In accordance with recommendations from law schools and the American Bar Association, the Pre-Law minor does not require a specific course of study. Instead, it emphasizes a broad range of offerings drawn from six academic programs. The focus is on providing a strong liberal arts foundation that prepares students to develop knowledge of the American legal system, understand pressing social issues, and cultivate the ability to read critically and write clearly and concisely. 

Students minoring in Pre-Law must complete 18 semester credit hours, to include 6 semester credit hours at the 3000 level or higher, with a grade of “C” or better, from the following courses: 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
PLSC 2105	Law and Politics	3
Select one of the following:		3
PLSC 3330	US Constitutional Law I
PLSC 3331	US Constitutional Law II
PLSC 3371	Appellate Advocacy: Brief Writing and Oral Argument
Critical thinking and textual analysis:
COMM 2268	Legal Textual Analysis	3
or LITR 2299	Methods of Textual Analysis
PHIL 2200	Introduction to Logic	3
Pre-law electives
Select two of the following courses (one of which must be 3000-level or higher):		6
COMM 4317	Mass Media Law and Ethics
CRIM 3322	Criminal Law
LITR 2298	Advanced Academic and Nonfiction Writing
MGT 2235	Business Law
PHIL 2245	General Ethics
or PHIL 3360	Social and Political Philosophy
PLSC 2237	Mock Trial
PLSC 3398	Pre-Law Internship 1
Total Hours		18

¹

Students can only take 3 hours of PLSC 3398 for the pre-law minor.

 Students majoring or minoring in Political Science may not earn a Pre-law minor. 

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) and Performance Indicators  

Upon completing the Pre-Law Minor, students will achieve the following student learning outcomes (SLOs): 

SLO 1: Critical Reading and Thinking 

Students will develop critical reading and thinking skills. 

• University SLO 2 (Critical and Creative Thinking Skills); University SLO 5 (Analytical Skills) 

Performance Indicators: 

1. Understand complex language as it is used in a wide variety of textual materials. 
2. Articulate how the component parts of a text relate to the whole, and vice versa. 
3. Identify, analyze, and draw conclusions about important details in various kinds of texts.   

SLO 2: Applied Analytical and Ethical Reasoning  

Students will apply philosophical, historical, and political perspectives to issues of justice and law. 

• University SLO 5 (Analytical Skills) 

Performance Indicators:  

1. Identify and interpret key ethical and legal concepts in theoretical and applied contexts.  
2. Evaluate evidence and arguments using principles of logic and critical reasoning.  
3. Integrate historical and philosophical frameworks in discussions of justice and governance.   

SLO 3: Oral and Written Communication  

Students will express complex ideas clearly, persuasively, and ethically in writing and speech. 

• University SLO: 3. Communication Skills 

Performance Indicators:  

1. Write sustained analytical and argumentative essays with clarity and coherence.  
2. Deliver persuasive oral presentations or legal arguments effectively.  
3. Revise work in response to feedback, demonstrating professional growth and rhetorical refinement. 

SLO 4: Applied Legal and Civic Competence  

Students will connect classroom learning to experiential practice and demonstrate readiness for law school or related professional fields. 

• University SLO 7: Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility 

Performance Indicators:  

1. Apply constitutional, ethical, and political knowledge to simulated or real-world legal cases.  
2. Demonstrate teamwork, leadership, and professionalism in experiential settings.  
3. Reflect critically on learning experiences to identify strengths and goals for advanced study.