Philosophy (BA,BS), Specialization in Law

USA

2

What will I learn?

Students are admitted to law school from a wide variety of academic disciplines, and no specific major is required for entrance. The American Bar Association (ABA) recommends pursuing an area of study that interests you and helps you develop a strong skill set in problem solving, critical reading, writing, oral communication and research. Law schools judge applicants based on their diversity of experiences, GPA and LSAT scores.

The philosophy major offers excellent preparation for law school because it excels at teaching the skills needed for law school and in legal professions. On average, philosophy majors tend to excel on the LSAT, and philosophy majors have a high law school admission rate. The Department of Philosophy offers a BA in philosophy with a specialization in law that specifies 15 hours of 33 required credit hours to complete the philosophy major. By including this coursework, the BA in philosophy with a law specialization is designed to guide students toward curricular decisions that will facilitate their future success in law school and in subsequent legal professions.

Students aspiring to law school may also wish to complete the pre-law minor. Students completing the BA in philosophy with a specialization in law will need to complete five additional courses outside of philosophy for the pre-law minor. Other programs of study correlated with high law school acceptance rates and high LSAT scores include economics, English, history and political science. These may be combined with the philosophy major as either a second major or a minor.

Which department am I in?

College of Arts and Sciences

Study options

Full Time (4 Years)

Tuition fees
$19,950.00 (16,83,260) per year

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Application deadline

Expected April, October 2025

Start date

Expected January 2026

Venue

College of Arts and Sciences

Peck Hall, Room 3409,

EDWARDSVILLE,

Illinois,

62026, United States

Entry requirements

For international students

Students seeking a bachelor’s degree from SIUE who have never attended a college or university, and those who may have taken some coursework at a college or university outside the U.S. but do not currently hold a bachelor’s degree.

English proficiency requirement:

TOEFL: 72

IELTS: 6.0 (no component score under 5.5)

PTE: 50

Duolingo: 110

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

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About Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) is a nationally recognized, public institution offering high-quality, affordable education programs.

  • Affordable tuition with excellent scholarships available
  • Stunning campus setting just 25 minutes from St. Louis
  • Accredited programs taught by full-time faculty
  • Diverse and welcoming student body