Minor in Pre-Law
This 21 hour minor allows exposure to a variety of skills identified as crucial to success in the study of law and a variety of legal career settings. Skills such as written and oral communication, critical thinking, problem solving, self development, and citizenship are useful for the study of law. This minor allows students to structure a minor outside of their identified major that describes the rigors of a legal education. The Pre-Law Minor allows a student to select from courses from over 15 departments at SIUE that continue to improve those previously identified critical skills. Whether or not law school is the ultimate goal, this Minor can be useful to spark an interest in justice issues. A student may take no more than two courses from a specific department to fulfill the minor requirements (Law and Society does not count towards a specific department), and must take a minimum of four courses at either 300 or 400 level at SIUE to successfully complete the minor.
Admission Requirements
Students must successfully complete (earn a grade of C or better) in ENG 102 and RA 101.
Retention Standards
A grade of C or better in all minor coursework is required.
Required Courses (Total 21 credit hours)
CJ 348/PHIL 348/POLS 392 (3 hours)
Skills Courses
Required Introductory Course to the Minor
Written (at least 1 required, and others may be taken as electives)
Oral Communication (at least 1 required and others may be taken as electives)
Critical Thinking, Quantitative Reasoning, Logic (at least 1 required and others may be taken as electives)
Interdisciplinary Courses (elective)
Legal Studies (two required, one from each section and others may be taken as electives)
Principles of Law (at least 1 required)
Theory or Application of Law (at least 1 required and others may be taken as electives)
Elective Courses
NOTE: Students may select one course from these areas, or may choose to take a course from the above-referenced Skills Courses to meet this Elective requirement.
Critical Thinking, Quantitative Reasoning, Logic
Applications / Extensions of Law
Written Communication
Oral Communication
* For those students accepted to the Pre-Law minor, Political Science may waive prerequisites. Please meet with the instructor of the appropriate course.
** Students may take CNST 341 Plans and Specifications without meeting the prerequisites only with the consent of the instructor.
Pre-Law Minor courses are listed in their respective Departmental Course Descriptions section.
For more information, please contact the Pre-Law Mentor.