The Association of American Law Schools defines Pre-legal Education as follows: “Shortly stated, what the 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 focus.” Although pre-law students can gain adequate preparation for law school with any strong major, they have found the liberal studies major especially valuable. A major in Liberal Studies provides an excellent preparation for law school.
A student has the option of pursuing an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Studies by completing either a seminar-based honors program through the Whitney M. Young, Jr. College of Leadership Studies or by completing a general liberal studies core. Courses taken in study-abroad programs may be used to satisfy WYC course requirements at the discretion of the WYC faculty.
The seminar-based honors program option emphasizes careful reading and discussion of books related to literature, history, philosophy, theology, mathematics, and sciences. The program concentrates on the pursuit of knowledge and the development of critical thinking and writing skills through the use of tutorials and seminars.
To satisfy the requirements for the Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies through the seminar-based honors program option, a student must complete a minimum of 67 semester credit hours. The required courses are WYC 101, 102, 131 or 132; 121, 122, 141 or 142, 143, 144, 201, 202, 211, 212, 221, and 222; and 19 semester credit hours of advised electives. In addition, the student must demonstrate competency in the basic use of computers, either by satisfactory performance on the WYC Computer Competency Exam or the computer literacy portion of the Rising Junior Exam, or by passing any COS course or any appropriate course in computer skills (e.g., BUA 101). With the exception of the 19 semester credit hours of advised electives, all courses in the Associate of Arts degree_in Liberal Studies through the seminar-based honors program option are defined as major area courses, and all academic requirements for graduation are applicable as defined in this Catalogue.
and all academic requirements for graduation are applicable as defined in this Catalogue.
The general liberal studies core option affords the student an opportunity to focus on a program which is broad based and is designed as a transfer program to complete a baccalaureate degree. By completing either the seminar-based honors option or the general liberal studies core option, a student can satisfy the University's Liberal Studies Requirements toward a baccalaureate degree while incorporating the skills of critical thinking and reasoning, oral and written communication, and an appreciation of the arts.
Students who have chosen to complete the general liberal studies core option may enroll in Whitney Young College courses which have been approved as equivalents of the University's Liberal Studies Requirements. To satisfy the requirements for the Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies through the general liberal studies core option, a student must complete a minimum of 65 semester credit hours. The required courses are ART 130 or MUS 130; BIO 101; ECO 200 or POS 101; ENG 101, 102, and 211; 6 semester credit hours of foreign language; HED 221 or PHE Activity Courses; HIS 103; IGS 200 and 201; MAT 111; PHI 200; PSY 200 or SOC 203; SPE 103; 15 semester credit hours of advised electives at the 100/200 level; and 3 semester credit hours of natural science selected from BIO 112, CHE 109, PHY 111, and PHS 201. In addition, the student must demonstrate competency in the basic use of computers, either by satisfactory performance on the WYC Computer Competency Exam or the computer literacy portion of the Rising Junior Exam, or by passing any COS course, or by passing any appropriate course in computer skills (e.g., BUA 101). With the exception of the 15 semester credit hours of advised electives, all courses in the Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Studies through the general liberal studies core option are defined as major area courses, and all academic requirements for graduation are applicable as defined in this Catalogue. Courses taken in study-abroad programs may be used to satisfy WYC course requirements at the discretion of the WYC faculty.
105