUSINESS LAW Core Business Organizations Business Planning Federal Income Tax Secured Transactions Trusts and Wills Select one course from each of the following groups: Group 1 Employment Law Environmental Law Indian Law Group 2 Sales (Commercial Law) Insurance International Business Transactions Group 3 Conflict of Laws Remedies Highly Recommended Business Entity Taxation Modern Real Estate Transactions 2. CIVIL LITIGATION Core Federal Jurisdiction Insurance Negotiation & Settlement Remedies SD Drafting & Legal Practice Trial Techniques Substantive courses covering topics of litigation Substantive courses which include litigation or practice components Highly Recommended Externship Recommended Conflict of Laws Constitutional Rights Debtor and Creditor Rights Moot Court Board or ADR Board Recommended Administrative Law Debtor and Creditor Rights Trial Techniques Negotiation and Settlement 3. COMMERCIAL LAW Core Business Organizations Sales (Commercial Law) Debtor and Creditor Rights Federal Income Tax Remedies Secured Transactions International Business Transactions Highly Recommended Insurance Recommended Administrative Law Conflict of Laws Modern Real Estate Transactions Negotiation and Settlement Trial Techniques 4. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW Core Administrative Law Constitutional Law First Amendment Rights Highly Recommended Advanced Criminal Procedure Constitutional Law: Selected Issues Constitutional Rights Federal Jurisdiction Indian Law Recommended Conflict of Laws Education and the Law Remedies Trial Techniques 13

14 5. CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE Core Administrative Law Advanced Criminal Procedure Indian Law Trial Techniques Highly Recommended Family Law Recommended Business Organizations Federal Income Tax Federal Securities Regulations 6. EMPLOYMENT LAW Core Administrative Law Business Organizations Employment Law Federal Income Tax Remedies Highly Recommended First Amendment Rights Insurance Elder Law Legislation Negotiation and Settlement Recommended Debtor and Creditor Rights Family Law Health Care Law and Policy Secured Transactions 7. ESTATE PLANNING Core Estate Planning Federal Income Tax Elder Law Trusts and Wills Highly Recommended Business Entity Taxation Recommended Business Organizations Business Planning Conflict of Laws Family Law Modern Real Estate Transactions 8. INDIAN LAW Core Administrative Law Environmental Law Advanced Research (Indian Law topic) Indian Law Secured Transactions Externship (placement in Indian Law) Highly Recommended Advanced Criminal Procedure Family Law Negotiation and Settlement Trial Techniques Recommended Business Organizations Conflict of Laws 9. ENVIRONMENTAL LAW Core Administrative Law Environmental Law Trial Techniques Highly Recommended Federal Jurisdiction Natural Resources Advanced Research (Environmental Law topics) Remedies Recommended Business Organizations Conflict of Laws Federal Income Tax Indian Law (if anticipating practice in state having substantial Indian population) 10. REAL ESTATE Core Business Organizations Debtor and Creditor Rights Federal Income Tax Modern Real Estate Transactions Remedies Secured Transactions Trusts and Wills Highly Recommended Environmental Law Indian Law Employment Law Recommended Conflict of Laws Negotiation and Settlement 14

15 11. TAX LAW Core Business Organizations Business Planning Business Entity Taxation Estate Planning Federal Income Tax Trusts and Wills Highly Recommended Modern Real Estate Transactions Secured Transactions Recommended Conflict of Laws Negotiation and Settlement Co-curricular members of boards and staffs may receive pass/fail credit for participation. The faculty advisor for each Journal or Board approves the award of credit. F. INTERDISCIPLINARY COURSES Second- and third-year law students may take up to six credit hours in other divisions of the University and apply them to the 90 credit hours required for the juris doctor degree. The School of Law extends this privilege so that a law student may broaden his or her education by the pursuit of new disciplines. Students desiring to exercise this option may register for one of the courses on the list below without obtaining special approval. Students wishing to take a course not on the list must submit their request, course description and reason in writing to the Office of the Dean for approval before registration. Approval will not be granted for courses on topics which are covered by courses offered in the School of Law, such as administrative law, constitutional law, and business law. Only in exceptional circumstances will a student be permitted to receive law credit for more than one interdisciplinary course per semester. As an exception, a student will be allowed to receive six credits of approved non-law courses to be taken in the summer. Students with less than a cumulative grade point average of 75 must seek permission from the Dean s Office to take courses outside the Law School. Interdisciplinary non-law course grades are not used in computing a student s cumulative grade point average. In addition, law credit will not be given for courses taken prior to entry to Law School, or in a previous academic period while in Law School if approval was not obtained. Law students must obtain a grade of C or better in the approved graduate course in order receive law school credit. Law students must complete an interdisciplinary form provided by the Office of the Dean in order to receive law credit if the course is not on the list below. It is the student s responsibility to obtain from the outside instructor permission to take the interdisciplinary course. Law students taking approved interdisciplinary courses in other schools of the University are subject to the rules and regulations of the college or school governing the program and courses they are taking. In addition, admission to these courses will be governed by the regulations of the department or school in which the student takes the course. Students must pay applicable tuition and fees for these courses. 