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Deciding which college to attend can be a daunting task. For many, it will be the most important decision that they make in their lives. To make an informed decision, you have to consider a lot of variables, such as cost of attendance, financial aid, student/teacher ratio, academics, student life, and more. These factors will either positively or negatively impact the quality of education that you receive.
Do you want to acquire a bachelor’s degree in legal studies but don’t know what institution you should attend? Well, if you are as ambitious as I was in my late teens, then you want to attend a top school, instead of an average or mediocre one. Fortunately, we have already done the legwork for you. To help you find the right school for your interests and goals, we’ve compiled a list of 2022’s best bachelor’s in legal studies programs.
What institution did we forget? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
UC Berkeley has 14 schools and colleges, most of which receive top ratings annually. This state institution has been rated the Top Public University in the United States. Presently, learners can work on a bachelor of arts in legal studies via the College of Letters and Science. This degree program is not intended for people planning for law school. It does not offer a minor or deliver paralegal training either. Required classes may consist of:
- Law & Culture
- Law & Markets
- Law, Rights, and Social Change
- The Supreme Court and Public Policy
Undergraduate legal studies learners are strongly urged to enroll in one seminar class. But eligible learners may also enroll in the honors degree program for their capstone experience. UC Berkeley is home to the Annual Legal Studies Undergraduate Research Conference; past conferences have included an array of notable speakers and exciting concepts.
Established in 1851, Northwestern is a leading institution with prestigious professors, including Guggenheim Fellows and MacArthur Fellowship Recipients. Learners are sure to learn from the best. The school has a holistic legal studies degree program for interested learners. Students looking to major in legal studies will need to finish 12 classes. Requirements may consist of:
- Law and Society
- Law and Economics
- International Finance
- Advanced Research Seminar
- Legal Studies Research Methods
Learners may also work on legal studies as an adjunct major, which entails three core classes and eight endorsed electives, including one from each of the five categories of electives.
Learners and alumni of this degree program have been conferred Fulbright grants to study in Denmark, Romania, Poland, and Greece. Graduates have also landed positions at the Consumer Financial Protection Board, the ACLU of Colorado, the University of Notre Dame’s Department of Political Science, and an array of consulting companies.
This private, Roman Catholic religious research institution has a 126-credit bachelor of science in legal studies offered through its College of Professional Studies. This degree program will get learners ready for law school, graduate school, or entry-level employment in a law-related field. Required classes may consist of:
- An Introduction to Legal Studies
- Legal Research and Writing
- Legal Research and Writing II
- Litigation Practice (Civil)
- Legal Ethics
Learners interested in pursuing advanced studies or attending law school are urged to enroll in the law school preparatory program led by the law school. The College of Professional Studies has a coupled BS and JD (juris doctor) degree program within the School of Law. Learners in the legal studies program have secured several impressive internships and externships.
The University of Miami is a private research institution that is home to over 17,000 learners. Not only is this institution perfect for people who love the outdoors, with so many beautiful beaches nearby, it’s also perfect for people interested in the law. Learners can work on a bachelor of science in business administration with a major area of concentration in legal studies. Learners in this degree program must finish a total of 120 credit hours. Required classes may consist of:
- Corporate Law
- The Law of Risk
- Critical Thinking and Persuasion for Business
- Legal and Social Aspects of Business Regulation
- Fundamentals of Business Technology and Innovation
This degree program is perfect for people looking to work in fields such as risk management, compliance, human resources and supports, marketing, finance and accounting, government, and more. UM is involved in over $320 million in research and sponsored degree program expenditures annually.
This private research institution has an array of degree opportunities, including the bachelor of arts in general legal studies with a certificate in paralegal studies. This degree program is offered via Tulane’s School of Professional Advancement. This 120-credit degree program is perfect for people looking to advance in their existing careers or who wish to get real-world legal experience before applying to law school. Required classes may consist of:
- Computers in the Law Firm
- Paralegal Practicum
- Legal Research
- Legal Writing
- Litigation
The practicum entails a 100-hour law office internship. All classes in this degree program are taught by practicing attorneys and paralegals. Learners can work on an optional minor. This degree program is excellent for working adults; the class schedule contains evening and online courses for learners who need a bit more flexibility. Tulane is continuously rated among the top institutions in the nation.
