Legal Studies Minor
There is no single path that will prepare you for a legal education. Students who are successful in law school, and who become accomplished professionals, come from many walks of life and educational backgrounds. Some law students enter law school directly from their undergraduate studies without having had any post- baccalaureate work experience. Others begin their legal education significantly later in life, and they bring to their law school education the insights and perspectives gained from those life experiences. Legal education welcomes and values diversity and you will benefit from the exchange of ideas and different points of view that your colleagues will bring to the classroom.
Students pursuing a minor in legal studies will be introduced to the study and application of law by taking law-related courses in a number of disciplines. It provides a focus for students who are interested in the law, whose careers will require a measure of legal knowledge, or for those considering entering law school.
Core Skills and Values:
- Analytic / Problem Solving Skills
- Critical Reading
- Writing Skills
- Oral Communication / Listening Abilities
- General Research Skills
- Task Organization / Management Skills
- Public Service and Promotion of Justice
In addition to the fundamental skills and values listed above, there are some basic areas of knowledge that are helpful to a legal education and to the development of a competent lawyer. Some of the types of knowledge that would maximize your ability to benefit from a legal education include:
- A broad understanding of history, including the various factors (social, political, economic, and cultural) that have influenced the development of our society in the United States.
- A fundamental understanding of political thought and of the contemporary American political system.
- Some basic mathematical and financial skills, such as an understanding of basic pre-calculus mathematics and an ability to analyze financial data.
- A basic understanding of human behavior and social interaction.
- An understanding of diverse cultures within and beyond the United States, of international institutions and issues, of world events, and of the increasing interdependence of the nations and communities within our world.
Students pursuing the legal studies minor are required to take 15 credits from the following list of courses:
| AGEC 3503 | Agricultural Law I (Fa) | 3 |
| BLAW 3033 | Commercial Law (Sp) | 3 |
| CRIM 2043 | Sociology of Criminal Law (Sp, Fa) | 3 |
| CRIM 3503 | Criminal Procedures (Irregular) | 3 |
| CRIM 3513 | Criminal Evidence (Irregular) | 3 |
| COMM 4113 | Legal Communication (Fa) | 3 |
| FDSC 3202 | Introduction to Food Law (Sp) | 2 |
| JOUR 3633 | Media Law (Sp, Fa) | 3 |
| OMGT 4313 | Law and Ethics (Sp, Su, Fa) | 3 |
| PHIL 4143 | Philosophy of Law (Irregular) | 3 |
| PLSC 3203 | Introduction to Legal Studies | 3 |
| PLSC 3213 | The South and the Law: Race, Gender, and Citizenship (Fa) | 3 |
| PLSC 3243 | The Judicial Process (Fa) | 3 |
| PLSC 3813 | International Law (Fa) | 3 |
| PLSC 4193 | Administrative Law (Sp) | 3 |
| PLSC 4253 | The U.S. Constitution I (Sp) | 3 |
| PLSC 4263 | The U.S. Constitution II (Irregular) | 3 |
For other resources, please refer to the university's Pre-Law Resources page.
Contact Information
Dr. Andrew Dowdle
University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Department of Political Science
437 Old Main
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
479-575-4931