Admission
Before entering the combined BESc/JD degree program, students must have completed the first three years of the Chemical 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 JD 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/JD 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 D, in the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering 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 Admissions Committee for all combined degree programs.
Entrance into the combined degree program is competitive and limited. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee a position in the combined program.
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 JD 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 2411, CBE 2206A/B, CBE 2207A/B, CBE 2214A/B, CBE 2220A/B, CBE 2221A/B, CBE 2224A/B, CBE 2290A/B, CBE 2291A/B, ES 2211F/G, Statistical Sciences 2143A/B.
Third Year Program
CBE 3310A/B, CBE 3315A/B, CBE 3322A/B, CBE 3323A/B, CBE 3324A/B, CBE 3325A/B, CBE 3317Y, ECE 2208A/B, two 0.5 technical electives***
Fourth Year Program
First year Law curriculum. No courses outside Law may be taken during this year.
Fifth and Sixth Year Programs
CBE 4497, two 0.5 technical electives†.
In years five and six students must complete the following requirements for the JD:
- The two compulsory upper-year Law courses.
- At least three Law core-group courses.
- Additional Law courses totalling at least 25 credit hours.
- One Law course must have an essay requirement of at least two credit hours.
Requirements 2 and 3 must include one of the courses listed below under “Economics” and one listed under “Impact of Technology on Society”.
†Technical Electives: Chemical Engineering and Law Option
CBE 3301A/B, CBE 3320A/B, CBE 4403A/B, CBE 4404A/B, CBE 4407A/B, CBE 4409A/B, CBE 4413A/B, CBE 4417A/B, CBE 4420A/B, CBE 4421A/B, CBE 4423A/B, CBE 4424A/B, CBE 4432A/B, CBE 4463A/B, CBE 4493A/B, CEE 4405A/B, GPE 3382A/B, GPE 3383A/B, GPE 4484A/B.
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:
- Economics: One of Law 5220 Income Taxation, Law 5555 Corporate Finance, or an approved Law Selected Topics course.
- Ethical Issues: Law 5130 Legal Ethics and Professionalism [part of the first year curriculum].
- 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, Law 5625 Intellectual Property, Law 5630 International Protection of Intellectual Property, Law 5610 Advanced Patent Law, or an approved Law Selected Topics course.
- Thought Processes of the Humanities and Social Sciences: Law 5125 Foundations of Canadian Law [part of the first year curriculum].
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.
FACULTIES 