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

RQ295 / COL 100 Foundations of Online Learning (fomerly Academic and Career Planning) (3 semester hours) - Required as the first course in all undergraduate programs.

General Education Requirements (34 semester hours)
English Composition - 6 semester hours
EN101 / ENG 101 - Proficiency in Writing (Required)
EN102 / ENG 102 - Effectiveness in Writing or
EN202 / ENG 200 - English Composition and Literature

Social Sciences - 6 semester hours
SS101 / ECO 101 - Microeconomics
SS102 / ECO 102 - Macroeconomics
SS111 / GEO 101 - Introduction to Geography
SS133 / SOC 111 - Introduction to Sociology
SS134 / PSY 101 - Introduction to Psychology 
SS190 / ANT 100 - Introduction to Anthropology
SS210 / CFD 220 - Human Sexuality  
SO220 / SOC 220 - American Popular Culture

Science - 4 semester hours including required 1 hour labs
SC100 / SCI 100 - Introduction to Biology
SC198 / SCI 100 L - Introduction to Biology Lab
SC101 / SCI 110 - Introduction to Chemistry
SC199 / SCI 110 L - Introduction to Chemistry Lab   
SC102 / SCI 102 - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology 
SC122 / SCI 102 L - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab
SC103 / SCI 103 - Introduction to Physics 
SC123 / SCI 103 L - Introduction to Physics Lab
SC104 / SCI 104 - Introduction to Astronomy
SC124 / SCI 104 L - Introduction to Astronomy Lab
SC106 / SCI 106 - Introduction to Oceanography 
SC126 / SCI 106 L - Introduction to Oceanography Lab
SC107 / SCI 107 - Introduction to Meteorology
SC127 / SCI 107 L - Introduction to Meteorology Lab

Mathematics - 3 semester hours
MA110 / MA112 / MAT 110 - Introduction to College Algebra and Trigonometry / College Algebra, or
MA111 / MA113 / MAT 111 College Algebra and Trigonometry / College Trigonometry, or
MA125 / MAT 125 - Math for Liberal Arts Majors, or
MA225 / MAT 225 - Calculus

History - 6 semester hours
HS101 / HIS101 - American History to 1877
HS102 / HIS 102 - American History since 1877
HS111 / HIS 111 - World Civilization I
HS112 / HIS 112 - World Civilization II
HS121 / HIS 121 - Western Civilization Before The Thirty Years War
HS122 / HIS 122 - Western Civilization Since Thirty Years War
HS215 / HIS 223 - History of the American Indian
HS217 / HIS 221 - African-American History before 1877
HS218 / HIS 222 - African-American History since 1877

Humanities - 3 semester hours
HM101 / SPA 100 - Spanish I 
HM102 / SPA 101 - Spanish II (Prerequisite: HM101) - or other foreign language
HM200 / MUS 200 - Music Appreciation
HM230 / REL 201 - Introduction to World Religions  
HM240 / ART 200 - Art Appreciation  
HM277 / PHI 200 - Introduction to Ethics
PH101 / PHI 101 - Introduction to Philosophy

Literature - 3 semester hours
HM201 / LIT 220 - American Literature before the Civil War
HM202 / LIT 221 - American Literature from Civil War to Present
HM221 / LIT 210 - English Literature: Beowulf to 18th Century
HM222 / LIT 211 - English Literature: 18th Century to Present
HM211 / LIT 201 - World Lit through the Renaissance
HM212 / LIT 202 - World Lit since the Renaissance

Political Science - 3 semester hours
SS121 / POL 210 - American Government I
SS131 / INR 210 - International Relations
 

Core Courses (18 Semester hours)
CJ250 / LST 204 - Introduction to the Courts
CJ398 / LST 205 - Legal Research and Writing
CJ330 / LST 301 - Constitutional Law
CJ331 / LST 302 - Criminal Law
CJ305 / LST 400 - Criminal Legal Process
CJ309 / CRJ 309 - Judicial 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 / LST 201 - Litigation
GM247 / LST 202 - Real Estate Law
GM249 / LST 203 - Criminal Law and Procedure for the Paralegal
MM309 / LST 302 - Military Law
CJ306 / CRJ  306 - Criminal Investigation
CJ317 / CRJ 317 - Probation and Parole
CJ318 / CRJ 318 - Juvenile Justice
GM304 / GM317/ BUS 310 - Business Law / Law and Ethics in the Business Environment
GM373 / SPM 312 - Recreation and Sports Law / Liability
GM382 / SPM 313 - Sports Law, Risk, and Regulation
SS303 / INR 481 - International Law

Electives (48 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 = 121 semester hours