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.

Core Course Work

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

Electives

9 hours must be taken from any 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

You 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. All students must successfully complete the 36 hour curriculum while maintaining a minimum "B" average in order to received the master of arts degree in legal studies. Students who fail to earn a “B” or better in a required course after a second attempt may be dismissed from the program.

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

Students must take at least nine semester credits or the equivalent of legal specialty courses through synchronous instruction.

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.