Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies
Prelaw
Students who wish to pursue a prelaw curriculum will find the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies ideally suited to their goals.
In the statement, Preparation for Legal Education*, the American Bar Association stresses that no one academic major is recommended for a student preparing for legal education. Rather, the ABA suggests that students who wish to enter law school should pursue an undergraduate academic curriculum, such as the college’s Liberal Studies program, that develops the following areas.
Skills and Values
- Analytic and problem-solving skills
- Critical reading
- Writing
- Oral communication and listening abilities
- General research skills
- Task organization and management skills
- Value of service and promotion of justice
Knowledge
- A broad understanding of history, particularly United States history, and the various factors that have influenced the development of the pluralistic society that presently exists in the US.
- A fundamental understanding of political thought and theory, and of the contemporary American political system.
- A basic understanding of ethical theory and theories of justice.
- A grounding in economics, particularly elementary microeconomic theory, and an understanding of the interaction between economic theory and public policy.
- Basic mathematical and financial skills, such as precalculus 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 US, of international institutions and issues, and of the increasing interdependence of the nations and communities within our world.
* ABA web site, http://www.abanet.org/legaled/prelaw/prep.html
A student pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and using the curriculum as prelaw preparation may also elect an optional academic concentration as part of a program of study. In order to prepare adequately for the Law School Admission Test and the rigors of legal education, students considering prelaw should begin their academic planning early in the undergraduate experience.