Curriculum Process

The School of Law maintains a formal, faculty-governed curriculum approval process designed to ensure academic rigor, alignment with learning outcomes, and compliance with accreditation standards. The Curriculum Committee, a standing committee of the faculty chaired by a faculty member, serves as the primary body responsible for the review of all proposed curricular changes. While administrators may participate in committee discussions to provide operational and compliance insight, voting authority is reserved exclusively for faculty.

Faculty members may initiate proposals for new courses or programmatic changes. All proposals are required to include clearly articulated learning outcomes, methods of assessment, and credit hour justification. The Curriculum Committee conducts a comprehensive review of each proposal to ensure academic integrity, coherence within the broader curriculum, and alignment with institutional goals and applicable standards. This includes explicit consideration of the American Bar Association Standards, particularly Standard 302 (Learning Outcomes), as well as Standards 311, 314, and 315, which guide academic program structure, formative and summative assessment, and ongoing evaluation of program effectiveness.

Following committee approval, all proposals are submitted to the full faculty for deliberation and vote. A full faculty vote is required for all curricular changes, and no changes are implemented without such approval. This governance structure ensures that the faculty retains primary responsibility for the content and quality of the academic program.

The School of Law employs a data-informed approach to continuous curricular improvement. Multiple sources of evidence are regularly reviewed, including bar passage outcomes, academic success and progression data, and course evaluations. These measures inform both individual course adjustments and broader programmatic changes, supporting compliance with ABA Standard 315 regarding evaluation of program effectiveness. Compliance considerations are embedded throughout the process to ensure that all curricular offerings remain consistent with accreditation expectations.

Approved curricular changes are implemented according to a formal timeline appropriate to the scope of the modification and are reflected in official academic publications, including the student handbook, as well as institutional systems. This structured and iterative process ensures that the curriculum remains current, outcomes-driven, and responsive to both student needs and professional standards.

Close Course Type Descriptions

Course Types

We have classified RWU Law classes under the following headers. One of the following course types will be attached to each course which will allow students to narrow down their search while looking for classes.

Core Course

Students in the first and second year are required to take classes covering the following aspects of the law—contracts, torts, property, criminal law, civil procedure, and constitutional law, evidence, and professional responsibility.  Along with these aspects, the core curriculum will develop legal reasoning skills.

Elective

After finishing the core curriculum the remaining coursework toward the degree is completed through upper level elective courses.  Students can choose courses that peak their interests or courses that go along with the track they are following.

Seminar

Seminars are classes where teachers and small groups of students focus on a specific topic and the students complete a substantial research paper.

Clinics/Externships

Inhouse Clinics and Clinical Externships legal education is law school training in which students participate in client representation under the supervision of a practicing attorney or law professor.  RWU Law's Clinical Programs offer unique and effective learning opportunities and the opportunity for practical experience while still in law school.