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

Major in Political Science

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

Pre-law Concentration

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.

The concentration in Pre-law requires 36 semester hours of work, including

Core

PS 1005 - American Government and Politics 3 credit hours (formerly PS 2010)
PS 1010 - Foundations of Government 3 credit hours
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

Two of the following:

PS 3001 - Research Methods in Political Science 3 credit hours (formerly PS 4000)
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

Four electives courses with at least one in each of the following areas:

American Government
Public Administration
Comparative Government
International Relations
Political Theory

In addition, students should also complete the following courses in consultation with their advisor. This cognate takes the place of one minor (18 hrs): PHIL 2110 ; COMM 4650 or ENGL 4785 ; ECON 2410 or ECON 2420 ; PS 3530 or ENGL 4605 ; PHIL 3150 ; one of the following: PS 3010 , PS 3490 , PS 3500 , PS 4040 , PS 4590 .

Recommended Curriculum

Freshman

ENGL 1010 - Expository Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
ENGL 1020 - Research and Argumentative Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication 3 credit hours (Comm)
Mathematics 3 credit hours
PS 1010 - Foundations of Government 3 credit hours (Soc/Beh Sci)
PS 1005 - American Government and Politics 3 credit hours
Natural Sciences (2 prefixes) 8 credit hours
Foreign Language/Minor 6 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)
Humanities and/or Fine Arts (2 prefixes) 6 credit hours
ECON 2410 - Principles of Economics, Macroeconomics 3 credit hours (Soc/Beh Sci) OR
ECON 2420 - Principles of Economics, Microeconomics 3 credit hours
PS 2440 - Law and the Legal System 3 credit hours
PS 3370 - American Constitutional Law 3 credit hours
PHIL 2110 - Elementary Logic and Critical Thinking 3 credit hours
Foreign Language/Minor 3 credit hours
Choose 6 hours from:
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: 30 Hours

Junior

COMM 4650 - History, Theory, and Criticism of Rhetoric 3 credit hours OR
ENGL 4785 - Law and Literature 3 credit hours
PS 3380 - American Constitutional Law 3 credit hours
Choose 6 hours from:
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
PS electives 3 credit hours
Minors 9 credit hours
PHIL 3150 - Ethics 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 27 Hours

Senior

PS 3530 - Legal Writing and Research 3 credit hours OR
ENGL 4605 - Advanced Composition 3 credit hours
PS 4800 - Senior Seminar 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
PS electives 9 credit hours
Minors 13 credit hours