Pre-Law (Minor)

The pre-law minor requires a minimum of 20 credit hours and is designed to serve students from all areas of the University who are interested in law school. This minor provides you with opportunities to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful legal career through both courses minor as well as an extensive variety of pre-professional services and resources designed to help you plan an intentionally developmental undergraduate academic path.

Core courses for the minor include:

• PLW 200: Legal Careers and Professional Development, 1 hour
• POL 301: The American Judicial Process, 3 hours
• PHL 301: Introduction to Logic, 3 hours

Visit the Catalog to view additional details about the pre-law minor, including requirements and course descriptions.

Interdisciplinary Program

The interdisciplinary nature of the pre-law minor enhances your preparation to seek admission to law school by promoting both the development of skills considered essential by both law schools and legal professionals — critical reasoning, writing and analytical skills — and professional skills.

Student Support

You'll be supported in your pre-law journey through holistic advising and curriculum guidance for developing the skills set needed for success in your future legal education and career, along with law school admissions fairs, aid in preparing for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), including simulated tests and prep workshops and individual assistance in law school selection and law school applications.

Experiential Learning

To gain practical experience, the program has a legal internship program, a Mock Trial team, both of which offer you valuable experiential learning working with attorneys, an undergraduate chapter of Phi Alpha Delta, a Pre-Law Club and other opportunities for development based on your talents, interests and goals.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Explore admission options or schedule an academic visit to learn more about political science at UD.

While most majors at UD pair well with the pre-law minor, the following list includes majors students have pursued along with this minor:

• Communication (B.A.)
• Criminal Justice (B.A.)
• Economics (B.A.)
• Finance (BSBA)
• History (B.A.)
• Human Rights Studies (B.A.)
• International Studies (B.A.)
• Management (BSBA)
• Philosophy (B.A.)
• Political Science (B.A.)
• Psychology (B.A., B.S.)
• Sociology (B.A.)
• Sustainability (B.A., B.S.)

Additional Minors to Consider

• Catholic Social Thought and Practice
• Criminal Justice
• Film Studies
• Global Cultures
• Health Communication
• Law, Culture and Justice
• Political Science

Additional Programs

• Ethics and Leadership (Undergraduate Certificate)
• Discover (Undecided)

At the University of Dayton, applying is free and test scores are optional. When you apply, you'll automatically be considered for a merit scholarship.

Learn about our admission process, then apply using UD's application or the Common App.

If you're not sure what major you want to pursue along with a pre-law minor, consider applying to the Discover Program, where you can explore different majors while staying on track to graduate in four years.

Rooted in our Catholic, Marianist traditions, the University of Dayton is dedicated to being transparent and ensuring student success. And with high graduation and success rates, UD is an excellent value.

To help you cover your costs, a variety of scholarships, grants, loans and part-time work study are available. The University also accepts transfer credits and credit by exam for undergraduates, giving you more flexibility to add a double major or minor or participate in a transformational experience like study abroad or co-op.