Law and Jurisprudence (A.A.)

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Official Title of Major: Law and Jurisprudence, A.A.

Award: Associate of Arts degree, A.A.

Code: AA.LGS.JURIS-TRANS

Total Credit Hours: 60

About the Legal Studies Institute

Purpose: This transfer program provides a law and liberal arts foundation for those students transferring to four-year colleges and universities to pursue a bachelor’s degree in jurisprudence and, ultimately, attend law school. Prospective lawyers should develop proficiency in writing, speaking, reading, researching, analyzing and thinking logically. A multidisciplinary background is critical; therefore, this program provides a core of courses considered essential to the pre-law/jurisprudence student.

Range of Occupations

The skills and knowledge acquired in this program can be applied to a variety of occupations, including: lawyer, law clerk, paralegal, legal assistant, mediator, arbitrator, title examiner, abstractor, judge, magistrate and other judicial workers.

Approximate Cost

Graduation Requirements

Refer to Academic Regulations on Graduation Requirements for college-wide graduation requirements.

Honors Program Courses

If you qualify for the Honors Program, you may take honors versions of some courses (such as ENG 101H , ENG 102H , etc.).

Online Degrees and Credit Certificates

This program can be completed fully online. Some online courses may require proctored exams or on-campus assessments at a testing center.

Planning Tool: Two-Year Sequence of Courses

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General Education Requirements: 31 credits

An approved list of general education courses can be found in the General Education and Diversity, Technology and Wellness Requirements section of the catalog. Choose general education courses from the following topics:

English Composition: 6 credits

ENG 101 - Academic Writing and Research 1 3 credit hours
ENG 102 - Academic Writing and Research 2 3 credit hours
ENG 101A and ENG 101 are equivalent courses. Students may take ENG 101A -ENG 102 or ENG 101 -ENG 102 to meet their English Composition General Education requirement.

Arts and Humanities: 6 credits

COM 111 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication 3 credit hours OR
COM 116 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication for Non-Native Speakers 3 credit hours
OR
LGS 271 - Civil Rights Law 3 credit hours
AND
PHL 141 - Introduction to Logic 3 credit hours

Biological and Physical Sciences: 7 credits

At least one lab science required. See General Education Biological and Physical Sciences Requirements for a list of approved courses.

Mathematics: 3 credits

MAT 133 - Finite Mathematics 3 credit hours OR
MAT 135 - Statistics 3 credit hours

Social and Behavioral Sciences: 6 credits

SOC 111 - Introduction to Sociology 3 credit hours
OR
LGS 217 - Constitutional Law 3 credit hours AND
HIS 211 - United States History through the Civil War 3 credit hours

Additional General Education Requirements: 3 credits

Wellness Requirement 3 credit hours
Refer to General Education Wellness Requirement for a list of approved courses.

Program Requirements: 29 credits

HIS 212 - United States History Since the Civil War 3 credit hours
LGS 111 - Introduction to Paralegal Studies 3 credit hours
LGS 112 - Law Office Practice and Technology 3 credit hours
LGS 141 - Electronic Legal Research 1 credit hour
LGS 143 - Legal Research and Writing 1 3 credit hours
LGS 144 - Legal Research and Writing 2 3 credit hours
LGS 210 - Legal Ethics 3 credit hours
LGS 217 - Constitutional Law 3 credit hours
Students who elect to take LGS 217 as a general education elective should choose an additional elective below in order to meet the 60 credits required for graduation.
PHL 142 - Ethics 3 credit hours
Electives: 4 credit hours; List of suggested electives below and students may choose a one-credit general elective in order to achieve the 60 credits needed for graduation.
ECO 121 - Introduction to Economics 3 credit hours
HIS 227 - History of Medieval and Renaissance England 3 credit hours
LGS 215 - Criminal Law 3 credit hours
LGS 253 - Business Law 1 3 credit hours
LGS 271 - Civil Rights Law 3 credit hours
Students may choose LGS 271 if not taken to satisfy an Arts and Humanities general education requirement.
PLS 111 - American Government 3 credit hours
PLS 113 - State and Local Government 3 credit hours

Diversity Requirement

Satisfied by LGS 271 or SOC 111 .

Technology Requirement

Satisfied by LGS 112 .

Wellness Requirement

Unless they are in a degree that is exempt, all students in associate degree programs must satisfy the Wellness Requirement . In many cases, students may satisfy this requirement simultaneously as they satisfy a general education course requirement or with an elective.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Explain basic legal concepts, issues, and terminology in subject matter areas that are essential to the practice of law.

2. Apply critical thinking skills to identify, analyze, and interpret legal and factual issues and effectively interface with clients and attorneys.

3. Demonstrate effective legal research, writing, and oral communication skills.

4. Apply general principles of ethical and professional responsibility to the role of paralegals and attorneys in the practice of law.

5. Apply practical legal skills and legal theory to assist attorneys in the practice of law.

This program aligns with the college’s core competencies.

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