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Program Details

ÃÛÌÒapp's pre-law program is a robust, co-curricular program providing resources that will help you determine whether law is the right path for you, introduce you to a wide variety of law-related careers and legal practice areas, and equip you for law school and a fulfilling career in the legal profession.

When you choose a pre-law specialization at ÃÛÌÒapp, our experienced faculty and special events provide you with advice, preparation, resources and course recommendations to help you evaluate law as a future career, to prepare you for law school, and to equip you for the future.

Our regularly scheduled events include a yearly Luncheon Series focused on legal careers and practice areas, a yearly Workshop Series concentrated on the law school application process, and a biennial Pre-Law Day featuring panel discussions by legal professionals and law school admissions staff which alternates with a biennial Pre-Law Chicago trip that includes visits to law firms and the LSAC law school forum.

Joining the Pre-Law Program and declaring your pre-law specialization

To join the pre-law program, contact the Academic Office and request to declare a pre-law specialization on your academic record. This will also add Pre-Law Advisor Prof. Mark Hessler as an additional faculty advisor on your behalf.

Second, send an email to Mark Hessler to be added to the email list of Pre-Law Program participants so that you receive special additional information about events and programs.

How ÃÛÌÒapp's pre-law program works

ÃÛÌÒapp's pre-law program works differently than a major or minor program. Pre-law at ÃÛÌÒapp is not a major; it's a specialization that you choose to pursue in conjunction with a major in another field. There are no required pre-law courses; instead, students select a major field of study in an area of interest to them as they prepare to attend law school after earning their four-year degree. The courses and experiences that comprise the pre-law specialization emphasize analytic and problem-solving skills, oral communication, political theory, history, ethics and justice.

As the chart below shows, law schools accept undergraduate degrees in a wide variety fields and interests, with specific training in the field of law taking place in law school rather than college. Law school graduates become eligible to practice law by satisfying the licensing requirements of the jurisdiction(s) in which they intend to practice. See the frequently-asked questions for advice about selecting a major that fits your interest in law.

PL Majors 2021-22.png

Read what the American Bar Association has to say about choosing a major .

Pre-law program postings and material

Find printed information about ÃÛÌÒapp's pre-law programÌýevents,Ìýsummer programs,Ìýthe pre-law-library,Ìýthe Law School Admission Test (LSAT)Ìýand other items related to pre-law on the pre-law program bulletin board (located on the top floor of Hiemenga Hall).

Recommended Courses

The following are some specific course recommendations for pre-law students at ÃÛÌÒapp.

These are not requirements, since the pre-law program has no specific course requirements—and no student would be able to take every ÃÛÌÒapp course that helps to prepare for a legal career. Use these lists (and the input of your pre-law advisor) to inform your choice of courses as you work toward your career goal.

For more detailed descriptions of each course, please refer to ÃÛÌÒapp's .

Analytic andÌýproblem-solving skills

  • Introduction to Logic (PHIL 171) –ÌýHIGHLY RECOMMENDED
  • Principles of Microeconomics (ECON 221) – HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Critical reading skills

  • Any upper-division course in the humanities or social sciences

Writing and researching skills

  • Written Rhetoric (ENG 101)
  • Academic and Professional Writing (ENGL 261)
  • Business Writing (ENGL 241)
  • The Craft of Writing (ENGL 260)
  • Any upper-division course in the social sciences

Oral communication and listening skills

  • Argumentation and Advocacy (COMM 311) – HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Language of law

  • Elementary Latin I (LATN 101)
  • Elementary Latin II (LATN 102)

Politics and political theory

  • Foundations of Political Community (POLS 110)
  • Governments and Globalization (POLS 214)
  • The President and Congress (POLS 234)
  • Freedom, Justice and Political Authority (POLS 240)

Ethics and justice

  • Ethics (PHIL 205)
  • Philosophy, Politics, and Law (PHIL 202/POLS 242) –ÌýHIGHLY RECOMMENDED
  • Ethical Theory (PHIL 365)

Economics

  • Principles of Macroeconomics (ECON 222)

History

  • History of the West and the World II (HIST 152)
  • Seminar in United States History (HIST 229)
  • America from Republic to Empire (HIST 252)

Accounting and Finance

  • Managerial Accounting (ACCT 203)
  • Financial Accounting (ACCT 204)

Human behavior

  • Introductory Psychology: Perspectives on the Self (PSYC 151)
  • Sociological Principles and Perspectives (SOC 151)
  • Sociology of Deviance (SOC 203)
  • Diversity and Inequality in the United States (SOC 250)
  • Intercultural Communication (SOC 231)

  • American Constitutional Foundations (POLS 310) –ÌýHIGHLY RECOMMENDED
  • International Organizations and Law (POLS 309)
  • Business Law (BUS 350)
  • Criminology (SOC 303)
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