Students considering law as a career often wonder whether there is a preferred academic track for them. Pomona College does not offer a formal pre-law curriculum. The American Bar Association, and its 179 associated law schools, do not require or recommend any particular undergraduate major or courses for those preparing for law school. Pre-law students major in a range of disciplines from English to biology, from history to economics. A much more important determinant than academic major in admission to law school is a student's grade point average. It is best to select a major and courses that you will find intellectually stimulating because it is what you will most likely excel in.

The A.B.A. Guidlines:
Although The American Bar Association does not have specific academic requirements, it does highlight a number of skills that form the basis of a legal education. Analytical problem solving skills, critical reading abilities, writing skills, oral communication and listening skills, and task organization and management skills are all strongly recommended by the American Bar Association. The general education requirments of Pomona are designed to develop the skills that law schools or any type of post-graduate institution is looking for in an undergraduate program. By completing PAC and writing and speaking intensive requirments, Pomona students should have formed a rigorous academic basis which is necessary for law school.

The A.B.A. also recoomends a strong knowledge base in a number of areas, which involved a number of disciplines and subjects. These include:

• An understanding of history, particularly American history, and the various factors (social, political, economic, and cultural) that have influenced the development of the United States.
  
• A fundamental understanding of political thought and theory, and of the contemporary American political system.
  
• A basic understanding of ethical theory and theories of justice.
  
• A grounding in economics, particularly elementary micro-economic theory, and an understanding of the interaction between economic theory and public policy.
  Some basic mathematical and financial skills.
  
• A basic understanding of human behavior and social interaction.
  
• An understanding of diverse cultures within and beyond the United States, of international institutions and issues, and of the increasing interdependence of the nations and communities of the world. [top]

Pomona College offers a number of courses that satisfy one or more of these guidlines:

• POLI001a,b: Classical and Modern Political Theory
• POLI003: Introduction to American Politics
• POLI037: Criminal Law
• POLI133a,b: Constitutional Law
• ECON052: Principles of Microeconomics
• HIST020: United States from the Colonial Era to the Gilded Age
• HIST021: United States Since the Civil War
• HIST125a-z: Topics in American History
• PHIL031: History of Ethics
• PHIL032: Ethical Theory
• PHIL033: Social and Political Philosophy
• PHIL034: Philosophy of Law
• PSYC051: Psychological Approaches to the Study of People
• PSYC154: Social Psychology

Students should bear in mind that the A.B.A. is most concerned with a well-rounded liberal arts education that emphasizes critical thinking. Satisfying most or all of these guidlines does not necessarily increase the probability of acceptance into the law school of your dreams. These guidlines are merely designed to better prepare you for once you begin your legal studies. Once again, the best advice is to take courses that you find intellectually stimulating and will excel in. If you have further questions about academic preparation, contact the Pomona College CDO or Professor Leo Flynn in the Politics Department. [top]