1. DISTANCE EDUCATION A student may not receive more than four credit hours in any semester, nor more than a total of 12 credit hours, for distance-education courses. These credits may include transfer credits for distance-education courses offered by other ABA-approved law schools that comply with ABA Standard 306. Distance-education courses offered by other academic units may not be counted for credit toward the J.D. degree as interdisciplinary courses or through joint-degree programs. 2. APPROVED INTERDISCIPLINARY COURSES School of Business: ACCT 720 Cost Accounting ACCT 731 Tax Planning and Practice ACCT 740 Advanced Accounting Theory ACCT 750 Contemporary Topics in Auditing ACCT 760 Accounting in Governmental and Non-Profit Orgs ACCT 780 Advanced Accounting ACCT 781 Managerial Accounting BADM 710 Managerial Finance BADM 720 Quantitative Analysis BADM 760 Operations Management BADM 761 Leadership Development BADM 762 Business and Its Environment BADM 770 Managerial Marketing (joint degree ONLY) BADM 780 Strategic Management BADM 794 Internship in Business ECON 782 Managerial Economics 15

16 College of Arts & Sciences: ENGL 723 Seminar: Old English ENGL 724 Seminar: Studies in Medieval Literature ENGL 725 Seminar: Sixteenth-Century Studies ENGL 726 Seminar: Seventeenth-Century Studies ENGL 727 Seminar: Eighteenth-Century Studies ENGL 733 Seminar: Nineteenth-Century Studies ENGL 734 Seminar: Twentieth-Century Studies ENGL 745 Seminar: American Romanticism ENGL 755 Seminar: Western Regional Literature ENGL 782 Seminar: Writing Fiction ENGL 783 Seminar: Writing Poetry ENGL 786 Seminar: Literary Criticism ENGL 795 Practicum in English ENGL 802 Seminar: Bibliography & Research HIST 780 Historiography HIST 782 Research Seminar in History HIST 791 Independent Study in History HIST 792 Advanced Topics in History HIST 798 Thesis POLS 504 Local Government Admin and Politics POLS 516 South Dakota Legislative Issues POLS 524 Planning: Principles and Techniques POLS 526 Public Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation POLS 529 Courts and Judicial Politics POLS 532 The American Presidency POLS 538 Lawmakers and Lawmaking POLS 711 Seminar in American Political Institutions POLS 721 Seminar in Public Administration POLS 722 Budgetary and Fiscal Management+ POLS 723 Public Personnel Management POLS 724 Organization and Management POLS 751 Seminar in International Relations POLS 759 Readings in International Relations POLS 765 Research Methods in Political Science POLS 766 Analytic Techniques in Public Policy POLS 769 Administrative Thought & Ethics POLS 788 Professional Report*+ POLS 791 Independent Study POLS 794 Government Internships POLS 798 Thesis** *Required MPA course **Requires joint approval of Political Science Department and the School of Law (and is deemed inappropriate in the MSA program) +May be taken in lieu of the online EMPA version of course in the JD/MSA program (but is deemed inappropriate in the MA in Political Science program) PSYC 705 PSYC 707 PSYC 711 PSYC 722 PSYC 741 PSYC 764 PSYC 771 PSYC 772 PSYC 777 PSYC 798 SPCM 716 SPCM 744 SPCM 745 SPCM 754 SPCM 755 Seminar in Learning, Memory and Cognition Seminar: Sensation and Perception Seminar: Physiological Psychology Seminar: Developmental Psychology Seminar: Social Psychology Seminar: Personality Theories Research Design and Statistics I Research Design and Statistics II Seminar in Statistical Topics Master s Thesis Research Rhetorical Criticism Managing Cultural Diversity Special Topics in Interpersonal Communication Managerial Communication Special Topics in Organizational Communication School of Education: AHED 730 Junior/Community College COUN761 Counseling Theories and Socio-Cultural Foundations EDAD 701 Introduction to Educational Administration 16

17 EDAD 712 EDAD 720 EDAD 731 EDAD 740 EDAD 820 EDFN 710 EDFN 720 EDFN 730 EDFN 740 ELED 773 SEED 741 SEED 742 School District Administration Special Education Law for School Administrators School Business Administration School Community Relations Human Resources Administration History of Education Philosophies of Education Current Issues/Problems in Education Comparative Education Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment in 21st Century Elementary 7-12 Curriculum & Instruction Curriculum Design and Implementation G. JOINT DEGREE PROGRAM The School of Law offers a joint degree program leading to the juris doctor degree and a master s degree (concurrently) from The University of South Dakota in three years in the following disciplines: School of Business: JD/Master of Professional Accountancy JD/Master of Business Administration