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Undergraduate Minor in Legal Studies

Gain substantive legal knowledge, build critical-thinking skills, and become a better-informed citizen through Vanderbilt Law’s rigorous and relevant minor for undergraduate students considering a legal career.

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Section Contents

Introduction

The Undergraduate Minor in Legal Studies, designed and taught by Vanderbilt Law faculty, offers a comprehensive introduction to law for Vanderbilt undergraduate students. Through five courses (15 credits) and supplemental programming through Legal Studies and Pre-Law Advising, students will be able to make an informed judgment about pursuing law school and/or a legal career, gain knowledge and skills that will give them a leg up in law school or non-legal career paths, and graduate with a better understanding of how the law shapes our society.

Curriculum

Students are required to take Introduction to Law and the Legal System, which is offered each semester. They must also take four additional ULAW courses. One of these four additional courses may be taken from a small, approved list of non-Law School Vanderbilt University courses. For more details on course substitutions, consult with course attributes on YES or email legalstudies@vanderbilt.edu.

To view the Undergraduate Minor in Legal Studies courses available for registration, students should consult YES.

Spring 2026 Courses and Descriptions

  • Introduction to Law and the Legal System

    This course will introduce students to the study of American law. It is a required course designed to give students the knowledge and skills that will prepare them for the other courses that contribute to a Minor in Legal Studies, as well as applying to and succeeding in law school. What are the institutions (such as the legislature and the courts) and sources of law (such as statutes and judicial decisions) that comprise the American legal system? How do you read a judicial decision and understand how law develops over time? How do you “think like a lawyer?” This course may focus on a particular subject matter, such as administrative law or negotiations, to introduce the basic concepts.

  • Access to Justice

    How do lower-income people navigate and experience the civil and criminal legal systems? This course will consider what “access to justice” means and requires, both for the structure of our legal systems and at a practical level. Students will be introduced to a range of topics that may include the right to counsel, the role of non-lawyers, the use of technology, legal design, and legal literacy.

  • International Protection of Human Rights

    This course will study the rules, institutions, and legal theories that seek to protect basic liberties for all people in connection with the interrelated field of international humanitarian law. The course will emphasize (1) specific "hot button" subjects within human rights law (including the death penalty, hate speech, refugee rights, and gender rights); (2) judicial and legislative authorities that interpret and implement legal rules relating to these subjects; and (3) public and private actors who seek redress for those whose rights have been violated.

Programming

Students pursuing the Undergraduate Minor in Legal Studies will have access to specialized programming throughout the school year on a variety of Law School topics, including the admissions process, legal career paths, and the graduate student experience. Students should also opt-in to the Legal Studies and Pre-Law Advising email list to receive regular updates and alerts for relevant opportunities and programming.