USC Catalogue 2024-2025
USC Gould School of Law
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The first law school in Southern California, USC Gould is home to a dynamic and diverse community of students and scholars. Photo courtesy of USC Gould.
The USC Gould School of Law provides an interdisciplinary and innovative legal education, taught by nationally renowned professors and practitioners and energized by a collaborative, collegial student body. One of the most diverse among the nation’s top law schools, USC Gould comprises students from across the country and around the world whose ideas and experiences enrich the learning process and provide new perspectives on the law. Through practice-focused training, hands-on experiential offerings, and exceptional career services and support resources, Gould students acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to excel locally, nationally and globally.
USC Gould alumni are partners in the world’s largest law firms, chairs and top executives of industry-leading companies, and esteemed leaders in government and public service organizations. Since its founding in 1900, the school has produced scores of judges and elected officials at the city, state and federal levels, as well as abroad.
USC Gould School of Law
(213) 740-7331
Email: admissions@law.usc.edu
gould.usc.edu
Administration
Franita Tolson, JD, Dean*
Thomas D. Lyon, JD, PhD, Vice Dean*
Donald M. Scotten, JD, LLM, Vice Dean*
Elizabeth A. Carroll, JD, Vice Dean
Robin Apodaca, BA, Associate Dean
Deborah A. Call, MBA, Associate Dean and Chief Programs Officer
Ben Dimapindan, MA, EdD, Associate Dean
Raymond Flores, MBA, EdD, Associate Dean and Chief Information Officer
Diana C. Jaque, MA, MLIS, JD, Associate Dean and Director of the Law Library
David Kirschner, JD, Associate Dean
Robin H. Maness, MS, Associate Dean and Chief Development Officer
Misa Shimotsu-Kim, MEd, Associate Dean
Nickey Woods, MEd, EdD, Associate Dean
Margaret A. Kean, MFA, Assistant Dean
Akita Mungaray, JD, Interim Associate Dean
Faculty
Dean and George T. and Harriet E. Pfleger Chair in Law: Franita Tolson, JD
Judge Edward J. and Ruey L. Guirado Chair in Law: Thomas D. Lyon, JD, PhD*
Carolyn Craig Franklin Chair in Law: D. Daniel Sokol, MSt, JD, LLM
Edward G. Lewis Chair in Law: Daniel M. Klerman, JD, PhD
J. Thomas McCarthy Trustee Chair in Law: Robert K. Rasmussen, JD
Robert C. Packard Trustee Chair in Law: Robin Kundis Craig, MA, JD, PhD
Robert C. Packard Trustee Chair in Law: Edward J. McCaffery, MA, JD*
The Rader Family Trustee Chair in Law: Rebecca L. Brown, JD*
Nathan and Lilly Shapell Chair in Law: Nomi M. Stolzenberg, JD
UPS Foundation Chair in Law: Martin L. Levine, JD, LLD*
University Professor and Charles L. and Ramona I. Hilliard Distinguished Professor of Law: Lee Epstein, MA, PhD
University Professor of Journalism, Communication and Law: Geoffrey Cowan, LLB (Journalism)
Provost Professor of Public Policy, Political Science and Law: Jeffery A. Jenkins, MA, MS, AM, PhD (Political Science)*
Orrin B. Evans Distinguished Professor of Law, Psychology, and Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences: Elyn R. Saks, MLitt, JD, PhD, LLD (Hon.)*
Leon Benwell Professor of Law: Michael Simkovic, JD
Virginia S. and Fred H. Bice Professor of Law: Scott A. Altman, JD*
Roy P. Crocker Professor of Law: Jody David Armour, JD
Richard L. and Maria B. Crutcher Professor of Law: Dan Simon, LLB, MBA, LLM, SJD
William T. Dalessi Professor of Law: Gregory C. Keating, MA, JD, PhD
Sidney M. and Audrey M. Irmas Endowed Clinical Professor of Law: Niels W. Frenzen, JD
