Catalog

Pre-Law Minor

Dr. Ali Ferdowsi, Chair, (650) 508-3610, aferdowsi@ndnu.edu

The Pre-Law Minor at Notre Dame de Namur University is an interdisciplinary program that helps students to prepare for law school by enhancing their critical thinking and writing skills, and giving them substantial understanding of the social, cultural, historical, economic and political development of the law in the US and the world. The minor is designed for students who plan to attend law school or are interested in careers in fields closely related to the legal profession. Although the program is hosted by the Department of History and Political Science, students in any major in the undergraduate day school may participate.

The most common undergraduate majors for law students nationwide are Political Science, History and English. Nevertheless, the American Bar Association (ABA) does not recommend any particular major as the best preparation for law school. Instead, the ABA recommends that pre-law students take "a broad range of difficult courses from demanding instructors," and "seek courses and other experiences that will engage you in critical thinking about important issues, challenge your beliefs and improve your tolerance for uncertainty." NDNU’s Pre-Law Minor has been designed with these factors in mind.

Prerequisites 9 Units
HST2320 Modern America 3
PHL2330 Formal Logic/Critical Thinking 3
PSC1000 Introduction to American Government 3

* These courses may be used to fulfill other requirements including General Degree Requirements.   

  
   
Requirements 9 Units
ENG2108 Advanced Writing 3
PSC2320 The Constitution         3
PSC2340 Legal Reasoning and LSAT 3

*Students majoring in Political Science may not take PSC 2340 to fulfill their major requirements.                                               

 
* These courses may be used to fulfill other requirements including General Degree Requirements.     
     
Electives Grouped by Program 6 Units
Politcal Science  
PSC2110 International Relations            3
PSC2300 State & Local Government 3
PSC2330 Gender & the Law      3
   
English  
ENG1041 Classics of World Literature II 3
ENG2200 Survey of American Literature I 3
ENG2201 Surevy of American Literature II 3
ENG2400 British Lit: Myth, Epic, and Romance 3
ENG2403 British Lit: The Age of Elizabeth 3
ENG2408 British Lit: Enlightment and Revolution 3
ENG2412 British Lit: Modernism & Postmodern 3
     
History  
HST2110 History of Political and Social Thought 3
HST2120 Modern Western Thought       3
HST2330 Hist & Politics of Civil Rights Move 3
HST2440 Environmental Hist/Env. Justice         3
   
Philosophy  
PHL2100 Ancient Philosophy 3
PHL2200 Moral Problems 3
PHL2205 Law, Morality & Society 3
PHL2210 Political and Social Philosopgy 3
PHL2235 Bioethics 3
PHL2410 Women and Philosophy 3
   
Sociology  
SOC2309 Criminology 3
SOC2317 Deviant Behavior 3
SOC2345 The Color of Crime 3
SOC2349 Youth, Crime and Society 3
SOC2527 Urban Sociology 3
SOC2725 Social Problems 3
   

* Students must take these six elective units from courses other than their majors.

  

 

ENG Course Descriptions PSC Course Descriptions
HST Course Descriptions
PHL Course Descriptions