Legal Studies, B.S.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Legal Studies, B.S. Degree Map

The undergraduate degree in Legal Studies leads to the Bachelor of Science. It is the goal of the Legal Studies program to introduce students to the study of law and the workings of the American legal system as a foundation for a career as a paralegal professional or the more advanced study of law.

The degree program has three principal educational objectives:

To educate students in the legal principles that underpin substantive and procedural areas of law such as torts, family law, probate, criminal law, the law of real property, dispute resolution and civil litigation.
To equip students with the legal research, writing and critical thinking skills necessary to foster their continuing independent study of the law beyond the classroom.
To raise students’ awareness and understanding of the important role that the system of trial by jury, the appellate process and dispute resolution play in preserving the governing principles of a democratic society.

A minimum of 60 upper-level (33XX and 43XX) hours and a total of 120 hours are required for the baccalaureate degree in legal studies. Students may not have 25% or more of their credits come from traditional business credits.

University Core Requirements (42 hours)

Communication (6 hours)

Choose TWO courses from the UHCL core approved list.

Mathematics (3 hours)

Choose ONE course from the UHCL core approved list.

Life and Physical Sciences (6 hours)

Choose TWO courses from the UHCL core approved list.

Language, Philosophy and Culture (3 hours)

Choose ONE course from the UHCL core approved list.

Creative Arts (3 hours)

Choose ONE course from the UHCL core approved list.

American History (6 hours)

Take TWO courses from the UHCL core approved list.

Government/Political Science (6 hours)

Choose TWO courses from the UHCL core approved list.

Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 hours)

Choose ONE course from the UHCL core approved list.

Component Area Option (6 hours)

Choose SIX hours from UHCL core approved list.

Two 1-hour Life and Physical Science Labs are required co-requisites for the chosen science courses.

College Core Requirements (18 hours)

Choose from the following courses, or their approved equivalents.

Core Requirements (18 hours)

ACCT 2301 - Principles of Accounting I - Financial Credit Hours: 3
ACCT 2302 - Principles of Accounting II - Managerial Credit Hours: 3
ECON 2301 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credit Hours: 3
ECON 2302 - Principles of Microeconomics Credit Hours: 3
LEGL 3301 - Business Law Credit Hours: 3
MATH 1324 - Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences Credit Hours: 3

Additional Information

Students may replace ACCT 2302 and/or MATH 1324 with an additional WRIT, ENGL, or Foreign Language course not used to satisfy any other core curriculum requirement.

Major Requirements (30 hours)

All courses within the Major Requirements must be completed with a grade of C- or better. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher is required to graduate.

LEGL 3307 - Legal Writing and Appellate Process Credit Hours: 3
LEGL 3313 - Introduction to Law and the American Legal System Credit Hours: 3
LEGL 3351 - Legal Research Credit Hours: 3
LEGL 3353 - Introduction to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Credit Hours: 3
LEGL 4352 - Family Law and Procedure Credit Hours: 3
LEGL 4354 - Property Transactions Credit Hours: 3
LEGL 4355 - Criminal Law and Procedure Credit Hours: 3
LEGL 4356 - Torts Credit Hours: 3
LEGL 4359 - Wills, Probate and Estate Administration Credit Hours: 3
LEGL 4375 - Professional Development for Legal Studies Students Credit Hours: 3

Elective Requirements (30 hours)

Major Electives (6 hours)

Choose two of any upper-level (33XX or 43XX) LEGL rubric beyond the major requirements.

Elective Requirement (3 hours)

Choose one of the following:

ENVR 4315 - Introduction to Environmental Law Credit Hours: 3
MGMT 4326 - Effective Negotiations Credit Hours: 3

Additional Information

or any upper-level (33xx or 43xx) course of the following rubric: ACCT, FINC, ISAM, MGMT, MKTG.

Elective Requirement (3 hours)

Choose one: Any upper-level (33XX or 43XX) course of the following rubric: ARTS, HIST, HUMN, SOCI, POLS.

Elective Requirement (6 hours)

Choose two of the following:

WRIT 3307 - Advanced Writing Credit Hours: 3
WRIT 3312 - Written Communications in Business Credit Hours: 3
WRIT 3315 - Advanced Technical Writing Credit Hours: 3

General Electives (12 hours)

Choose four of any upper-level (33XX or 43XX) courses offered by the Colleges of Business, Human Sciences & Humanities, Science & Computer Engineering, or Education.

Graduation Requirements

Students must complete the final 30 semester hours of 3000- and 4000-level coursework in residence at UHCL.
Students must complete a minimum of 12 semester credit hours of upper-level (3000-4000 level) coursework: (1) in the major and (2) in residence at UHCL.
Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.000 on coursework completed at UHCL with grades of “C” or better on at least 30 hours of resident upper-level work. Grades of “C-” or below cannot be applied toward the 30 hours of resident upper-level work.