Pre-Law (BA)

Facilities & Technology

Scholarships

Morris K. Udall Scholarship

The Udall Foundation seeks future leaders across a wide spectrum of environmental fields, including policy, engineering, science, education, urban planning and renewal, business, health, justice, and economics. The Foundation also seeks future Native American and Alaska Native leaders in public and community health care, tribal government, and public policy affecting Native American communities, including land and resource management, economic development, and education.

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Faculty

Courses & Curriculum (120 total credits)

Fall & Spring Semester Second Year (30 total credits)

Core: ENGL 160, and RST 112 or PHIL 120/121

Fall & Spring Semester Second Year (30 total credits)

Core: LANG 150/250

Fall & Spring Semester Third Year (30 total credits)

Fall & Spring Semester Fourth Year (30 total credits)

It is recommended that Core Category 1 courses be taken in the first year, with LANG in the second year. Core courses in categories 2-5 can be taken in any semester/order, however category 1 courses are pre-requisite for upper-level CAT 2, 3, and 5 courses. 

Core Scaffolding Suggestions By Requirement:
Schedule first: ENGL-160; PHIL-120/121; RST-112; LANG-150/250; Any 1-credit UNIV-100
Schedule next: Info Literacy Course; Category 2: Oral/Speaking; Category 2: Writing Intensive; 1-2 Category 3: ART, ENG LIT, HIST; One Category 5 Course
Schedule Anytime: 3rd Category 3: ART, ENG LIT, HIST; Category 4: Science; Category 4: Math/Quantitative; Category 4: SSCI (if required); Category 5: Elective; DEI Course

Pre-Law

*HIST and POLITICAL SCIENCE Pre-Law choices (6 credits): HIST 314 American Political Thought, HIST 320H The American Presidency, or any Political Science 300-400 level course
**PHIL Pre-Law choices (3 credits):  PHIL 215 Critical Thinking or PHIL 315 Ethics
***ENGL Pre-Law choices (3 credits): ENGL 230 Argument and Research, ENGL 240 Professional and Technical Writing, ENGL 420 Editing and Style, or ENGL 425 Rhetoric and Persuasion, or any Political Science 300-400 lev
****PRE-LAW Cognates choices (9 credits): Students select one of the following tracks and complete 9 credits. 

Courses in cognate fields may not be used to fill Foundation requirements.

Environmental track :  CJ 340 Environmental Crime and Justice, CJ 302 White Collar Crime, CJ/SOC 470 Urban Crime Patterns, ENGL 331 Environmental Literature, ENGL 486 Environmental Writing, ENGL 483 Social Justice Writing and Rhetoric, ENGL 484 Political Writing and Rhetoric, ENGL 490 Feminist Writing and Rhetoric, HIST 401 Labor/Industrialization in America, HIST 434 Nature and the New American Nation, PHIL 328 Environmental Ethics, PHIL 340 Animal Ethics, or PHIL 415 Climate Justice

Biomedical and Health track : BIOL 105 DNA Forensics, BIOL 110 Principles of Biology, CJ/SOC 304 Social Networks of Crime and Health, CJ 302 White Collar Crime, CJ 340 Environmental Crime and Justice, ENGL 483 Social Justice Writing and Rhetoric, ENGL 484 Political Writing and Rhetoric, ENGL 486 Environmental Writing, ENGL 490 Feminist Writing and Rhetoric, HIST H399K Health in US History, HIST 402 Pandemics Through History HSA 432: Legal Aspects of Clinical Health Care, PHIL 324 Bioethics, PHIL 334 Ethics, Science, and Biotechnology, PHIL 344 Healthcare and Social Justice, or PHIL 354 Philosophy of Mental Health

Criminal Law track : CJ 220 Law Enforcement, CJ 302 White Collar Crime, CJ/SOC 304 Social Networks of Crime and Health, CJ 425 Children’s Rights and Societal Responsibilities, CJ 433 American Prison, ENGL 483 Social Justice Writing and Rhetoric, ENGL 484 Political Writing and Rhetoric, ENGL 490 Feminist Writing and Rhetoric, HIST 310: Pennsylvania History and Government, HIST 320J Crime and Punishment, HIST 370 Narcotics in Modern World History, PS 315 and 316 Constitutional Law I and II, PHIL 316 Philosophy, Society and Law, PHIL 452 Philosophy of Law, or RST 230 Political and Liberation Theology

Civil Rights and Social Justice track :  CJ/SOC 212 Violence and Peace, CJ/SOC 470 Race, Ethnicity, and the Criminal Justice System, ENGL 483 Social Justice Writing and Rhetoric, ENGL 484 Political Writing and Rhetoric, ENGL 490 Feminist Writing and Rhetoric, PHIL 326 Political Philosophy, PHIL 344 Healthcare and Social Justice, PHIL 345 Race, Class, and Gender, PHIL 431 Global Justice, RST 215 Foundations of Christian Morality, RST 216 Social Morality: National Issues, RST 233 Christian Social Morality: A Global Perspective, RST 230 Political and Liberation Theology, or RST 250T Catholic Social Teaching

Program Learning Outcomes

The pre-law program offers undergraduate students a multifaceted and rigorous educational path that is both enriching and pragmatic. With a comprehensive curriculum designed by the American Bar Association's guidelines, the program encourages students to pursue areas of interest that challenge and develop their research and writing skills, which are crucial for a successful legal career. The program’s structure—comprising 39 credits, including 30 foundational credits in law and related disciplines, followed by 9 credits in specialized cognate fields—facilitates a broad and deep understanding of the law and its applications. This design makes it feasible for students to consider pre-law as a double major, enhancing their academic portfolio and broadening career opportunities. The program's flexibility allows for exploration in various fields such as environmental law, biomedical and health law, criminal law, and civil rights and social justice, ensuring that students can tailor their education to their passions and career aspirations. Additionally, courses like & Shadow and Service & provide practical experience by allowing students to shadow legal professionals and engage with the community, further solidifying the program's value as a preparatory stage for legal education and beyond.

Student Resources

From #DayOne, Marywood is here for you each step of the way.

• Academic Advising

• Library & Learning Commons

• Career Development Center