Legal Studies Program
Goals and Objectives
 

The program goals and objectives are:

  1. To offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Studies.
  2. To prepare students for paralegal employment in law firms, business, industry, and government.

To meet these goals and objectives, Legal Studies students:

  1. Will complete fifty-four (54) credit hours of legal studies and related course work, forty-five (45) credit hours of general education and twenty-five (25) credit hours of electives.
  2. Will receive instruction in legal studies by broadly trained academicians and highly trained and experienced specialists in specific fields of law.
  3. Will complete the required written assignments in the form of research papers, case briefs, argumentative briefs, memoranda, and other legal documents specific to each Legal Studies course.
  4. Will complete two three-hour courses in Legal Research and Writing.
  5. Will complete a three-credit-hour internship in a legal environment.

The program's objectives and the tasks program graduates should be able to perform are:

  1. Demonstrate the acquisition of a common core of legal knowledge.
  2. Demonstrate critical thinking through the integration of legal theory and legal practice.
  3. Demonstrate oral and written communication skills with lawyers, clients, co-workers, witnesses, court personnel, and other professionals.
  4. Demonstrate the acquisition of skills and occupational competencies necessary for entry into the legal field and the aspiration to contribute to the advancement of the paralegal profession.
  5. Demonstrate an understanding of the emerging issues regarding the role of the paralegal in the effective delivery of legal services in both the private and public sectors.
  6. Demonstrate the acquisition of a framework for ethical decision making and solving ethical dilemmas that arise in the legal work environment.