Potential Careers
- Lawyer
- Judge
- Court reporter
- Paralegal, Arbitrator
Our pre-law program provides insider access to Widener’s law schools and prepares you for a rewarding career in law.
Pre-Professional
On Campus
As a pre-law student, you’ll explore the possibilities offered by a career in law from day one. Choose from traditional pre-law majors such as political science or English, or pursue a major of interest to you.
Academic and extracurricular programs, professional advising, LSAT preparation, and special admissions programs to our ABA-approved Delaware Law and Widener Law Commonwealth prepare you for success in law school and beyond.
Widener University has two ABA-approved law schools, Widener University Delaware Law School and Widener University Commonwealth Law School. Both law schools, in partnership with Widener University, offer options to undergraduates:
3 + 3 Early Admissions Program
Widener University undergraduate students may earn both a bachelor's degree and a juris doctor degree in six years instead of the usual seven years provided they:
Students attend Delaware Law or Widener Law Commonwealth in their fourth (senior) year of undergraduate study. Courses fulfill the students' remaining requirements to earn the bachelor’s degree. Students must attend law school on a full-time basis until they have completed their bachelor’s degree. At that time, they may elect to continue their legal studies on either a full- or part-time basis.
Express Admissions Program
Widener undergraduates are guaranteed admission to either law school provided they:
Widener Legal Scholars Program
Under this pathway, Widener undergraduates in any major who meet certain criteria may qualify for admission to both the Delaware Law School and Widener Commonwealth Law without having to take the LSAT provided they:
If you're interested in Widener’s pre-law program, you have a range of undergraduate majors to choose from as there is no single major that prepares you for law school according to The Association of American Law Schools.
Widener’s pre-law advisors encourage students to choose from the following majors based on their personal interest.
All of these majors are intellectually challenging and will help you develop critical thinking, analysis, problem-solving, and communication skills, which are key to your law school success.
The College of Arts and Sciences offers a minor in legal studies and analysis to assist students in preparing for the study of law. The legal studies and analysis minor includes courses that require the kinds of reading and analysis that are critical to success on the LSAT and in law school itself. Since most students will take the LSAT in June after their junior year, they should begin completing the courses in this minor, in consultation with a pre-law advisor, beginning in the second semester of their freshman year.
Loading... requirements for the legal studies and analysis minor.
Job outlook for legal occupations is projected to grow 9% by 2030 as governments, businesses, and individuals require diverse legal services.
2021 median pay for lawyers.
Pre-law advisors can help you land internships with attorneys and other legal professionals such as paralegals, legal assistants, and courthouse staff, often for academic credit in majors such as political science or criminal justice.
You'll find invaluable support when it comes to preparing for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Access individualized tutoring and take a nationally ranked LSAT review course at a discounted rate. The Mock LSAT is offered each semester free of charge for you to take as many times as you'd like.
You'll practicing attorneys, LSAT preparation specialists, and representatives from Widener's law schools including admissions professionals, students, and law faculty who routinely conduct mock classes. Excursions to the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., and the state capitol in Harrisburg deepen your knowledge of law careers.
We want to get to know you and see you succeed. Professors will pay attention to how you learn and what you want to accomplish. Your Personal Student Success Team—faculty and peer mentors and liaisons for campus resources—will make sure your first year runs smoothly.
Without skipping a beat, you’ll have what you need to make Widener your second home. And you’ll know how to invest in the greater community, from professional opportunities in Philadelphia to volunteer experiences in your new backyard.
Lean more about faculty mentorship
Explore resources for academic & career support
Find support for health & wellbeing
Whether students want a career in medicine or law, Widener’s seven pre-professional pathway programs put them on track to graduate school and one step closer to achieving their career goals.
Our admissions and financial aid teams are here to support you every step of the way. Have a question? Ask away!
Applying to Widener is easy—and free! Simply complete our Widener Application or the Common Application. You'll also need your official high school transcript and either an admissions essay or your SAT/ACT scores. We're a test-optional school, so there's no need to submit both.
Know you're interested in applying to Widener but unsure if you're ready to zero-in on a major? You can apply as an Exploratory Studies student with an undecided major. This program will help you start your college journey on the right foot while you explore which undergraduate program is the right fit for you.
We accept applications on a rolling basis—there are no hard deadlines. Apply when you're ready and we'll take a look as soon as we receive your app.
Key dates to keep in mind:
Once we receive your application and all materials, you can expect to hear back from us quickly. Along with your application decision, you'll also find out about any merit-based scholarship awards. You're automatically considered for merit scholarships as soon as you apply—you don't need to apply separately.
If you apply before November 1, you are considered an Early Action applicant which comes with benefits like:
All applications are non-binding, so why wait? Apply today!
Widener University serves as a "second home" for students from around the world. We are located just outside of Philadelphia and close to New York City and Washington, D.C.—offering many unique professional and personal opportunities to explore.
Want to know what it's like to be an international student on campus or need assistance navigating English proficiency requirements? We're here to help, and our international admissions director will support you through the application process.
This support doesn't end with admissions—our International Student Support team will serve as a valuable resource throughout your Widener journey—meeting Visa/immigration requirements, getting acclimated to campus, and much more.
Learn more about applying as an international student
Learn more about life at Widener as an international student
To transfer into an undergraduate engineering program, a minimum 2.5 GPA is required for consideration.
Additional Engineering Coursework Requirements:
Our admissions team will help you make the most of college-level credits earned after high school. We maintain strong partnerships and articulation agreements with numerous local community colleges and also accept a wide range of course credits earned at accredited colleges and universities.
Curious about how many credits may transfer? Email your transcripts to transfer@widener.edu and our transfer coordinator will personally review your coursework as an unofficial credit evaluation. Applicants are given priority during busy seasons, but you don't have to apply to work with our transfer coordinator.
Transferring doesn't have to be a guessing game—share your stats and we'll take it from there!
Nearly 100% of new full-time undergraduate students receive significant financial aid offers that reduce out-of-pocket costs and make a Widener education not only affordable, but well worth the investment. In fact, once your total financial aid is calculated, the cost of a Widener education is often equal to if not lower than other competitive universities–but with far superior outcomes for your career and earning potential.
The first step to see how much aid you qualify for is submitting the FAFSA.
Funding you don't have to pay back after graduation? That's a win-win! Scholarships and grants are a way for the university and other organizations to honor the academic, merit, and talent-based achievements of our students.
In the Accelerated Advantage 4+1 program, you can save up to a year of tuition by pursuing a master's degree—resulting in thousands of dollars in savings. During your fifth year of study, you can also apply for graduate-level scholarships and assistantships to further reduce education costs. To learn more about graduate scholarships and assistantships, please speak with your academic advisor during the spring semester of your senior year.
To visit Widener is to fall in love with the place. But don't take our word—experience it for yourself. Plan a visit to connect with our students, faculty, and staff.
Have a question about Widener? Drop us a line and an admissions counselor will be in touch. We're always happy to help!
Because Widener is a private institution, we're able to offer financial assistance that brings an exceptional education within reach. Complete your admissions application today to determine your financial aid package, including scholarships and grants.
Applying online has never been easier—and it’s free! We also accept the Common Application. Take the next step toward joining the Widener Pride.
Muller Hall
University Pl
Chester, PA 19013
Kapelski Learning Center, Room 332