Political Science, Pre-Law Concentration, B.A.

Department of Political Science and International Relations
615-898-2708
Stephen Morris, program coordinator
Stephen.Morris@mtsu.edu

Students majoring in Political Science can choose a general focus or a concentration in either Public Administration or Pre-law.

The Pre-law concentration is designed for the student who plans to attend law school. A combination of core political science courses and courses in related disciplines has been found to provide a sound background for law school. Some law schools will not accept any professional or technical courses as part of their minimum requirement. It is essential that the student consult with his or her advisor in instances where such courses will be taken.

Academic Map

Following is a printable, suggested four-year schedule of courses:

Political Science, Pre-Law, B.A., Academic Map

Degree Requirements

General Education (41 hours)

General Education requirements include Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences categories.

The following General Education courses are recommended for this major:

PS 1005 or PS 1010 (Soc/Beh Sci)
ECON 2410 or ECON 2420 (Soc/Beh Sci)

Major Requirements (37 hours)

PS 1005 - Introduction to American Politics 3 credit hours
PS 1010 - Introduction to Global Politics 3 credit hours
PS 2000 - Political Science and International Relations as a Profession 1 credit hour
PS 2440 - Law and the Legal System 3 credit hours
PS 3370 - American Constitutional Law 3 credit hours
PS 3380 - American Constitutional Law 3 credit hours
PS 4800 - Senior Seminar 3 credit hours
American Government 3 credit hours
Public Administration 3 credit hours
Comparative Government 3 credit hours
International Relations 3 credit hours
Choose two of the following:
PS 3001 - Research Methods in Political Science 3 credit hours OR
PS 4230 - Classical Political Theory 3 credit hours OR
PS 4700 - American Political Thought 3 credit hours OR
PS 4920 - Modern Political Theory 3 credit hours OR
PS 4930 - Introduction to Contemporary Political Philosophy 3 credit hours

Pre-Law Cognate (18 hours)

In addition, students should also complete the following courses in consultation with their advisor. This cognate takes the place of one minor (18 hours):

PHIL 2110 - Elementary Logic and Critical Thinking 3 credit hours
COMM 4650 - History, Theory, and Criticism of Rhetoric 3 credit hours OR
ENGL 4785 - Law and Literature 3 credit hours
ECON 2410 - Principles of Economics, Macroeconomics 3 credit hours OR
ECON 2420 - Principles of Economics, Microeconomics 3 credit hours
PS 3530 - Legal Writing and Research 3 credit hours OR
ENGL 4605 - Advanced Composition 3 credit hours
PHIL 3150 - Ethics 3 credit hours
PS 3010 - Women and the Law 3 credit hours OR
PS 3490 - Alternative Dispute Resolution 3 credit hours OR
PS 3500 - International Law 3 credit hours OR
PS 4040 - Pre-Law Internship 3 credit hours OR
PS 4590 - Administrative Law 3 credit hours

Foreign Language Requirement (6 hours)

Students must successfully complete 2010 and 2020 or any courses numbered above the 2000 level in a single foreign language.

Electives (18-24 hours)

Depending on General Education selection

Total hours in program: 120

Curriculum: Political Science, Pre-Law, B.A.

Curricular listings include General Education requirements in Communication, History, Humanities, and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences categories.

Freshman

ENGL 1010 - Expository Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
ENGL 1020 - Research and Argumentative Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
PS 1005 - Introduction to American Politics 3 credit hours
PS 1010 - Introduction to Global Politics 3 credit hours (Soc/Beh Sci)
Mathematics 3 credit hours
Natural Sciences (2 prefixes) 8 credit hours
Humanities and/or Fine Arts 3 credit hours
General elective 3 credit hours
HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2030 - Tennessee History 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 32 Hours

Sophomore

ENGL 2020 - Themes in Literature and Culture 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) OR
ENGL 2030 - The Experience of Literature 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) OR
HUM 2610 - Foreign Literature in Translation 3 credit hours (Hum/FA)
COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication 3 credit hours (Comm)
Humanities and/or Fine Arts 3 credit hours
Foreign language courses 6 credit hours
PS elective 3 credit hours
General elective 3 credit hours
PS 2000 - Political Science and International Relations as a Profession 1 credit hour
PS 2440 - Law and the Legal System 3 credit hours
PHIL 2110 - Elementary Logic and Critical Thinking 3 credit hours
HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2030 - Tennessee History 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 31 Hours

Junior

COMM 4650 - History, Theory, and Criticism of Rhetoric 3 credit hours OR
ENGL 4785 - Law and Literature 3 credit hours
ECON 2410 - Principles of Economics, Macroeconomics 3 credit hours (Soc/Beh Sci) OR
ECON 2420 - Principles of Economics, Microeconomics 3 credit hours (Soc/Beh Sci)
Foreign language courses 6 credit hours
General elective 3 credit hours
PS 3370 - American Constitutional Law 3 credit hours
PS 3380 - American Constitutional Law 3 credit hours
PS 3530 - Legal Writing and Research 3 credit hours OR
ENGL 4605 - Advanced Composition 3 credit hours
Choose 6 hours from:
PS 3001 - Research Methods in Political Science 3 credit hours
PS 4230 - Classical Political Theory 3 credit hours
PS 4700 - American Political Thought 3 credit hours
PS 4920 - Modern Political Theory 3 credit hours
PS 4930 - Introduction to Contemporary Political Philosophy 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 30 Hours

Senior

PHIL 3150 - Ethics 3 credit hours
PS 4800 - Senior Seminar 3 credit hours
PS electives 9 credit hours
General electives 9 credit hours
PS 3010 - Women and the Law 3 credit hours OR
PS 3490 - Alternative Dispute Resolution 3 credit hours OR
PS 3500 - International Law 3 credit hours OR
PS 4040 - Pre-Law Internship 3 credit hours OR
PS 4590 - Administrative Law 3 credit hours