LAW.BA - BA in Law

BA in Law

General Information

The Bachelor of Arts in Law is designed for the student who is interested in learning about the origins, actors, institutional frameworks, cultural development, and theoretical foundations of law and justice. This major looks at these subjects in a wide variety of contexts that include state and federal governments in the United States, similar institutions in foreign nations, and within the framework of the international community. Throughout the curriculum, students are challenged to consider the implications that the law has for building a more just and equitable world that embraces the contributions of all of its diverse communities.

Career Opportunities

The Bachelor of Arts in Law is only one of many paths for preparing students for law school. Students interested in attending law school should select a major that matches their own personal interests and intellectual passions, whether that be in the social sciences, humanities, physical sciences or business. The broad-based education in the social sciences provided by the B.A. in Law is an excellent preparation for a variety of non-legal careers in government, education, business, and international affairs.

Please note: You are not permitted to practice law or give legal advice with this undergraduate degree. Only licensed attorneys who have completed law school and passed one or more bar exams can perform these functions.

 Program Objectives 

1. Understand the function and purpose of law in resolving conflicts and establishing justice both past and present.

2. Appreciate how the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges is reflected in public policies and the law.

3. Help students appreciate how the law can be utilized to either promote or deny fairness, equality, equity, and rights.

4. Gain an understanding of the roles of judges, attorneys, and juries in shaping policy outcomes in American society.

5. Develop an appreciation for how legal actors and institutions function in constitutional frameworks outside the United States.

6. Understand the role of international law and governance in shaping relations between states and non-governmental institutions and actors.

7.  Demonstrate the ability to think critically, construct logical arguments and express those arguments through both writing and oral presentations.

Degree Requirements

Required courses (36 credit hours)

Subtotal: 36 cr.

Take 9 additional credits from subjects BL, LSOC, PH, or POSC from courses not used above.

Subtotal: 9 cr.

Total Credit Hours: 45

The B.A. in Law provides 30 credit hours of general electives. Students are strongly encouraged to direct these electives towards a minor program in Economics, History, International Studies, Philosophy, Political Science Public Administration or another field of study to supplement their major coursework. For students who have been accepted by the WNE Law School into the 3+3 program after the completion of their Junior year, these 30 credit hours of general electives will be fulfilled during the first year of law school.

Bachelor of Arts in Law Suggested Sequence of Courses

First Year- Fall Semester

Subtotal: 16 cr.

First Year - Spring Semester

Subtotal: 15 cr.

Sophomore Year - Fall Semester

Subtotal: 15 cr.

Sophomore Year - Spring Semester

Subtotal: 15 cr.

Junior Year - Fall Semester

Subtotal: 15 cr.

Junior Year - Spring Semester

Subtotal: 15 cr.

Senior Year - Fall Semester

Subtotal: 15 cr.

Senior Year - Spring Semester

Subtotal: 14 cr.

Total Credit Hours: 120