Political Science Pre-law - B.S.
The Political Science Pre-law major, offered by the Department of History and Political Science, enables students to develop skills in both theoretical and practical analysis, understanding, and evaluation of the American federal system of jurisprudence and the constitutional nature of the civil-social order, in preparation for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT).
Purpose
Political Science Pre-law students are trained in the fundamentals of political science while receiving additional preparation in the foundations of American legal processes and procedures. Elective courses designed to prepare Political Science Pre-law majors for law school studies include business law, Latin, logic, criminal law, and court procedures. Additionally, students majoring in Political Science Pre-law are encouraged to take a second major of their choosing. The following second majors are frequently chosen by Pre-law students: Business, Criminal Justice, Economics, English, History, International Relations, Psychology, Philosophy and Theology, Social Work, and Writing.
General Education Competencies
Please refer to the general education requirements and competencies section under the Division of Social Sciences.
Requirements
The Political Science Pre-law major consists of 38 hours in political science and related fields and a concentration or cognate of 10-12 hours. The core of the program consists of required courses focusing on fundamental political and legal concepts and skill formation. Program electives are selected by students to enhance their preparation given substantive interest and career goals unique to each individual. A concentration or cognate should be chosen by the student according to his or her professional objectives and LSAT preparations.
Requirements (48-50 credits)
Division Foundational Course (2 credits)
| SOS-180 | Introduction to the Social Sciences | 2 |
Fundamentals in Political Science (21 credits)
| POL-100 | American Government | 3 |
| MAT-112 | General Statistics | 3 |
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| or | |
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| Equivalent | 3 |
| POL-215 | Foundations of Political Science | 3 |
| POL-291 | Introduction to Law | 3 |
| POL-322 | Research Design and Methods in Political Science and Economics | 3 |
| HST-400 | American Constitutional History | 3 |
| POL-471 | Political Science Research Seminar | 3 |
Pre-law Electives (15 credits)
Students should complete any two of the following: (6 credits)
And at least nine credit hours of the following not already taken: (9 credits)
Concentration or Cognate (10-12 credits)
Students should complete a 10-12 hour concentration or cognate in a field consistent with their vocational goals. Potential concentrations may include additional hours in political science or courses in history, international relations or economics. The cognate may be 10 hours from courses directed in any one of the following suggested areas: accounting, addictions counseling, biology, business administration, communication studies, computer information systems, criminal justice, economics, English, finance, geography, history, intercultural studies, management, marketing, mathematics, psychology, philosophy and theology, social studies, social work, writing, or as directed by the department.
Declaring and Maintaining a Political Science Pre-law Major
Pre-law students need to consult with the Department of History and Political Science coordinator/Pre-law advisor and then declare a Political Science Pre-law major in the Registrar's Office. Pre-law students are expected to maintain no less than a 3.0 GPA in the Political Science Pre-law major to graduate with the degree.
