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Pre-law

Pre-Law

Bachelor of Arts

Lawyers are critical to the protection and promotion of justice in our society. To become a great lawyer requires a passion for–and mastery of–a legal specialty and an uncanny ability to advocate for your clients’ best interests.

Program Overview

Business Law

Make your dreams of becoming a lawyer your reality.

The Pre-Law emphasis will prepare you for law school through coursework, advising and an abundance of opportunities beyond the classroom. To ensure that you are ready for the LSAT and law school admission, you’ll have the unique opportunity to work one-on-one with Professor Brian Bernhardt, a Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) adviser. Western graduates have attended law school at the University of Denver, University of Colorado Boulder, American University and Willamette University–among others. After law school, you’ll have the skills and experience to pursue a rewarding career as an environmental lawyer, state legislator, corporate lobbyist and more.

Taking the next step

Western’s Pre-Law program prepares aspiring lawyers for the requisites and demands of law school.

Program Requirements

At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.

Program Requirements

A minimum of 60 credits is required including the following:

Course List
Code Title Credits
BUAD 210Legal Environment of Business3
BUAD 315Advanced Business Law3
POLS 117Introduction to Political Ideas (GT-SS1)3
POLS 180Introduction to American Politics (GT-SS1)3
POLS 300Constitutional Law I3
POLS 301Constitutional Law II3
POLS 309Political Theory I- Ancient to Early Modern3
POLS 310Political Theory II-Modern and Contemporary3
POLS 390Mock Trial (Mock Trial)3
Select one of the following:3
POLS 255
Introduction to Comparative Politics (GT-SS1)
POLS 260
Introduction to World Politics (GT-SS1)
POLS 282
Issues in State and Local Government
Select four of the following:12
BUAD 240
Strategic Negotiations
BUAD 342
Environmental and Water Law
BUAD 410
Water Law
POLS 331
The Politics of the Presidency
POLS 340
Politics of Social Movements
POLS 350
Human Rights
POLS 360
American Foreign Policy
POLS 370
Political Economy
POLS 376
American Political Thought
POLS 390
Mock Trial (Mock Trial)
Select five of the following courses in at least three disciplines:15
ACC 201
Introduction to Financial Accounting
ACC 350
Income Tax
COM 371
Small Group and Conflict Management
ECON 201
Macroeconomics (GT-SS1)
ECON 202
Microeconomics
ECON 476
American Economic Development
ENG 152
Women and Literature
ENG 153
Literary Culture of the American West
ENG 255
Ancient World Literature (GT-AH2)
ENG 331
Literature and Ethnicity: Studies in:
HIST 333
American Revolution and the Early Republic
HIST 336
U.S. Civil War and Reconstruction
HIST 340
Emergence of the Modern U.S.
HIST 343
Depression and World War II
HIST 346
Recent American History
PHIL 101
Introduction to Philosophy (GT-AH3)
PHIL 200
Symbolic Logic
PHIL 335
Advanced Ethics
PSY 368
Psychopathology
SOC 259
Introduction to Criminal Justice
SOC 349
Law Enforcement
SOC 367
Corrections
Select one of the following capstone courses:3
POLS 485
Studies in Political Theory:
POLS 486
Studies in American Politics:
POLS 487
Studies in International Relations:
POLS 488
Studies in Comparative Politics:
Total Credits60
Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
POLS 117 Introduction to Political Ideas (GT-SS1) (also Gen Ed) 3
POLS 180 Introduction to American Politics (GT-SS1) 3
Gen Ed General Education Courses (including ENG 102) 9
HWTR 100 First Year Seminar 1
 Credits16
Spring
POLS 260 Introduction to World Politics (GT-SS1) 3
BUAD 210 Legal Environment of Business 3
POLS Pre-Law Elective (1 of 5) 3
Gen Ed General Education Courses (including ENG 103) 6
 Credits15
Year Two
Fall
POLS 300 Constitutional Law I 3
POLS 309 Political Theory I- Ancient to Early Modern 3
BUAD/POLS BUAD/POLS Elective (1 of 5) 3
Gen Ed General Education Courses 6
 Credits15
Spring
POLS 301 Constitutional Law II 3
POLS 310 Political Theory II-Modern and Contemporary 3
BUAD/POLS BUAD/POLS Elective (2 of 5) 3
Gen Ed General Education Courses 6
 Credits15
Year Three
Fall
POLS 390 Mock Trial 3
BUAD/POLS BUAD/POLS Elective (3 of 5) 3
POLS Pre-Law Electives (2 of 5) 3
Gen Ed General Education Courses 3
Elective Electives 3
 Credits15
Spring
BUAD 315 Advanced Business Law 3
BUAD/POLS BUAD/POLS Elective (4 of 5) 3
POLS Pre-Law Elective (3 of 5) 3
Gen Ed General Education Courses 3
Elective Electives 3
 Credits15
Year Four
Fall
BUAD/POLS BUAD/POLS Elective (5 of 5) 3
POLS Pre-Law Elective (4 of 5) 3
Elective Electives 9
 Credits15
Spring
POLS POLS Capstone 3
POLS Pre-Law Elective (5 of 5) 3
Elective Electives 9
 Credits15
 Total Credits121