Maurice Jones, Jr. – Class of 1925 Professor of Law: Stephen M. Rich, MA, JD*
John B. Milliken Professor of Law and Taxation: Jordan M. Barry, JD
Dorothy W. Nelson Professor of Law: Camille Gear Rich, JD
Newton Professor of Constitutional Law: David B. Cruz, MS, JD*
John Stauffer Law Library Director: Diana C. Jaque, MA, MLIS, JD
Torrey H. Webb Professor of Law: Jonathan M. Barnett, MA, MPhil, JD
Frances R. and John J. Duggan Professor of Law: Bernadette Atuahene, MPA, JD
Robert Kingsley Professor of Law: Adam Zimmerman, JD
Robert C. and Nanette T. Packard Professor of Law: Jessica Clarke, JD
Harold Medill Heimbaugh Professor of Law: Aya Gruber, JD
Professors: Jonathan Choi, JD; Sofia Mary Gruskin, JD, MIA (Preventive Medicine); Ariel Jurow Kleiman, JD; Bart A. Kosko, MA, JD, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering); Sharon A. Lloyd, PhD (Philosophy); Jessica Marglin, MA, PhD (Religion); John G. Matsusaka, MA, PhD (Business); Claudia Moatti, PhD, HDR (Classics); Kevin J. Murphy, MA, PhD (Business); Jonathan Quong, MA, PhD (Philosophy)*; Alison Dundes Renteln, MA, JD, PhD (Political Science); Emily Ryo, JD, PhD*; Wayne Sandholtz, MA, PhD (International Relations); Hilary M. Schor, MA, PhD (English); Abby K. Wood, MALD, JD, PhD; Angela Zhang, JD
Associate Professors: Erik Hovenkamp, JD, PhD; Felipe Jimenez, JD, LLM, JSD; Mugambi Jouet, MPA, JD, PhD; Erin Miller, JD, PhD; Jeessoo Nam, JD; Nathan Perl-Rosenthal, MA, MPhil, PhD (History)
Adjunct Professors: Diana C. Jaque, MA, MLIS, JD; Richard Peterson, MDR, JD, LLM
Adjunct Assistant Professors: Anitha Cadambi, LLB, LLM; Judy K. Davis, MLIS, JD; Diane Ellis, MLIS, JD; Sarah Gruzas, JD; Amber Kennedy Madole, MLIS, JD; Paul Moorman, MLIS, JD; Brian Peck, JD; Karen Skinner, MS, MLS, JD
Clinical Professors: Michael Chasalow, MBA, JD*; Hannah R. Garry, MA, JD*; Lisa Klerman, JD; Jean Lantz Reisz, JD; Heidi L. Rummel, JD
Clinical Associate Professor: Michael Parente, JD, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professors: Jef Pearlman, MEng, JD; Deepika Sharma, JD
Professors of Lawyering Skills: Sara Berman, JD; Elizabeth A. Carroll, JD; Rebecca S. Lonergan, JD
Associate Professor of Lawyering Skills: Barrett L. Schreiner, MA, JD
Professors of the Practice of Law: Clare Pastore, JD; Donald M. Scotten, JD, LLM*
Emeriti Professors: Scott H. Bice, JD (Dean Emeritus, and Robert C. and Nanette T. Packard Professor Emeritus of Law); Alexander M. Capron, LLB*, MA (Hon.) (University Professor Emeritus and Scott H. Bice Chair Emeritus in Healthcare Law, Policy and Ethics); Marshall Cohen, MA, MA (Oxon) (University Professor Emeritus, Philosophy; Dean Emeritus); Edward J. Finegan, MA, PhD (Linguistics); Ronald R. Garet, MA, MPhil, JD, PhD* (Carolyn Craig Franklin Chair Emeritus in Law and Religion); Thomas D. Griffith, MAT, JD (John B. Milliken Professor Emeritus of Law and Taxation); George Lefcoe, LLB (Ervin and Florine Yoder Chair Emeritus in Real Estate Law); Michael H. Shapiro, MA, JD (Dorothy W. Nelson Professor Emeritus of Law); Larry G. Simon, LLB (Herbert W. Armstrong Professor Emeritus of Constitutional Law); W. David Slawson, MA, LLB* (Torrey H. Webb Professor Emeritus of Law); Susan C. Wright, BA, JD (Professor Emerita of Lawyering Skills)
Clinical Emeriti Professors: Michael J. Brennan, LLB; Lee W. Campbell, JD; Noel M. Ragsdale, JD*
Emeriti Professor of Lawyering Skills: Robert M. Saltzman, JD
Emeriti Law Librarians: Pauline M. Aranas, MLIS, JD (John Stauffer Charitable Trust Chief Information Officer Emerita and Law Librarian Emerita); Leonette M. Williams, MSLS (Law Librarian Emerita)
*Recipient of university-wide or school teaching award.
