Undergraduate Degree

The prelaw major is designed to introduce students to the study of law and the judicial process and at the same time to provide an orientation to the law which is more general than that of most law schools. Students who elect this program may plan careers in (1) government and large businesses, (2) law firms, (3) individual or partnership practice of civil law, (4) trial practice, including criminal law, and (5) teaching. Since very few law schools provide information about the political, economic, societal and psychological environment in which the law exists, this background must generally be acquired prior to or after law school. The prelaw major is intended to give students the analytical skills and substantive background in those courses which will most likely contribute to their development.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science–Prelaw

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science–Prelaw.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Political Science—Prelaw major is met by completing the following course:  Political Science 422.  That course is referenced in item 3.a.(5) below.
2. The requirements of the College of Social Science for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
3. The following requirements for the major:

   a.	The following course (6 credits):
   	PLS	100	Introduction to American Politics						3
   	PLS	200	Introduction to Political Science						3
   b.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   	PLS	201	Introduction to Methods of Political Analysis						3
   	PLS	202	Introduction to Data Analytics and the Social Sciences						3
   c.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   	PLS	320	Judicial Process						3
   	PLS	321	Constitutional Law						3
   d.	One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   	PLS	392	Special Topics in Political Science						3 to 4
   	PLS	397	Analyzing and Visualizing Data in Politics						3
   e.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   	PLS	422	Seminar in Political Science (W)						3
   	PLS	481	Undergraduate Research Seminar (W)						3
   f.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   	PLS	140	Introduction to Comparative Politics						3
   	PLS	160	Introduction to International Relations						3
   	PLS	170	Introduction to Political Philosophy						3
   	These courses may also meet subfield requirements.
   g.	Complete a minimum of four courses in Political Science at the 300 -400 level (12 credits) These courses may only count toward the 300-400 level requirement if completed a second time with the exception of PLS 397.
   	PLS	392	Special Topics in Political Science						3 to 4
   	PLS	397	Analyzing and Visualizing Data in Politics						3
   	PLS	422	Seminar in Political Science (W)						3
   	PLS	481	Undergraduate Research Seminar (W)						3
   	Only one of the following courses may count toward the 300-400 level requirement:
   	PLS	494	Field Experience in Political Science						3 to 4
   	PLS	495	Independent Study						1 to 6
   h.	At least one course is required from each of two of the following three subfields: Comparative Politics, International Politics, or Political Philosophy. These courses may meet the 300-400 level requirement.
   	Comparative Politics
   	PLS	140	Introduction to Comparative Politics						3
   	PLS	342	Comparative Political Economy						3
   	PLS	344	Politics of Developing Areas						3
   	PLS	345	Religion and World Politics						3
   	PLS	346	Middle East Politics						3
   	PLS	347	Democratic Regimes						3
   	PLS	351	African Politics						3
   	PLS	354	Politics of Asia						3
   	PLS	356	Politics of Europe and the European Union						3
   	PLS	357	Politics of English Speaking Democracies						3
   	PLS	358	Politics of the U.S.S.R. and Its Successor States						3
   	International Politics
   	PLS	160	Introduction to International Relations						3
   	PLS	363	International and Domestic Political Conflict						3
   	PLS	364	Politics of the United Nations and International Organizations						3
   	Political Philosophy
   	PLS	170	Introduction to Political Philosophy						3
   	PLS	371	Classical Political Philosophy						3
   	PLS	372	Modern Political Philosophy						3
   	PLS	377	American Political Thought						3