Overview
The pre-law program at UMN Morris will guide you through every stage of your undergraduate education in preparing you for a legal career. The academic rigor and interdisciplinary strength of UMN Morris’s liberal arts campus will greatly enhance your pre-law education.
As a student following the pre-law program at UMN Morris, you will need to declare a major of your choosing—there is no required undergraduate major for admission into law school. You’re encouraged to choose a major that will fit your career goals, combining a traditional liberal arts discipline with courses geared toward future legal work. Many law schools recommend that undergraduate students acquire a broad education with a special emphasis on developing oral and written skills. Commonly declared majors for those going on to law school are English, history, philosophy, and political science. Note that the philosophy discipline at UMN Morris offers a sub-plan for legal studies. A pre-law adviser will work directly with you to provide career information, help with course selection, law school admission test (LSAT) planning and preparation, and law school selection.
Degree Requirements
Graduation Requirements
As a UMN Morris student following the pre-law track, you will need to complete the degree requirements for your chosen major. Pre-law itself is not a major or minor that you can earn as a degree at UMN Morris. It is a pre-professional program to keep you on track in preparing for law school as you pursue your major(s) and minor(s) at UMN Morris, while providing you with a well-rounded liberal arts education.
UMN Morris offers several courses across different disciplines that will help prepare you for law school. Consider choosing courses that focus on logic, analytical problem-solving, and creative writing.
Suggested Courses
- ENGL 2121. Introduction to Creative Writing
- ENGL 2171. Editing and Proofreading
- MGMT 2101. Principles of Accounting I
- PHIL1101. Introduction to Philosophy
- PHIL 1102. Introduction to Symbolic Logic
- PHIL 1103. Introductory Ethics
- PHIL 2112. Professional Ethics
- PHIL3121. Political Philosophy
- PHIL 3131. Philosophy of Law
- PHIL3141. Epistemology
- PHIL3151. History of Ancient Philosophy
- POL 1202. Law and Society: Introduction to Public Law
- POL 2202. Criminal Justice and Policing
- POL 2221. The American Judicial Process
- POL 2222. The U.S. Supreme Court
- POL 2354. Political Ethics
- POL 2461. Diplomatic Negotiation
- POL 3231. Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
- POL 3232. Constitutional Law: Government Powers and Constraints
- POL 3475. International Human Rights
- POL 3411. International Law
- PSY 3502. Psychology and Law
General Education Requirements (Morris Core)
The University of Minnesota and its faculty are committed to providing an education that invites you to investigate the world from new perspectives, learn new ways of thinking, and grow as an active citizen and lifelong learner. The University’s general education requirements (Morris Core) are designed to be integrated throughout your four-year undergraduate experience. These courses provide you an opportunity to explore fields outside your major and complement your major curriculum with a multidisciplinary perspective.
Learn more about UMN Morris General Education Requirements (Morris Core)
Transferring Credit
Put your credits to work for you at UMN Morris, where you’ll earn a degree from a highly ranked public liberal arts university.
Careers and Graduate School
Careers
UMN Morris graduates in the pre-law program have gone on to hold various legal occupations:
- Judge
- Lawyer/General counsel
- Legal secretary
- Legal writer
- Law professor
- Mediator
- Paralegal
- Private investigator
- Special agent
- Policy analyst
- Diplomatic agent
- Contract manager
- Real estate agent
Law School
UMN Morris has one of the best law school placement records in the entire Upper Midwest. UMN Morris’s pre-law adviser, a professor of political science, will assist you in maximizing your chances of getting into the top law schools, offering detailed information on admissions requirements and criteria at various institutions.
UMN Morris graduates have gone on to attend some of the strongest law schools in the country, including:
- Berkeley (Boalt)
- Columbia
- Cornell
- Duke
- Georgetown
- Harvard
- Michigan
- Northwestern
- Stanford
- The University of Chicago
- The University of Minnesota
- The University of Virginia
Some students prefer to attend a regional law school where they can focus on legal issues and legislation pertinent to their communities. UMN Morris boasts excellent admissions rates into schools like the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Mitchell Hamline School of Law, St. Thomas, the University of North Dakota, and the University of South Dakota.
Costs and Scholarships
Costs at a Glance
The University of Minnesota Morris is a national public liberal arts college committed to making a high-quality education available to students from across the country. Expenses for housing, meals, books and supplies, transportation, loan fees, and personal expenditures can vary.
Use our net price calculator to estimate your cost of attendance
Pre-Law Scholarships
Scholarships are a type of financial aid awarded to you and are often based on specific criteria, such as your major, GPA, or financial need.
Research and Engagement
Research
Because of the strong relationship between the UMN Morris campus and surrounding communities, you will have unparalleled access, through the Stevens County attorney’s office, to criminal prosecutions. This includes interviewing of defendants and/or witnesses, drafting of criminal complaints, and observing a wide range of criminal proceedings.
In addition to the support of the campus pre-law adviser, you will also have access to an LSAT Prep FAQ that includes scoring information and a suggested study schedule.
Engagement Opportunities for Students
Many pre-law students enjoy competing in the UMN Morris Mock Trial program. The group has a strong history of success both at the regional and national levels of the American Mock Trial Association.