USC Gould School of Law School is accredited by the American Bar Association. For information on ABA accreditation, please contact:
The American Bar Association
321 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 988-5000
The Juris Doctor (JD) is the standard degree to practice law in the United States. To obtain the degree, full-time attendance for six semesters is required. During the first year, students are enrolled in a curriculum of basic courses that examine fundamental legal institutions and address legal problems relevant to today’s society and the modern practice of law. During the second and third years, students must complete Constitutional Law: Rights, a writing requirement, and at least 6 units of experiential courses. Beginning with the entering class of 2022, all students must also complete Race, Racism, and the Law. The remainder of the courses taken in years two and three are elective. All students must complete 37 numerically graded law units at USC beyond the first-year curriculum and at least 88 units overall.
Qualified second- and third-year JD students have an opportunity to study international law through an exchange program with leading partner institutions worldwide. For more information, please see the Gould School of Law website.
All applicants are required to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) administered by the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) or the Graduate Records Examinations (GRE) administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS). Based on current test administration calendars, applicants who take the LSAT must take the test no later than February of the year in which they seek to start law school. Applicants who take the GRE must take the test no later than March 1 (additional information or changes are available in the application instructions) of the year in which they plan to start law school. All students begin their first-year classes in August.
USC Gould School of Law admits a small number of highly qualified transfer students with LLM degrees from USC Gould. These students will have taken a large number of law courses in their LLM course of study and received strong grades in those courses. The LSAT is not required.
USC Gould School of Law offers several dual degree programs with the graduate schools on campus. These programs enable qualified students to earn a law degree (JD) and a graduate degree in less time than it would take to earn both degrees independently. For more information, please see the Gould School of Law website.
While students may be accepted for a dual degree program when they are accepted to the law school, most students do not apply until near the end of the first year. All programs require that students successfully complete the required first year of law school before beginning work toward the other degree. Credit for graduate work completed prior to the completion of the first year of law school may not be applied toward the law degree. Students are not eligible for either of their degrees until they complete the requirements for both degrees.
In all cases, prospective students must seek and gain acceptance to both the law school and the other graduate program, and have the dual degree program approved by both schools. Decisions regarding admission to the law school and the graduate program are made independently. For more information, contact the Law School Admissions Office at admissions@law.usc.edu.
Master of Laws in Alternative Dispute Resolution (LLM in ADR)
The on-campus Master of Laws in Alternative Dispute Resolution (LLM in ADR) program is a two- to four-semester, full-time and part-time master’s degree program for law graduates and attorneys interested in building strength as advocates in ADR processes or gaining skills and a prestigious credential for pursuing career opportunities as mediators or arbitrators.
Students submitting an application must have earned a basic law degree, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), a Juris Doctor (JD) or the foreign equivalent. Please visit the Gould School of Law website for more information.
Master of Laws in Business Law (LLM)
The on-campus Master of Laws in Business Law degree is a two semester full-time master’s degree program for law graduates and attorneys seeking specialized training in diverse legal, business and negotiation skills relevant to business advising.
Students submitting an application must have earned a basic law degree, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), a Juris Doctor (JD) or the foreign equivalent. Please visit the Gould School of Law website for more information.
