Nebraska’s Newest Major
Find out why we created one of the university’s most interdisciplinary majors yet.
Meet the high demand of employers who need professionals to develop business solutions from a legal and interdisciplinary perspective. If you are interested in law and want to work in business, you’ll be able to solve critical challenges and impact the future of business by knowing the best legal practices when making decisions. Many jobs need knowledge of both business and legal concepts but don't require attending law school.
What You'll Learn
- Build your knowledge of the law while learning how to develop business strategies, maximize emerging business opportunities and minimize potential legal risks.
Learning Outcomes
- Gain an understanding of the U.S. civil and criminal justice system.
- Learn to review contracts and examine legal and ethical issues in business.
- Analyze and interpret complex legal language.
- Develop useful negotiation skills and strategies.
Career Connections
- Solve critical challenges by understanding the basics of law in the context of business.
- Successfully negotiate contracts for your business.
- Apply your skills in fields like real estate, human resources or financial services.
- Assist businesses in areas like corporate responsibility or governance.
One of very few business schools who offer this major
One of the most interdisciplinary majors at Nebraska, with classes from four colleges
How You’ll Learn
Hands-On Learning Experiences
- Develop negotiation and conflict resolution skills through class simulations.
- Compete in college, regional and national case competitions in which you develop solutions to a problem.
- Discuss real-life legal issues that affect businesses and organizations.
Transferable Career Skills
- Apply basic knowledge of legal business concepts to any industry.
- Learn how to best negotiate, whether its negotiating contracts or your salary.
- Analyze and interpret risks or regulations for any organization.
- Gain confidence in your internship and job search through the college’s Professional Enhancement Program, including resume review and practice interviews.
Social Connections
- Live with others who share your career interests in the Business Learning Communities.
- Succeed by using your strengths with the help of your personal strengths coach.
- Collaborate with peers on class projects and case competitions like the State Farm Business with Integrity case competition.
Making a Difference
- Help shape public policy in government.
- Grow a civically engaged organization.
- Ensure an organization maintains corporate responsibility.
Core Academics
- Begin your business classes right away and build a solid foundation for your career. Students with a 3.25+ GPA are eligible for the business and law major.
- Tackle a real-world problem for nonprofit organizations with hands-on experience through a Strive to Thrive Lincoln management class (MNGT 411) project.
- Customize your degree with a double major or minors like accounting, management or economics.
Research / Grad School Prep
- Meet with a career coach who helps prepare your graduate school application and resume.
- Partner with a faculty member to dive deep into examining big ideas through the university's undergraduate research program (UCARE).
- Serve as a tutor or teaching assistant in a class you loved.
Program Features
- Designed as interdisciplinary – Combine your interests in business and law by taking a unique blend of coursework that will prepare you for roles that require legal knowledge but not necessarily a juris doctor degree.
- Learn law from experts – Experience law classes taught by College of Law faculty as an undergraduate.
- Pursue your law interests – Design your own path with interdisciplinary electives, majors or minors. Learn more.
- Begin business now – There’s no need to wait or fill out additional applications to be part of Nebraska’s business school. We’re unique among other Big Ten schools in the fact that once you’re enrolled, you can start taking business classes immediately.
Research and Academic Opportunities
Build Businesses, Teams and Communities
Prepare to change the world in business through the Clifton Builders Program, where you learn to take entrepreneurial and leadership talents to the next level.
Use Your Skills to Help Nebraskans
Conduct meaningful research as a BBR Scholar as you work with faculty on impactful projects that help inform public policy.
Investigate How Law and Tech Impact Each Other
Do Research Alongside Faculty
Serve as a research assistant to a faculty member or pursue your own big idea through a research grant in the university’s UCARE program.
Study Abroad Opportunities
Learn to Do Business Internationally in Barcelona
Enjoy a summer or semester in Spain learning about international management among other business courses at the Institute for American Universities (IAU), while you take in the architecture, cuisine and history of Barcelona. Internships are also available.
Study at the Oldest University in the English-Speaking World
Spend four weeks studying economics and/or Shakespearean literature at the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. The most popular study abroad program at Nebraska, as this program provides opportunities to discover history, enjoy theater, have high tea, play rounders and experience the horse races at Sandown Park.
See All Business Abroad Opportunities
Student Organizations
You can choose between 25+ student organizations focused on different areas in business. These clubs provide a great opportunity to grow as a leader, gain experience and make meaningful connections.