Cross-Disciplinary Studies JD/Master of Science in Administrative Studies School of Education JD/Master of Arts in Education Administration (Non-certified) College of Arts & Sciences: JD/Master of Arts in English JD/Master of Arts in History JD/Master of Arts in Political Science JD/Master of Public Administration JD/Master of Arts in Psychology (Non-certificated) H. JOINT DEGREE PROGRAM CURRICULAR INFORMATION Admission to the joint degree program is a formal process which requires approval from the School of Law, admission to the participating master s program, and is conditioned upon a cumulative grade point average of at least 75 upon completion of the first year of law school or a subsequent semester. Students admitted to this program take courses concurrently leading to both juris doctor and master s degrees in three years. Students may receive up to nine credit hours toward the 90 credit hours required for the J.D. degree. The amount of law credit accepted in a master s program is determined by each program. Law students may not receive law credit for more than one course each semester outside of the School of Law without permission of the associate dean. If students do not complete the requirements for the master s degree by the time of their graduation from law school, only six (6) hours of the credit earned toward the master s degree will be counted toward law school graduation requirements. Although law students may not begin the joint degree program until successfully completing at least the first year of law school with a cumulative GPA of 75, applicants to the School of Law may simultaneously apply for admission to any master s program approved as a joint degree program. Students not simultaneously applying to the School of Law and to a master s program may apply to the joint degree program until the end of their fifth semester in the School of Law. Application and acceptance to a master s program is the applicant s responsibility. Classes taken in a master s program prior to matriculation in the School of Law will not receive law school credit. Only those courses approved as a graduate course for this program will qualify for law credit. Law students must have a cumulative grade point average of 75 to be admitted to and continue in the joint degree program. Non-law courses taken in the joint degree program are not used in computing a student s cumulative grade point average. Law students must obtain a grade of B or better in the approved graduate course in order to receive law school credit. Law students interested in the joint degree program should contact the School of Law associate dean and the respective joint-degree advisor in the discipline of particular interest to discuss prerequisites and the application process. J.D./Master of Business Administration The Master of Business Administration program is designed to meet the needs of modern businesses for broadly educated management personnel who possess a generalized point of view, adaptability to changing environments and a high degree of analytical skill. The emphases in this program are on decision making, problem solving, understanding the role of business in society, and developing the leadership ability and social responsibility to progress to positions of executive responsibility. A juris doctor degree combined with another in business administration may lead to careers in business law, corporate counsel, banking and health care administration. Students interested in this program who do not have the undergraduate preparation may be able to complete this preparation during summer sessions or in an additional semester of graduate work. Once enrolled in the joint degree program, up to nine hours of the approved graduate courses may be used to fulfill the requirements for the juris doctor degree. Up to nine hours of approved law credits may be used to fulfill the requirements for the Master of Business Administration degree. Contact the Beacom School of Business or Graduate School for more information. J.D./Master of Professional Accountancy The Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA) program within the AACSB-International accredited Beacom School of Business at USD is a high-quality, affordable 17

18 program that helps to prepare students for a successful career in the accounting and financial services industry while also preparing them for the CPA exam. Specifically, the MPA degree program is designed to provide specialized training in accounting and related fields for those who wish to prepare for a career in public accounting, industry, government service or accounting education. In addition, the program is designed to enable students to meet the 150-hour educational requirement to sit for the CPA exam in most states, although requirements vary by state. The primary objectives of this degree program are: 1) to develop judgmental ability relating to the production and use of accounting information; and 2) to assist in the development of professional competence. Once enrolled, up to nine hours of the approved graduate courses may be used to fulfill the requirements for the juris doctor degree. Up to nine hours of approved law credits may be used to fulfill the requirements for the Master of Professional Accountancy degree. Students wishing to be accepted for the Master of Professional Accountancy