BA in General Studies with a Pre Legal Concentration
First Year Course Fee
USD 47,649
Course Accredited By
THLC
Students interested in attending law school will find that there is no single path to prepare them for a legal education. One track that students can pursue at Trine University is the Bachelor of arts in general studies with a concentration in pre-legal studies.
This track allows you to build a broad-based education. It teaches you to think critically, communicate effectively, and pull together knowledge from many disciplines – skills you'll need to be successful in any career. It demonstrates to employers and peers alike that you have the self-discipline and intelligence to work through a university-level program in a variety of subject areas. It can be the most personally rewarding major available, precisely because it is so broad, and it embodies the central philosophy of a liberal arts education that learning to think critically and to read and write well should help anyone in any career.
The Experience
Law schools value a diverse student body and intentionally select students from a wide variety of undergraduate majors; nevertheless, certain areas of study prove excellent preparation for the pre-law candidate. The American Bar Association's section on legal education recommends courses that teach the following core skills and values: analytic/problem-solving skills, critical reading, writing skills, oral communication, listening abilities, general research skills, task organization, management skills, and public service and the promotion of justice. Trine's Pre-Legal Studies concentration is designed to provide students with the opportunity to develop these skills and values.
The Results
- The General Studies major with a pre-legal concentration will provide students with:
- preparation for law school admission and a sound foundation for legal studies.
- a breadth and depth of the knowledge of social sciences.
- understanding the ethical behavior patterns demanded in professional conduct
- skills necessary for good citizenship.
Degree Paths
Students in the General Studies major may double major and are strongly encouraged to obtain a minor. The list of minors is impressive and includes communication, criminal justice, history, and psychology, among many others. We have advisors who are knowledgeable of other majors and minors to assist you in getting as much value as possible from your experience at Trine.
Enrollment Cycles
- January 2024
- May 2024
- August 2024
Admission requirements for transfer students:
- Transfer students applying to the Allen School of Engineering and Computing must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 and a grade of “C” or better in Calculus I, Chemistry I, and College Composition.
- Transfer students applying to the Franks School of Education must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and a grade of “C” or better in a mathematics course, a social sciences or humanities course, and English Composition 1.
- Transfer students applying to the Rinker Ross School of Health Sciences must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 and a grade of “C” or better in a mathematics course, a social sciences or humanities course, and English Composition 1.
- Transfer students applying to the Ketner School of Business and the Jannen School of Arts and Sciences must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.25 and a grade of “C” or better in a mathematics course, a social sciences or humanities course, and English Composition 1.
High School Transcripts:
- Request your high school to send a copy of your current transcript to Trine.
- Transcripts can be submitted via mail, fax, Parchment, screenshot, and e-mail.
- Trine University is Test Optional for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic years. "Test-optional" means that standardized tests are not required from high school students when they are considered for admission to Trine University. Of course, students can still choose to submit their test scores, however, those scores will be considered to be only part of the student’s overall academic record.
- High school students can take the American College Test (ACT) and/or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and request that scores be sent to Trine.
- The University's code numbers are 1250 for the ACT and 1811 for the SAT.
- Test scores can be submitted via mail, fax, Parchment, screenshot, or e-mail and may be sent FREE from College Board to your counselor at any time.
Total Credit Hours - 120
General Education – 42 credit hours
• Written Communication – 6 credit hours
• Oral Communication – 3 credit hours
• Social Science & Humanities – 12 credit hours
• Mathematics & Science – 10 credit hours
• Other – 11 credit hours
Program Requirements – 48 credit hours
Pre-Legal Studies Concentration:
• COM 213 Business Communication
• COM 363 Persuasion and Argumentation
• ENG 2113 American Literature I
• GOV 333 State and Local Government
• GOV 403 American Constitutional Development
• LE 153 Juvenile Justice, LE 263 Introduction to Criminal Law and Justice, LE 273 Criminal Procedures and Evidence or 9 hours from BA or LAW
• PHIL 313 Ethics
• PHL 343 Logic
• PSY 373 Political Psychology
• SOC 103 Principles of Sociology
• SOC 323 The Family
• Electives from LE, ENG, PSY, or COM – 6 hrs.
• PL 4003 Legal Capstone Experience
Additional – 30 credit hours
Electives - 29 hrs. - General Studies Major-Pre-Legal Track students are encouraged to consult with their advisor to choose electives that are appropriate to their career plan.
• UE 101 - 1 hr