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Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies

 Return to APUS Catalog | Bachelor's

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 Science 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 central role in social, political and economic systems.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of legal principles; establish an understanding of the evolution of law over time.
  • Evidence a comprehension 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; distinguish why society criminalizes certain behaviors; recall sentencing and the rights of the accused.
  • Extrapolate civil law foundations, practice, and cases; analyze the principles and elements of negligence and torts; decipher 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
Required Course - 3 semester hours
  • RQ295 / COLL100 - Foundations of Online Learning - Required as the first course in all undergraduate programs.

General Education Requirements (38 semester hours)
English Composition - 6 semester hours
  • EN101 / ENGL101 - Proficiency in Writing [Required]
  • EN102 / ENGL102 - Effectiveness in Writing
  • EN202 / ENGL200 - Composition and Literature

Social Sciences - 6 semester hours
  • SS101 / ECON101 - Microeconomics
  • SS102 / ECON102 - Macroeconomics 
  • SS111 / GEOG101 - Introduction to Geography
  • SS133 / SOCI111 - Introduction to Sociology
  • SS134 / PSYC101 - Introduction to Psychology 
  • SS190 / ANTH100 - Introduction to Anthropology
  • SS210 / CHFD220 - Human Sexuality  
  • SO220 / SOCI220 - American Popular Culture

Science - 8 semester hours including the required 1 hour lab
  • SC100 / SCIN100 - Introduction to Biology
  • SC198 / SCIN101 - Introduction to Biology Lab
  • SC101 / SCIN102 - Introduction to Chemistry
  • SC199 / SCIN103 - Introduction to Chemistry Lab   
  • SC102 / SCIN104 - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology 
  • SC122 / SCIN105 - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab
  • SC103 / SCIN106 - Introduction to Physics 
  • SC123 / SCIN107 - Introduction to Physics Lab
  • SC104 / SCIN108 - Introduction to Astronomy
  • SC124 / SCIN109 - Introduction to Astronomy Lab
  • SC106 / SCIN110 - Introduction to Oceanography 
  • SC126 / SCIN111 - Introduction to Oceanography Lab
  • SC107 / SCIN112 - Introduction to Meteorology
  • SC127 / SCIN113 - Introduction to Meteorology Lab
  • SC108 / SCIN114 - Introduction to Physical Geology
  • SC128 / SCIN115 - Introduction to Physical Geology Lab
  • SC105 / SCIN116 - Introduction to Forestry
  • SC125 / SCIN117 - Introduction to Forestry Lab
  • SC110 / SCIN118 - Introduction to Human Ecology
  • SC120 / SCIN119 - Introduction to Human Ecology Lab

Mathematics - 3 semester hours
  • MA112 / MATH110 - College Algebra
  • MA113 / MATH111 - College Trigonometry
  • MA125 / MATH125 - Math for Liberal Arts Majors
  • MA225 / MATH225 - Calculus

History - 6 semester hours
  • HS101 / HIST101 - American History to 1877
  • HS102 / HIST102 - American History since 1877
  • HS111 / HIST111 - World Civilization before 1650
  • HS112 / HIST112 - World Civilization since 1650
  • HS121 / HIST121 - Western Civilization before The Thirty Years War
  • HS122 / HIST122 - Western Civilization since The Thirty Years War
  • HS215 / HIST223 - History of the American Indian
  • HS217 / HIST221 - African-American History before 1877
  • HS218 / HIST222 - African-American History since 1877

Humanities - 3 semester hours
  • HM101 / SPAN100 - Spanish I 
  • HM102 / SPAN101 - Spanish II [Prerequisite: HM101] 
  • HM103 / FREN100 - French I
  • HM104 / FREN101 - French II [Prerequisite: HM103] 
  • HM105 / ARAB100 - Arabic I 
  • HM106 / ARAB101 - Arabic II [Prerequisite: HM105] 
  • HM107 / RUSS100 - Russian I
  • HM108 / RUSS101 - Russian II [Prerequisite: HM107] 
  • HM109 / CHIN100 - Chinese I (Mandarin)
  • HM110 / CHIN101 - Chinese II (Mandarin) [Prerequisite: HM109] 
  • HM111 / GERM100 - German I
  • HM112 / GERM101 - German II [Prerequisite: HM111] 
  • HM200 / MUSI200 - Music Appreciation
  • HM230 / RELS201 - Introduction to World Religions  
  • HM240 / ARTH200 - Art Appreciation  
  • HM277 / PHIL200 - Introduction to Ethics
  • PH101 / PHIL101 - Introduction to Philosophy
  • GM200 / COMM200 - Public Speaking

Literature - 3 semester hours

All literature courses require successful completion of EN101 - Proficiency in Writing or EN102 - Effectiveness in Writing

  • HM201 / LITR220 - American Literature before the Civil War
  • HM202 / LITR221 - American Literature from The Civil War to Present
  • HM221 / LITR210 - English Literature: Beowulf to 18th Century
  • HM222 / LITR211 - English Literature: 18th Century to Present
  • HM211 / LITR201 - World Literature through the Renaissance
  • HM212 / LITR202 - World Literature since the Renaissance

Political Science - 3 semester hours
  • SS121 / POLS210 - American Government I
  • SS131 / IRLS210 - International Relations I
Core Courses (21 semester hours)
  • CJ250 / LSTD204 - Introduction to the Courts
  • CJ398 / LSTD205 - Legal Research and Writing
  • CJ345 / LSTD207 - Civil Practice and Procedure
  • CJ330 / LSTD301 - Constitutional Law
  • CJ331 / LSTD302 - Criminal Law
  • CJ309 / LSTD305 - Judicial Process
  • CJ305 / LSTD400 - Criminal Legal Process
Major Courses (18 semester Hours)

Students enrolled in the Legal Studies program must take six (6) courses (18 semester hours) from the list below.

  • GM244 / LSTD201 - Litigation
  • GM247 / LSTD202 - Real Estate Law
  • GM249 / LSTD203 - Criminal Law and Procedure for the Paralegal
  • GM246 / LSTD206 - Law Office Management
  • GM245 / LSTD208 - General Practice
  • GM382 / LSTD209 - Sports Law, Risk, and Regulation
  • MM309 / LSTD304 - Military Law
  • SS303 / LSTD306 - International Law
  • CJ306 / CMRJ306 - Criminal Investigation
  • CJ317 / CMRJ317 - Probation and Parole
  • GM317 / BUSN311 - Law and Ethics in the Business Environment
  • GM461 / EVSP411 - Environmental Policy, Regularion, and Law
  • SS460 / POLS410 - Public Policy
Capstone Course (3 semester hours)
  • CJ497 / LSTD497 - Senior Seminar in Legal Studies
    Prerequisite: Senior Standing and completion of all core and major courses prior to enrollment.
Electives (39 semester hours)
Select any courses that have not been used to fulfill core or major requirements. Credits applied toward a minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major.

Total = 122 semester hours

 Return to APUS Catalog | Bachelor's

American Public University System (APUS) is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association and nationally accredited by the Accrediting Commission, Distance Education and Training Council.

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