program must apply to the School of Business and meet their requirements. Contact the Beacom School of Business or the Graduate School for more information. J.D./Master of Science in Administration The Master of Science in Administration is a cross-disciplinary program which provides the primary tools and organizational skills necessary to effectively perform administrative roles in public service oriented organizations. Coursework focuses on the practical application of administrative theory and the development of an intellectual framework for analyzing and successfully addressing the challenges faced by modern administrators. The program benefits mid-career professionals working in a variety of settings, including government agencies, nonprofit and social service organizations, health care and education as well as private sector organizations that provide public services. Graduates of the M.S.A. program are prepared to lead and manage organizations; analyze, think critically, solve problems and make decisions; adequately consider the ethical and legal implications of their administrative decisions; and communicate effectively with organizational members and stakeholders. Once enrolled, up to nine hours of the approved graduate courses may be used to fulfill the requirements for the juris doctor degree, and up to nine hours of approved law credits may be used to fulfill the requirements for the Master of Science in Administration degree. J.D./Master of Public Administration The mission of the Master of Public Administration degree program is to prepare students to be leaders who are committed to serving the public interest with personal integrity, professional competence, constitutional principles and respect for human dignity. Graduates of the University of South Dakota s M.P.A. program serve at all levels of government and nonprofit organizations in the United States and abroad, and so the completion of both degree programs can provide graduates with a wide range of professional opportunities. Competitive candidates for the M.P.A. program will have an undergraduate GPA of greater than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The department also expects competitive applicants to have GRE scores greater than 151 on the verbal section and greater than 144 on the quantitative sections of the test (but will also accept LSAT scores of 150 or greater or GMAT scores of 570 or greater). Applicants should provide a statement of purpose explaining why they have chosen to pursue graduate education in public administration, and a career in public service. The program requires 42 credit hours overall, including 30 hours of M.P.A. core coursework, nine hours of electives, and a three hour internship. For law students enrolled in the joint J.D./M.P.A. program, the nine hours of elective coursework is fulfilled through the application of approved law courses. Additionally, nine hours of political science courses are counted toward the juris doctor degree. J.D./Master of Arts in Political Science Public service careers are among the opportunities available to those who have a combination of law and political science training. These opportunities include employment in national, state and local governmental agencies (executive, legislative and judicial) and in such areas as planning, personnel, financial administration and public relations. For law students enrolled in this joint degree program, the 33 required credit hours for the Master of Arts in Political Science may include up to nine credit hours of law courses, and nine hours of political science courses may also be counted for the juris doctor degree. Full admission to the M.A. program includes several requirements: an entrance exam (the LSAT may be substituted for the GRE), minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and at least 12 credit hours of undergraduate political science credit. Students pursuing the joint J.D./M.A. program complete the M.A. with an area of emphasis in public law, which includes nine hours of required coursework (POLS 765 Research Methods in Political Science; POLS 711 Seminar in American Political Institutions; and POLS 771 Public Policy Process & Evaluation); 12 credit hours of subject matter coursework (POLS 529 Courts and Judicial Politics, along with nine hours of approved law coursework); six credit hours of electives selected with advisor approval; and then six hours of either: a) thesis (POLS 798 Thesis); or, b) comprehensive examination related coursework (POLS 791 Independent Study and POLS 787 Exam Preparation). J.D./Master of Arts in History Historians with legal training are exceedingly rare, and there is an increasing number of career opportunities in public service for those who have this interdisciplinary background. These include employment in national and state government agencies and private industry in such areas as energy, environment, civil rights and Indian law. The Department of History and the School of Law are cooperating to make this unique training available to students. Nine hours of the approved history courses may be used to fulfill the requirements for the juris doctor degree. Under the Master of Arts in History Plan-A degree program, a 30-credit hour program, 12 hours of law credit will be applied toward the Master of Arts degree. More specifically, the