Pre Law

🧭 Compass Roadmap

ACU’s Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice has carefully curated this roadmap which features unique opportunities for you as a student in their major. Take a look below and visit with your faculty mentor and academic advisor so you can explore the best path for you as you progress through your department. For more information about Compass and ACU Roadmaps, be sure to check out acu.edu/compass, or reach out to your Compass team at compass@acu.edu.

Pre-Law Program
Home/ ACU Compass/ Compass Roadmaps/ Pre-Law Roadmap

ACU’s Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice has carefully curated this roadmap which features unique opportunities for you as a student in their major. Take a look below and visit with your faculty mentor and academic advisor so you can explore the best path for you as you progress through your department. For more information about Compass and ACU Roadmaps, be sure to check out acu.edu/compass, or reach out to your Compass team at compass@acu.edu.

Pre-Law Program

Main Content

Compass Roadmap | Pre-Law


Begin Your Journey		First Year
Pursue Community		Second Year
Pursue Hospitality		Third Year
Pursue Calling		Fourth Year
Pursue Wisdom
Grow Intellectually - NOT READY
  • Talk to your academic advisor about pursuing the Legal Studies Minor
  • Meet the faculty during Wildcat Week
  • Develop research skills in Cornerstone (CORE 110)
  • Explore the life of Jesus and the New Testament church in BIBL 101 and 102
  • Develop relationships with others committed to taking academics seriously


  • Support your peers by attending ACU's URCI Festival
  • Explore the Old Testament in BIBL 211

  • Engage in a faculty-mentored research or creative project
  • Participate in information literacy workshop
  • Attend Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Convention
  • Visit Ad/PR agencies as part of Morris+Mitchell


  • Present at URCI Festival or other conference
  • Complete your Capstone course
  • Complete research paper in communication law
Grow Spiritually
  • Experience Candlelight Devo during Wildcat Week
  • Join a local Church
  • Participate in Chapel, including JMC Chapel
  • Join a local Church
  • Engage in practices of meal fellowship, testimony and breath prayer

  • Participate in Chapel, including JMC Chapel
  • Participate in the life of a local church
  • Learn about service opportunities at the Local Missions Fair
  • Engage in practices of intercessory prayer, pilgrimage and journaling
  • Participate in Chapel, including JMC Chapel
  • Participate in the life of a local church
  • Gain hands-on ministry experience on a Global Service Trip
  • Engage in practices of silence, spiritual listening and examen
  • Participate in Chapel, including JMC Chapel
  • Engage in a local church
  • Engage in practices of friendship, relinquishment and developing a rule of life
  • Take Religion and Media
  • Experience Candlelight Sendoff
  • Receive and extend blessings at Senior Blessing
Grow Personally
  • Take StrengthsFinder and reflect on your results
  • Become involved in the ACU community by joining a ststudent organization
  • Identify a potential faculty, staff or older student mentor in the Department of JMC
  • Care for your whole person by developing a Personal Exercise Prescription
  • Grow as a leader through ACU LEADS : Emerging Leaders

  • Take advantage of recreation opportunities on campus (Rec Center, intramurals,, etc
  • Actively engage in a student organization

  • Develop your leadership skills while serving in a leadership role on campus
  • Lead in a church ministry or local service organization

  • Serve in a leadership role and mentor future student leaders
  • Lead a student club or organization
Grow Culturally
  • Attend Events Hosted by the Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action
  • Participate in a World Wide Witness Summer Internship
  • Participate in Race and Media Colloquia
  • Apply to Fulbright Scholar, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, Intercultural Service Opportunity
  • Lead an OMA, ISA or Carl Spain Center Event
Grow Professionally
  • Activate Handshake profile and take the Career Explorer Inventory through ACU's Career Service
  • Learn new creative possibilities at Creative U
  • Develop a résumé and participate in a mock interview with Career Services
  • Get a summer job or internship related to your field of interest
  • Write a cover letter and resume in JMC

  • Research graduate schools that interest you
  • Identify faculty members who could write recommendations
  • Create a LinkedIn profile
  • Build a portfolio site to showcase quality work
  • Apply for a position with JMC's experiential learning entities: The Optimist, Morris+Mitchell, KACU or ACUTV
  • Secure letters of recommendation
  • Finalize résumé
  • Apply for jobs and/or graduate school

Exploring the Areas of Growth

Five Areas of Growth

  • Grow Intellectually – Sharpen your mind through critical thinking, problem solving and engaging in original research or creative projects. Build knowledge in your field and develop relevant skills through innovative and experiential assignments and activities.
  • Grow Spiritually – Grow in likeness of Christ, as the Spirit leads both individuals and communities into deeper love of God and others. Cultivate Christian community, hospitality, vocation and wisdom through reflective participation in community practices such as worship, study and service. 
  • Grow Personally – Mature as a whole person through mentorship, peer-to-peer relationships and cultivating habits that produce wellness. Discover your strengths, become a productive team member and grow as a leader.
  • Grow Culturally – Deepen intercultural knowledge and the ability to communicate with and relate to people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and geographic areas. Foster a greater respect and empathy for all peoples through building dynamic and mutually rewarding relationships in local and global contexts. 
  • Grow Professionally – Prepare for a meaningful career by exploring options, participating in career development activities, gaining relevant experiences and making purposeful connections that launch your professional life.

Integrated Spiritual Formation Themes

 

NOTE: Transfer students and those that surpass traditional semester cadences can progress to the next phase when appropriate for their needs.

Year 1 – Pursue Community

  • Connecting students to cruciform relationships with peers and adults on campus and in Abilene through compelling opportunities to invest in a variety of Christian organizations, both discovering and experiencing the distinctive nature of Christian community.

Year 2 – Pursue Hospitality

  • Engaging students in encounters with diverse peoples, ideas, and cultures through both local and global opportunities to extend and receive hospitality and to serve others in Christ’s name.

Year 3 – Pursue Calling

  • Advancing students’ understanding of vocation in a manner that integrates each student’s particular identity, career goals and vision for life with the broad calling for Christians to participate in the ongoing mission of God revealed in the pattern of Christ’s life and death.

Year 4 – Pursue Wisdom

  • Launching students into cruciform and purposeful living beyond the university by equipping them with tools for and experiences seeking Christian wisdom as they prepare to transition into a new season of life and career.