​​Non-USD Course Credit

Course Credit from Another School

Students who wish to attend another law school for a summer session or for any portion of an academic year must obtain permission from the assistant dean for student affairs and have the proposed courses pre-approved in writing in order for the credit to be transferred back to the USD School of Law.

Students who wish to obtain law school credit for courses at another ABA-accredited law school must obtain written approval in advance from the assistant dean. A student's request to take non-USD law courses must meet all requirements set forth in the Academic Rules to be considered for approval. These requirements include, in part, that the course must be a letter-graded course, must not substantially overlap in coverage with courses already taken at USD, and must be a course which USD would recognize for academic credit. Approval of a course for transfer credit shall also include a determination of the appropriate amount of transfer credit USD will award for the course.

Credit will only be given for letter-graded courses in which the student receives at least a "C" (JD students) or "B" (LLM students) or a grade equal to the minimum average required by the other school for graduation, whichever is higher. The completed credits must be forwarded to the Office of the School of Law Registrar on an official transcript in order to be accepted and recorded on a student's USD School of Law transcript. Required courses, including Academic Supervision or graduation requirements, must typically be completed at USD School of Law.

Visiting at Another Law School

Students who wish to obtain law school credit for non-law courses, typically offered by another school of this university, must obtain written approval in advance from the assistant dean. This is done by submitting a statement to the assistant dean outlining how the proposed course contributes significantly to their legal education, how they plan to integrate the course with their legal education and how the course satisfies the other requirements set forth in the academic rules. These requirements include, in part, that the course must be a graduate-level, letter-graded course not otherwise offered by the law school; credit will only be given for such courses in which the JD student receives at least a "B" or its equivalent. A maximum of six credits may be transferred toward the JD degree under this policy. In addition, students must report to the Dean the ways in which the course contributed and interrelated to the student’s legal education, generally by writing a paper within or outside the context of the course itself. The completed credits must be forwarded to the Office of the School of Law Registrar on an official transcript in order to be accepted and recorded on a student's USD School of Law transcript.

Visiting Students

Students must generally complete their last year at the School of Law in order to receive a USD degree. However, the dean may permit a student to take no more than 30 credits at another ABA accredited law school for "good cause." "Good cause" may include a spouse with a job in another city, the serious illness of a close family member which would require the student's presence and care or, for a part-time student, a job transfer. Placement opportunities, desire to save money or relocation of a boyfriend or girlfriend will not constitute "good cause." Required courses, including Academic Supervision or graduation requirements, must typically be completed at USD School of Law. These rules are strictly enforced.

Students who are permitted to visit at another law school must have their course of study pre-approved by the dean. Credit will only be given for letter-graded courses in which the student receives at least a "C" (JD students) or "B" (LLM students) or a grade equal to the minimum average required by the other school for graduation, whichever is higher. The completed credits must be forwarded to the Office of the School of Law Registrar on an official transcript in order to be accepted and recorded on a student's USD School of Law transcript.

Transfer Students

Students who have completed their first year and wish to apply to transfer to another law school can request a Letter of Good Standing from the assistant dean and an official transcript from the Office of the School of Law Registrar to be forwarded to that school.