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Taking Classes Across the Midway

The Law School encourages law students to take classes across the Midway, and all law students can receive up to 12 credits toward the 105 credits required to graduate from the Law School by taking classes in other departments throughout the University.  Although those grades appear on your Law School transcripts, the grades do not count toward your Law School GPA. 

Should you take classes across the Midway?

In the words of students who have taken classes across the Midway:

  • “It's nice to get a different perspective.”
  • “Highly encourage.  The Law School is great.  But it is only a small part of an equally great University.  Take advantage.”
  • “Don't wait until your third year.  Take advantage of it at an early stage, because there are probably several classes outside of the law school that would be enjoyable to take.”
  • “I would recommend it, especially languages or business classes--at least, if you are interested in corporate work or commercial litigation.  It gets you out of the legal sphere and better able to read and interpret materials important in dealmaking, evidence management, and fostering client relationships.”
  • “It is fun to take a class outside the law school, and I would recommend it to anyone.”
  • “It gave incredible context to some of my law school classes.”
  • “If a law student is interested in the business side of the law, which includes die-hard litigators, they should take basic business school classes like Competitive Strategy.  It gives insight into how businesses behave in the real world, what motivates them, and where the law fits in.  Great idea.”
  • "I would encourage other students to take more classes at Booth."  

Requirements:

If you are contemplating taking classes across the Midway, please keep in mind the following requirements:

  • The course must be substantive.
  • You must complete an approved petition and be able to demonstrate that the course will further your legal education and/or future practice.
  • The course must be graduate level, although exceptions are occasionally made for undergraduate foreign languages that you have not previously studied or that you test into.
  • If you are a graduating student in your final quarter at the Law School, please keep in mind that the Law School is not on the same academic calendar as the rest of the University and be sure to make arrangements with your professor to get your grade turned in by the Law School's deadline for submission of graduating students' grades.

Steps to take to register for a class across the Midway:

  • Go to the University of Chicago Time Schedules at http://timeschedules.uchicago.edu/
  • Choose a department from the list. 
  • Review the list of courses offered by the department and select a graduate level course that you would like to take. 
  • Email the instructor of the course in which you seek to enroll.  In some cases you will need the professor’s approval to register, and you should establish with the professor whether you will be taking the course pass/fail or for a letter grade.
  • Complete the online petition to take a non-Law School class for credit.  The petition is at: http://www.law.uchicago.edu/students/petitions/nonlawcourse.
  • After your petition is submitted, you will receive either an approval or a denial from the Dean of Students via email.
  • If the Dean of Students approves your request, the Registrar’s Office will enroll you and notify you once that process is complete.
  • Please note that Booth follows a slightly different process.  Please see: http://www.law.uchicago.edu/students/registration, select the appropriate term, and read the instructions at the bottom of the Registration instruction page.  

Petitions may be submitted through the end of the first week of class.  Petitions submitted thereafter will not be considered. 

Evaluations of Classes Taken across the Midway:

Beginning with the 2010-2011 academic year, the Law School has started surveying students about classes they have taken across the Midway.  The results of the surveys (including evaluations of specific classes) are kept in a binder in the Office of the Registrar for students' use.  If you would like to review the binder, request the binder from the Assistant Registrar in the Student Services Suite. 

Questions about taking classes across the Midway?

Please talk to the Registrar, the Associate Director of Student Affairs, or the Dean of Students.