Legal Studies (B.A.)
Students earn 36 credits by taking a combination of courses intended to develop skills necessary for understanding law and its role in society. In addition to learning how to read and interpret legal statutes and rulings, students will be exposed to logical argumentation, public speaking, and ethics, all skills that will help with application and study in graduate law programs. The major will help to develop critical thinking skills and will address the role of law in a variety of policy areas. Although it is not required, students who major in Legal Studies are encouraged to choose a second major or minor after consulting with their advisors.
Students pursuing a major in legal studies must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher in the major in order to graduate.
Integrative Studies Requirements
40 credits minimum
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements (36 credits) | ||
| Core Courses: | ||
| IHPHIL-100 | Logical Argumentation | 4 |
| ISPOSC-210 | United States Politics | 4 |
| ISPOSC-318 | Law and Policy | 4 |
| POSC-316 | Constitutional Law | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Public Speaking | ||
| Ethics | ||
| Political Writing & Research | ||
| Electives: | ||
| Select four of the following: 1 | 16 | |
| Criminal Law & Procedure | ||
| Public Speaking | ||
| Digital Comm Law & Ethics | ||
| Environmental Law & Regulation | ||
| Transitional Justice | ||
| The American Revolution | ||
| Ethics | ||
| Philosophy of Law | ||
| Political Writing & Research | ||
| International Law | ||
| Total Credits | 36 | |
- 1
Students should be aware that some of the courses listed below have prerequisites that must be met or waived by the instructor of record before they can register for the course.
Electives
Select courses to reach a total of 120 credits for the degree.
Degree Requirements
120 credits
40 credits at the upper-level
Upon completion of the Legal Studies B.A. degree, students will:
- Be exposed to a range of skills essential for an understanding of law and its role in American and international society, as well as the pursuit of a career in law.
- Develop a definitional understanding of law.
- Understand how law is formed and interpreted, as well as its impact on society and government as a whole.
- Understand the foundational principles of the American Constitution and key current legal disputes related to it.
- Develop skills in logic and critical thinking that are essential for reading and understanding law.
- Become familiar with law as it applies in a variety of academic and professional subfields (international law, constitutional law, security law, criminal and civil law, environmental law, etc.)
- Critically analyze the ethical and moral implications of various legal theories and decisions.
- Develop strong written and oral communication skills.