Before entering the combined BESc/JD degree program, a student 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, a student must also make a separate application to the Faculty of Law for admission into the JD program by the published deadline, May 1. The application to Law must indicate that the student is applying to the combined BESc/JD program.
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. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee a position in the combined program.
Engineering Common First Year Program
Full-year courses: Engineering Science 1050, Business Administration 1299E.
Full-year half course: Engineering Science 1022A/B/Y.
Half-year courses: Numerical and Mathematical Methods 1411A/B, Numerical and Mathematical Methods 1412A/B, Numerical and Mathematical Methods 1414A/B, Chemistry 1302A/B, Engineering Science 1021A/B, Engineering Science 1036A/B, Physics 1401A/B and Physics 1402A/B.
(Three of the half courses are taken in each term as scheduled)
Second Year Program
Numerical and Mathematical Methods 2270A/B, Numerical and Mathematical Methods 2276A/B, ECE 2277A/B, SE 2202A/B, SE 2203A/B, SE 2205A/B, SE 2250A/B, Mathematics 2151A/B, Statistical Sciences 2141A/B, Writing 2130F/G, one 0.5 non-technical elective from the approved list.
Third Year Program
ECE 3375A/B, ECE 4436A/B, SE 3309A/B, SE 3310A/B, SE 3313A/B, SE 3314A/B, SE 3316A/B, SE 3350A/B, SE 3351A/B, SE 3352A/B, SE 3353A/B, Physics 2300A/B.
Fourth Year Program
First year Law curriculum. No courses outside Law may be taken during this year.
Fifth and Sixth Year Programs
SE 4450, SE 4452A/B, SE 4455A/B, SE 4472A/B.
In years five and six, students must take courses in Law totaling 45 credit hours. These courses must include the four compulsory upper-year courses and courses that satisfy the Faculty of Law writing requirements. They must also include one of the courses listed below under “Economics” and one listed under “Impact of Technology on Society”.
Notes: Fulfillment of the Faculty of Engineering requirement of courses that expose students to economics, ethical issues, the impact of technology on society, and the thought processes in the Humanities and Social Sciences must be taken as follows:
Economics: One of Law 5220 Income Taxation, Law 5550 Competition Law, Law 5555 Corporate Finance, or another Law course approved by the Associate Dean (Academic).
Impact of Technology on Society: One of Law 5814 Disruptive technologies and the Law, 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 another Law course approved by the Associate Dean (Academic).
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.
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.