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Gain the foundational knowledge and skills needed to succeed in law school and beyond with our interdisciplinary Pre-Law minor. Explore legal theory, critical thinking and problem-solving while building a strong foundation for a career in law.
Gain the foundational knowledge and skills needed to succeed in law school and beyond with our interdisciplinary Pre-Law minor. Explore legal theory, critical thinking and problem-solving while building a strong foundation for a career in law.
麻豆精选鈥檚 Minor in Pre-Law is designed to provide students with a foundational understanding of legal principles, critical thinking, and analytical skills essential for pursuing a career in law. The program offers an interdisciplinary approach, covering topics such as government, ethics, and legal reasoning, to prepare students for law school or other law-related professions. By enhancing their ability to think logically and communicate effectively, students in the Pre-Law minor are well-prepared to navigate complex legal concepts and excel in their future studies or careers.
The Pre-Law minor provides a background for the study of law through challenging coursework that reinforces and extends the liberal arts foundation gained through the Kent Core. It prepares students for advanced analytical and writing dexterity, and introduces them to the social and governmental structures that underlie the law.
No specific course of study is required for admission to law school. Most law schools require a bachelor’s degree for admission. The bachelor’s degree may be from any discipline or college. 麻豆精选 also has a number of 3+3 agreements with law schools in Ohio. Interested students should consult with the Pre-Law Center.
Law schools and alternative legal employment emphasize the value of reading comprehension, analytical skills, oral advocacy and a good command of written English. While these skills can be obtained in various ways, a general liberal arts background is recommended. Courses in English literature, American history and government are considered essential. Many pre-law students choose a major in political science, history, sociology, psychology, economics or English. A Bachelor of Integrative Studies degree is suitable if carefully planned.
Students considering law as a career should seek individual advising from the Pre-Law Center or in their major department. A list of pre-law advisors is available in the college office. Consultation with a pre-law advisor is urged, regardless of the student's major, minor or college. The Pre-Law Center can also supply information on LSAT registration, pre-law planning guides, information on law school admissions and financial aid information. The center sponsors an inter-collegiate competitive Moot Court team; a Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity; a pre-law club; and a Pre-Law Service, Citizenship and Justice living learning community, as well as law-related scholarships and legal internships.
Admission to a minor is open to students declared in a bachelor’s degree, the A.A.B. or A.A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree (not Individualized Program major). Students declared only in the A.A. or A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree in Individualized Program may not declare a minor. Students may not pursue a minor and a major in the same discipline.
Graduates of this program will be able to:
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Minor Requirements | ||
PHIL 11009 | CRITICAL THINKING (KADL) | 3 |
or PHIL 21002 | INTRODUCTION TO FORMAL LOGIC (KMCR) | |
PLST 28001 | LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING | 3 |
POL 10200 | INTRODUCTION TO THE AMERICAN LEGAL PROFESSION | 3 |
POL 30130 | THE JUDICIAL PROCESS | 3 |
Social Science Electives, choose from the following: | 6 | |
COMM 45007 | FREEDOM OF SPEECH | |
CRIM 12000 | INTRODUCTION TO JUSTICE STUDIES | |
CRIM 26704 | ISSUES IN LAW AND SOCIETY (KSS) | |
CRIM 33200 | CRIMINAL LAW | |
CRIM 34200 | CRIMINAL PROCEDURES AND EVIDENCE | |
CRIM 46200 | CURRENT CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL ISSUES | |
FIN 26074 | LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS | |
FIN 36072 | LAW OF COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS | |
FIN 46072 | BUSINESS FINANCIAL DISTRESS AND BANKRUPTCY | |
MDJ 20001 | MEDIA, POWER AND CULTURE (DIVD) (KSS) | |
MDJ 40006 | LAW OF MEDIA AND JOURNALISM | |
POL 30100 | AMERICAN POLITICAL THEORY | |
POL 40182 | CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURES AND FUNCTIONS | |
POL 40183 | CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES (DIVD) | |
PSYC 30111 | FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY | |
SOC 32762 | DEVIANT BEHAVIOR | |
Humanities Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
ENG 30064 | ARGUMENTATIVE PROSE WRITING | |
HIST 31082 | HISTORY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND BLACK POWER MOVEMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES | |
HIST 41071 | IDEAS IN ACTION: U.S. INTELLECTUAL HISTORY (DIVD) | |
PHIL 31035 | PHILOSOPHY AND JUSTICE (DIVD) | |
PHIL 41025 | PHILOSOPHY OF LAW | |
Legal Practice Skills Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
COMM 35464 | ARGUMENTATION AND PERSUASIVE COMMUNICATION | |
COMM 45807 | HIGH IMPACT PROFESSIONAL SPEAKING | |
PACS 11001 | INTRODUCTION TO CONFLICT MANAGEMENT (DIVD) (KSS) | |
PACS 44040 | NEGOTIATION | |
PACS 48080 | MEDIATION: THEORY AND TRAINING | |
PLST 28004 | CIVIL PROCEDURE | |
PLST 38005 | TORT LAW | |
PLST 48002 | CONTRACT LAW | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 24 |
Minimum Minor GPA | Minimum Overall GPA |
---|---|
2.000 | 2.000 |
Kent State鈥檚 Political Science Pre-Law Program includes a and:
Students receive individual guidance and counseling on:
鈥ith an eye toward building a professional identity that understands the paramount significance of creating meaningful and enduring contributions to civic affairs through responsible and ethical public service.
In recent years, 麻豆精选students have been accepted into:
Dr. Christopher P. Banks, J.D., Ph.D., Professor, Pre-Law Advisor advises students on:
Students interested in pre-law should review Kent State's Political Science Pre-Law Advising Guide, which includes detailed information for pre-law students on:
Note that advisors in the College of Arts & Sciences may provide general guidance to students about pre-professional study; but college advisors do not focus or specialize on any specific program or degree. Students with questions about university or college requirements, graduation planning, or non-major/minor related questions should make an appointment with the advisors in the College of Arts and Sciences. You can do so in person at 105 Bowman Hall or .
Pre-Law listserv
Email Professor Christopher Banks in political science and request to be added to the Pre-Law listserv to receive newsletters and emails regarding pre-law programming.
Scheduling an Appointment
You may schedule an appointment with a Professor Banks in political science about pre-law advice; or, for general advisement about 麻豆精选degree programs, using KSU Advising.
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