Legal Studies Advising
Welcome to the Legal Studies and Paralegal Certificate Advising page. Please use the following website to consult advising services, resources, and information about the program.
The Legal Studies major, housed in the School of Criminal Justice, is approved by the American Bar Association and features a curriculum that provides a strong foundation in writing and critical thinking with an emphasis on professional skills necessary for success in the legal field. Legal studies students may earn a bachelor of arts (B.A.) or bachelor of science (B.S.) degree. The B.A. requires third semester proficiency in a foreign language, and the B.S. requires completion of courses in statistics and research methods. A minor, not approved by the ABA, is also available.
About
The CECI Undergraduate Advising Center provides academic advising support to students majoring or minoring in Legal Studies. Your academic advisor can support you in degree planning, goal setting, policy and procedural understanding, and campus connecting.
Advising Guides
Major in Legal Studies
Be sure to follow-up with your assigned academic advisor to create an academic plan to fit your specific needs.
Minor in Legal Studies & the Paralegal Certificate
The legal studies minor is open to students from any major. It is appropriate for students who have a general interest in law or for students considering law school or other graduate studies in law. It is also appropriate for students who are pursuing a career that has a significant connection to law and legal matters and who wish to deepen their understanding of the legal system. The legal studies minor is not intended to prepare students to work as paralegals and it is not approved by the American Bar Association. Students intending to work as paralegals should choose the paralegal studies certificate or the legal studies major.
Students seeking a certificate in Paralegal Studies must complete 30 credit hours. Students must be degree-seeking students to receive the certificate. The certificate will be awarded at the same time as the degree. The certificate has received Higher Learning Commission approval, and students are eligible for financial aid because they are seeking a degree. Students who have completed a bachelor’s degree at another institution with an overall GPA of 2.7 or higher may earn this certificate by completing the course requirements listed below. The certificate in Paralegal Studies is approved by the American Bar Association.