Fight Injustices and Advance Equity with a Minor in Legal Studies
Gain a deeper understanding of how the law system in the United States works.
Why study Legal Studies at St. Edward's?
A Legal Studies minor will prepare you to enter law school or careers where you will work alongside attorneys, such as in corporate, nonprofit or governmental settings.
Explore the benefits of an interdisciplinary minor
With a minor in Legal Studies, you'll get a grounding in Legal Ethics, Logic, Legal Writing, the American Court System and more. Once you complete this minor, you’ll have the critical thinking, writing, public speaking and people skills you need to work in fields where legal reasoning is front and center.
Prepare for any career path
The Legal Studies minor is well-suited for students not already in an existing pre-law track. It is designed to have minimal prerequisites and is open to all students. This minor is valuable for students who plan to attend law school or pursue careers in which familiarity with legal studies provides an advantage, such as in business, law enforcement, human resources, real estate, dispute resolution or government service.
Explore Details About a Minor in Legal Studies
The minor requires 18 hours, of which 9 hours must be upper-division (3000- or 4000-level) courses taken at St. Edward's University. The 9 hours of in-residence upper-division coursework is a general university-wide requirement for any minor.
Check the most recent academic bulletin to determine when these courses are offered, so you can plan to take them at St. Edward's. Substitutions cannot be permitted.
Required Courses
Nine (9) credits must be 3000 or higher courses and those nine credits must be taken at St. Edward's University.
- PHIL 3301: Legal Ethics
- WRIT 3326: Legal Writing
- POLS 3336: Constitutional Law or POLS 4346: Civil Liberties
Total
Six courses x 3 units each=18 units, of which 9 must be 3000- or 4000-level.
Recommended Course
POLS 3328: Political Research and Statistics (3 credits) is recommended, but not required.
As the American Bar Association (ABA) notes, there is no single pre-law course of study. Instead, the ABA recommends that undergrads take classes where they learn to write and critically analyze different types of arguments.
At St. Edward’s, our faculty are outstanding scholars, thought leaders, teachers and mentors who bring energy and enthusiasm to our vibrant learning community. They take pride in getting to know you, helping you achieve your goals and celebrating your successes. The Department of Philosophy faculty has also adopted the Chicago Statement on free speech, affirming our commitment to free expression.
View a list of our faculty members and their contact information on the Department of Philosophy webpage.