Careers


Top Skills

  • Analytical Thinking
  • Communication
  • Legal Research
  • Public Speaking
  • Research
  • Writing



Career Pathways

  • Attorney
  • Compliance Officer
  • Court Reporter
  • Judge
  • Legal Analyst
  • Lobbyist

Take the first steps toward your academic and personal growth.

Fostering your intellectual development is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling and enriched life after graduation. Wondering how you can apply your program of choice to your intellectual and personal journey? Check out our “What Can I Do With This Major?” tool to explore the diverse opportunities and pathways within any degree program.

Scholarships

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

Find your Scholarships

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

Find your Scholarships

Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship

The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.

Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.

  • This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
  • Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
  • GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).

Due date has been extended to April 30 for 2024. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.

Apply

Alumni Legacy Scholarship

The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).

Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:

  • This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
  • Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
  • The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
  • GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).

The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.

Apply

Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship

The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.

Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).

  • Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
  • The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
  • The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.

The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.

For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.

For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.

Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.

For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.

Note: Students enrolled in a Western-CU Boulder Partnership Program (i.e. major) do not qualify for Western Merit Scholarship programs. See the Rady Merit Scholarship section above for scholarship opportunities.

Get Involved

Pre-Law

Expand your community and your network.

There are so many ways that you can maximize your educational experience at Western. Take advantage of these opportunities to advance your career.

  • Events: Global Justice Film Series, visiting speakers, political debates and voter registration.
  • Internships: Students intern with political candidates, elected officials, nonprofit organizations and legal professionals.
  • Mock Trial: Introduces students to real criminal or civil cases to prepare for trial after graduation.
  • Model United Nations: Competes in the National Model United Nations event in New York City.
  • Politics Club: A student-led club that tackles political topics, provides professional development opportunities and works to bring dynamic debate to campus.

Prepared for trial

Mock trial introduces students to real criminal or civil cases to prepare for trial after graduation.

News & Research

Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission

Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission

Read More about Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission
Western’s Mock Trial Team travels to Colorado Springs for competition

Western’s Mock Trial Team travels to Colorado Springs for competition

Read More about Western’s Mock Trial Team travels to Colorado Springs for competition
Western’s Model UN travels to NYC, brings home three awards

Western’s Model UN travels to NYC, brings home three awards

Read More about Western’s Model UN travels to NYC, brings home three awards

Department Chairperson

Heather Thiessen-Reily, Ph.D.

Professor of History

Administrative Assistant

Patricia McCarthy

Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences Administrative Assistant

Campus Location

Western Colorado University
Kelley Hall 240
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231

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We keep the Mountaineer spirit going strong within our alumni community. Whether getting together with friends at an annual event, making a donation or mentoring a student, graduates continue to play an important role in the Western community.

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Want to discover more about Western? Request information today to get in touch with the admissions team.