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Economics/JD Accelerated, BA

Two degrees in only 6 years

The accelerated Bachelor of Arts in Economics/Juris Doctor (JD) degree is an interdisciplinary field that equips students with a unique set of analytical and problem-solving skills essential to understanding and addressing complex legal and economic issues. Economics examines how individuals, businesses, and government make choices in everyday life; time and again, a background in economics builds the foundation for a successful career in law

The 3+3 program in economics and law gives students the opportunity to combine together complementary educational disciplines and prepares students for a variety of positions in business, government and NGOs. By blending expertise in economics and law, professionals can forge a successful career path in antitrust law, tax, bankruptcy, corporate and securities law, environmental law, intellectual property, and health law. In short, economic reasoning is a central component of contemporary legal argument.

Research conducted over a 15 year time period has proven that economics majors consistently earn the highest LSAT scores among all law school applicants. Students admitted under the program fulfill their senior year of undergraduate credits through the successful completion of their first-year law school courses. This allows them to graduate with both a bachelor’s and law degree in just six years, saving a year of tuition and related costs, and starting their legal careers a year ahead of time.

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Nicholas Lavy

“My Economics major afforded me a plethora of opportunities while a student, from interning for a U.S. Senator to curating a gallery for a Smithsonian Affiliate Museum. Studying economics provided me with a strong intellectual foundation in the analytical, logical, and critical thinking skills necessary to succeed in law school. Economics is an intrinsically valuable degree that serves as a natural steppingstone to earning a juris doctorate.”

NICHOLAS LAVY

JD Candidate at Akron Law

Economics Major '21

EXPLORE OUR MAJOR

Earning an Joint Degree in Economics and law will consist of at least 120 credit hours. Here are a few of the classes you would be taking:

  • Principles of Microeconomics
  • Principles of Macroeconomics
  • Applied Econometrics I and II
  • Criminal Law
  • Legislation and Regulation

Check out the full curriculum here: Economics/JD Accelerated, BA.

CAREER OUTCOMES

An economics and law joint degree helps prepare students for careers that require quantitative, analytical, and problem-solving skills Here are a few possible career paths you can choose to go into:

  • In-House Legal Counsels
  • Area-Specific Legal Experts
  • Legal Researchers
  • Attourneys, Legal Advisors, Consultants
  • Prosecutors, Public Defenders & Judicial Clerks

GROWING INDUSTRY

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the demand for economists will grow at a 14% rate through 2029, which is much higher than the average growth rate of 4% for all occupations. Economics is ranked among the “Best College Majors for a Lucrative Career” (Kiplinger and Indeed.com).

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the demand for lawyers will grow at a 8% rate through 2032, which is much higher than the average growth rate of 4% for all occupations.

POSSIBLE FUTURE EMPLOYERS

National, regional, and local public business firms as well as Fortune 500 companies and government entities actively recruit our students. Employers speak of our program as one of the leading programs in the region. Some companies our Economics graduates have chosen to work for are:

  • Sherwin Williams
  • Citibank
  • The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
  • Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs
  • Orange County District Attorney's Office

SCHOLARSHIPS

The College of Business distributed nearly $5.3 million in scholarships to business students in 2019-2020. Receive more information on our scholarships on our scholarship page.

THE AKRON ADVANTAGE

The University of Akron, College of Business has prepared a curriculum to respond to the industry's needs for business professionals.

Our faculty are highly credentialed and dedicated to providing an excellent learning experience for all our students. Classes are taught by experienced full-time faculty, not graduate assistants. Some of our full-time faculty are a few highly qualified business professionals who teach courses on a part-time basis.

The College of Business is one of only 188 business schools among thousands worldwide to hold dual accreditation from the AACSB.