Master of Arts in History includes twelve credit hours of history core (Historiography, Research Seminar, and two 700-level seminars), six credit hours of departmental electives, six credit hours of departmental or nondepartmental electives, and 6 thesis credit hours, for a total of 30 credit hours. Customary practice is to allow approved law credits to replace the electives. J.D./Master of Arts in English In order to become a lawyer, the student must acquire a command of written English adequate to the tasks of researching, preparing and presenting briefs. The specialist in English language and literature is trained in written exposition and argumentation through the study and critical analysis of the best literary models. Career opportunities for students with interdisciplinary training in both English and law exist in both government agencies and private industry. The Department of English and the School of Law are cooperating to make this unique training available to students. Law students pursuing this program must fulfill the following English Department requirements: a. Complete 15 hours of graduate-level English courses with at least three seminars among this coursework b. Comply with the distribution requirements in Literature and Literary Criticism for the Master of Arts in English c. Write examinations as required for the Master of Arts in English d. Write a thesis (total of 6 credit hours) e. Complete an oral examination defending the thesis f. Comply with the Graduate School requirements for filing a program of study and an application for degree In addition, they may: 18

19 g. Submit a maximum of nine hours of law courses for credit toward the Master of Arts in English Graduate Seminars offered by the Department of English are concerned with one or more topics drawn from the periods or genres specified for the seminar. They are open only to graduate students. Each student enrolled in a seminar must: a. Devote at least three hours per week to recitation, discussion or lectures for 15 weeks b. Investigate in depth at least one topic relevant to the subject of the seminar c. Produce at least one formal written report of the investigation and, if assigned, defend its merits to the professor and other members of the seminar d. Achieve a familiarity with the work of the major authors and with that of their critics and scholars e. Complete other requirements as the professor may specify, such as tests and examinations J.D./Master of Arts in Psychology (non-certified) A number of career opportunities are emerging at the interface of the disciplines of law and psychology. Persons trained in both law and clinical psychology may be exceptionally well qualified to work in the fields of professional ethics, individual rights, community relations, family law and child advocacy. There also appear to be opportunities for lawyers with a background in social psychology to make special contributions in constitutional law and in such technical areas as jury selection. Other opportunities exist in the fields related to human factors psychology (e.g., personnel selection, industrial relations, product safety and environmental issues). Law students with advanced training in the classic experimental psychology areas of sensation, perception, learning and memory can gain many valuable insights in jurisprudence and in the problems of testimony. Since both psychology and law deal with human behavior, the joint J.D./M.A. Program in Law and Psychology on the campus of the University of South Dakota provides a unique interdisciplinary educational opportunity for individuals interested in incorporating graduate training in general psychology into their legal training. Initial inquiries concerning the joint J.D./M.A. program in law and psychology should be addressed either to the associate dean of the law school or with the chair of the Department of Psychology. Students may simultaneously apply to the joint program but must complete one full year of study at the School of Law prior to beginning graduate studies in psychology. All candidates for admission into the Master of Arts in Psychology program must have fulfilled the admissions requirements for graduate study in psychology as outlined in the university s graduate catalog. Specific deficiencies of preparation must be remedied before the joint degree program can be undertaken. Representatives of the graduate psychology faculty will review applications and make a recommendation for admission to the entire psychology faculty. Decisions will be based on candidate qualifications relative to other applicants to the psychology graduate programs and on the availability of a faculty member to serve as the student s major/research advisor. Students in the joint program will be eligible for graduate assistant positions in the law school but will not be eligible for graduate assistant positions through the Department of Psychology. Once admitted to the joint program, a student must complete the first year at the law school with a 75 average or better and may thereafter pursue both programs simultaneously under the guidance of the academic advisory committee. This advisory committee is appointed by the chair of the Department of Psychology and consists of two members appointed from the Department of Psychology (one of whom serves as chairperson/major