Program Details
Recommended Courses |
Students who take the political science pre-law professional program will take the following courses to prepare them for law school:
POLS 110 |
National Government |
3 credits |
SOCS 101 |
Intro to Sociology |
3 credits |
POLS 120 |
State and Local Government |
3 credits |
POLS 350 |
Social Science Research Methods |
3 credits |
POLS 239 |
Social Statistics |
3 credits |
POLS 322 |
Public Policy |
3 credits |
POLS 340 |
American Constitutional Law I |
3 credits |
POLS 341 |
American Constitutional Law II |
3 credits |
POLS 361 |
Comparative Politics |
3 credits |
POLS 370 |
International Politics |
3 credits |
BSAD 340 |
Business Law I |
3 credits |
SOCS 310 |
Social Psychology |
3 credits |
ENGL 309 |
Writing for Business |
3 credits |
POLS 450 |
Senior Seminar |
3 credits |
Recommended Courses
|
POLS 315 |
Public Administration |
3 credits |
BSAD 310 |
Principles of Management |
3 credits |
SOCS 315 |
Social Problems |
3 credits
|
SOCS 318 |
Criminological Theory |
3 credits |
ECON 101 |
Principles of Economics |
3 credits |
|
Frequently Asked Questions
How high should my GPA be in order to go to law school?
Most law schools require a minimum of a 3.0; some may require a higher GPA such as a 3.3 or 3.5 for admission. You should check the admission standards for the particular law schools you are considering.
When should I begin my pre-law coursework?
By your sophomore year you should decide whether you would like to pursue a pre-law professional program. You will work with an academic advisor on your course plan and the steps you will need to take, such as taking the LSAT after your junior year and applying for law schools in your senior year.
How long does it take to get through law school?
Most law schools take three years to complete. Upon graduation, you will earn a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) in law and then you will need to take the state bar exam in the state you plan to practice in.
Alumni Spotlight
Graduating in 2017 with her Bachelor's in Business Administration and a minor in Political Science at Grand View University, Rachel Large believes that Grand View prepared her well for law school. In her own words, Rachel says her course work at Grand View allowed her to "...have intelligent conversations with public departments with ease."
Rachel decided to stay in the Des Moines area following graduation at Grand View and was accepted into Drake University's Law School. "Besides being a local beforehand, I stayed in Des Moines because the city is so close to the political process," she says. "At Grand View I was able to connect with individuals working at the Capital, and those conversations have led me to valuable connections in law school."
With so many options available to students like Rachel who wish to pursue law school, she admits one of the reasons she chose Drake in her last semester at Grand View was "because they [Drake University] recognized the excellence that Grand View University teaches its students in all programs, including the political science department."
Rachel recommends Grand View to future students interested in pursuing a legal degree. "The school itself has a well-rounded program in its political science department that allows for development into well-rounded students and applicants," Rachel says. Furthermore, Rachel recommends Grand View because of the faculty who helped her understand the process of applying to law school and giving her helpful hints along the way to help her accomplish her goals. Not only are the class sizes at Grand View smaller giving you more one-on-one learning opportunities with faculty, but you are well prepared for the analysis required in a law school setting. Political science courses like the intensive Constitutional Law classes have helped Rachel be more comfortable with the difficult subject in law school.
Rachel's advice to current students: "I would recommend that you follow your passion. I got into law school without a political science major, and opted instead for a minor, but that's not always the best option for people. Follow your passion and apply yourself to where you feel you'll grow. I know many of my current classmates at Drake have varied degrees, who delved slightly into political science before adding it as a second major or minor."