The Legal Studies Program is designed to attract students who wish to further their studies at the law school level as well as provide the foundation for students interested in careers as professional paralegals. Students in the Legal Studies Program receive education in many different facets of the law including constitutional law, criminal law, civil and criminal procedure, and legal ethics. In addition, the program includes liberal arts courses that develop the capacity for critical thought, analytical reasoning and scholarly writing.
The goals of the program include:
- Incorporating an interdisciplinary approach to the undergraduate study of the law through a dual major requirement within the College of Arts and Sciences, and through “required support courses” from other academic disciplines within the University;
- Preparing students for further graduate study by creating a centralized and structured program that provides education, advisement, and guidance
to law school candidates;
- Prepare students wishing to pursue careers in the legal profession or other related occupations such as arbitrator, mediator, patent agent, title examiner, legislative assistant, lobbyist, political office holder, corporate executive, journalist, educator, abstractor, claims examiner, compliance and enforcement inspector, occupational and safety health worker, social worker, legal psychology expert, and jury consultant;
- Enhancing and enriching the total educational experience by helping students from all academic disciplines develop critical thinking and reasoning abilities, a sense of justice, and an appreciation for the role of the law as an important tradition in Western thought.
The Legal Studies Program incorporates a secondary major requirement within the Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies major, which ensures an interdisciplinary approach to the study of law at the undergraduate level. Undergraduates who wish to earn a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies must complete the University Core Curriculum, the Legal Studies course sequence, and the course sequence for a second major of their choice within the College of Arts and Sciences. Students who are planning to pursue law school are strongly advised to discuss their choice of second major with the Dean. Students currently earning an undergraduate degree may enroll in the program as a Legal Studies major at the discretion of the appropriate deans.
The Legal Studies Program offers many innovative approaches to legal education, including:
- the use of computers and computer databases including Westlaw, Lexis, and CD ROM collections;
- internship programs with law firms and government agencies;
- participation in the Mock Trial program using the University’s law school facilities;
- membership in the RWU Pre-Law Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta, International Law Fraternity;
- participation in community service projects promoting service to others and commitment to promoting access to justice.
Degree Requirements
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Studies must satisfy the University Core Curriculum requirements, 11 required major courses, 3 required courses from other departments, and the requisite courses for a second major in the Feinstein College of Arts and Sciences.
Requirements in the Major
PLS 100 Introduction to the Law and Legal Studies
PLS 106 Applied Concepts in Justice Studies
CJS 204 Constitutional Law
PLS 210 Legal Research & Writing
PLS 320 Criminal and Civil Procedure in the US Courts
PLS 420 Justice Studies Capstone
Elective Requirements
Any three additional Legal Studies courses
Any two additional Legal Studies or Criminal Justice courses
Requirements in Other Departments
POLSC 100 American Government and Politics
PHIL 103 Logic
Any 300+ level writing course
The legal studies minor is designed to provide students with exposure to the study of law. This minor is not available to students enrolled as legal studies or criminal justice majors.
Requirements in the Minor
PLS 100 Introduction to Law and Legal Studies
PLS 210 Legal Research and Writing
PLS 320 Criminal and Civil Procedure in the US Courts
Any three additional legal studies courses at the 200 level or above