Dedman College Majors

Important courses to consider include English (for good writing skills), philosophy (reasoning skills), history, economics, and the natural sciences. Political science courses are especially recommended because many of them encompass law topics. Special prelaw advisers, programs, and state-of-the-art database services help you prepare for the LSAT and getting into law school.

Highlights

Prelaw students are in virtually all academic programs throughout the University. Some suggested majors include:

B.A. or B.S. in Anthropology
Area Studies (Asia, Europe or Latin America)
Business Administration
B.A. in English
B.A. in Foreign Languages and Literatures
B.A. in History
Marketing
B.A. in Philosophy
B.A. in Political Science
B.A. in Public Policy
B.A. or B.S. in Sociology

Law School and Careers

On average, 70-85 percent of our prelaw seniors are accepted to a law school such as Columbia, Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and SMU. Many prelaw students follow a different path and go immediately into careers in politics, lobbying, financial services, business, journalism, and other professions.

Faculty

Because students studying prelaw can major in a variety of diciplines, they interact with faculty throughout the University. These include English, history, economics, and political science. Most professors are very innovative and recognized leaders in their respective studies areas; often you’ll work on special research or other significant projects with them. The Prelaw Services Office has a full-time staff to assist you with prelaw questions and needs. A bi-annual fair brings 80+ law school admission representatives to the SMU campus.

Internships & Study Abroad

Internships and summer jobs in law firms give you essential insight into the real legal world. Some volunteer and paid internships related to many areas of study are available through individual departments and the Hegi Family Career Development Center.

Prominent names from the fields of law and government visit the SMU campus on a routine basis. Recent speakers and visitors have included George H.W. Bush, Alan Dershowitz, Justice Antonin Scalia, and King Juan Carlos of Spain.

Expand your knowledge of legal systems and cultures of other countries through the SMU Study Abroad Program. Choose from yearlong, semester, or summer programs at locations around the globe. Prelaw majors will find these programs particularly valuable: SMU-in-Australia, SMU-in-Copenhagen, SMU-in-Japan, SMU-in-Oxford, SMU-in-Spain, and SMU-in-Taipei.