Master of Laws in International Business and Economic Law (LLM in IBEL)
The on-campus Master of Laws in International Business and Economic Law degree is a two- to four-semester, full-time and part-time master’s degree program for law graduates and attorneys interested in developing a global perspective and interdisciplinary skills that will enable them to understand and integrate relevant laws, policies and business best practices that shape international commerce and trade.
Students submitting an application must have earned a basic law degree, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), a Juris Doctor (JD) or the foreign equivalent. Please visit the Gould School of Law website for more information.
Master of Laws in International Trade Law and Economics (MITLE)
The on-campus Master of International Trade Law and Economics (MITLE) degree is offered by USC Gould School of Law jointly with USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Department of Economics. This degree provides students with an interdisciplinary, global perspective and the knowledge and skills relevant to the laws, policies, and business practices that shape international trade and economics.
The Master of International Trade Law and Economics is a one-year, 32-unit degree program offered on campus on a full-time basis. This degree is open to anyone with a bachelor’s degree in any field, however, students are recommended to have a strong foundation in economics and/or mathematics or another quantitative background. Please visit the Gould School of Law website for more information.
Master of Laws in Media and Entertainment Law (LLM in MEL)
The on-campus Master of Laws in Media and Entertainment Law degree is a two semester full-time master’s degree program for law graduates and attorneys who wish to further refine their knowledge of relevant laws, policies and trending issues in film, television, communications, digital media and the Internet, copyright and trademark, music and sports.
Students submitting an application must have earned a basic law degree, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), a Juris Doctor (JD) or the foreign equivalent. Please visit the Gould School of Law website for more information.
Master of Laws in Privacy Law and Cybersecurity (LLM in PLCS)
The on-campus Master of Laws in Privacy Law and Cybersecurity degree is a two- to four-semester, full-time and part-time master’s degree program for law graduates and attorneys who wish to develop skills that will enable them to understand and integrate relevant laws, policies and best practices that shape privacy law and cybersecurity.
Students submitting an application must have earned a basic law degree, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree or the foreign equivalent. Please visit the Gould School of Law website for more information.
Master of Laws (LLM) (On-campus and Online)
The on-campus Master of Laws (LLM) program is a master’s degree program for foreign graduate students trained in law. This two- to four-semester, full-time and part-time program introduces foreign lawyers to American law and the U.S. legal system and prepares them for leadership roles in the global market. Students may enroll in an optional certificate track in Alternate Dispute Resolution, Business Law, Entertainment Law, Transnational Law and Business, or Technology and Entrepreneurship Law.
The online Master of Laws (LLM) program is a master’s degree program for foreign graduate students trained in law. This program is offered on a part-time basis in a completely online modality and introduces foreign lawyers to American law and the U.S. legal system and prepares them for leadership roles in the global market. Students may enroll in an optional certificate track in Business Law, Compliance, Entertainment Law and Industry, Financial Compliance, Health Care Compliance, Human Resources Compliance, Privacy Law and Cybersecurity or Social Work Administration.
Students submitting an application to either LLM program must have earned a basic law degree, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree or the foreign equivalent. Please visit the Gould School of Law website for more information.
Two-Year Extended Master of Laws (LLM)
The on-campus Two-Year Extended Master of Laws (LLM) program combines a one-year certificate program with a one-year master’s degree for foreign graduate students trained in law. During the first year, students complete mandatory law and English courses to prepare them for the master’s program and further their English fluency. After successful completion of the first year, students earn a Certificate in U.S. Legal Studies . In the second year, students matriculate into our on-campus Master of Laws program.
Students submitting an application must have earned a basic law degree, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree or the foreign equivalent. Please visit the Gould School of Law website for more information.
Master of Comparative Law (MCL)
The on-campus Master of Comparative Law (MCL) program is a master’s degree program for foreign graduate students trained in law who have already earned an LLM degree. This two-semester, full-time program is focused on the study of comparative law.
Students submitting an application must have earned a basic law degree, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree or the foreign equivalent and have previously earned an LLM degree. Please visit the Gould School of Law website for more information.
