Advisor: Ayo Ogundele, Political Science
Collaborating Departments: History, Literature and Languages, Political Science, and Sociology and Criminal Justice

There is no specific pre-law curriculum at Texas A&M University-Commerce, and no law school recommends a particular major or minor as preparation for admission. The Statement on Pre-legal Education of the Association of American Law Schools states that “What law schools seek in their entering students is not accomplishment in mere memorization but accomplishment in understanding, the capacity to think for themselves, and the ability to
express their thoughts with clarity and force.” (statement of the Association of American Law Schools and the Law School Admission Council) The pre-law student therefore should strive to achieve comprehension and skill in the English language, expression in words, education, for critical understanding and insights into the human institutions and values with which the law deals, and the power to think clearly carefully, and independently. Since these skills are nurtured by the general education requirements, the beginning pre-law student must make it a priority during the first two years of undergraduate education to complete these requirements.


Aside from the courses in general education requirements, pre-law students should consider taking courses in political science, economics, philosophy (especially logic), history, English, statistics, computer science, accounting, and general business.

Pre-law students are strongly recommended to major in Political Science, History, English, Philosophy, and Economics. It is also recommended that a second major or minor, as well as electives, should be chosen from the subject-matter areas listed above.

A bachelor’s degree is required for admission to most accredited law schools. Since admissions to law schools are highly competitive, the pre-law student must have an acceptable score (preferably 150-180) on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), and, in most cases, an accumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better. The LSAT should be taken in June or October of the year before the student plans to enter law school. Applications to law school, together with test scores, transcripts, and recommendations, should be submitted to law schools no later than January 1 of the year the student plans to begin law school.

Before deciding on a pre-law course of study, the student should consult with the pre-law advisor.