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Pre-Law Options

The American Bar Association emphasizes that there is no single prescribed path to law school. At the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (CASSH), we embrace this philosophy by offering a variety of time-tested routes to prepare you for a legal education. Our pre-law programs span multiple disciplines, each providing unique perspectives, skills, and experiences essential for success in law school and beyond.


Pre-Law Pathways

CASSH graduates have a strong track record of attending top-tier law schools and building successful legal careers. Whether you're ready to dive into pre-law classes, passionate about political science, fascinated by history, or drawn to the analytical rigors of philosophy, CASSH offers a pre-law path that will challenge you intellectually and prepare you thoroughly for the demands of law school.

Explore our academic programs below to find the path that best aligns with your interests and career goals. Want to learn more? Connect with the program’s advisor.

The Legal Studies Pre-Law specialization prepares students with the critical skills and legal knowledge to excel in law school. Students taking courses in Contracts, Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure, and Criminal Law get a head start on their legal education. They also benefit from the program’s extensive network of attorney and judicial partners that places students in prestigious credit-earning internships. The program provides extensive support for law school applications, including LSAT preparation and personalized resume and personal statement reviews. This comprehensive approach ensures students are well-prepared for law school and successful legal careers.

For more information on the Legal Studies Pre-Law specialization, please click here.

To speak with an academic advisor, please click here.

In the Political Science Pre-Law specialization, students develop the critical reading and interpretation skills that are essential for successful legal careers. The curriculum focuses on analyzing complex texts from the Western tradition, including works by Plato, Shakespeare, and Machiavelli, as well as the Federalist Papers. Professors employ a Socratic approach that emphasizes discussion and shared inquiry, cultivating the analytical and argumentative skills at the heart of the lawyer’s craft. In this interdisciplinary program, students take upper-level courses in History, English, and Philosophy to broaden their perspectives and enhance their ability to interpret complex texts.

For more information on the Political Science Pre-Law specialization, please click here.

To speak with an academic advisor, please click here.

A degree in Anthropology equips students with a unique skill set for success in law school. Anthropology’s holistic approach to understanding human behavior develops students’ attention to detail. Qualitative and quantitative analytical methods enable them to uncover hidden patterns in the data and make persuasive interpretations of their findings. Fieldwork provides the experience to navigate diverse perspectives as careful considerations of ethics and human rights in coursework provide students with a solid foundation for law school.

For more information on the Anthropology Pre-Law specialization, please click here.

To speak with an academic advisor, please click here.

A degree in Communication provides skills in “Oral communication, listening, research, relationship building, collaboration…,” which are all listed in the American Bar Association’s wish list of core skills and experiences for aspirational law students. Students master oral communication, listening, and relationship-building through courses in Public Speaking and Interpersonal Communication. Specialized courses such as Media Law & Ethics and Rhetoric of Popular Trials provide direct exposure to legal concepts and argumentative techniques. The program offers hands-on experiences through the Speech & Debate Team and relevant internships. Students develop a strong ePortfolio that enhances their law school applications.

For more information on the Communication Pre-Law specialization, please click here.

To speak with an academic advisor, please click here.

A degree in History is a time-tested path to law school. By delving into the complexities of past societies, laws, and conflicts, History majors develop an unparalleled ability to contextualize and analyze complex situations – a skill at the heart of legal practice. Beyond honing critical thinking and communication skills, the History program trains students to dissect sophisticated texts, conduct rigorous research, and build persuasive arguments. Graduates emerge not just with facts, but with a nuanced understanding of how law shapes – and is shaped by – the human experience, preparing them to navigate the complexities of modern legal challenges with depth and wisdom.

For more information on the History Pre-Law specialization, please click here.

To speak with an academic advisor, please click here.

Philosophy majors consistently achieve high LSAT scores and enjoy strong law school acceptance rates, testament to the program's effectiveness in developing critical thinking and analytical skills. Students engage intensively in reading, analyzing, and critiquing arguments – skills at the heart of legal practice. The curriculum covers ethics, logic, justice, and human rights, providing a strong foundation in the philosophical underpinnings of law. By grappling with complex philosophical concepts, students prepare themselves for the rigorous intellectual challenges of law school and legal careers. This is why Philosophy majors score well on the LSAT and enjoy high law school acceptance rates.

For more information on the Philosophy Pre-Law specialization, please click here.

To speak with an academic advisor, please click here.