The University of Pittsburgh is home to nearly 35,000 learners, and interested learners can work on a bachelor of arts degree in legal studies via the College of General Studies. Learners in this degree program must finish a total of 120 credit hours. Required classes may consist of:
- Law and Social Change
- Law, Literature, and Cinema
- Public Law and Moral Reasoning
- Emerging Technologies and the Law
- Emerging Issues in Legal and Social Policy
This degree program prepares learners for careers, including banking, civil liberties organizations, credit-related agencies, legal research, public warfare, and more. Learners may also work on a minor in legal studies.
The University of Pittsburgh offers many chances for learners to get real-life experience outside the classroom. From internships and externships to study abroad experiences, College of General Studies learners are urged to investigate, innovate, and thrive. The college also has online class degrees for people looking for a more flexible degree program.
Nova Southeastern University is a research institution that was initially established in 1964. Presently, the institution has full-degree online programs with access to Nova’s Electronic Library and online databases. Southeastern has a bachelor of science in legal studies, which is offered by the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. This degree program entails 48 credit hours within the major. Required classes may consist of:
- International Law
- Argument and Debate
- Environmental Law and Policy
- Legal Research and Trial Advocacy
- American Government and Politics
Learners can choose to work on one either a pre-law path or an international law path, and they may also wish to finish an internship in legal studies. Internships normally consist of a 10 to 20 hours per week of field or work experience for at least 16 weeks. The school’s most popular majors consist of health professions, biological and biomedical sciences, and psychology. Pre-law learners can attend a free annual seminar, which may increase their chances of acceptance into law school.
The University of Central Florida is a relatively young and pioneering institution; the school has a plethora of highly regarded programs. The College of Health and Public Affairs offers a BS and a BA in legal studies in UCF’s Department of Legal Studies. Required classes may consist of:
- Space Law
- Law and Culture
- History of American Law
- Business Law in Sport and Entertainment
- Legal Environment in Hospitality and Tourism
Legal studies learners may also select from one of the following concentrations: law and policy, advocacy, law and business, law and technology, family matters, or international. All full-time legal studies professors are attorneys and available for law school advising for interested learners.
UCF is known for its reasonably priced degree programs; the tuition for this degree program is just $212 per-credit-hour. Out-of-state learners must pay a $510 non-resident fee. UCF has an array of scholarship chances as well.
The University of West Florida has over 10,000 learners; established in 1963, UWF is home to many traditions and over 150 learner clubs and organizations. The College of Education and Professional Studies has a bachelor of arts (BA) degree in legal studies. The degree requires the completion of 120 credit hours. The legal studies major is well suited for pre-law learners at UWF. Required classes may consist of:
- Law and Society
- Survey of American Law
- Legal Research and Writing
- The Legal System and Ethics
- Constitutional Law for the Legal Professional
Learners in this degree program will enjoy small class sizes and high-quality faculty. Additionally, there are plenty of opportunities for research, internships and externships, and participation in related learner organizations. Plus, the degree program has an annual panel of practicing professionals to help advise learners interested in a career in the legal profession. Past undergraduates earned internships and externships with the Clerk of Court, First Judicial Circuit, Court Administration, First Judicial Circuit, Florida Department of Children and Families, and more.
With more than 30 bachelor’s degrees, 20 master’s degrees, one doctoral degree, and over 1600 online majors, the University of Illinois at Springfield is an excellent setting for academic pursuit. Learners can obtain a bachelor of arts (BA) degree in legal studies via the institution’s Department of Legal Studies.
