Admission
Before entering the combined BESc/LLB degree program, students must have completed the first three years of the Software Engineering program at Western (or equivalent). In addition to applying for the combined degree program through the Office of the Associate Dean - Academic of the Faculty of Engineering, students must also make a separate application to the Faculty of Law for admission into the LLB program by the published deadline, May 1. In the application to the Law School, the applicant must indicate that he or she is applying to the combined BESc/LLB program.
Admission Criteria
To be eligible for the combined degree program, students must have completed all the requirements of the first year curriculum in the Faculty of Engineering, and the second and third year program, Option C, of the Software Engineering program with either a minimum cumulative weighted average (CWA) of 80% or stand in the top 10% of the class. In addition, the applicant must meet the minimum LSAT requirement established by the Law School Admission Committee for all combined degree programs.
Entrance into the combined degree program is competitive and limited.
Progression Standards
Once admitted to the combined program, students are required to maintain a minimum year weighted average of 75% in their Engineering curriculum courses and a B average in their Law courses.
Failure to Meet Progression Standards
A student who fails to meet the combined program progression standards in any year will be required to withdraw from the combined program. However, a student who has met the progression standards of either the Engineering or LLB program, will be allowed to proceed to the next year of that program. If the progression standards of both individual programs have been satisfied, the student may continue in either program and may petition the Faculty whose program was not selected for permission to complete that program at a later date. A student who is required to withdraw from the combined program and wishes to pursue either or both of the individual programs, must complete all the degree requirements of the individual program or programs in order to graduate from that program or those programs.
First Year Program
Common first year of Engineering.
Second Year Program
Applied Mathematics 2415, ECE 2238A/B, ECE 2239A/B, ES 2211F/G, SE 2203A/B, SE 2205A/B, SE 2250A/B, SE 2251A/B, Computer Science 1037A/B, Statistical Sciences 2141A/B, 0.5 course*.
* The 0.5 science course must be chosen from a course in the Faculty of Science at the 1020-level or higher from the approved list on the engineering website or the approval of the departmental counselor.
Third Year Program
ECE 3339A/B, ECE 3375A/B, SE 3309A/B,SE 3310A/B, SE 3312A/B, SE 3313A/B, SE 3314A/B, SE 3350Y, SE 3351A/B, SE 3352A/B, SE 3353A/B.
Fourth Year Program
First year Law curriculum. No courses outside Law may be taken during this year.
Fifth and Sixth Year Programs
SE 4410A/B, SE 4450, SE 4452A/B, SE 4453A/B.
In years five and six students must complete the following requirements for the LLB:
• The two compulsory upper-year Law courses
• At least three Law core-group courses (must include Law 5220)
• Additional Law courses equaling at least 25 credit hours (must include one of the optional courses listed below under “The Impact of Technology on Society”)
• One Law course must have an essay requirement of at least two credit hours.
Notes: Fulfillment of the Faculty of Engineering requirement of courses that expose students to the impact of technology on society, ethical issues, economics and the thought processes in the Humanities and Social Sciences must be taken as follows:
• Ethical Issues: Law 5130 “Legal Ethics & Professionalism” – part of the first year Law curriculum.
• Thought Processes of the Humanities and Social Sciences: Law 5125 “The Foundations of Canadian Law” – part of the first year Law curriculum.
• The Impact of Technology on Society: One of: Law 5615 “Biotechnology Law”, Law 5605 “Advanced Issues in Technology Law”, Law 5350 “Media Law”, Law 5600 “Advanced Intellectual Property”, Law 5620 “Information Law”, the former Law 453 “Internet Law”, Law 5625 “Intellectual Property”, Law 5630 “International Protection of Intellectual Property”, or Law 5610“Advanced Patent Law”.
In addition, there may be a Selected Topics course offered which may be approved on an individual basis.
• Economics: Law 5220 “Income Taxation”.
Exchange Programs
Students enrolled in the combined program are not eligible for an exchange program with the Faculty of Engineering; however, they may be eligible for an exchange through the Faculty of Law in Year Five or Six. This will require advanced planning with both faculties
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