Environmental Studies seeks to (1) evaluate the nature and magnitude of environmental and climatic change at local, regional, and global scales, (2) understand and explore solutions to energy challenges, and (3) assess the impact of environmental, climatic, and energy challenges on society and contribute toward the development of a public policy that promotes sustainability. The six-year accelerated program leads to either the B.A. or B.S. in Environmental Studies together with the J.D. degree. Students who want to complete this program must identify themselves to the Environmental Studies department as majors with an emphasis in either environmental policy or nature in society who wish to complete the accelerated program. Undergraduates who major in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in either environmental policy or nature in society and have completed at least 90 semester hours of undergraduate course work (including all general education and major requirements) with a minimum GPA of 3.25 are eligible to apply for admission to NIU's College of Law under the special provisions of this program. Students are encouraged to apply to the program as early as possible during their junior year. As part of the application to the College of Law, applicants must take the LSAT and must receive a score at or above the 50th percentile of the previous year's matriculating law class. Admission will be on a competitive basis, and the likelihood of admission will depend on the number and quality of the applicants to the program, the number and quality of applicants to the College of Law in general, as well as other factors normally considered in admissions decisions by the College of Law.