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Pre-Law Certificate

Although law schools do not recommend any specific pre-law major curriculum, undergraduates with an interest in a legal career will benefit from learning more about the legal profession, honing foundational skills, and exploring coursework related to the law and legal issues. As a complement to each student’s chosen major, this certificate enables students to explore their interest in legal issues and to develop the critical skills necessary to succeed in law school and a legal career. 

Certificate Requirements

Recommended pre-requisites. Students are encouraged, but not required, to take the following two courses prior to beginning the pre-law certificate:

• COMM 201SI: Principles of Speech Communication

• POL 205: American National Government 

Required Courses

JU 175Proseminar in Legal Studies

1

Foundational skills

6 credits chosen from the following list of courses:
COMM 302SIPersuasive Speaking

3
ENGL 302WIWriting: Exposition

3
ENGL 304WHHon Writing Argumentation

1
HIST 400WRThe Technique of History

3
MATH 301WIIntroduction to Abstract Mathematics

3
MATH 330Symbolic Logic

3
JU 300Mock Trial

1-2

Legal studies

6 credits chosen from the following list of courses: 
COMM 455Communication Law

3
PHIL 311Political Philosophy

3
Or
POL 401Political Theory

3
PHIL 320 Philosophy of Law

3
POL 309Constitutional LawPolitics

3
SOC 189Core Seminar in Sociology

3
SOC 305Criminology

3
SOC 380Juvenile Delinquency

3

Total Credit Hours: 13