Master of Dispute Resolution (MDR)
The on-campus Master of Dispute Resolution (MDR) program is a two- to four-semester, full-time and part-time master’s degree program for graduates from varying fields of study, who are interested in building strength as advocates in alternative dispute resolution processes.
Students submitting an application must have earned an undergraduate degree by the time they begin the MDR program. Please visit the Gould School of Law website for more information.
Master of Studies in Law (MSL) (On-campus and Online)
The on-campus Master of Studies in Law (MSL) is a full-time and part-time master’s degree program designed for new graduates and seasoned professionals from varying fields of studies and careers, who seek an understanding of how the U.S. legal system functions. Students may enroll in an optional certificate track in Business Law; Compliance; Human Resources Law and Compliance; Law, Social Justice and Diversity; and Media and Entertainment Law.
The online Master of Studies in Law (MSL) is designed for new graduates as well as seasoned professionals from varying fields of studies and careers. This program is offered on a part-time basis in a completely online modality for students who seek an understanding of how the U.S. legal system functions. Students may enroll in an optional certificate track in in Business Law, Compliance, Entertainment Law and Industry, Financial Compliance, Health Care Compliance, Human Resources Law and Compliance, Privacy Law and Cybersecurity, or Social Work Administration.
Students submitting an application must have earned an undergraduate degree by the time they begin the MSL degree. Please visit the Gould School of Law website for more information.
A progressive degree is an option for current USC undergraduate students. For more information, please visit the Gould School of Law website. You may also contact USC Gould Undergraduate for more details.)
USC Gould School of Law offers a variety of certificates to which students may apply some of their existing course work. Certificate requirements for JD and Graduate students differ and are detailed at the USC Gould School of Law website.
USC Gould also offers stand-alone certificates to those with a bachelor’s degree to gain further knowledge of a particular area of law.
Registration
Registration for JD students is handled by the USC Gould School of Law Office of Student Affairs. First-year students are automatically registered in their fall and spring semester courses.
Registration for master’s students is handled by the Graduate and International Programs Office. Master’s students will receive registration information with detailed instructions on how to register for fall, spring, and summer classes prior to the start of classes.
Grading and Attendance Policies
Grading
The grading system uses both numbers and letters in a range from 1.9 to 4.3 with letter-grade equivalents ranging from F to A+. The grade equivalents are: A+ (4.1–4.3); A (3.8–4.0); A- (3.5–3.7); B+ (3.3–3.4); B (3.0–3.2); B- (2.7–2.9); C+ (2.5–2.6); C (2.4); C- (2.1–2.3); D (2.0); and F (1.9). JD students receiving a grade of 1.9 will not receive credit for the course toward graduation. A student who fails a first-year course must repeat the course, but both grades will be included in computing that student’s grade point average. Other courses may not be repeated except on petition to the associate dean. A student with a weighted cumulative average of less than 3.10 at the end of the year is subject to additional graduation requirements. A JD student with a weighted cumulative average of less than 2.9 at the end of any year is not permitted to continue.
An overall grade point average of at least 2.6 is required for graduation for students who are enrolled in the LLM, LLM in ADR, LLM in IBEL, LLM in PLCS, MCL, MDR, MITLE, MSL, or Alternative Dispute Resolution Certificate (on-campus), Business Law Certificate (online), Compliance Certificate (online), and Entertainment Law and Industry Certificate (online), Financial Compliance Certificate (online), Health Care Compliance Certificate (online), Human Resources Law and Compliance Certificate (online) and Privacy Law and Cybersecurity Certificate (online) programs.
Credit/D/F
In addition to courses regularly offered on a CR/D/F basis, after the first year, a Juris Doctor student may elect to take up to 8 units of courses, that are otherwise numerically graded, on a CR/D/F basis. No more than 4 such units may be taken in any semester. As stated above, to earn the JD, all students (including dual degree students) must complete 37 numerically graded law units at USC beyond the first-year curriculum.
Master’s students may take up to 5 units of CR/D/F grading during the length of their program. The student must elect to take a course CR/D/F during the first two weeks of the semester. Courses or seminars may, at the instructor’s option, be designated prior to registration as not available for CR/D/F grading.
