Ohio Wesleyan University | Department of Politics and Government

Department Chair
Professor Craig Ramsay

Department Secretary
Mrs. Pam Laucher

211 Elliott Hall
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH 43015

Phone: (740) 368-3906
Fax: (740) 368-3644

Pre-Law Studies


Professor Michael Esler, Advisor

LAW SCHOOLS do not require one specific major for admission. They do seek evidence of a rich, liberal arts education, expecting students to have developed their skills in three major areas: comprehension and expression in words; critical understanding of the human institutions and values with which the law deals; and creative power in thinking.

Among the options available to Ohio Wesleyan’s pre-law students are traditional majors such as history, English, economics, and politics and government, as well as supplementary course work to help them prepare for the Law School Admission Test.

Ohio Wesleyan students also may select an interdepartmental pre-law major. Students who major in pre-law must complete a second major in a traditional course of study.

For the pre-law major, a core of appropriate courses is outlined in English, philosophy, history, economics, and politics and government.

Core Courses: ACCT 217; ENG 265 or 310; PHIL 341; PG 350 or 351; and any upper-level American or European history course.

Seven other courses complete the major: these are chosen with an eye toward breadth and depth of preparation (no more than three may be taken in one department) and after careful consultation with the student’s advisor. The list of courses from which to choose electives includes those courses most helpful in the past to students going on to study law.

Electives(7) : from among ACCT 341, 342; ECON 255, 351, 354, 372; ENG 291, 336, 338; HIST 355, 371, 378; MATH 105, 110, 111, 230; PHIL 233, 342; PG 352, 353, 356, 358, 371, 373; PSYC 322; SOAN 356, 359. No more than three may be taken in one department.

Pre-law studies also offers apprenticeships in professional legal settings, a speaker series, professional pre-law advisors, and assistance in preparing for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and applying to law schools and graduate programs.

The pre-law program also sponsors participation in annual regional and national moot court and mock trial competitions. An active student Pre-Law Club participates fully in all aspects of the pre-law program.

Demographics

During the last several years 89% (vs. 68% nationally) of Ohio Wesleyan graduates who applied to law school were admitted to one or more schools.

Our students have been admitted to the nation’s premier law schools including Harvard, Yale, Virginia, Michigan, Columbia, Northwestern, the University of California Berkeley, Stanford, Texas, Ohio State, Minnesota, Indiana, Notre Dame, Cornell, Georgetown, Boston College, Boston University, and other high-quality schools.

Other Specialized Academic Programs

Practical Politics