The American Bar Association has granted the College of Law a variance to offer a fully interactive online juris doctor program. The online J.D. program will be the first in the nation to combine real-time and self-paced online classes, on-campus residential classes and experiential learning opportunities.
The online J.D. program will be the first in the nation to combine real-time and self-paced online classes, on-campus residential classes, and experiential learning opportunities.
“By allowing students to engage in real-time online classes from anywhere, the online J.D. will make the College of Law’s high-quality legal education accessible to students who cannot reasonably attend a fully residential program,” says Craig M. Boise, dean of the College of Law. “Designed to be a model for excellence in legal education in the 21st century, the Online J.D. will provide an opportunity for the college to expand the reach of its residential J.D. program and cement its national reputation for leadership in innovative approaches to legal education.”
Developed by the College of Law’s faculty with the leadership of Associate Dean for Research and Online Education Nina Kohn and Executive Director of Online Education Kathleen O’Connor, the online J.D. is scheduled to launch in January 2019. The program will be extraordinarily interactive. At least 50 percent of the online class time will be in “real time,” allowing professors and students to connect in a small class environment. Self-paced class sessions with interactive exercises will complement these live sessions. Students also will attend in-person courses on campus and at satellite locations, have the opportunity to complete a legal externship before graduation and participate in student organizations.
The online J.D. was subject to intense scrutiny and review by legal education experts before the college was granted the variance. Students in the online program will be taught by College of Law faculty, will be held to the same high admission and academic standards as students in the college’s residential program and will take all courses required by its residential J.D. program.
“With this program, Syracuse is transforming legal education to better meet the needs of an evolving profession and today’s students,” says Boise. “I appreciate the continued support of alumni, faculty, staff and the legal community as we develop the program and welcome a new group of talented students into the College of Law community.”
For more information about the online J.D. program, visit theonlinejd.syr.edu.
About Syracuse University
Founded in 1870, Syracuse University is a private international research university dedicated to advancing knowledge and fostering student success through teaching excellence, rigorous scholarship and interdisciplinary research. Comprising 11 academic schools and colleges, the University has a long legacy of excellence in the liberal arts, sciences and professional disciplines that prepares students for the complex challenges and emerging opportunities of a rapidly changing world. Students enjoy the resources of a 270-acre main campus and extended campus venues in major national metropolitan hubs and across three continents. Syracuse’s student body is among the most diverse for an institution of its kind across multiple dimensions, and students typically represent all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Syracuse also has a long legacy of supporting veterans and is home to the nationally recognized Institute for Veterans and Military Families, the first university-based institute in the U.S. focused on addressing the unique needs of veterans and their families.