research advisor) and one member appointed from the law school. The student, together with the academic advisory committee, will then develop an individualized program of study for the joint degree program. Designated at that time will be the specific law courses to be offered for the degree in psychology and the specific psychology courses to be recommended for acceptance by the law school. If the student and committee concur on the relevance of specific courses to the overall plan of study, any courses offered by the Law School may be accepted for degree credit in psychology, up to the limit of nine semester hours. Similarly, up to nine hours taken in psychology may be counted toward the juris doctor degree. It is important for students to understand that the Master of Arts in Psychology exists only in conjunction with the pursuit of a juris doctor degree. The university s Department of Psychology does not offer a terminal Master of Arts in Psychology independent of this joint program. Thus, students seeking admission to the joint program should have as their goal the enrichment of their law studies/career or the pursuit of a doctorate degree in psychology beyond the joint degree program. Receipt of a Master of Arts in Psychology is contingent upon satisfactory completion of requirements for the juris doctor degree. Receipt of the juris doctor degree is not contingent upon satisfactory completion of the Master of Arts in Psychology program. Upon satisfactory completion of this joint program, the graduate may apply to continue toward the Ph.D. in doctoral programs available within the Department of Psychology at the University of South Dakota. Applicants for doctoral study will be evaluated using the same criteria applied to all other applicants to these doctoral programs. Students should be aware that there are joint J.D./Ph.D. programs in universities outside the state of South Dakota which lead to a career as a forensic psychologist. The USD joint program is not a J.D./Ph.D. program, nor does it provide forensic psychology training. For the purposes of the joint J.D./M.A. program, the Master of Arts in Psychology requires 33 hours of graduate work, six of which are acquired through the completion of a master s thesis and nine of which are acquired through approved law courses. Law students interested in this joint program should schedule an appointment with the chair of the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts & Sciences. J.D./Master of Arts in Educational Administration (non-certificated) The Master of Arts in Educational Administration provides law students with the opportunity to become knowledgeable in the field of elementary through post-secondary education as a discipline for possible legal work with boards of education, school districts, legislation pertaining to education, school finance, administration and the organizational structure of education. The program also allows students to gain greater perspective in the field of education for their role in school and community activities as lay citizens interested in education, and for leadership roles as school board members and as lay and citizen members of school communities during their professional careers. The joint program also enables participants to develop a philosophical and historical perspective of education from a local, state, national and international level, and to become familiar with recent and current issues, as well as problems and changes in the field. In most instances, law students will be involved in courses and experiences with other master s candidates who have different backgrounds, preparation and professional goals allowing an exchange of ideas and learning which will enhance the professional development of both groups. The Master of Arts in Educational Administration requires completion of 32 credit hours. The School of Education will accept 12 semester hours of law credits. The remaining 20 semester hours must be taken in the School of Education. I. DUAL DEGREE IN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW Vermont Law School and The University of South Dakota School of Law offer a Dual Degree Program that enables qualified students to earn two degrees in three years: a JD from South Dakota and a Master of Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School. Financial aid is available for this program through Vermont Law School. Students must pay applicable student and fees for these courses. 19

20 University of South Dakota first-year law students initially seek approval to participate in the Dual Degree Program from their Law School s Office of the Dean. Approved students then apply to Vermont Law School for the MELP part of the Dual Degree early in the spring semester of their first-year of law school. If accepted, they register for courses later in the semester. Dual Degree students attend the nine-week Summer Session at Vermont Law School between their first and second years of law school. Students may also complete an approved internship at an organization or law firm involved with environmental work. Vermont Law School will work with South Dakota to arrange for and supervise an appropriate internship. Dual Degree students share the remaining credits required for their JD degree with the MELP degree, thus reducing the overall MELP 30 credit requirement. V. ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS The Law School is a member of Equal Justice Works, formerly the National Association of Public Interest Law (NAPIL). Through its membership, law students at The University of South Dakota are eligible for summer internships and fellowships upon graduation from law school. Several opportunities exist in South Dakota on the Indian reservations and elsewhere in the United States. FIRST-YEAR SUMMER FEDERAL JUDICIAL EXTERNSHIP Students who have completed their first year of Law School may apply to participate in the Summer Federal Judicial Externship program. The students, under the supervision of the judge s law clerk, are involved in all aspects of chambers activity, such as legal research and writing, courtroom observation and are exposed to chambers procedure. The students earn six credit hours for the nine weeks of externship placement. LEGAL RESEARCH SERVICE The Legal Research Service, offered through the Law School Foundation, provides traditional and computerized research services to practicing lawyers. Under the service, upper-level law students perform research and writing for lawyers while earning an hourly fee. The service, which makes the McKusick Law Library collection accessible to attorneys outside Vermillion, is directed by the Library Director. R.D. HURD VOLUNTEER LAW SCHOOL SOCIETY The R.D. Hurd Volunteer Law School Society is a program designed to give second- and third-year law students an opportunity to provide pro bono legal services to low income persons. The students interview clients, perform research, prepare documents and, in some instances, make court appearances. Students are assigned as supervisor a Legal Services attorney who offers assistance to the student throughout the case. SOUTH DAKOTAN LAWYER The South Dakotan Lawyer is the magazine for the Law School and its alumni/ae. Faculty, staff, and student editors participate in the production of the annual publication, which includes information about events, alumni/ae, new graduates, students, and faculty. SPECIAL EVENTS The Law School hosts many special events that include guest speakers, debates, and symposiums throughout the academic year. The Law School s events are open to the greater University community and to the public. Ongoing special events include the Gunderson Lecture, biennial Indian Law Symposium and its Dillon Lecture, and the March session of the South Dakota Supreme Court. VI. ENRICHMENT ORGANIZATIONS The Law School s small enrollment affords every student the opportunity to become involved in extracurricular activities. Students at the Law School are actively involved and make very positive contributions to the Law School and its environment. The following list of organizations offers a representative sample of the student groups that exist on campus. BLACK LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) is active in providing opportunities and venues for participation by its members to promote the awareness of minorities on the campus and surrounding communities. The Black Law Students Association annually hosts BLSA Week, a culmination of events taking place during February in conjunction with Black History Month. BLSA is instrumental in helping recruit potential students to the School of Law and it committed to helping build a foundation for the future. CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION PROJECT The Criminal Justice Education Project promotes education about the justice system for future public defenders, prosecutors, and practicing attorneys. This group provides access to educational materials and engages speakers who relate the world of crime to a variety of fields. Our goal is to provide research support to attorneys and judges in South Dakota. DELTA THETA PHI LAW FRATERNITY (DTP) DTP has been active at USD since 1904, and offers study assistance, networking opportunities, and social events to its members. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND STALKING GROUP DVSVSP works together with both the law school and the community to provide information about domestic violence and fundraise money and household items for victims of domestic violence. ENVIRONMENTAL LAW SOCIETY The Environmental Law Society develops public awareness of environmental concerns and issues, stimulates research and scholarship of legal issues in the fields of environmental law and natural resources law, and encourages member-participation in events and activities which focus on related contemporary issues. FAMILY LAW AND CHILD ADVOCACY The Family Law and Child Advocacy group seeks to raise student awareness of family law issues, in particular those that relate to children. It also works to establish and maintain a networking relationship with practicing attorneys in the field. FEDERALIST SOCIETY The USD chapter of the Federalist Society is affiliated with the national organization which is made up of conservatives and libertarians interested in the current state of the legal order. The purpose of the organization is to foster debate and discussions of the issues facing the rule of law in our country today. Organizational activities include sponsoring debates, discussions, and speeches, assisting other organizations in recruiting nationally known speakers, and hosting informational and social gatherings. 20