Graduation Requirements

J.D. Students must confirm all graduation requirements are met. A Graduation Degree Audit Worksheet is available to students prior to submitting the Graduation Application. Students are encouraged to contact Enrollment Services at 973-642-8502 for help in confirming all requirements are met.

Standards for J.D. Graduation

1. A grade point average of 2.0.
    
2. Completion of 88 credits of academic work. Not more than 10 of these credits may be completed with a grade of F, D or D+. An additional credit with a grade of C- or better must be earned for each credit of F, D or D+ in excess of 10. For example, a student who accumulates 13 credits of D or D+ must complete 91 credits in order to graduate.
    
3. No student may attempt more than 98 credits of academic work, including retaken courses. A course from which a student withdraws with the Dean of Students' approval does not count as an attempted course. Notwithstanding the above, any student who is involuntarily withdrawn or who withdraws, with or without approval, from more than twenty credits will be automatically dismissed.
    
4. All credits must be completed within a one-year period following completion of the semester in which the 88th credit was first attempted.
    
5. A student may repeat a course because of a grade of F, D or D+. A student may also be required to repeat a course if on academic probation or allowed to repeat a course by permission of the Dean of Students. A student who repeats a course and who thereafter receives a grade of B- or better, is not charged with the credits originally taken towards the accumulation of credits of F, D, or D+. While the original grade is not deleted from the student's academic record and will continue to be included in calculating the student's GPA, it will not be considered for purposes of applying the standards governing academic standing and graduation other than GPA requirements. If a student retakes a course and does not earn a grade of B- or better, both grades shall be included for all purposes.
    
6. A student may not count the same course twice towards graduation requirements. 

• Graduation Eligibility

  In order to be considered eligible for graduation, and thus bar certifiable, any and all debts must be satisfied to Seton Hall University School of Law. No degree will be awarded, or diploma issued, to any student who has an outstanding balance on his/her account, nor will certification be made to any board of bar examiners until the balance is paid in full. Full time students must pay tuition for six full time semesters. Part time students must pay tuition for eight part time semesters.

• Residency Requirement

  All students must meet the Law School's residency requirements in order to be certified for graduation.

  1. A full-time student must be in residence for at least six semesters with a minimum of ten credits each semester.
  2. A part-time student must be in residence for at least eight semesters with a minimum of eight credits each semester.

  Two summer sessions consisting of at least five credits each will count as one full-time semester in residence. Two summer sessions consisting of at least four credits each will count as one part-time semester in residence.

  A student who has changed divisions or who is seeking to graduate a semester early should meet with the Registrar in order to insure compliance with this requirement.

  NOTE: While meeting Seton Hall's residency requirements currently satisfy the residency requirements of New Jersey, New York and other surrounding states, different state jurisdictions may also have their own residency requirements. The Law School strongly advises students to consult with the Board of Bar Examiners in the jurisdiction where they plan to sit for the bar exam to ascertain its requirements on residency.

  NY Requirements

• Conditional Graduation

  Any J.D. student who is shy of three or less elective credits after completion of the spring semester may seek conditional graduation status. Conditional graduation, for all intents and purposes, means that a student may attend the Commencement Exercises provided that he or she completes all degree requirements during the subsequent Summer Session. The student will then receive a degree certification date of August. Any student seeking conditional graduation must submit a Request for Conditional Graduation to the Faculty Chair of the Graduation Committee by the last day of classes in his or her final semester. A written explanation must accompany the application outlining his or her academic status. After the Committee reviews the applicant's request, and any associated academic information, the student will be notified by the Dean of Students as to whether he or she is eligible to participate in the graduation ceremony.

  There is no conditional graduation for LL.M. or M.S.J. students.

• Class Ranks

  Class ranks are computed at the end of each semester (Fall and Spring) and at graduation for JD students. Ranks are calculated throughout law school within each class and division. Ranks are not computed for either LLM or MSJ students.

• Honors

  The following honors are awarded each year to students at the School of Law’s Commencement Ceremony.

  1. Summa Cum Laude (Top 1% overall GPA)
  2. Magna Cum Laude (Top 10% overall GPA)
  3. Cum Laude (Top 25% overall GPA)

  Students with the top 10% overall GPA may also be eligible to become members of the Order of the Coif, a national honors society.

• Order of the Coif

  The Order of the Coif is an honorary scholastic society the purpose of which is to encourage excellence in legal education by fostering a spirit of careful study, recognizing those who as law students attained a high grade of scholarship, and honoring those who as lawyers, judges and teachers attained high distinction for their scholarly or professional accomplishments.

For more information, please contact Enrollment Services at 973-642-8502.