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Prelaw

Degrees

BA or BS + Juris Doctor (JD)

Schools

Department

Political Science

At a Glance

If your goal is a legal career, TCNJ has the resources to help you succeed. Every year, TCNJ graduates attend top regional and national law schools. One of their secrets to success? A valuable resource that will also be available to you: TCNJ’s Prelaw Advisory Committee, a team of experts who will help you chart your path and become a top law school candidate. Any TCNJ student can request a dedicated prelaw adviser to provide personalized guidance.

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What Major Should I Select?

There is no one preferred major for students interested in law, and prelaw can be paired with any major at TCNJ.

If you’re interested in exploring different perspectives on the law, you can complement your chosen major with the law, politics, and philosophy minor or an interdisciplinary concentration in law and society. The philosophy program also offers a law and philosophy specialization.

These options are not designed to teach the law — that’s the role of law schools — but rather to provide exposure to legal concepts, help you assess your interest in the field, and strengthen your academic foundation within your chosen major.

Pursuing prelaw at TCNJ can also streamline your path to law school: The college’s affiliation with Villanova University’s Charles Widger School of Law offers direct-entry pathways for highly qualified students.

You’ll Benefit From:

A 92% law school admission success rate (based on Class of 2023 graduates)
Expertise and guidance from the Prelaw Advisory Committee
Advising information sessions
Access to a database of law internships
The Prelaw Society and the Mock Trial Club, student-run pre-professional clubs

Accelerated/Dual-Degree Program Options

Get a jumpstart on your future: Accelerated options get you there faster and more affordably through fewer semesters of classes. Dual degrees offer a streamlined path to earning two degrees, often with direct admission to the graduate portion.

TCNJ’s affiliation agreement with Villanova University’s renowned Charles Widger School of Law will put you on the fast track to a successful legal career; choose from any of the program options below. Third-year juniors can select an accelerated 3+3 pathway and spend three years at TCNJ, followed by three years at Villanova. Graduating seniors can select a 4+3 pathway to gain direct entry to law school.

African American Studies + Law, BA/JD

Anthropology + Law, BA/JD

Criminology + Law, BA/JD

Economics + Law, BA/JD

English + Law, BA/JD

History + Law, BA/JD

International Studies + Law, BA/JD

Interdisciplinary Business + Law, BSBA/JD

Philosophy + Law, BA/JD

Political Science + Law, BA/JD

Psychology + Law, BA/JD

Sociology + Law, BA/JD