Minor in Legal Studies
Explore the central role of law in society with the undergraduate minor in legal studies. Core required courses are taught by law professors at the highly ranked S.J. Quinney College of Law. Interdisciplinary elective courses draw from a wide range of fields to give you a comprehensive understanding of the legal system.
The minor in legal studies is not a pre-law program, but students can choose to pursue it together with their major if they are considering law school.
The College of Law is currently applying for university approval of a new major in legal studies. The legal studies major has not yet been approved and is not currently offered. If the major is approved, it will be offered beginning in Fall 2026. Courses taken to meet the requirements of the legal studies minor can also be applied towards completion requirements for the major, if it is approved.
Why a minor in legal studies?
The law permeates every aspect of society. It impacts all fields of study and all areas of employment, from business to education, and from medicine to human services.
The minor in legal studies provides an in-depth understanding of the legal system, including the infrastructure, reasoning process, and basic procedural and substantive principles underlying the law. It can be especially useful for students who will encounter legal concepts in their careers but who may not want to become lawyers.
How the legal studies minor will benefit you
The minor in legal studies is a valuable credential that complements a wide range of majors, and can enhance your success on the job market after graduation. The critical thinking, writing and research skills that you develop in the minor will also provide an advantage in the workplace. Additionally, the minor gives you an introduction to the legal profession, and may be a helpful foundation if you decide to attend law school.
What you’ll learn in the legal studies minor
As a student in the legal studies minor, you’ll gain an understanding of:
- The basic structure, function, operation and role of modern U.S. legal systems (such as courts, administrative agencies, legislation, and enforcement mechanisms), fundamental legal rights, and core legal concepts, principles and doctrines.
- How law is used to govern human behavior, and the impacts of law on community.
- An interdisciplinary overview of substantive law (public and private) and procedural law (civil and criminal), and how our various legal systems operate in society.
- The basic tenets, constructs and skills underlying the legal profession—including legal reasoning, legal writing, and legal research.
- The interrelationship between law and your chosen major.
Academic Advising
Please contact Cyri Dixon (cyri.dixon@utah.edu) for academic questions about the minor in legal studies. Important note: The minor cannot be declared until Fall 2025, but we are happy to discuss the minor and answer questions before that.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The minor in legal studies is not a pre-law program, and it won’t necessarily be an advantage when applying to law school. However, completion of the minor will not in any way harm a student’s application to law school.
By providing an in-depth understanding of the legal system, the minor can be useful for students who will encounter legal concepts in their careers—but who may not want to become lawyers. It can also enhance students’ success on the job market after graduation, showing potential employers that they have strong critical thinking, writing and research skills that can be used in the workplace.
The College of Law is currently applying for university approval of a new major in legal studies. The legal studies major has not yet been approved and is not currently offered. If the major is approved, it will be offered beginning in Fall 2026. Courses taken to meet the requirements of the legal studies minor can also be applied towards completion requirements for the major, if it is approved.
Please contact Cyri Dixon (cyri.dixon@utah.edu) for academic questions about the minor in legal studies. Important note: The minor cannot be declared until Fall 2025, but we are happy to discuss the minor and answer questions before that.
Contact Us
For general questions about the minor in legal studies, please email stephanie.peterson@law.utah.edu. For academic advising, please email cyri.dixon@utah.edu.