Pre-Law Courses

Required Courses for Major

POLS 1101

American Government I

Analysis of the origin, structure, and operations of the national government, with emphasis upon the roles of the legislative, executive, and judicial functions, and the formation and content of public policy.
(3 Hours)
POLS 1105

Intro to Comparative Politics

An introduction to comparative political methodology and a study of cross-national political processes, functions, and institutions of modern and developing political systems.
(3 Hours)
SOC 2301

Social Science Research

An introduction to the process of social science research and an overview of the research methods most commonly used in sociology, political science, psychology, and related fields. Prerequisite: at least one course in political science, psychology, or sociology.
(4 Hours)

Select ONE of the following:

POLS 2200

State and Local Politics

A description and analysis of the structure and operation of American state and local government, federal-state relationships, the political process, and the formation of public policy. Prerequisite: POLS 1101.
(3 Hours)
POLS 2210

International Politics

An examination of international and transnational politics and the basic elements of the international political system, to include the concepts of war, peace, power, alliances and diplomacy.
(3 Hours)

Select ONE of the following:

POLS 2300

Ancient Political Theory

A critical analysis of the basic political writings of selected modern authors important to the development of western civilization, e.g., Plato, Aristotle, St. Augustine and St. Thomas. (Same as PHIL 2060 and HIST 2301).
(3 Hours)
POLS 2310

Modern Political Theory

A critical analysis of the basic political writings of selected modern authors important to the development of western civilization and political thought, e.g. Machiavelli, Boden, Hobbes, Harrington, Locke and Rousseau. (Same as HIST 2310 and PHIL 2400).
(3 Hours)

Select ONE of the following:

POLS 3300

Legislative Politics

An analysis of the U.S. Congress, with a focus on legislative organization and powers, the law making process, relations with other branches of government, the electoral process as it relates to the legislature, and the legislature's influence on public policy. Prerequisite: POLS 1101.
(3 Hours)
POLS 3310

Presidential Politics

An analysis of the role of the Presidency, with a focus on executive organization and powers, relations with other branches of government, the electoral process as it relates to the presidency, and the executive branch's influence on public policy. Prerequisite: POLS 1101.
(3 Hours)
POLS 3320

Bureaucratic Politics

A study of public administration and the bureaucracy in the American governing system, with a focus on the bureaucratic powers and responsibilities, interactions between the political branches and the bureaucracy, staffing and funding the bureaucracy, and government operations and management. Prerequisite: POLS 1101. (Offered in alternate years).
(3 Hours)
POLS 3330

Judicial Processes

An analysis of the structure and functions of federal and state courts as they relate to the operation of the American political system with an emphasis on the role of judges, juries, police and other actors in the adjudication process. Prerequisite: POLS 1101.
(3 Hours)

Select ONE of the following:

POLS 3110

Political Parties/Int Groups

An analysis of the roles played by political parties and interest groups, with a focus on the organization, electoral activities, and influence on public policies. Prerequisite: POLS 1101. (Offered in alternate years).
(3 Hours)
POLS 3115

U.S. Campaigns & Elections

An analysis of campaigns and elections within the American political system, including a study of modern day campaign organizations and strategies at the national, state and local levels, electoral behavior by the voters, and the role and impact of the media on campaigns and elections. Prerequisite: POLS 1101. (Offered in alternate years).
(3 Hours)
POLS 3150

Southern Politics

A comparative study of the politics of the modern South since World War II, with a focus on the evolution from a one-party dominated region to a competitive two-party region and the effects on the national political environment, the impact of the modern civil rights movement on Southern politics, and analyses of Southern political identification and behavior in electoral politics. Prerequisite: POLS 1101.
(3 Hours)

Select ONE of the following:

POLS 3500

Politics and Public Policy

An examination of the public policy process in the United States, with a focus on the development, enactment, and implementation of public policy through governmental institutions. Topics will include substantive policy areas (e.g., education, social welfare, environmental, and other policy topics.). Prerequisite: POLS 1101. (Offered in alternate years).
(3 Hours)
POLS 3510

US Con Law: Powers

A study of constitutional law as developed by the U.S. Supreme Court and its political impact on national and state governments and U.S. citizens, with a focus on questions of federalism, separation of governmental powers, economic regulations, and civil and political rights. Prerequisite: POLS 1101.
(3 Hours)
POLS 3520

U.S. Con Law: Civil Liberties

A study of the constitutional law as developed by the U.S. Supreme Court, with an emphasis on the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment and a focus on freedoms of speech, religion, the media, and civil rights. Prerequisite: POLS 1101.
(3 Hours)
POLS 3530

International Law

A study of sources, schools of thought, major cases and applications of public international law, focusing on the laws of war, diplomacy, the sea, space and nationality. Prerequisite: POLS 2210.
(3 Hours)
POLS 3540

Political Economy

An analysis of the relationships between politics and economics, exploring how political institutions, the political environment, and economic systems influence each other. Topics include the development of U.S. capitalism, the U.S. federal fiscal and monetary policy processes, and the development of globalization. Prerequisite: POLS 1101. (Offered in alternate years).
(3 Hours)
POLS 3550

U.S. Foreign Policy

A critical analysis of American global security interests and contemporary decision making by elements of the government responsible for foreign policy. Prerequisite: POLS 1101
(3 Hours)

POLS electives at 2000 level or above. (12 hours)

The department has found that the student is well-served to enroll in specific elective courses not listed above. The student should contact the department chair for a list of these suggested electives.

 

Pre-Law Concentration

PHIL 2170

Ethics

A non-denominational study of basic Christian doctrines. (Offered in alternate years.)
(3 Hours)
SOC 1501

Social Problems

A survey of major contemporary social problems and solutions designed to ameliorate these problems.
(3 Hours)

Select ONE of the following:

ECON 1901

Principles of Economics I

A study in the foundations of economic analysis, national income accounting, economic growth, and the public sector, with emphasis on macroeconomics
(3 Hours)
ECON 1902

Principles of Microeconomics

A study of markets, the price systems and allocation of resources, distribution of income, international economy, and perspectives on economic change, with emphasis on microeconomics.
(3 Hours)

Select ONE of the following:

ENGL 3201

English Grammar

A study of the terminology and rules of standard English grammar with attention to evaluating speech and text for adherence to representative syntactic structures and to developing syntactic versatility. (Offered in alternate years)
(3 Hours)
ENGL 3308

Professional & Technical Writ

An introduction to the rhetorical contexts and genres of professional and technical communication, with emphasis on the production, revision, and editing of workplace documents.
(3 Hours)

Select ONE of the following:

HIST 1776

Amer History & Cult Traditions

A basic survey of American history from colonial to contemporary times, focused on cultural disputes that have persisted from generation after generation.
(3 Hours)
HIST 1492

Global Hist & Cultural Trad

This course comprises a wide historical survey, exploring the cultural and intellectual traditions of our global society and culture.
(3 Hours)

Select ONE of the following:

PHIL 1166

Critical Thinking

A study of reasoning that emphasizes informal critical thinking.
(3 Hours)
PHIL 1155

Introduction to Logic

A study of basic structure in reasoning and of methods for the recognition and use of valid deductive argument forms.
(3 Hours)