Course of Study

The Master of Arts with a Major in Legal Studies requires a total of 36 semester credit hours including a cumulative research project, an oral comprehensive examination, and an internship. The 27 hours of required courses are as follows:

• LS 5310         Introduction to the Paralegal Profession and Legal Technology
• LS 5320         Legal Research
• LS 5330         Legal Theories and Analysis
• LS 5340         Litigation
• LS 5350         Legal Drafting
• LS 5360         Advanced Litigation
• LS 5370         Advanced Legal Research and Writing
• LS 5389         Internship
• LS 5399         Applied Research Project

Students may select any 9 hours out of the following elective courses:

• LS 5341         Administrative Law
• LS 5343         Family Law
• LS 5349         Business Organizations
• LS 5351         Estates and Trusts
• LS 5353         Real Estate
• LS 5359         Alternative Dispute Resolution
• LS 5361         Criminal Law
• LS 5363         Social Legislation
• LS 5371         Intellectual Property
• LS 5373         Contract Law

Students must make a grade of “B” or better in each required course to receive credit for the course and maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0.

Please note the four-course sequence you must follow for the legal research and writing component of the program. It begins with Legal Research (LS 5320), which you should take your first semester (or summer if you are starting in the summer). After Legal Research, you will take Legal Drafting (LS 5350). Then, you will take Advanced Legal Research & Writing (LS 5370), and finally, Applied Research Project (LS 5399).

ABA Approved

The master of arts in legal studies program is approved by the American Bar Association. The master of arts in legal studies program does not qualify a person to practice law.