Withdrawals from Courses
A student may not withdraw from a course later than two weeks after the first day of classes of any semester without permission of both the associate dean and the instructor.
Attendance
Class attendance is an important part of a student’s law school education. It assists both the individual and their fellow students in making the most of the educational opportunity offered. Students should, therefore, attend class regularly and participate in the discussion. Some professors may require attendance and may take attendance into account in evaluating student performance.
For tuition, fee, and financial aid information, please visit the Gould School of Law website.
Standard Unit Rule
The Standard Unit Rule (also called “credit hour”) is an amount of work that reasonably approximates:
- not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and two hours of out-of-class student work per week for 15 weeks, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or
- 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. (ABA Standard 310)
Depending on the course type, the law school awards credit for varying periods of time. In all cases, however, the course work entails no less than the minimum total amount of in-class and out-of-class time required by the ABA (per Interpretation 310-1):
- 50 minutes of in-class time and two 60-minute periods of out-of-class time for 15 weeks for each unit of credit (a 15-week period may include one week for a final examination)
In exceptional cases, at the discretion of the Vice Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs (upon the request of the faculty member), a specific course may carry 1 unit of credit greater than the time the course meets each week. Those cases are limited to courses in which the instructor certifies to the Vice Dean that the course requires substantial written work. If the written work is optional, students may enroll in these types of courses for different unit values. Students performing the written work will receive additional credit.
Full policies and procedures for USC Gould School of Law students are published in the Student Handbook and are available on the Law Portal.
USC Gould School of Law, one of the nation’s premier law schools, offers undergraduate courses and programs in its curriculum, which are taught by its internationally distinguished faculty and lecturers. The mission is to provide a broad-based academic foundation in law to undergraduate students who have an interest in law and legal-related fields. Law affects everyone in our society and students will deepen their education by exploring the role law plays in the world, its impact on society, and the way in which it intersects and impacts almost every facet of life.
USC Gould courses meet a variety of graduation requirements. Some courses satisfy USC General Education (GE) requirements, and others are either required or are electives in several USC majors and minors. For more information about the Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies, the minor in Legal Studies, the minor in Law and Social Justice, the minor in Law and Migration Studies, the minor in Law and Technology, undergraduate course offerings, and those that satisfy USC General Education requirements, please visit the USC Gould School of Law website or email: undergraduate@law.usc.edu.
Undergraduate Courses
LAW 101w , LAW 200w , LAW 201 , LAW 202 , LAW 203 , LAW 205 , LAW 206 LAW 207 , LAW 210p , LAW 211 , LAW 212 , LAW 220 , LAW 222 , LAW 225 , LAW 250w , LAW 275p , LAW 300 , LAW 301 , LAW 305 , LAW 306 , LAW 310w , LAW 311 , LAW 320p , LAW 324 , LAW 352 , LAW 355 , LAW 401 , LAW 402 , LAW 403 , LAW 404 , LAW 406 , LAW 407 , LAW 444 , LAW 492 , LAW 493 , LAW 497 and LAW 498 .
Bachelor’s Degree
Legal Studies (BS)
The Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies provides students with an in-depth understanding of the legal system including the infrastructure, the reasoning process and the substantive commitments that the legal system has made. As future leaders, students in this major will become critical thinkers able to apply and understand various legal concepts in their interaction with real-world issues locally, nationally and globally. Students in the major are required to complete a total of 48 units, consisting of 24 units of required core courses, 20 elective units, plus 2 units of internship and 2 units of a capstone project.
Minor Programs
Legal Studies Minor
The Legal Studies Minor enables students to deepen their understanding of the U.S. legal system and provides them with the fundamentals of law. The Legal Studies Minor totals 22 units, consisting of 6 required units, and 16 elective units.
Law and Social Justice Minor
The Law and Social Justice Minor provides foundational knowledge of current legal systems of justice and encourages critical-analysis skills to recognize where and how change can be made. The Law and Social Justice Minor totals 20 units; 8 required units, and 12 elective units.
