Pre-Law Program
Why Major in Political Science/Pre-Law Area?
The Pre-Law focus in Political Science combines a political science major with a pre-law minor. With the Pre-Law Area, the undergraduate pre-law student is actually working toward two objectives: admission to law school and to complete an undergraduate degree which will help students compete in law school. Our former Pre-Law students have gone on to a variety of law schools, including University of Louisville, St. Louis University, and the University of Kentucky.
What can you do with a Political Science/Pre Law Area Degree?
Students in this track usually go to law school and go on to become attorneys.
Program Requirements
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science Degree (CIP 45.1001)
Total Curriculum Requirements (120 hours)
University Studies Requirements (32-41 hours)
- University Studies selections must include:
- MAT 117 Mathematical Concepts
- STA 125 Statistical Reasoning
Required Courses (25 hours)
- POL 100T Transitions
- POL 140 American National Government
- POL 240 State and Local Government
- POL 250 Introduction to International Relations
- POL 252 Introduction to Comparative Politics
- POL 261 Introduction to Political Theory
- POL 359 Writing and Inquiry in the Social Sciences
- POL 360 Research Methods
- POL 499 Senior Seminar in Political Science
Pre-Professional Legal Studies Courses (24 hours)
- LST 240 Legal Environment of business
- LST 300 Introduction to Legal Research
- LST 457 International Law and Organizations
- POL 441 Legislative Process
- POL 444 Judicial Process
- POL 445 Constitutional Law I: Developments and Trends
- POL 447 Constitutional Law II: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Required Limited Electives (21 hours)
Note: At least 12 hours must be at the 300 level or above. Only one course from PHI
103 and 203 will count toward this requirement.
Select hours from the following:
- LST 242 Real Estate Law
- LST 250 Mock Trial
- LST 320 Family Law
- LST 340 Immigration Law
- LST 350 Legal Services for the Elderly
- LST 370 Law and Literature
- LST 400 Litigation and Trial Practice
- LST 430 Trusts and Estates
- LST 440 Commercial Transactions
- LST 446 Criminal Law
- LST 476 Law in Public Administration
- LST 480 Topical Seminar in Legal Studies
- LST 482 Land Use and Planning Law
- LST 488 Cooperative Education/Internship
- ACC 200 Principles of Financial Accounting
- BAC 540 Legal Obligations of Business
- COM 261 Debate and Advocacy
- COM 367 Communication and Critical Thought
- CRJ 140 Introduction to Criminal Justice
- CRJ 544 Constitutional and Legal Issues in Criminal Justice
- ENG 226 Argument and Discourse
- HIS 176 History of the United States Constitution
- JMC 590 Mass Communication Law
- PHI 103 Critical Thinking
- PHI 203 Symbolic Logic
- POL 442 Government and Business
- POL 449 Human Rights
- PSY 245 Law and Psychology
- SOC 338 Sociology of Deviant Behavior
- SOC 440 Sociology of Corporate and Political Deviance
- SOC 441 Sociology of Youth Violence
- SOC 442 Law and Society
- SOC 445 Media and Crime
Unrestricted Electives (9-18 hours)
Legal Studies Minor (21 hours)
Six hours must be from upper-level courses.
Only three hours of credit allowed from LST 250, 488, 489, or 495.
Computer knowledge and a minimum grade of C in ENG 105 are required of all students (including transfers) pursuing this minor.
No substitutions and/or alterations in the above curriculum shall be made without written approval of department chair.
Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- POL 140 American National Government
- LST 240 The Legal Environment of Business
- LST 300 Introduction to Legal Research
- Complete at least 1 of the following:
- LST 445 Constitutional Law I: Development and Trends
- LST 447 Constitutional Law II: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
- Earn at least 9 credits from LST