CEDARVILLE — Christian Universities Online (CUO) recently named Cedarville University as the top Christian school for law-related degrees in Ohio. CUO assembled its 2017 Top Ten Christian Law School list based on reviews of majors such as political science, government and criminal justice.
Cedarville University offers three law-related programs — bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice, political science and prelaw. The criminal justice program requires an internship to round out a student’s education. Political science students are encouraged to spend a semester in Washington, D.C., during their college experience, while the prelaw program is designed to prepare students for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and for the rigors of a law school education.
Liberty University topped the national list, while Regent University is ranked No. 3 and Wheaton College is No. 6. Cedarville University is ranked No. 10 nationally.
“The faculty in the department of history and government are committed to teaching students in a way that prepares them for law-related professions,” said Dr. Mark Caleb Smith, chair of the department of history and government and professor of political science. “We know students will be well-prepared if we are demanding, and we have high expectations of ourselves and the work of our students. This ranking speaks to the quality of our faculty and our students.”
Courses in the history and government department require students to analyze, evaluate and make compelling arguments in a way that honors Christ. Smith believes students who study history and government at Cedarville University will then be able to communicate their thinking, both verbally and in writing.
“This recognition of our law-related programs provides evidence that we are effectively preparing students for lifelong leadership and service from a biblical worldview,” said Dr. Patrick Oliver, associate professor of criminal justice and former chief of police of Cleveland. “We believe the combined field experience and terminal degrees of our faculty enhances the quality of student learning. There is also an understanding of what is needed to succeed in the field. Our philosophy is to have comprehensive academic programs to prepare students to serve in a variety of law-related jobs.”
Cedarville graduates are working in a wide range of law-related fields. They serve as prosecutors, public defenders, federal, state and local government employees and in private law practice. Cedarville students have enrolled at the most prestigious law schools in the United States, including Harvard, University of Chicago, University of Virginia, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Indiana University.