Nebraska Business Student Advisory Board
Gain leadership experience by representing the College of Business student body on the Student Advisory Board, and promote the college and build community for students by communicating with college administration.
Alpha Kappa Psi
Connects students as a professional, co-ed business fraternity and encourages its members to gain confidence to effectively navigate their careers.
See All Business Related Student Organizations
Example Placements of Business and Law Students
Internships
- Athletic Administration Intern
- Legal Research Intern
- Policy Analyst Intern
- Financial Compliance Intern
- Procurement Intern
Careers
- Integrity Officer
- Contracts Negotiator
- Title XI Coordinator
- Real Estate Analyst
- Health Benefits Administrator
Graduate Schools
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Community and Regional Planning
- Master of Business Analytics
- Juris Doctor
4-Year Plan and Notable Courses
Explore our curriculum through the 4-year plan. To earn your bachelor’s degree in business and law, you’ll take 120 credit hours of classes. That’s four to five classes a semester, on average.
4-Year Plan
Civil Liberties: Issues of Fairness and Equality (POLS 443)
Examine Supreme Court doctrine covering the rights of the accused, the right to privacy and the right to racial and sexual equality.
Legislation and Regulation (BLAW 378)
Find out how legislation works, the structure of the U.S. government and factors that influence governmental policy. Examine how businesses can play a role in shaping legislative and administrative agendas.
Negotiating and Conflict Management (MNGT 412)
Develop a set of useful negotiation skills and strategies through simulations and debriefings that help you learn to identify types of conflict situations and appropriate, purposeful negotiation techniques.
White Collar Crime (CRIM 478)
Learn about white collar crime, which includes illegal acts committed by nonphysical means and by concealment to obtain money or property or to obtain business or personal advantage.
Real Estate Principles and Practice (FINA 382)
Explore real estate areas including ownership, sales, leases and agencies, managerial aspects of brokerage, property valuation and real estate appraising.
Natural Environment and Resource Law (AECN 357)
Learn about environmental impact review, air and water pollution control, solid and hazardous waste control, endangered species and habitat preservation, land use regulation and state and federal water rights law.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What type of law classes do I get to take?
You'll take four advanced business law classes along with Negotiating and Conflict Management (MNGT 412) as part of your core classes in the major. Then you’ll take 9 credit hours of major elective courses. The major electives allow you to focus your studies more narrowly by selecting courses in areas such as international law, employment law, real estate law, financial law, environmental law or civil liberties law. You can pick from:
- Real Estate Principles and Practice (FINA 382)
- Regulatory Environment for Employment and Labor (MNGT 466)
- Natural Environment and Resource Law (AECN 357)
- International Criminology and Criminal Justice (CRIM 475)
- White Collar Crime (CRIM 478)
- Courts, Judges and Lawyers (POLS 345)
- Constitutional Law (POLS 441)
- Civil Liberties: Freedom of Expression and Conviction (POLS 442)
- Civil Liberties: Issues of Fairness and Equality (POLS 443)
- International Law (POLS 469)
- International Human Rights (POLS 470)
- Psychology and the Law (PSYC 401)
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Who teaches the classes?
The business and law major is a unique partnership between College of Business and College of Law faculty. Core business classes are taught by business faculty. The majority of the core classes in the major are taught by law school faculty. Declaring the business and law major or minor allows you to experience law courses as an undergraduate.
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Business and law majors are often double majors. Why is this?
By understanding how the law works and how lawyers think, professionals can work more effectively with legal counsel to develop business strategies, maximize emerging business opportunities, and minimize potential legal risks.
Depending on your career goals, you'll want to pair your business and legal knowledge with a specific skillset. For example, if you want to work in financial services and securities regulation, you may want to pair the business and law major with the finance major. Common double majors include: accounting, agribusiness, agricultural economics, economics, finance, management (human resource management option), political science and supply chain management.
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Should I major in business and law when I'm interested in pre-law?
The business and law major is best suited for students who want to apply legal expertise to careers in business but are not interested in being attorneys.
Pre-law students interested in business or who want to know how to run their own practice one day should consider this major.
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How do I declare this major?
Whether or not you're currently enrolled in the College of Business, you'll need to meet with one of the academic advisors at the College of Business to declare this major. They can help you determine if it's the best fit for you as well as if you meet the major's requirements. The undergraduate law courses require junior standing and a 3.25 GPA or higher.
Incoming students declare the major on your admissions application.
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