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Pre-Law Minor

Pre-Law Minor


IN THIS SECTION
  • Civic Engagement
    • Civic Engagement Minor
  • History
    • History Major
    • History Minor
    • Master of Arts in History
  • Human Rights and Social Justice
    • Human Rights and Social Justice Minor
  • Political Science
    • Political Science Major
    • Political Science Minor
  • Pre-Law
    • Pre-Law Minor
  • Public History
    • Public History Minor

Enhance your career with a pre-law minor.

Get an introduction to the fundamentals of the American legal system with the Pre-Law Minor. You will study the philosophy of law, constitutional law, and ethics, among other topics, and develop skills in conducting legal research and analyzing statutes and case law.

Explore sample courses in this program.

PO-150 Foundations of Legal Studies

This course introduces the fundamentals of the American legal system. Primary topics include the sources of law; constitutional interpretation; the roles of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government; federal and state judicial systems; civil and criminal law; legal ethics; and questions of power, authority, justice, inequality, individualism, and the community. Students also learn the fundamentals of legal research, such as locating the texts of statutes, regulations, and court decisions on specific subjects; reading and analyzing statutes and case law; and developing techniques for legal writing and oral presentations.
3 credits

PH-110 Critical Thinking

Critical thinking through informal logical identification, analysis, and evaluation of arguments, including identification of fallacious arguments, through engagement with rhetoric and public discourse.
3 credits

PH-231 Philosophy of Law

Survey of the legal theories and issues and the philosophical bases of key legal and related political concepts.
3 credits

PH-151 Race, Gender, and the Law

This course provides a philosophical approach to issues of race and gender as expressed in legislation, judicial interpretation, enforcement, and public policy.
3 credits

PO-318 Constitutional Law of Government Powers and Constraints

A critical analysis of key US Supreme Court decisions addressing the horizontal allocation of power among federal government branches and institutions, and the vertical allocation of power between federal and state governments. Attention is also given to unresolved constitutional issues between the legislative and executive branches, the Massachusetts state constitution, and the theoretical foundations of the United States Constitution (such as Locke, Montesquieu, and the Federalist Papers).
3 credits

PO-209 Ancient and Classical Political Theory

This class introduces students to the ideas and concepts found in the works of ancient and classical political theorists. Students read major works by theorists like Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Locke, Mill, Hobbes, the Federalists, and Rousseau. Emphasis is placed on how theorists justify the existence of government and how its conception has evolved over time. They then trace fundamental principles such as democracy, liberty, and justice and show how these ideas are encapsulated in the US Constitution.
3 credits

PO-217 The US Congress

The nature and function of the United States Congress, including the complexities of the lawmaking process, congressional elections, the relationship between individual members of Congress and their constituencies, major issues of public policy, and institutional relations between Congress, the presidency, and the judiciary.
3 credits

PO-319 Constitutional Law of Civil Rights and Liberties

This course provides students with an analysis of law pertaining to civil liberties and civil rights in the Unites States, with attention also given to Massachusetts. Following the historical development of constitutional law in the United States, the course begins with pre-Civil War law to see how fundamental civil liberties and civil rights have been applied to the states.
3 credits

PO-301 International Law

An examination of international law through the lens of international relations. This course focuses on international humanitarian law (the law of war), international human rights law, and territorial law (border disputes). Students examine contemporary and historical cases, such as genocide in Myanmar, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the expansion of human rights to women and Indigenous peoples, and China’s claims to the South China Sea. Students also learn about the courts and legal instruments involved in enforcing each area of international law.
3 credits

PH-133 Social and Political Ethics

Investigates major social and political theories and their applications to selected problems of justice.
3 credits

PO-441 Internship in Pre-Law

Internships with courts, law firms, the district attorney’s office, the public defender’s office, legal aid societies, and other institutions involved in the practice of law. Students perform a variety of tasks in a professional legal setting, combining the academic study of pre-law with practical work experience.
1 to 6 credits

CJ-205 American Judicial System

An examination of the development of law and the American legal system. The problems related to the meaning and uses of law, the organizational hierarchy of the courts, and the role of the courts in the criminal justice systems.
3 credits

BA-320 Business Law I

Introduction to legal concepts as applied to the study of contracts, personal property, sales, and the Uniform Commercial Code.
3 credits

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