Contact: Political Science Department
Students thinking about law school frequently ask what subjects they should take, or what majors they should select as preparation for law school. Law schools do not require any particular course of study or major as a pre-requisite for admission. Studies show there is no correlation between undergraduate major and success in law school. The American Bar Association does not recommend any particular group of undergraduate majors or courses that should be taken by those wishing to prepare for legal education. What law schools will look for is whether a student’s course of study was a rigorous intellectual experience, which demonstrates the academic skills and the intelligence necessary to pursue a legal education. The Legal Studies Minor is designed to prepare students for successful admission to law school by exposing students to a variety of subject matters and providing a balance in students’ educational experiences. Selecting courses from among those offered through the Legal Studies Minor will help students develop oral and written communication proficiency, as well as acquire knowledge of legal history, theory and philosophy. The Moot Court capstone course will require students to use analytical and problem-solving skills to construct factually sound and logically consistent oral arguments.
Courses (18 Credit Hours)
Core Courses (6 credit hours):
PSC 250 Introduction to Law (3 credit hours)
PHI 103 Introduction to Logic (3 credit hours)
Elective Courses: (9 credit hours) – electives must be selected from at least two (2) different departments from the courses listed in this table:
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BUS 334 Business Law I |
CRJ 320 Criminal Courts |
PHI 301 History of Political Philosophy |
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BUS 335 Business Law II |
CRJ 425 Race, Ethnicity and the Administration of Justice |
PHI 304 Philosophy of Law |
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CHE 312 Chemistry and Criminalistics |
CRJ 430 Gender and the Administration of Justice |
PSC 320 U.S. Civil Liberties |
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COM 400 Communication Law |
ECO 360 Introduction to the Economic Analysis of Law |
SOC 380 Sociology of Crime |
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CRJ 303 Crime, Ideology, and the Administration of Justice |
HIS 341 African Americans and Civil Rights |
SOC 382 Sociology of Law |
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CRJ 307 Comparative Criminal Justice System |
HIS 342 English Legal History |
SOC 383 Sociology of Punishment and Corrections |
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CRJ 317 Constitutional Issues in Criminal Justice |
HTR 470 Legal Issues in Hospitality |
SPC 321 Rhetorical Criticism |
Capstone: (3 credit hours)
PSC485/CRJ485/SOC 485 Moot Court (taught by a judge)
OR
PSC420 Contemporary Constitutional Issues
