Pre-Law Minor

Pre-Law Minor

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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 will 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 will 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 will also be given to unresolved constitutional issues between the legislative and executive branches, the Massachusetts state constitution, and to 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. We will read major works by theorists like Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Locke, Mill, Hobbes, the Federalists, and Rousseau. Emphasis will be placed on how theorists justify the existence of government and how its conception has evolved over time. We 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 U.S. 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 will provide 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, we will begin 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 will focus on international humanitarian law (the law of war), international human rights law, and territorial law (border disputes). We will 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 will 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 will 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
PO-319 Constitutional Law of Civil Rights and Liberties
This course will provide 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, we will begin with pre-Civil War law to see how fundamental civil liberties and civil rights have been applied to the states.
3 credits