Program Overview

Pre-Law Program

The Pre-Law program at Central Methodist University is designed to help undergraduates prepare themselves for successful admission to and performance in law school. The program is based on criteria established and endorsed by legal and academic professionals nationwide.

Program Description

No particular course of study is a prerequisite for admission to law school. Today's law students have undergraduate degrees in political science, English, business, natural science, history, foreign languages, education, and music. The main guide to undergraduate study should be the student's own interests and talents. The successful study and practice of law can be based on any large number of college backgrounds, so the student should feel free to study what interests him or her.

A lawyer must be able to communicate clearly in oral and written expression. Since words are the tools of the lawyer's trade, lawyers must be able to speak and write effectively.

The prospective law student must develop the capacity for creative and critical thinking. A lawyer must be able to reason logically from given premises and propositions to tenable conclusions.

Program Opportunities

• University internship program which allows students to earn academic credit while working in the offices of state legislative and executive officials or for attorneys in private practice
• Opportunity to participate in a test preparation program designed to boost student scores on the Law School Admission Test
• Beginning the first semester on campus, special one-on-one pre-law advising to help each student take full advantage of every opportunity to prepare for success in law school

3+3 Program

The 3+3 cooperative program with the School of Law of the University of Missouri is for exceptional students. Such students complete three years of study at Central Methodist University, fulfilling general education requirements for the bachelor's degree and admission requirements to the School of Law, then apply for admission to the University of Missouri. After three years of study there, and the completion of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence, the student will be awarded both the baccalaureate degree and the professional degree.

Pre-Law Core Curriculum

All students with an emphasis in pre-law are encouraged to complete as many courses from the pre-law core as possible. Pre-law students should aim to complete at least two courses from each area of the core. The pre-law core curriculum is intended to supplement the university's general education requirements and the specific requirements of the various individual degree programs. Some of the courses listed below may be used to fulfill specific general education or major field requirements.

Communication Skills

• CT 320 Interpersonal Communication
• CT 310 Argumentation, Discussion, and Debate
• AC 201 Principles of Accounting I
• AC 202 Principles of Accounting II
• EN 305 Expository Writing
• EN 306 Technical Writing

Human Institutions and Values

• PS 308 Constitutional Law and the Judicial Process
• PS 309 Law in American Society
• BU 341 Business Law-Contracts
• BU 342 Business Law-Commercial
• CJ 202 Criminal Law
• CJ 301 Constitutional Aspects of Criminal Justice
• AC 340 Income Tax Accounting

Critical Thinking

• MA 105 Elementary Statistics
• EC 311 Money, Credit, and Banking
• EC 330 Law and Economics

Our Graduates

• Tom Meier '91
• Tim Kern '91
• Greg Young '95
• Amanda Fritz '97
• Wendy Biache '98
• Matt Miller '99
• Leila Morgan '01
• Kristin E. Gore '01
• Dan Farris '03
• Nina Marie Garrett '03
• Heather Haake '04
• Anna Steel '04
• Tara Blackburn '04
• Amber Davis '04
• Doug Hansen '06
• Matt Reeves '08
• Christopher Janssen '09
• Brianne Preston '09
• Taylor White '11
• Knial Richard Piper II '12
• Cameron M. Yates '13
• Tyler Winn '13
• Geofrey C. Bilabaye '15
• Kelsey D. Forqueran '15
• Valerie N. Kimball '16
• Martha Bradley '18
• Tyler Steger '18
• Brenna Germann '20
• Noah Robinson '20
• Taylor Rumsey '20
• Reid Brown '20
• Dillon Doll 2021
• Britlyn Sparks 2021
• Martina Florido 2021