Pre-Law, BS
Are you ready to gain foundational knowledge of laws and the legal system? The University of Tennessee’s Pre-Professional Programs, BS in Pre-Law equips students with specialized knowledge in US History, constitutional rights, as well as ethics and human rights, preparing students for successful careers in law and the legal system.
Program Overview
The Pre-Professional Programs, BS in Pre-Law builds legal and human rights knowledge, equipping students for work as lawyers, judges, or other legal professions.
As a 3 +3 program, students spend the first three years of study taking pre-law courses in American society, politics and law, economics, political philosophy, and even constitutional history, giving them a solid foundation in the legal system that governs our country.
In the fourth year of study, students apply to the joint Bachelor of Science/ Doctor of Jurisprudence (BS/JD) program and, if accepted, begin taking courses in the Winston College of Law at UT.
After successfully completing the fourth year, students will be awarded a Pre-Professional Programs Bachelor of Science degree in pre-law and will continue two additional years of study in the Winston College of Law to receive their Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) degree.
The pre-professional program in pre-law is a great fit for students who are passionate about the laws and legal system of our country.
Becoming a Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD)
As students come towards the end of their BS degree (typically in their third year), it is common to begin preparing for and complete the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT).
Once students complete and pass the test, they may then begin applying to the joint 3 + 3 BS/JD program in the Winston College of Law.
Once admitted to the College of Law, students complete their final, fourth year of study in the College of Law to obtain their BS degree in Pre-Law. They then complete two additional years of law school to obtain their JD degree. Once the JD is completed, students must then pass the bar exam to become practicing lawyers.
Why Study Pre-Law?
The Pre-Professional Programs, BS in Pre-Law is an exceptional, accelerated program that prepares students with knowledge of the laws and legal systems of our country to be successful applicants to law school.
You’ll gain specialized knowledge, take interdisciplinary coursework, and obtain practical, real-world knowledge that will help you transform how you show up to the professional world.
Plus, our 3 + 3 program boasts an opportunity for students to accelerate their degree path by completing the fourth year of the BS degree in the Winston College of Law, a program that is ranked #57 in Best Law Schools for 2026, according to U.S. News and World Report, and ranked #13 as a 2025 Best Value Law School by Prelaw Magazine.
At UT, you’ll gain practical, hands-on skills and knowledge that will equip you to excel in your career and beyond.
What Can You Do with a BS in Pre-Law After Graduation?
The Pre-Professional Programs, BS in Pre-Law prepares students to enter professional law schools, obtain their Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) degree, and prepare for successful careers in law and government.
After obtaining the JD and passing the bar exam, students can hold a wide variety of careers in law including federal prosecutors, lawyers, judges, and even law professors and lecturers. Beyond law careers, there are also opportunities to work in legal publishing, become a policy analyst, or provide legal counsel for non-profit organizations, corporations, and governments.
Whatever your unique career aspirations, the Pre-Professional Programs, BS in Pre-Law equips you with the skills needed to successfully excel in law school and beyond.
Featured Courses
ENGL 355 Rhetoric and Writing
This course covers strategies of writing on personal and academic subjects. Discussion of student and professional writing.
WGS 340 Gender, Politics, and the Law
This course covers an examination of recent changes in the laws affecting women and a study of the role of women in contemporary American politics.
JMED 400 Mass Communication Law and Ethics
This course emphasizes legal issues affecting print and electronic media, including libel, privacy, copyright, free press-fair trial, governmental regulations of advertising, electronic media, and public relations. Also includes ethical standards and practices.
POLS 430 United States Constitutional Law: Sources of Power and Restraint
Students will learn judicial review, constitutional powers of the President and Congress, federalism, sources of regulatory authority, and constitutional protection of political and economic rights.
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