In additional to required coursework, each learner must take a minimum of three hours of internship. Other prerequisites may consist of:
- Law and Society
- History of American Law
- Legal Research and Citation
- The American Constitution and Civil Liberties
- American Constitution: Government Powers and Institutions
It is possible to work on a double-major with this degree program, combining the legal studies major with a major in political science. With small class sizes and the choice to taking classes on-campus and online, the department stresses real-life application and real-world experiences. Alumni of this degree program have become attorneys, legislative staff, lobbyists, state agency directors, institution administrators, FBI agents, and more.
Ball State’s Department of Political Science has a bachelor’s degree in legal studies. Learners in this degree program must finish an internship, working with practicing attorneys and paralegals. Learners must select from one of two concentrations: business law or public law. Required classes may consist of:
- Family Law
- Law and Economics
- American Constitutional Law
- Advanced Legal Research and Writing
- Advanced Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution
Four out of every five Ball State learners obtain some financial aid, and many graduates also obtain scholarships to go on to law school. Alumni have attended Indiana University, Notre Dame, and the University of Dayton; current ratings place Ball State sixteenth Best Online MBA program and ninth Best Online Graduate Education programs for veterans. Ball State has also been rated for its excellent online bachelor’s degrees and its graduate nursing degree program.
This private, not-for-profit institution has a total enrollment just shy of 5,000. The institution is home to four colleges, including the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business & Public Management, and the LaFetra College of Education. La Verne has an online bachelor of science degree in legal studies, which is endorsed by the American Bar Association (ABA). Bachelor’s learners must finish 128 semester-units. Degree prerequisites may consist of:
- Required internship
- Nine core classes and three elective classes
- Learners older than 25 may apply via Adult Accelerated Programs at La Verne
All legal studies classes are taught in the evening; classes meet once per week. Learners will have access to the University of La Verne College of Law Library along with the institution’s Wilson Library. Prospective learners may also be interested in La Verne’s Certificate in Paralegal Studies.
La Verne learners with a bachelor’s degree will meet the California definition of a paralegal upon graduating, and university has many resources and supports to assist with job placement.
Established in 1848, UW-Madison is Wisconsin’s oldest and largest state institution. UW-Madison’s College of Letters and Science has a bachelor of arts degree in legal studies. The degree is offered via the Center for Law, Society, and Justice. The coursework in this legal studies degree program is designed around five primary themes:
- Processes of Legal Order and Disorder
- Law and Social Forces
- Legal Institutions
- Law and Culture
- Law and Theory
Learners must finish a total of 120 credit hours, including at least 11 classes within the major. Rather than working on a thesis, undergraduate learners can opt to take two additional classes from the five theme groups instead. A thesis in legal studies entails much preparation, so learners should be sure to make their decision early. Graduates will be knowledgeable in the subtleties of legal ideas, along with the relevance of law within the humanities and social sciences.
Webster is a private, nonprofit institution that was established in 1915. In addition to its primary campus, Webster has campuses across Europe, Asia, and Africa along with many online programs. Webster is home to one of the most outstanding legal studies programs in the nation. Offered via Webster’s College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Legal Studies, this degree program introduces hypothetical and real-life aspects of the law. Learners must finish a minimum of 128 credit hours. Required classes may consist of:
- Corporations and Business Organizations
- Methods of Legal Research and Writing
- Advanced Paralegal Procedures
- Computerized Legal Research
- Criminal Litigation
With campuses abroad and more than 80 learner clubs and organizations, there are plenty of opportunities for learners to get involved outside the classroom. Webster is among the nation’s Best Regional Universities in the Midwest and the Best Value Schools.
Gannon University is a private, religious institution established in 1925; Gannon has just over 3,000 learners in over 50 fields of study. The law and public policy degree program is made up of a liberal arts core with a strong basis of legal specialty classes. Required classes include public records research and title abstracts, legal research and writing, and computers in the law.
An internship is mandatory for all legal studies/paralegal learners. Learners perform the work of a paralegal or attorney in settings such as banks, corporations, courts, law companies, real estate offices, and more. An internship gives learners the skills and confidence necessary to succeed after graduation.
