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TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — The University of Arizona is partnering with a Chinese university to teach the U.S. legal system to students in Asia.
UA's James E. Rogers College of Law and Ocean University of China in Qingdao will offer a dual-degree law program, much of which will be taught online, reported the Arizona Daily Star (http://bit.ly/1QTxI3Y ). Students will earn a bachelor's of arts in law from UA and a bachelor's of law from Ocean University.
"Our operating premise is that millions of students would like a U.S. education but can't afford to come," said Brent White, the law school's associate dean for programs and global initiatives. The new program "takes U.S. education to students who otherwise wouldn't have access."
White said the program will offer language training and classes will be taught solely in English at the request of Chinese officials.
He said start-up costs for the program were minimal. It launched last semester and attracted 77 students. It can accommodate up to 400 per year.
Tuition for the program is $8,000 a year, $5,000 of which goes to UA. If all 400 seats were filled, UA would receive $2 million in tuition per year and use less than half to run the program.
UA's traditional law degree, the juris doctor, isn't required to practice law in China. A bachelor's degree is sufficient.
The program follows years of dwindling first-year enrollment at the Tucson law school.
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Information from: Arizona Daily Star, http://www.tucson.com
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