5X社区

Image
Pre-Law minor at Kent State.

Pre-Law - Minor

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.

Contact Us

Apply Now
Request Info
Schedule a Visit

Minor in Pre-Law

5X社区鈥檚 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.

Program Information for Pre-Law - Minor

Program Description

Full Description

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. 5X社区 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.

Admissions for Pre-Law - Minor

Admission Requirements

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.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Develop reading comprehension, analytical (critical thinking), oral advocacy and writing skills.
  2. Formulate legal and public policy arguments and apply them to legal practice and alternative non-legal workspaces.
  3. Organize, compare and apply legal and non-legal strategies that aid in negotiation and reaching settlements or desirable outcomes in contested adversarial disputes in legal and non-legal employment settings.
  4. Evaluate the operation of the judicial process and the American legal profession within the American political system and global context.
  5. Interpret the nature of law and politics in the context of adversarial justice.
Coursework

Program Requirements

Minor Requirements

Minor Requirements
PHIL 11009CRITICAL THINKING (KADL) 3
or PHIL 21002 INTRODUCTION TO FORMAL LOGIC (KMCR)
PLST 28001LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING 3
POL 10200INTRODUCTION TO THE AMERICAN LEGAL PROFESSION 3
POL 30130THE 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

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Minor GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
  • Maximum three courses applied toward a student's major may also be applied toward the Pre-Law minor.
  • Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be upper-division coursework (30000 and 40000 level).
  • Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be outside of the course requirements for any major or other minor the student is pursuing.
  • Minimum 50 percent of the total credit hours for the minor must be taken at Kent State (in residence).

Program Notes

  • It is recommended that students pursuing the Pre-Law minor give strong consideration to the following courses in fulfillment of the Kent Core:
    • In the humanities and fine arts category: AFS 23001, AFS 23002, COMM 15000, COMM 26000, HIST 12070, HIST 12071
    • In the social sciences category: ECON 22061, POL 10100
  • Students are strongly encouraged to consider prerequisites of advanced courses in the Pre-Law minor as they select their Kent Core courses.
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus
    • Stark Campus

More About This Program

About

Kent State鈥檚 Political Science Pre-Law Program includes a  and:

  • Educates students about the law鈥檚 role in the civic community, law school, legal practice, and legal (and alternative law-related) careers.
  • Trains students to develop the skills crucial to an attorney鈥檚 professional life, including reading comprehension of complex legal documents; problem-solving; effective and articulate oral and written communication; logical reasoning and critical analysis; and  ethical public service.
  • Provides pre-law advice about to how prepare a successful application to law school and thrive in a rigorous graduate law school environment.
  • Positions students to compete successfully in obtaining legal and alternative professional careers.
  • Through a Pre-Law Service, Citizenship & Justice Living Leaning Community, emphasizes the importance of creating a professional identity that values proactive engagement in providing public service and community outreach in public affairs
  • Saves time and costs by participating in a , a program that permits students to take undergraduate and law school courses simultaneously.

Students receive individual guidance and counseling on:

  • Political science and inter-disciplinary undergraduate coursework
  • Law school admissions process
  • LSAT preparation
  • Extracurricular and community service opportunities, including internships and membership on the Kent State's Mock Trial team, the Pre-Law Club, and Phi Alpha Delta (a chapter in a legal fraternity)
  • Legal and alternative professional careers

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, Kent State students have been accepted into:

  • Top law schools including Cornell Law School, Emory University School of Law, Penn State University Dickinson Law School, Notre Dame Law School, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law,  Vanderbilt Law School, Harvard, Columbia, New York University, University of Chicago, Pennsylvania, and California-Berkeley.
  • Kent State remains an important feeder school for Ohio law schools
 
Advising

Dr. Christopher P. Banks, J.D., Ph.D., Professor, Pre-Law Advisor advises students on:

  • Planning for law school
  • The LSAT
  • Researching law schools
  • Questions about law school admissions
  • Personal Statement/Resume Reviews
  • Exploring legal careers/majors

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 Kent State degree programs, using KSU Advising.

  • Make an Appointment with Professor Banks (pre-law advice)
  • Make an Appointment with (College of Arts & Sciences' advisement)