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January 21, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CSU Dominguez Hills, Southwestern Law Partner
To Offer Students Two New Degree Programs

(Carson, CA) – California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) and Southwestern Law School have partnered on two exciting new programs for undergraduate and graduate students interested in pursuing careers in law: a joint J.D./M.A. program, and a 3+3 program through which students can earn their B.A. and J.D. degrees in six years.

The joint J.D./M.A. Program enables graduate students to complete a J.D. degree at Southwestern while concurrently earning an M.A. degree in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding from CSUDH. The 3+3 Option Program allows selected CSUDH students who meet program requirements to enter law school at Southwestern after completing just three years of undergraduate study at CSUDH.

“Partnering with Southwestern Law School on two unique options to the Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding program will only add to the high regard the program currently enjoys," CSUDH President Mildred García said. "To be able to offer graduate students a concurrent J.D. and undergraduate students the possibility of a law degree in six years are truly amazing educational opportunities, and both are shining examples of the outstanding academic endeavors Cal State Dominguez Hills provides to its students."

In his announcement about the new programs, Southwestern Law Dean Bryant Garth said, “This new collaboration presents a splendid opportunity for Southwestern to expand our law students’ academic experiences and credentials, and to encourage promising undergraduate students from a wide range of backgrounds to pursue a legal education at Southwestern.”

Garcia and Professor A. Marco Turk, the director of the Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding program in the College of Arts and Humanities at CSUDH, were instrumental in developing the partnership. He will supervise the joint programs for CSUDH. A 1960 graduate of Southwestern who served for many years on the law school's adjunct faculty, Turk is a former Fulbright Senior Scholar in Conflict Resolution (Cyprus) and a member of the mediation panel for the California Court of Appeal.

“I feel that such a joint degree program will be extremely advantageous to our respective participating graduates in today's competitive professional world, Turk said regarding the JD/MA program. “It will give them a 'leg-up' in terms of sought-after job opportunities and possibilities for meaningful community service.”

In the future, the two institutions may also benefit from joint research activities and publications, applications for research funding, co-sponsorship of seminars and academic conclaves, sharing of course materials and curricula, and other cooperative efforts. The relationship with CSUDH will also serve as a model for Southwestern affiliations with other academic and professional entities.

To learn more about the new joint programs, call CSUDH at (310) 243-3237.

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Overview of CSUDH/Southwestern Joint Degree Programs

The Joint J.D./M.A. Program enables graduate students to complete a J.D. degree at Southwestern while concurrently earning an M.A. degree in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding from California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH). Requirements and program components include:

• J.D. degree at Southwestern.
• M.A. at CSUDH in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding (NCRP).
• M.A. degree requires 36 total units, 27 at CSUDH and 9 at Southwestern.
• NCRP Post-Master's Certificate option requires 18 total units, 9 at CSUDH and 9 at Southwestern (to be awarded following conferring of the JD degree).
• Students at Southwestern apply to the M.A. program at CSUDH through normal application procedures during their first or second year of law school for admission following their first year of law study.
• Students do not initially have to elect/commit to either the NCRP degree or certificate track (admission to the M.A. degree program will suffice because students may elect to change their program at a later date).
• M.A. courses at CSUDH are all 3 units, 12 weeks online and 15 weeks duration on campus, and meet once weekly for 3 hours.
• NCRP degree/certificate courses at CSUDH can be taken on campus or entirely online (or through a combination of both methods of delivery).
• With some pre-designated exceptions, CSUDH online courses are asynchronous, on-demand video lectures; these sessions are archived and can be accessed and seen by students at any point prior to the next designated class session (one week).
• Students in online courses can text-message questions to faculty (during class lectures that are synchronous and later where delivery is asynchronous), e-mail each other and the instructor, and all classes (online and on-campus) feature student discussion boards as well as chat rooms and other similar online opportunities.
• Courses at Southwestern include two specific 3-unit courses (Alternative Dispute Resolution and Interviewing, Counseling and Negotiating) as well as unspecified 3-unit externship and directed research courses that will satisfy the 9-unit requirement for Southwestern courses.
• Students who receive their J.D. and M.A. degrees jointly will be recognized at both the Southwestern and CSUDH commencement ceremonies in a manner that will distinguish them for their significant accomplishment.

3+3 Program

This 3+3 Program allows selected students at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) to enter Southwestern after completing only three years of undergraduate study at CSUDH under very specific and strict conditions. Participants will earn both the B.A. and J.D. under the 6-year program. Requirements and components of the 3+3 Program include:

• Eligible CSUDH students must complete all general education and major requirements by the end of their junior year.
• Participants are able to earn no more than 70 units of lower division credit from an institution other than CSUDH - all upper division courses must be taken at CSUDH, making participation in this program more difficult for transfer students.
• Participants must be exceptional and highly-motivated students.
• Students must have strong analytical and writing skills.
• CSUDH participants must consult with the 3+3 Program Director as early as possible to ensure courses and sequencing are on-track.
• Participants must have their LSAT scores available by February of their junior year at CSUDH.
• Participants must apply to Southwestern no later than February of their junior year at CSUDH.
• Eligible students must have a minimum LSAT score of 154.
• Eligible students must have a minimum comprehensive UGPA of 3.6.
• Eligible CSUDH students must be recommended by the 3+3 Program Director, and then interviewed by Southwestern.
• Eligible students are not guaranteed admission to Southwestern.
• The first year of law school must be completed with a minimum "C+" cumulative GPA.
• Full credits required for graduation from CSUDH must be earned by the end of August following the first year of law school, or by the end of December following the first year of law school for students enrolled in Southwestern's evening program.
• If a first-year law student in this program withdraws, some academic credit for law school study may be accepted toward completion of the student's Bachelor's degree at the sole discretion of CSUDH.
• These conditions are modifiable as determined by CSUDH and Southwestern.

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About CSU Dominguez Hills -- California State University, Dominguez Hills is a highly diverse, urban university located in the South Bay, primarily serving the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The university prides itself on its outstanding faculty and friendly, student-centered environment. Known for excellence in teacher education, nursing, psychology, business administration, and digital media arts, new degree programs include computer science, criminal justice, recreation and leisure studies, social work, and communication disorders. On campus is the Home Depot Center, a multi-purpose sports complex that hosts world-class soccer, tennis, track and field, lacrosse, and cycling.

About Southwestern Law School -- Founded in 1911, Southwestern is a nonprofit, nonsectarian independent law school approved by the ABA and a member of the AALS. One of the most diverse law schools in the nation, Southwestern has an enrollment of 950 students in two, three and four-year full-time and part-time J.D. programs of study, as well as the only LL.M. program offered in entertainment and media law. Southwestern has created an award-winning campus that includes the internationally acclaimed art deco Bullocks Wilshire landmark that houses the second largest academic law library facility in California and the Julian C. Dixon Courtroom and Advocacy Center, the most technologically advanced center of its kind. Taking advantage of its location in the center of Los Angeles, Southwestern offers one of the most extensive externship programs in the country and is the home of the Donald E. Biederman Entertainment and Media Law Institute. For more information, visit www.swlaw.edu.

Media Contact:
Amy Bentley-Smith
(310) 243-2455
abentleysmith@csudh.edu

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