Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies

The Legal Studies program is designed for students interested in the study of law and legal issues or for those interested in a social sciences-oriented degree that emphasizes governance, civil and criminal processes, legal systems, and the theory and philosophy of justice.

Degree Program Objectives

In addition to the institutional and general education level learning objectives, the Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies also seeks the following specific learning outcomes of its graduates. Graduates in this degree program will be able to:

• Define law and evaluate its purposes in society; gain insight into the social science and humanities perspectives of legal phenomena, as well as to law's central role in social, political and economic systems.
• Demonstrate an understanding of legal principles; demonstrate an understanding of the evolution of law over time.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the U.S. judicial process, comparing and contrasting this system with other nations’ systems.
• Identify the key issues and concepts in the United States Constitutional framework.
• Understand criminal law foundations, practice, and cases; understand why society criminalizes certain behaviors; understand sentencing; understand the rights of the accused.
• Understand civil law foundations, practice, and cases; understand the principles and elements of negligence and torts; demonstrate an understanding of how torts are prevented, avoided, mitigated, or redressed.
• Use case methodology to gain understanding of legal concepts and issues.
• Research, develop, and defend legal positions through professional written communications.
• Analyze the processes, ethics, and procedures of the modern legal practice.

Degree Program Requirements
General Education Requirements (34 semester credits)

English Composition - 6 semester credits (Select 2 Courses)

ENGL101 - Proficiency in Writing [Required]
ENGL102 - Effectiveness in Writing
ENGL200 - Composition and Literature

Social Sciences - 6 semester credits (Select 2 Courses)

ECON 101 - Microeconomics
ECON 102 - Macroeconomics
GEOG 101 - Introduction to Geography
SOCI 111 - Introduction to Sociology
PSYC101 - Introduction to Psychology
ANTH 100 - Introduction to Anthropology
CSFD220 - Human Sexuality
SOCI220 - American Popular Culture

Science - 3 semester credits (Select One Course)

SCIN100 - Introduction to Biology
SCIN101 - Introduction to Chemistry
SCIN 102 - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology
SCIN 103 - Introduction to Physics
SCIN 104 - Introduction to Astronomy
SCIN 105 - Introduction to Environmental Science
SCIN 106 - Introduction to Meteorology
SCIN 107 - Introduction to Natural Science
SCIN1 10 - Introduction to Human Ecology

Mathematics - 3 semester credits (Select One Course)

MATH 110 - College Algebra
MATH 111 - College Trigonometry
MATH 125 - Math for Liberal Arts Majors
MATH225 - Calculus

History - 6 semester credits (Select 2 Courses)

HIST101 - American History to 1877
HIST102 - American History since 1877
HIST1 11 - World Civilization before 1650
HIST1 12 - World Civilization since 1650
HIST121 - Western Civilization before The Thirty Years War
HIST122 - Western Civilization since The Thirty Years War
HIST223 - History of Russia
HIST221 - African-American History before 1877
HIST222 - African-American History since 1877

Humanities - 3 semester credits (Select One Course)

SPAN100 - Spanish I
SPAN101 - Spanish II [Prerequisite: SPAN100]
FREN100 - French I
FREN101 - French II [Prerequisite: FREN100)
ARAB100 - Arabic I
ARAB101 - Arabic II [Prerequisite:ARAB100 ]
RUSS100 - Russian I
RUSS101 - Russian II [Prerequisite:RUSS100 ]
CHIN100 - Chinese I (Mandarin)
CHIN101 - Chinese II (Mandarin) [Prerequisite: CHIN100]
GERM100 - German I
GERM 101 - German II [Prerequisite: GERM100]
MUSI200 - Music Appreciation
RELS201 - Introduction to World Religions
ARTH200 - Art Appreciation
PHIL200 - Introduction to Ethics
PHIL101 - Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL300- Logic (3 hours) [Prerequisite: PHIL101)
COMM200 - Public Speaking

Literature - 3 semester credits (Select One Course)

LITR220 - American Literature before the Civil War
LITR221 - American Literature from the Civil War to Present
LITR210 - English Literature: Beowulf to 18th Century
LITR21 1 - English Literature: 18th Century to Present
LITR201 - World Literature through the Renaissance
LITR202 - World Literature since the Renaissance

Political Science - 3 semester credits (Select One Course)

POLS210 - American Government I
IRLS210 - International Relations I

Core Courses (21 semester credits) 7 Courses

LSTD204 - Introduction to the Courts
LSTD205 - Legal Research and Writing
LSTD207 - Civil Practice and Procedure
LSTD301 - Constitutional Law
LSTD302 - Criminal Law
LSTD305 - Judicial Process (Prerequisite: LSTD204 - Introduction to the Courts)
LSTD400 - Criminal Legal Process

Major Courses (18 semester credits) (Select 6 Courses)

Students enrolled in the Legal Studies program must take six (6) courses (18 semester credits) from the list below.
LSTD201 - Litigation
LSTD202 - Real Estate Law
LSTD203 - Criminal Law and Procedure for the Paralegal
LSTD206 – Law Office Management
LSTD208 - General Practice
LSTD209 - Sports Law, Risk, and Regulation
LSTD304 - Military Law
LSTD306 - International Law
CMRJ306 - Criminal Investigation
CMRJ317 - Probation and Parole
BUSI31 1 - Law and Ethics in the Business Environment
EVSP41 1 - Environmental Policy, Regulation, and Law
POLS410 - Public Policy

Seminar Course (6 semester credits)

LSTD497 - Senior Seminar in Legal Studies
Prerequisite: Senior Standing and completion of all core and major courses prior to enrollment.

Electives (39 semester credits) (Select 11 Courses)

Select any courses that have not been used to fulfill core or major requirements. Credits applied   in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major.

Total = 121 semester credits