Law is an essential structure of a civilized community. Practicing law is an exciting and rewarding field. You, like many, are probably wondering how you can be part of it.

While no undergrad major can guarantee entry into law school, a handful can be desirable as they provide solid foundations for legal education. These majors include humanities and social science classes such as philosophy and political science.

There’s no formula for getting into a top law school apart from studying hard, developing a critical mindset, and preparing well for the admissions test with the help of an LSAT test prep coursework. Here are some of the most common pre-law college majors to consider.

1. Political Science

Political science delves into the functions of government, public policies, and political behavior. It uses humanistic perspectives and scientific skills to examine America, other nations, and regions worldwide. You will learn about American politics, political theory, international affairs, and domestic developments in other parts of the world.

Political science will help you understand how governments function. It can also give you insights into politics and international relations. The foundational knowledge you acquire through this degree can help you become more familiar with existing laws and the institutions that uphold them.

2. Philosophy

Philosophy is the contemplation of ideas that humanity engages with, such as topics like free will, morality, religion, consciousness, and more. You will learn past approaches on these topics along with developing and expressing your own. In philosophy, there are no correct answers. The purpose of the course is to teach you how to think critically, identify and evaluate arguments, along with engaging in moral and ethical reasoning.

A strong philosophy background can help make taking the LSAT easier because it gives you knowledge on formal logic. Philosophy can also give you an edge in the LSAT’s Logical Reasoning and Logic Games sections. As you practice law, you will find the need to identify, organize, and express the law to win a case or change the law.

3. Sociology

Sociology seeks to help understand humanity better. This major helps explore diverse social interactions, groupings, and behaviors. The subject matters are diverse and include family, religion, race, social class, and culture. 

Sociology will help you understand how society works, especially if you’re going for public interest work. Sociology courses in education, race, ethnicity, or gender will give you the tools you need to make an impactful change as a future lawyer.

Law doesn’t operate in a vacuum. It is a function of history, communities, and ideas. To be more adept at law, you may need to understand their reason for enactment or the context under which society made them. Your understanding of the law at this level will also help you improve the law to make society better.

4. English

Law school will require you to master the English language. English courses that are heavy in academic reading and writing will enable you to get through law school assignments effectively and efficiently. Within the field, you will have the option of studying historical periods, film studies, creative writing, cultural studies, popular culture, ethnic literature, and critical theory.

For the course and possibly your career, you will do a lot of reading, writing, and expressing yourself. The language course will help you get into the rhythm of the extensive reading you will do throughout your career and help you communicate with others effectively.

5. Economics

Law and economics go hand in hand. You don’t have to become an economics expert, but you will need to understand it for business and policy contracts.

Economics examines resource allocation, incentives, wealth, and other issues under conditions of scarcity. As you negotiate between parties or draft proposals, your understanding of motivations, incentives, and resources will make what you propose fairer.

Choose the Major That Works for You

The courses above will help you achieve the foundational knowledge that can help you in law school. But that doesn’t mean other majors don’t have anything to offer. Remember, there is no prescribed course to get into law school, so you can choose something that you find compelling, and challenging. Regardless of the major you pick, studying and preparing well will help you gain valuable skills and perspective.