Lead Faculty: Jack B. Hamlin J.D.

Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Pre-Law Studies program provides students with the well rounded education needed for admission to law schools. Emphasis is placed on the verbal, critical thinking, and analytical skills that are considered vital for success as a law student and as a member of the legal profession. This major also allows students interested in a career in business or government to gain an understanding of the complex legal issues they will face in their professions.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

· Apply critical legal thinking in analyzing judicial decisions
· Describe, analyze, and anticipate legal issues in a business environment
· Review and analyze contemporary legal issues in the state, federal, and administrative law forums.
· Analyze issues by application of relevant rules of law, ethical standards, and social mores
· Develop a clear and concise legal argument supporting a position on a given legal topic
· Demonstrate written, oral communication, and presentation skills.
· Describe and analyze need for effective planning in preparation for the negotiation process

Requirements

To earn a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Pre-Law Studies, students must complete at least 180 quarter units as described below. 76.5 quarter units must be completed at the upper-division level and 45 must be completed in residence at National University. In the absence of transfer credit, students may need to take additional general electives to satisfy the total units for the degree. Students should refer to the section on undergraduate admission procedures for specific information on admission and evaluation.

Prerequisites for the Major
(5 courses; 22.5 quarter units)

ENG 100  Effective College English I (3 quarter units) *
ENG 101  Effective College English II (3 quarter units)*
 (Prerequisite: ENG 100)

SOC 100  Principles of Sociology (+)*
 (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
or
PSY 100  Introduction to Psychology*
POL 201  American Government and Politics*
 (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
or
PHL 100 Introduction to Philosophy*
 (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
LAW 200  Introduction to Law and Legal Writing

Requirements for the Major
(9 courses; 40.5 units)

LAW 400  Current Legal Issues
LAW 304  Legal Aspects of Business I
LAW 305  Legal Aspects of Business II
 (Prerequisite: LAW 304)
LAW 310  Litigation

LAW 402  The Art of Negotiation
or
ADR 405 Negotiation Fundamentals

LAW 405  Analytical Reasoning
LAW 408  Legal Writing, Research, and Oral Argument

LAW 420  Oral Advocacy – Capstone
or
LAW 470  Pre-Law Senior Project
 (Prerequisites: LAW 310, LAW 400, and LAW 408)

ADR 400 Alternative Dispute Resolution

Upper-Division Electives
(7 courses; 31.5 units)

Choose seven upper-division degree related electives. The courses noted with an "*" below are strongly recommended.

LAW 430  Constitutional Law*
LAW 440  Comparative International Law
LAW 445  Administrative Law for Business
LAW 455  Public Contracting
LAW 460  Law School Portfolio Project*
ADR 410 Facilitation Fundamentals*
ADR 415 Mediation Fundamentals*
ADR 420 Communication and Conflict*
ADR 425 Cultural Issues in Conflict Management*
ADR 430 Ethics and Neutrality*
CJA 464 Constitutional Law for Criminal Justice
SOC 445 Contemporary Social Problems
 (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
PHL 437 Ethics*
 (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
ENG 432 Report and Research Paper Writing
 (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)

Degree Program Locations
La Mesa Campus
Mission Valley Campus
South Bay Campus
Spectrum Business Park Campus
Kearny Mesa Campus