The Legal Studies program is an interdisciplinary course study of the law specifically designed for those planning to attend law school. Although there are a few skills courses included (Introduction to Logic, Introduction to Ethics, and Business and Professional Writing) most of the offerings are focused on the law per se. Outside of an introductory overview of the law, Introduction to Law (LGST 101), and a capstone course, Internship in Legal Assistance (LGST 408) centered around an internship with a judge and the local Commonwealth Attorney’s Office (prosecutor), all other content courses come from six different subject areas: Business, Criminal Justice, History, Political Science, and Psychology. Each discipline offering these courses will offer them from their unique perspectives and will not reproduce the law school experience. Nevertheless, the content given will give the students a head start over their peers in law school by laying the groundwork for that area of legal expertise. It will give the students a competitive edge. It should be noted that law schools do not prefer any particular major or minor, so students are encouraged to add an additional major or minor(s) as suit their interests. A high-grade point average and a better than average Law School Aptitude Test score are the key determinants needed for acceptance into law school.
Offerings include both a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Studies.
Requirements for Bachelor of Arts Degree in Legal Studies
42 Semester Credit Hours
Core Requirements
- CJC 100 – Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)
- LGST 101 – Introduction to Law (3)
- LGST 408 – Internship in Legal Assistance (3)
- POLS 101 – American National Government (3)
- POLS 202 – State and Local Government (3)
Supporting Requirements
Six (6) hours of Political Science OR six (6) hours in the same foreign language or equivalent through CLEP testing.
Must take 21 semester credit hours from the following electives:
- BA 325 – Business Law (3)
- BA 326 – Advanced Business Law (3)
- BA 327 – Employment Law (3)
- BA 345 – Business and Professional Writing (3)
- CJC 340 Courts and Procedure (3)
- CJC 325 – Forensic Psychology (3)
- CJC 340 – Courts and Procedure (3)
- CJC 345 – Juvenile Delinquency (3)
- CJC 360 – Criminal Law (3)
- PHIL301 – Introduction to Ethics (3)
- PHIL 302 – Critical and Logical Thinking (3)
- POLS 351 – The Judiciary (3)
- POLS/HIST 352 – Constitutional Law I (3)
- POLS/HIST 353 – Constitutional Law II (3)
- POLS 362 – Public Administration and the Bureaucracy (3)
- POLS 363 – Advanced Public Policy (3)
Requirements for Bachelor of Science Degree in Legal Studies
42 Semester Credit Hours
Core Requirements
- CJC 100 – Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)
- LGST 101 – Introduction to Law (3)
- LGST 408 – Internship in Legal Assistance (3)
- POLS 101 – American National Government (3)
- POLS 202 – State and Local Government (3)
Supporting Requirements
- ACCT 211 – Principles of Accounting I (3)
- ACCT 212 – Principles of Accounting II (3)
- ECON 231 – Principles of Microeconomics (3)
- ECON 232 – Principles of Macroeconomics (3)
Must take 15 semester credit hours from the following electives:
- BA 325 – Business Law (3)
- BA 326 – Advanced Business Law (3)
- BA 327 – Employment Law (3)
- BA 345 – Business and Professional Writing (3)
- CJC 340 Courts and Procedure (3)
- CJC 325 – Forensic Psychology (3)
- CJC 340 – Courts and Procedure (3)
- CJC 360 – Criminal Law (3)
- PHIL 301 – Introduction to Ethics (3)
- PHIL 302 – Critical and Logical Thinking (3)
- POLS 351 – The Judiciary (3)
- POLS/HIST 352 – Constitutional Law I 3
- POLS/HIST 353 – Constitutional Law II 3
- POLS 362 – Public Administration and the Bureaucracy (3)
- POLS 363 – Advanced Public Policy (3)