School of Undergraduate Studies

Join the program! Visit Admissions and Registration to learn more about these processes.

Legal Studies

Students may seek an academic major in legal studies.

Major in Legal Studies

The paralegal profession remains one of the fastest-growing fields in the county. With a major in legal studies, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills you need for a rewarding career in the legal environment.

Objectives

The student who graduates with a major in legal studies will be able to:

Explain the historical development and the basic constitutional principles of the American legal system.
Compare and contrast the American legal system with other legal systems.
Discuss issues relevant to the paralegal profession.
Recognize and discuss ethical considerations involved in the practice of law.
Explain substantive concepts in selected areas of legal specialization.
Describe the procedures for settlement of civil, criminal, and administrative disputes.
Identify ways that computers assist in the legal environment.
Analyze facts, law, and legal issues.
Explain legal topics and analysis.
Complete book-based and computer-assisted legal research tasks.
Draft writings typically assigned to paralegals in selected areas of legal practice.
Perform tasks typically assigned to paralegals in selected areas of legal practice.
Use selected software to accomplish tasks in the legal environment.

Degree Requirements

A degree with a major in legal studies requires the successful completion of 120 credits of coursework, including 33 credits for the major; 41 credits in general education requirements; and 46 credits in the minor, electives, and other degree requirements. At least 17 credits in the major must be earned in upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above).

Legal Studies Major - Course Requirements

Coursework for a major in legal studies includes the following:

Required foundation courses (12 credits): LGST 101, 200, 201, and 204
General practice procedure and skills course (3 credits): LGST 320, 322, 325, 400, or 401
General practice substantive law course (3 credits): LGST 312, 315, 316, 340, or 442
Procedure and skills courses (6 credits): Chosen from any general practice procedure and skills courses and LGST 327, 330, 360, 363A, 370, 425, 486A, and 486B
Substantive law courses (6 credits): Chosen from any general practice substantive law courses and LGST 335, 343, 411, 415, 420, 432, 434, 445, and 450
Supplemental major course (3 credits): Chosen from any LGST courses; CCJS 432 and 453; COMM 400; FSCN 412; and GVPT 399B, 402, and 434 Note: A maximum of 6 credits in 1-credit LGST courses may be applied to the major and used in any category except the foundation and general practice coursework.

Recommended Sequence

The following course sequence will fulfill all the requirements for the BS in legal studies. Since some recommended courses fulfill more than one requirement, substituting courses for those listed may make it necessary to take additional courses to meet degree requirements. Students should consult an advisor whenever taking advantage of other options.

Coursework for the major is indicated by ‡

First Courses (to be taken within the first 18 credits)

Note: Placement tests are required for math and writing courses.

EDCP 100 Principles and Strategies of Successful Learning (3) (strongly recommended as first course)
LIBS 150 Information Literacy and Research Methods (1)
WRTG 101/101X Introduction to Writing (3)
MATH 105 Mathematics: Contemporary Topics and Applications (3) or MATH 106 Finite Mathematics or a higher-level math course

Introductory Courses (to be taken within the first 30 credits)

PHIL 140 Contemporary Moral Issues (3) or a foreign language course or other ARTH, ARTT, HIST, HUMN, MUSC, PHIL, THET, dance, or literature course to fulfill the arts and humanities requirement
GVPT 170 American Government (3) or other ANTH, BEHS, ECON, GEOG, GVPT, PSYC, SOCY, or eligible AASP, CCJS, GERO, or WMST course to fulfill the first behavioral and social sciences requirement
Both BIOL 101 Concepts of Biology (3) and BIOL 102 Laboratory in Biology (1) or BIOL 103 Introduction to Biology or other course(s) to fulfill the biological and physical sciences lecture and laboratory requirement
WRTG 291 Expository and Research Writing (3) or other course to fulfill the communications/ writing requirement
IFSM 201 Introduction to Computer-Based Systems (3) or CMST 303 Advanced Application Software
CCJS 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3) or SOCY 100 Introduction to Sociology or other course to fulfill the second behavioral and social sciences requirement (discipline must differ from first)

Foundation Courses (to be taken within the first 60 credits)

HIST 142 Western Civilization II (3) or HIST 157 History of the United States Since 1865 or other ARTH or HIST course to fulfill the arts and humanities requirement in historical perspective (discipline must differ from other humanities course)
NSCI 100 Introduction to Physical Science (3) or ASTR 100 Introduction to Astronomy or other course to fulfill the biological and physical sciences lecture requirement
SPCH 100 Foundations of Speech Communication (3) or WRTG 390 Writing for Managers or other course to fulfill the communications/ writing or speech requirement
‡ LGST 101 Introduction to Law (3)
‡ LGST 200 Techniques of Legal Research (3), ANTH 344 Cultural Anthropology and Linguistics (3) (recommended elective)
‡ LGST 201 Legal Writing (3)
‡ LGST 204 Legal Ethics (3)
IFSM 304 Ethics in the Information Age (3) or other course to fulfill the interdisciplinary issues/computing requirement

Additional Required Courses (to be taken after introductory and foundation courses)

WRTG 394/394X Business Writing (3) or other course to fulfill the communications/ upper-level intensive writing requirement
‡ LGST 320 Criminal Law and Procedures (3) or other general practice procedure and skills course for the major
‡ LGST 312 Torts (3) or other general practice substantive law course for the major
‡ LGST 325 Litigation (3) or other procedure and skills course for the major
‡ LGST 315 Domestic Relations (3) or other substantive law course for the major
‡ LGST 322 Evidence (3) or other procedure and skills course for the major
‡ LGST 316 Estates and Probate (3) or other substantive law course for the major
‡ LGST 486A or 486B Legal Studies Internship Through Co-op (3) or other supplemental major course