Legal Studies Certificate

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Program Description

The Legal Studies certificate is intended for students who want to attend law school. Students learn about the U.S. legal system and how to critically analyze legal source material, such as court decisions and statutes. Students are given important instruction on the U.S. Constitution and in specific areas of law and social policy.

Admission Requirements

Must have a declared major, completed ENG 1100, 1130, or 1140 with a grade of C or better, and at least two other courses in the WSU Core maintaining a GPA of 2.75 or above.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who complete this certificate will be able to:

(a) understand fundamental structure and process in the US legal system;
(b) understand legal reasoning and cases decided by the United States Supreme Court; 
(c) understand rules and doctrines in American constitutional law; 
(d) understand the substantive law in at least one chosen area of social policy.

For More Information

• College of Liberal Arts

I. Legal System

Take one course from the following:

• PLS 3400 - Law and Society Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 4170 - Appellate Politics and Moot Court Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 4420 - Criminal Justice System Credit Hour(s): 3
• SOC 3730 - Sociology of the Courts, Law, and Justice Credit Hour(s): 3
• URS 4280 - Criminal Justice Organization and Management Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 4150 - Law, Lawyers and the System Credit Hour(s): 3

II. Court & Constitution

Take one course from the following:

• PLS 3420 - Civil Liberties I: First Amendment Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 3430 - Civil Liberties II: Due Process Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 4010 - Development and Construction of American Civil Liberty Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 4090 - Supreme Court and Legal Judging Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 4210 - American Constitutional Politics Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 4260 - Supreme Court in American Politics Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 4400 - Constitutional Law Credit Hour(s): 3

III. Law & Policy

Take one course from the following:

• ACC 3430 - Federal Income Tax I Credit Hour(s): 3
• ACC 4440 - Federal Income Tax II Credit Hour(s): 3
• COM 4620 - Mass Media: Law and Regulation Credit Hour(s): 3
• EC 4200 - Law and Economics Credit Hour(s): 3
• FIN 4140 - Real Estate Law Credit Hour(s): 3
• FIN 4160 - Retirement Planning Credit Hour(s): 3
• FIN 4260 - Estate Planning Credit Hour(s): 3
• LAW 3000 - Legal Environment of Business Credit Hour(s): 3
• LAW 4300 - Legal Aspects of the Workplace Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 4160 - Sex and the Law Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 4360 - Criminal Law Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 4370 - Criminal Procedure Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 4380 - Environmental Law and Policy Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 4390 - Bioethics and Law Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 4410 - Natural Resources Law Credit Hour(s): 3
• URS 4430 - Administrative Law Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 4710 - International Law Credit Hour(s): 3
• PLS 4821 - Pre-Law Internship Credit Hour(s): 3

IV. Elective

Take 1 extra course from Area II (Court & Constitution) or Area III (Law & Policy)

Total Hours: 12