Department of History, Political Science, and Geography

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Dr. Paul Babbitt, Chair

Pre-Law Program

Students who intend to study law can prepare themselves by fulfilling the requirements for the bachelor’s degree with a major in any area and a minor in an appropriate field. Law schools do not prescribe a rigid pre-law curriculum. However, law schools require the completion of an undergraduate degree program and the ability to reason and write well. Many students choose to major in political science, history or criminal justice

It is the opinion of the Association of American Law Schools that the attainment of legal competence depends in large measure upon the development of fundamental capacities such as “critical understanding of the human institutions and values with which the law deals,” and “creative power in thinking.” The selection of courses depends upon individual needs, but students are urged to obtain a broad understanding of the social sciences, acquire written and oral proficiency in the use of language, and develop the ability to reason accurately and logically. To obtain these skills, pre-law students should include in their studies, insofar as their degree programs will permit, such courses as the following: American government, philosophy, introduction to law, principles of accounting, legal environment, business law, advanced composition, advanced literature, speech, advanced history, abnormal psychology, criminology, college algebra or college mathematics, logic, and advanced language. The advisor of pre-law students should be contacted for materials and statements of the policies of law schools.

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