Legal Studies, Certificate of Special Study

The Department of Criminology

A special Certificate in Legal Studies is offered to undergraduate students interested in pursuing careers in law. The program is open to students in all majors. With the approval of the social science advisor, courses may be selected that provide an appropriate foundation for the study of law.

Program

Section 1

Choose one course:

PLSI 170 - Constitutional Law, the Federal Structure Units: 3
PLSI 171 - Constitutional Law, Civil Liberties, and Civil Rights Units: 3

Section 2

Choose one course:

PLSI 154 - Congressional Politics Units: 3
PLSI 160 - State and Local Governments Units: 3
PLSI 170 - Constitutional Law, the Federal Structure Units: 3
OR
PLSI 171 - Constitutional Law, Civil Liberties, and Civil Rights Units: 3 (whichever one was not taken in section 1)
PLSI 172 - Moot Court: Appellate Court Proceedings and Advocacy Units: 3
OR
PLSI 173 - Moot Court: Legal Arguments and Courtroom Tactics Units: 3
PLSI 174 - Politics and the Court Units: 3

Section 3

Choose two courses:

CRIM 117 - Criminal Legal Process Units: 3
CRIM 127 - Evidence Units: 3
CRIM 118 - Courts and Legal Procedure Units: 3
CRIM 119 - Legal Aspects of Corrections Units: 3
CRIM 142 - Basic Courtroom Procedure Units: 3
CRIM 143 - Legal Evidence Units: 3
CRIM 144 - Trial Tactics Units: 3
OR
CRIM 145 - Effective Expert Witnesses Units: 3
CRIM 177 - Legal Policy in Victim Services Units: 3
CRIM 126 - Women and Violence: Public Policy and the Law Units: 3
WGSS 126 - Women and Violence: Public Policy and the Law Units: 3

Total (12 units)

A detailed description of the prelaw program is available from the advisors in the Department of Criminology and the Department of Political Science. Students should be aware that without advisement, successful completion of this program is impossible.

The certificate is jointly offered by the Department of Political Science and the Department of Criminology. Refer to the department pages for contact information.

Note: Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.5 in all certificate courses.