Pre-Law Courses at KU

Pre-law students can use this unofficial course database maintained by Jayhawk Pre-Law Advising to identify possible electives and see how their coursework within their chosen major can prepare them for law school. Remember, any KU major can be a pre-law major. Pre-law students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to talk about their specific degree and major requirements each semester, and they should consult the Schedule of Classes to see course offerings each semester.

What Are Pre-Law Classes?
This table provides an unofficial list of KU courses that could be helpful in preparing for legal education. Individuals encountering accessibility issues are encouraged to contact us at prelaw@ku.edu.
Course NumberCourse NamePre-Law Competency
POLS 206Political Science Methods of InquiryResearch
POLS 301/302Introduction to Political TheoryCritical Reading
POLS 498Honors ThesisResearch
POLS 499Capstone Research in POLSResearch
POLS 400Contemporary Feminist Political TheoryPublic Service and Promoting Justice
POLS 492Fieldwork in Political ScienceRelationship-Building and Collaboration
POLS 496Washington Semester Field WorkRelationship-Building and Collaboration
POLS 497Topeka Semester Field WorkRelationship-Building and Collaboration
POLS 110/111Introduction to U.S. PoliticsBackground Knowledge
POLS 320Introduction to Public PolicyBackground Knowledge
POLS 313Comparative U.S. State PoliticsBackground Knowledge
POLS 317The U.S. CongressBackground Knowledge
POLS 319U.S. Supreme CourtExposure to the Law
POLS 410Constitutional Law: Governmental PowersExposure to the Law
POLS 411Constitutional Law: Civil LibertiesExposure to the Law
ENGL 101CompositionWriting and Editing
ENGL 102Critical Reading and WritingWriting and Editing
ENGL 105Honors Introduction to EnglishWriting and Editing
ENGL 205Freshman-Sophomore Honors ProseminarWriting and Editing
COMS 130/131Public SpeakingOral Communication and Listening
COMS 244Interpersonal CommunicationOral Communication and Listening
CRIM 499Capstone in Criminal JusticeProblem Solving
CRIM 320Research Methods and Data Driven Decision Making in Criminal JusticeResearch
CRIM 498Internship in Law EnforcementPublic Service and Promoting Justice
CRIM/SPAA 400Law Enforcement LeadershipRelationship-Building and Collaboration
CRIM 300Introduction to Criminal JusticeBackground Knowledge

Deans, Chairs, and Undergraduate Studies Directors can email us at prelaw@ku.edu to update, add, or remove courses. We welcome faculty collaboration, as academic departments are often one of the best resources for undergraduate students exploring law school. Jayhawk Pre-Law Advising is happy to meet with departments to help them identify existing courses that align with skills and learning outcomes recommended by the American Bar Association for pre-law students.