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Pre-Law

Law is a professional degree program and is not offered as an undergraduate major, but students applying to Grand View University may declare a pre-law designation on their application to receive specialized advising and preparatory course work as undergraduates. This designation means you eventually intend to apply to a law school.

Why Grand View?

  • Smaller class sizes gives you more one-on-one learning opportunities with faculty.
  • Grand View University has a reputation for excellence.
  • Offers a broad and diverse curriculum with particular strengths in public law, international and comparative law, antitrust and economic regulation, intellectual property, and corporate law.
  • Students gain a solid foundation for a lifetime of professional growth, including a thorough familiarity with legal principles and the operation of legal institutions, fundamental lawyers’ skills (particularly writing), and an appreciation of the roles of law and lawyers in society.

Student Testimonial

Dr. Ahmadu Baba-Singhri

“Dr. Baba-Singhri has completely given me a new perspective on different topics concerning criminal justice. I truly believe he is the best instructor at Grand View." - Kyle Nitz

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

Rachel LargeGraduating 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."

NET PRICE CALCULATOR

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Tuition & Scholarships

At Grand View University, your tuition supports instruction delivered by knowledgeable and experienced faculty who uphold our tradition of exceptional teaching. Additionally, we are dedicated to offering a high-quality education at the most affordable cost.

Transfer Credits

No matter what major you’re thinking about, you may be able to transfer in as many as 75 credits from a community college or junior college. If you have an A.A. or A.A.S. from an Iowa community college, you will be automatically admitted at junior status.

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Use this calculator to compare your potential costs at Grand View to those of other colleges and universities. It is most useful after you've received your financial aid award letters.

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Degree Combinations

Students are encouraged to double major in two of the following fields in a pre-law professional program. Many students have a political studies-pre law major plus one other major to prepare them more broadly for law school and gain the skills recommended by the American Bar Association.  

The following options support the pre-law program: