Pre-law students gain insight into clinical education during their visit to the University of Baltimore School of Law.
Choosing an Undergraduate Major
There is no single or ideal path to law school. In fact, students are admitted to law school from almost every academic discipline. Therefore, UMBC does not offer an undergraduate degree in “pre-law.”
Students interested in law school are encouraged to pursue areas of study that interest and challenge them. Common majors include economics, English, history, philosophy, and political science. However, aspiring law students may complete undergraduate studies in areas as diverse as art, music, science and mathematics, computer science, engineering, psychology, global studies, public health, and anthropology, among many others!
Choosing Undergraduate Courses
Aspiring law students are encouraged to take a broad range of difficult courses from demanding instructors. Regardless of major, students are advised to take courses that will enhance those skills that are essential for success in law school and legal practice.
The American Bar Associationrecommends that prospective law students develop the following key skills:
Problem Solving
Critical Reading
Writing and Editing
Oral Communication and Listening
Research
Organization and Management
Relationship-building and Collaboration
Public Service and Promotion of Justice
Background Knowledge
Exposure to the Law
Law school and the practice of law require significant amounts of reading, writing, and research. Classes that provide experience with close reading of texts, detailed analysis, logical reasoning, and extensive writing are particularly beneficial.
The America Bar Association(ABA) also advises that greater familiarity with the legal system, including its institutions, concepts, and vocabulary, can advance a student’s understanding of the law school curriculum. UMBC offers many courses to help students enhance their exposure to and understanding of the legal system and law school curriculum.
Law-Related Minors and Certificates
Minors
Law and Justice
The Political Science Department offers a minor inLaw and Justiceto undergraduates of all majors. This minor is excellent training for students who plan to attend law school, or to work in the many fields where knowledge of the law is a powerful asset.
Practical Policy and Politics
The Political Science Department offers an 18-credit minor in PracticalPolicy and Politics. This minor immerses students in study of the theory and practice of American democracy. It aims to enhance students’ capacities as citizens and to prepare them for potential careers in politics, public policy, or public administration and management.
Social Welfare
The Social Work Program offers a minor in Social Welfare. The minor provides a comprehensive background in the social welfare system in the United States, its relationship to the market economy, and the historical, political, and cultural factors that shape its course.
It also offers the opportunity to explore in depth some of the challenging issues confronting society in the alleviation of poverty and the delivery of health and welfare services to families and children, older adults, and people with physical and mental challenges.
World Politics
The Political Science Department offers an 18-credit minor in World Politics. This minor explores the politics of interstate relations and its interaction with the domestic political systems of different countries.
Writing, Rhetoric, and Technology
The English Department offers a minor 21-credit Writing, Rhetoric, and Technology. This minor is for students of any major who are interested in improving their writing skills and understanding how writing works in the world. By learning to write for different purposes, audiences, and situations, students in this minor will be prepared to write effectively and ethically.
Certificates
Philosophy, Law, and Politics
The Philosophy Department offers a Certificate in Philosophy, Law, and Politics for students looking to gain a strong background in the philosophical foundations of law, legal studies, political theory and public policy.
Philosophy, Ethics, and Value
The Philosophy Department offers a Certificate in Philosophy, Ethics, and Valuefor students looking to gain a strong background in understanding the nature of ethics, ethical theory, and what makes things have value. This certificate is for students who aim either to pursue graduate study or seek employment in ethics-related fields, such as philosophy, law, public policy, bioethics and medical ethics.
Public Administration and Policy
The Political Science Department offers a 32-credit Certificate in Public Administration and Policy for students who are interested in leadership positions in government agencies or in becoming policy analysts.
Security Studies
The Political Science Department offers a 15-credit Certificate in Security Studies (SEST). The SEST certificate enables UMBC undergraduates to choose a curricular focus in international security affairs.
Law-Related Courses
Many Departments offer relevant coursework in law and law-related topics including, but not limited to, the courses outlined below. This list also includes courses that may be particularly beneficial for developing some of the key skills described above (e.g., close reading of texts, detailed analysis, logical reasoning, and extensive writing).
Students interested in exploring a particular area of law are encouraged to consult with the pre-law academic advisor for additional recommendations regarding law-related academic and co-curricular opportunities at UMBC.
Africana Studies
AFST 275 – The Criminal Justice Process and Black Americans
AFST 392 – Race, Crime and Public Policy
Aging Studies (Management of Aging Services)
AGNG 200 – Aging People, Policy, and Management (Writing Intensive)
AGNG 300 – Introduction to Policy and Aging Services
AGNG 430 – Legal and Ethical Issues in Aging Services
AGNG 401 – Critical Issues in Management of Aging Services
Ancient Studies
ANCS 120 – Ancient Greeks and Romans in the Mediterranean World
ANCS 150 – English Word Roots from Latin and Greek
ANCS 201 – The Ancient Greeks
ANCS 202 – The Roman World
ANCS 453 – Ancient Greece
American Studies
AMST 413 – Policing and Prisons in U.S. Society
Anthropology
ANTH 322 – Forensic Anthropology
Biology
BIO 397- Ethics and Integrity in Scientific Research
Computer Science
CMSC 426 – The Principles of Computer Security
Economics
ECON 121 – Principles of Accounting I
ECON 122 – Principles of Accounting II
ECON 416 – The Economics of Law
ECON 410- Crises, Bubbles and Fraud
ECON 418 – Economics of Innovation and Technology (Writing Intensive)
English
SPCH 100 – Public Communication
ENGL 240 – Writing for Social Change
ENGL 301 – Analysis of Literary Language (Writing Intensive)
ENGL 330 – Researching Communicative Practices
ENGL 379 – Principles and Practices in Technical Communication
ENGL 391 – Advanced Exposition and Argumentation
ENGL 393 – Technical Communication (Writing Intensive)
First Year Seminar
FYS 101 – Struggling for Social Justice
FYS 102- Diversity, Ethics and Social Justice in the Contex of Schooling
FYS 102 – Poverty Amidst Plenty: The Economics of American Poverty
GWST 328 – Women, Gender, Sexuality, and Political Power in the U.S.
GWST 338 – Women, Gender, and Law
GWST 381 – Reproductive Justice in the US
GWST 480 – Theories of Feminism
Geography & Environmental Studies
GES 341 – Urban Geography
GES 462 – GIS and Human-Environmental Systems
GES 424 – Environmental Justice
Global Studies
GLBL 383 – Global Citizenship
GLBL 483 – International Negotiation
History
HIST 101 – U.S. History to 1877
HIST 102 – U.S. History, 1877 to the Present
HIST 201 – Introduction to the Study of History
HIST 302 – The History of Maryland
HIST 303 – The Second World War
HIST 306 – The First World War
HIST 313 – America as a Great Power? U.S. Foreign Relations in the Twentieth Century
HIST 315 – Native American History, 1800-Present
HIST 317 – American Political Development
HIST 318 – United States Constitutional History
HIST 321 – African American History to 1865
HIST 322 – African American History Since 1865
HIST 325 – History of Women in America to 1870
HIST 326 – History of Women in America Since 1870
HIST 340 – Atlantic Revolutions
HIST 341 – American Colonies
HIST 344 – American Civil War
HIST 346 – The United States, 1917 to 1945
HIST 347 – The United States Since 1945
HIST 372 – Nazi Germany
HIST 413 – The American Revolution
HIST 420 – American Political Development (Also a 300-level course previously listed)
HIST 423 – Creating the Constitution
HIST 425 – Making a Buck: The History of American Capitalism
HIST 447 – The Civil Rights Movement
HIST 465 – The Renaissance
HIST 468 – The Age of Enlightenment
Information Systems
IS 296 – Foundations of Data Science
IS 304 – Ethical Issues in Information Systems
IS 474 – Technology Law
Latin
LATN 101- Elementary Latin I
LATN 102 – Elementary Latin II
LATN 201 – Intermediate Latin
Management
MGMT 310 – Human Resource Management
MGMT 360 – Business Law
MGMT 385 – Business Ethics and Society
Media & Communications Studies
MCS 144 – Professional Communication and Development
MCS 355 – Social Media: Networking and Mobility
MCS 388 – Modern Public Relations
Modern Languages, Linguistics and Intercultural Communication
MLL 301 – Textual Analysis: Words, Images, Music
Philosophy
PHIL 100 – Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL 146 – Critical Thinking
PHIL 150 – Contemporary Moral Issues
PHIL 152 – Introduction to Ethics
PHIL 240 – Introduction to Argumentation and Debate
PHIL 321 – History of Philosophy: Ancient
PHIL 322 – History of Philosophy: Modern
PHIL 345 – Philosophy of Language
PHIL 346 – Deductive Logic
PHIL 350 – Ethical Theory
PHIL 352- Ethics and Technology
PHIL 354 – Ethics, Animals, and the Environment
PHIL 355 – Political Philosophy
PHIL 356 – Philosophy of Law
PHIL 357 – Philosophy and Human Rights
PHIL 455 – Applied Ethics
PHIL 456 – Justice and Climate Change
PHIL 486 – Kant’s Moral and Political Philosophy
PHIL 482 – Aristotle’s Ethics
PHIL 483 – Plato’s Republic
Political Science
POLI 230 – Introduction to Constitutional Law
POLI 233 – Common Law and Legal Analysis
POLI 330 – Mock Trial
POLI 334 – Judicial Process
POLI 337 – Comparative Justice (Writing Intensive)
POLI 338 – Women and Law
POLI 352 – Administrative Law
POLI 421 – Baseball, American Politics, and the Law
POLI 431 – Spies, Assassins, and Cyber-Warriors – Modern National Security Law
POLI 435 – Legal Reasoning
POLI 436 – Health Law
POLI 437 – International Human Rights Law
POLI 438 – Legal Internship
POLI 445 – Law, Politics and American Educational Policy
Psychology
PSYC 350 – Psychology and the Law
PSYC 387 – Community Psychology
Public Health
PBHL 398 – Selected Topics in Public Health (e.g., Migration, Health & Human Rights)
PBHL 497- Health Planning and Adminstration
Sociology
SOCY 330 – Deviance in Contemporary Society
SOCY 372 – Juvenile Delinquency
SOCY 374- Drugs and Alcohol in Society
SOCY 458 – Sociology of Mental Health and Illness
Social Work
SOWK 370 – Social Work and the Criminal Justice System
SOWK 374 – Social Work with Immigrants and Refugees
University 101 – Pre-Law Section
UNIV 101 – Pre-Law Section
Strong Academic Performance and Test Scores
Law schools are looking for applicants with academic excellence and the ability to perform at a high scholarly level. Undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) and LSAT score* are generally considered the two most important factors.
*Note: Some law schools are beginning to accept GRE scores in lieu of the LSAT. Please review the ETS website for a list of schools that accept GRE scores for their J.D. Programs.
Students should strive to do their best in all courses, build relationships with their professors and other mentors, and participate in activities that support their interests and potential career goals.
Co-Curricular, Volunteer, and Leadership Activities
Aspiring law students at UMBC are encouraged to get involved in co-curricular, leadership, service-learning, and/or volunteer activities that are interesting and impactful. Students should also consider opportunities to study abroad. These opportunities may enhance a student’s law school application and resume. Learn more about pre-law student organizations and activities at UMBC.
Internships and Exposure to the Legal Profession
Prospective law students do not need any legal experience to apply to law school. Nevertheless, to help determine whether law school and the legal profession is the right choice for them, students should consider gaining some practical exposure to the legal profession through internships, job shadowing, and networking.
The Political Science Department’s Legal Internship Programoffers internship opportunities for academic credit with courts, law enforcement agencies, private law firms, and other legal institutions. Applications for this internship program are typically due in mid-October each year.
UMBC’sCareer Centeralso assists students with finding internships, job shadowing opportunities, and networking contacts. Please visit the Career Center’s page on Where to Find Internships & Jobs.