Students interested in pursuing a career in legal affairs or a law degree now have the option to pursue a major that gets them closer to their dreams.
Starting Fall Semester 2027, Chaminade University will begin offering a new undergraduate pre-law training program, the first and only one of its kind in Hawai‘i. Applications for the new Bachelor of Arts in Law, History & Culture program will be accepted in the current cycle, and enrollment will likely begin starting late Spring through Summer 2027.
College of Arts & Sciences co-Dean Cheryl Edelson, Ph.D., said the new bachelor program is explicitly designed to steer students toward legal professions or law school.
“It’s a pre-law program,” she said. “A lot of students are interested in law, so we built this into our curriculum.”
The new major is designed to fulfill Chaminade University’s strategic plan of enhancing academic excellence and the career relevance of degree programs while improving student outcomes, gearing graduates toward career success. It marks a milestone in Hawai’i’s higher education landscape as Chaminade continually adjusts to meet the needs of the community it serves.
The Law, History & Culture program prepares students for law school and/or the paralegal profession. Graduates will also be primed for success in business legal compliance offices and law administration, among other pathways.
The new major combines training in criminology, criminal justice, and forensic science with history, communications, and writing to create an applied, career-oriented education that meets expanding workforce needs. Students will learn legal and criminal justice concepts while honing their written and verbal rhetorical skills–at this while gaining a firm grounding in the historical contexts in which society’s laws emerged.
Edelson said the first pre-law program in the state is a natural fit with Chaminade University’s strong position in forensic science and criminal justice education, now with additional layers added in.
“The pre-law path is something that students have wanted for a long time,” she explained. “We have a good history of our students in historical, political studies, criminal justice, or criminology going into law school, but we’ve tried to build in more policy, especially policy about the Pacific region.”
Housed within the College of Arts & Sciences, Chaminade’s faculty leadership plans to introduce new courses over time as the new degree program is fully integrated into the broader university educational architecture.
“There are going to be some new courses developed as we move along,” said Frank Bailey, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Historical and Political Studies.
Yet the program is ready to accept students now, he emphasized, with existing and retooled courses meeting pre-law educational standards and goals.
“At the moment, it has selected history courses that are already developed, that are ready to go, and selected criminal justice courses already developed, ready to go,” said Bailey, who will co-chair the new degree program. “There are some forensic science courses, and then we also try to make it very interdisciplinary.”
Meaning Law, History & Culture students’ studies will couple their practical legal training with coursework in relevant humanities disciplines. About half the course load will be specific to the major, while students will be free to choose from a list of electives to fold into their major depending on where their interests and passions lie.
Pre-law foundations
The new four-year BA in Law, History & Culture degree is carefully designed to prepare students for the rigors of a juris doctorate (JD) program.
Of course, students interested in advancing to formal legal training must first gain admission to a law school. That’s why Chaminade’s new pre-law program includes solid preparation for the Law School Admission Test, or LSAT.
“That’s one of the things that is really important,” said program co-chair and Historical and Political Studies Professor Michio Yamasaki, Ph.D. “That’s central to our degree.”
Yamasaki noted the College of Arts & Sciences is working with LSAT preparation training companies to give Law, History & Culture students access to preparation materials and even full LSAT prep courses, in addition to the advantages they’ll get from the program’s curriculum.
Chaminade University has also secured an articulation agreement with St. Mary’s University, our sister Marianist Catholic institution in Texas, whereby St. Mary’s School of Law has agreed to fast-track acceptance of Chaminade’s Law, History & Culture pre-law graduates, so long as they meet entrance requirements.
Yet, one does not have to be law school-bound to pursue this specialization.
The curriculum is designed for students interested in pursuing careers in legal professions that do not require a law degree immediately upon graduation, including opportunities in government services and the private sector.
Scoping research conducted prior to launching the program unveiled an expanding job market for legally trained college graduates. Opportunities include jobs for new paralegals, legal researchers, claims adjusters, court clerks, compliance officers, and public affairs specialists. The program also offers applied training for those interested in becoming law enforcement officers, social service workers, child advocates, legal writers, and law and crime journalists.
“Paralegal, obviously that’s one,” Professor Bailey noted. “But there are also a bunch of jobs in business where they can use somebody with a law background.”
Pre-law students will also benefit from practical internship experiences before graduating. The faculty is leveraging connections to Hawai‘i’s legal and business communities to secure internship opportunities.
High school students, recent graduates, and working professionals interested in learning more about the new BA in Law, History & Culture degree program are invited to read up on its structure and degree requirements on Chaminade University’s website.
“There’s flexibility to enjoy college in the fields that you want, while getting a well-rounded education focused on legal studies,” Bailey said.