Angola, USA
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
Scholarships
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Introduction
Your path to law school
While there is no single path to prepare for legal education, the Bachelor of Arts in general studies with a concentration in pre-legal studies at Trine University is a strong option for students looking toward a career in law.
The experience: Diverse disciplines
This pre-legal track teaches you to think critically, communicate effectively and pull together knowledge from many disciplines, demonstrating that you have the self-discipline and intelligence to work through a university-level program in a variety of subject areas.
Students in the general studies major may double major and are strongly encouraged to obtain a minor. The list of minors is impressive and includes communication, criminal justice, history, and psychology. Advisors who are knowledgeable of other majors and minors can assist you in getting as much value as possible from your experience at Trine.
Curriculum
The degree: Develop in-demand skills
Law schools value a diverse student body and intentionally select students from a wide variety of undergraduate majors. Nevertheless, certain areas of study provide excellent preparation for the pre-law candidate. The American Bar Association's section on legal education recommends courses that teach the following core skills and values: analytic/problem-solving skills, critical reading, writing skills, oral communication, listening abilities, general research skills, task organization, management skills, and public service and the promotion of justice. Trine's pre-legal studies concentration is designed to provide students the opportunity to develop these skills and values.
Curriculum
The Bachelor of arts in general studies with a concentration in the pre-legal studies curriculum requires the completion of 120 hours of course work. The average course load is 15-16 hours based on eight semesters.
General Education – 42 credit hours
- Written Communication – 6 credit hours
- Oral Communication – 3 credit hours
- Social Science & Humanities – 12 credit hours
- Mathematics & Science – 10 credit hours
- Other – 11 credit hours
Program Requirements – 48 credit hours
- Pre-Legal Studies Concentration:
- COM 213 Business Communication
- COM 363 Persuasion and Argumentation
- ENG 2113 American Literature I
- GOV 333 State and Local Government
- GOV 403 American Constitutional Development
- LE 153 Juvenile Justice, LE 263 Introduction to Criminal Law and Justice, LE 273 Criminal Procedures and Evidence or 9 hours from BA or LAW
- PHIL 313 Ethics
- PHL 343 Logic
- PSY 373 Political Psychology
- SOC 103 Principles of Sociology
- SOC 323 The Family
- Electives from LE, ENG, PSY, or COM – 6 hrs.
- PL 4003 Legal Capstone Experience
Additional – 30 credit hours
Electives - 29 hrs. - General Studies Major-Pre-Legal Track students are encouraged to consult with their advisor to choose electives that are appropriate to their career plan.
UE 101 - 1 hr
Program Outcome
The results: Readiness for the next step
The Bachelor of Arts in general studies with a concentration in pre-legal studies provides you with:
- Preparation for law school admission and a sound foundation for legal studies
- A breadth and depth of the knowledge of social sciences
- Understanding of the ethical behavior patterns demanded in professional conduct
- Skills necessary for good citizenship
Trine University has partnerships with several law schools that allow students to receive concurrent credit at Trine for their first year of law school, providing an opportunity to earn a Juris Doctor in six years instead of seven.