Pepperdine Caruso School of Law Signs Agreement with Tuskegee University to Offer Accelerated Degree Program

The Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law announced a new accelerated degree program (3+3) with Tuskegee University, one of the 104 accredited Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the US. This 3+3 degree program allows for Tuskegee students to attend the first year of law school after finishing their junior year at Tuskegee, therefore earning a bachelor’s degree followed by a juris doctor in six years instead of seven. 

“We are honored to partner with Tuskegee University and its students,” said Paul Caron, Duane and Kelly Roberts Dean of Caruso Law. “We are committed as a law school to the pursuit of diversity of background, culture, experience, and ideology, knowing that all are essential in making our academic experience richer and our student body stronger.”

A formal signing of the memorandum of understanding took place in Malibu on Monday, October 10, with guests from Tuskegee University in attendance. Jay Brewster, provost of Pepperdine University, and Faye Hall Jackson, Tuskegee assistant provost for Faculty Affairs, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective schools.

Under the terms of the agreement, qualified students from Tuskegee may apply to Caruso Law at the start of their junior year instead of their senior year. If they are accepted, they would begin attending law school during what would have been their senior year, and those first year law credits would also apply to the undergraduate record. 

“In addition to providing a pathway to law school for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds,” said Chalak Richards, dean of students, diversity and belonging at Caruso Law, “this accelerated program represents a significant tuition savings for these students. These candidates are also automatically considered for the Caruso Law HBCU scholarships of up to 50% of tuition, and Caruso Excellence Scholarships which award full tuition.”

“This is a unique partnership to provide a pathway to the legal profession for our students from Tuskegee University, to one of the best legal programs at Pepperdine,” said S. Keith Hargrove, Tuskegee University’s provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “Our collaboration represents two outstanding universities working together for students to complete a law degree and consider a variety of careers with a strong legal foundation and create a more diverse pool for the profession.”