Law and Migration Studies Minor
The Law and Migration Studies Minor introduces students to the U.S. legal system as it relates to various aspects of immigration law, its impact on our communities, and consequences on our society nationally and globally. The Law and Migration Studies Minor totals 20 units; 12 required units, and 8 elective units.
Law and Technology Minor
The Law and Technology Minor studies the intersection of technological developments and the legal system through examining contemporary issues raised by developing technology, including internet privacy, patent law and cybercrime. The Law and Technology Minor totals 18 units; 2 required core units, 8 Law elective units, and 8 ITP elective units.
For more details on the major and minors, please visit USC Gould School of Law website. Undergraduate students wishing to declare one of the Law minors, should email: undergraduate@law.usc.edu or submit an application form.
Accelerated Bachelor/JD Program (3+3)
Undergraduate students at USC, who have completed their required bachelor’s major course work by the end of their junior year (or have minimal units of upper-division elective courses remaining), may apply to our accelerated JD program. Students will complete their undergraduate and law school studies in a total of six years.
Students must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.80 both at the time an application is submitted and at enrollment. Under current ABA guidelines, the LSAT is not required; however, this is subject to change. The program is open to all participating majors. Please visit the Gould School of Law website for more information.
USC’s Progressive Degree program enables USC undergraduate students to begin work on a USC master’s degree while completing the requirements for their USC bachelor’s degree. Students complete their undergraduate degree and the Master of Studies in Law (MSL) , the Master of International Trade Law and Economics (MITLE) , the Master of Science in Innovation Economics, Law and Regulation (MIELR) degree programs in no more than five years.
Undergraduate students may apply to the Master of Studies in Law (MSL), the Master of International Trade Law and Economics (MITLE), or Master of Science in Innovation Economics, Law and Regulation (MIELR) degree programs as a junior for enrollment beginning in the fall or spring. Students must have completed at least 64 total units of undergraduate course work, excluding AP, IB or transfer units earned prior to graduation from high school. Students may apply in their junior (recommended) or senior year but no later than the semester prior to beginning graduate course work.
Students must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 both at the time an application is submitted and at enrollment.
For more information, please visit the USC Gould School of Law website or email msl@law.usc.edu (MSL), gipreg@law.usc.edu (MITLE) or mielr@law.usc.edu (MIELR).
Progressive Degree Program - Master of Studies in Law (MSL)
The Master of Studies in Law (MSL) teaches students fundamental U.S. law as well as various areas of legal specialization. This program is designed for individuals who want to gain an understanding of legal issues that will impact their future careers as entrepreneurs, business owners, administrators, scientists, engineers, educators, advocates, activists and more. USC Gould Progressive Degree Program Master of Studies in Law offers the option of earning a certificate in business law, human resources law and compliance, media and entertainment, and law, social justice, and diversity concurrent with the MSL.
Progressive Degree Program - Master of International Trade Law and Economics (MITLE)
The Master of International Trade Law and Economics (MITLE) provides an interdisciplinary, global perspective for students with an economic or other quantitative background who wish to develop knowledge and skills related to relevant laws, policies and business practices that shape international trade and economics.
The Master of International Trade Law and Economics students are required to complete 32 or 24* units of study. Students are required to enroll in 12 core units from Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and 12 core units from Gould School of Law, with an additional 8 units of electives chosen from a list of approved course offerings.
*Students with a GPA of 3.3 and above may qualify to have 8 elective units waived, thus completing 24 units of study.
Progressive Degree Program - Master of Science in Innovation Economics, Law and Regulation (MIELR)
The Master of Science in Innovation Economics, Law and Regulation (MIELR) equips graduates with the essential skills required to address the complexities of big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning innovations through the lens of antitrust, privacy, data security and intellectual property laws.
The Master of Science in Innovation Economics, Law and Regulation students are required to complete 32 or 24* units of study. Students are required to enroll in 12 core units from Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and 12 core units from Gould School of Law, with an additional 8 units of electives chosen from a list of approved course offerings.
*Students with a GPA of 3.3 and above may qualify to have 8 elective units waived, thus completing 24 units of study.
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