History and Political Science for Pre-Law

One of the most popular Loyola majors for students interested in pre-law is political science and it is easy to combine your interest in history with that discipline. Many of our majors choose to minor in political science and vice versa or to double major.

The political science minor requires seven courses, two of which (PS 101: Politics and PS 102: American Politics) count for your social science core. Alternatively, the history minor requires six courses, with HS 100 and a HS 2** level course fulfilling core requirements.

It is also easy to double major in history and political science, especially if you entered with AP or transfer credit. Below you can find a sample four-year plan for a double major for a student entering Loyola without any transfer credit:

First Year

Fall Term

• WR 100 Effective Writing
• HS 100 Encountering the Past
• Foreign Language 1
• PS 101 Politics
• Mathematics (ST 110 Recommended)

Spring Term

• HS 2** level course
• PS 102 American Politics
• Foreign Language 2
• Natural Science
• PL 201

Second Year

Fall Term

• HS 300 Historians’ Craft
• PS 3** or 4** level course
• Foreign Language 3
• EN 101 The Art of Reading 
• Math/Science (CS 105 Recommended)

Spring Term

• HS 3** or 4** level course
• PS 3** or 4** level course
• Foreign Language 4
• TH 201
• Fine Arts

Third Year

Fall Term

• HS 3** or 4** level course
• HS 3** or 4** level course
• PS 3** or 4** level course
• PS 3** or 4** level course
• PL 202-299 OR TH 202-299

Spring Term

• HS 3** or 4** level course
• HS 410-498
• PS 3** or 4** level course
• PS 3** or 4** level course
• PS 3** or 4** level course

Fourth Year

Fall Term

• HS 3** or 4** level course
• HS 410-498
• PS 3** or 4** level course
• PS 3** or 4** level course
• Ethics

Spring Term

• HS 499 History Capstone
• HS 3** or 4** level course
• PS 3** or 4** level course
• PS 3** or 4** level course
• Elective