Kendall Pantano/The Mossy Log
Interested in postgraduate education? Lewis & Clark offers two programs for graduating with a professional degree in a shorter period. Undergraduate students interested in attending the LC Law School or the LC Graduate School of Education & Counseling have the opportunity to enroll in the 4-1 teacher Pathways and 3-3 law programs. These programs exist as bridges between all three schools and post-graduate opportunities offered by LC.
The Accelerated BA/JD Dual Degree Program, also known as the 3-3 program, allows students to earn a bachelor’s degree and a law degree (JD) in six years rather than the typical seven. Students complete three years of undergraduate education, followed by three years in the JD program. The first year of the JD is awarded as credit back toward a BA, allowing students to complete both programs at an accelerated rate. Additionally, students who meet the minimum GPA of 3.5 and LSAT requirement of a score no lower than the median score for the prior year’s admissions cycle are guaranteed admission to the LC Law School.
Associate Professor of English with Term Andrea Hibbard serves as one of LC’s undergraduate pre-law advisors. She commented in an interview with The Mossy Log on how the 3-3 program can help students.
“(The program) does save students time and money, and if a student is really driven and very sure about their future in the law, then it’s a great route,” she said.
However, the accelerated nature of the program can be formidable for prospective law students. Hibbard cautioned that completing an undergraduate degree and general education requirements within three years can be demanding.
“Sometimes it means students have to make choices about not studying abroad, or not adding a major, a second major, or a minor,” Hibbard stated.
Students in the 3-3 Program are supported by faculty in the undergraduate and law programs. Hibbard offers a free LSAT prep class for students taking the test in the fall.
The LC Law School is a top law school in the northwestern United States. LC’s Environmental Law Program regularly ranks as one of the top environmental law programs in the country, according to the U.S. News & World Report.
For students interested in a future career with environmental studies, the 3-3 law program offers a natural continuation from undergraduate to post-graduate education.
“Especially for students who imagine a future in environmental law, it’s a very exciting place to be in law school,” Hibbard said. “I think we have a nice transition from the ENVS program, for example, to the law school. Lewis & Clark Law School is one of the very best environmental law schools in the country. It regularly places in the top five.”
Interested students are encouraged to reach out to Hibbard or Nancy Gallman, the other pre-law advisor. Students interested in the 3-3 program are required to declare by the end of their first year.
The 4-1 Teacher Program is more of a pathway than an accelerated program. Students obtain their bachelor’s degree, then complete one year at the LC Graduate School. Students are able to graduate with both a master’s degree and a teaching license.
Cari Zall, a clinical assistant professor at the graduate school, has been involved with the Teacher Pathways Program for six of its ten years as a track. In an interview with The Mossy Log, Zall spoke about some of the 4-1 Program’s benefits.
“It makes grad school more accessible, less mysterious,” Zall said. “You also get an opportunity to be in community with other people who are interested in careers in education.”
Prospective students are introduced to the Teacher Pathways Program by taking ED 205: Education in a Complex Society and ED 446: Reimagining Teaching and Learning during their undergraduate years. About 30% of LC graduate students come from the undergraduate school. The Teacher Pathways Program currently has over 100 students.
“They get an easier application into grad school if they’re in the pathway,” Zall said. “The process is a lot easier. Their fees are waived. So it’s really creating a smooth pathway into the career field through graduate school so that you end up with a master’s degree and a teaching license at the end of it.”
Sammy Joyce ’26, an English major with minors in French and art, joined the 4-1 Program after filling out a simple Google Form.
“They make it really accessible to join the fifth year,” Joyce explained when asked about the process of entering the 4-1 Program. “I thought about teaching in the program that’s offered at Lewis & Clark, I was like, this is actually gonna be a really good opportunity.”
Joyce is currently enrolled in ED 446. Students like Joyce are placed into local classrooms to observe and eventually teach. At the time of this interview, Joyce was preparing to lead her first full lesson to a sixth-grade humanities class.
“I’m really nervous,” Joyce admitted. “I’ve been feeling nervous because there’s a lot of conceptualizing about what teaching is in these classes. Getting in front of a classroom is something that you’ll never feel fully prepared for until you do it.”
For Joyce, the program’s logistics and philosophy about education resonate.
“It’s beyond just how to teach. It’s how to teach and help your students actually succeed and view them as people in a system that doesn’t really want you to do that,” she said.
A fellow senior, Jayden Haight ’26, also spoke about their experience teaching their first lessons in ED 446.
“I don’t feel prepared to teach yet, but I know that next year at the grad school, that’s what I’ll be doing,” Haight said. “I’ll be in classrooms with a mentor teacher, taking classes at the grad school for teaching. I’m feeling confident in my choice.”
Zall elaborated on the broader mission of the Teacher Pathways Program.
“I think we’re really unique in that we are front and forward with our pedagogy that is around social justice. We believe that education is the space for growing a multicultural democracy and justice in our society, teachers and other people who work in schools get to be part of that work,” she said.
Events for the Teacher Pathways Program such as movie and trivia nights are hosted throughout the year. These events are opportunities for students within the program to get to know each other and faculty members from the grad school. Students interested in 4-1 are encouraged to attend these events and reach out to Zall with any questions. Students can also fill out an interest form to join the Teacher Pathways Program on the LC website.
For students considering going to graduate school, programs like the 3-3 law and 4-1 teacher tracks exist to streamline the process. These programs exist to make post-graduate education easier to navigate. Students drawn to these programs are encouraged to reach out to advisors early and get involved with affiliated events.
About the Author
