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Law, Policy, and Political Science, Bachelor of Science

Purpose

The law, policy and political science degree is an open-access, career-oriented curriculum for those interested in a career as a paralegal or working in government and politics. Students will select one of three concentration choices, (1) legal studies, (2) government and public policy or (3) political science.

Classes are taught by highly qualified attorneys, government administrators, compliance specialists and those who have served or are serving as political representatives and who work locally to ensure that students are learning skills that are relevant and critical to their success.  Additionally, the degree is customizable, allowing students to stack credentials through the addition of minors (pre-law, political science, etc.) or certificates (compliance, etc.).

 

Experiential Learning Options

The Office of Experiential Learning takes a 360â—¦ approach to experiential learning. Whether you come to ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø with a vast amount of professional experience and are awarded Credit for prior learning (CPL), or you participate in a Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunity (Internships or Cooperative Education) embedded in your curriculum for credit, we provide a pathway to completing your degree.


Curriculum

General Education Requirements (27 Credits)

Computer Applications

Economics I

English Composition I

English Composition II

Public Speaking

American Politics

Introductory Survey of Mathematics

Introduction to Critical Thinking

Ìý

Introduction to Psychology

Introduction to Sociology

Writing Requirement (3 Credits)

Research Writing

Legal Writing

Students pursuing concentrations in Policy or Political Science should take ENG 310;

Legal Studies concentration students should take LES 226.

Humanities Electives (6 Credits)

Choose 2 of the following courses:

Business Ethics

Writing for the Media

Fundamentals of Drawing

Basic Photography

or any course that begins CUL, DRA, ETN, ART, SPA, HIS, HUM, LIT, MUS, PHI, or REL

Natural Science Elective (3-4 Credits)

SCI Elective

Free Electives (18 Credits)

Students with less than 16 transfer credits are required to take FYE 101 as one of their electives.

Interdisciplinary Core (21 Credits)

Integrating Excel into Business Problem Solving

Economics II

American History

Ethnic Groups and Minorities

The Art of Rational Thinking

Inferential Statistics

Survey of Human Dynamics

 Law, Policy, and Political Science Concentrations

Legal Studies Concentration

Purpose

The Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Legal Studies is designed to prepare students to enter the legal field as a paralegal or legal assistant working under the supervision of an attorney in the public, private, or governmental sectors. Additionally, students will gain a solid foundation for graduate studies in law or careers in other areas, including corporate compliance, human resources, and banking.

Program of Study

This program is oriented around the critical job functions of competent and ethical professionals working in the legal services industry. That means each course within the program has been strategically selected and designed to deliver the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to enter the workforce upon graduation. To enhance this core curriculum and provide a well-rounded academic experience, students will also take a series of general education courses that emphasize analytical thinking, reading comprehension, and interpersonal communication.

Program Competencies

In addition to demonstrating college level proficiency in the ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø undergraduate competencies, Legal Studies graduates will also be able to:

1. Locate, evaluate, use, and communicate legal and non-legal information effectively and appropriately.

2. Apply legal and ethical principles to guide professional behaviors and decision-making.

3. Demonstrate an understanding of the use, management, assessment, and application of technology in the legal environment.

4. Exercise critical thinking strategies, including reasoning, problem solving, analysis, and evaluation in the legal context.

5. Demonstrate effective written communication of legal issues, concepts, and authority, utilizing the Bluebook Uniform System of Citation.

6. Exercise effective interpersonal skills, including building and enhancing interpersonal relationships, and interacting effectively with others.

“Legal Specialties”

Students must take a minimum of 18 credits of "legal specialty" courses to earn a degree in Legal Studies. The 18 credits may be satisfied with a combination of transfer courses and courses taken at ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø. A legal specialty is defined by the American Bar Association (ABA) as a course that covers substantive law or legal procedures or processes, has been developed for paralegals, emphasizes practical paralegal skills, and meets the ABA's instructional requirements. The Legal Studies concentration offers legal specialties in synchronous or face-to-face, hybrid, and online formats. Legal Specialty courses can be identified by course description and by the Basic Course Information provided on the website. 

Face-to-Face Requirement

Students must take a minimum of 9 credits of legal specialty courses through traditional, face-to-face or synchronous classroom instruction. This requirement may be satisfied through any combination of semester, block, or hybrid courses.

Transfer Policy

The Legal Studies concentration may accept in transfer equivalent, legal specialty courses that are taken at another institution. A maximum of 21 credits of legal specialty courses may be accepted from ABA-approved institutions, and a maximum of 9 credits of legal specialty courses may be accepted from institutions which are not ABA-approved.

Credit Through Alternate Sources

The award of credit for legal specialty courses through Portfolio Assessment or by Examination is coordinated by the Law, Policy, and Political Science program Chair to ensure that the quality and integrity of the program are maintained. Any award of credit requires the approval of the program Chair upon demonstration that the credits can be classified as legal specialty, meets the course objectives and practical skills to be developed for the course for which credit is being awarded, meets the needs of the legal community the program serves, and is comparable to course work offered within the program. A maximum of 15 credits may be earned through Portfolio Assessment, and a maximum of 15 credits may be earned through Examination. For more information, please consult the Student Handbook section entitled "Alternative Credit Methods" or speak to the program Chair or an academic advisor.

Lambda Epsilon Chi Honor Society

Lambda Epsilon Chi (LEX) is a national honor society for paralegal students and one of the highest scholastic honors that can be achieved in the ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Invitation to membership in Lambda Epsilon Chi is based on application, grade point average (GPA), and formal recommendation of the Legal Studies Advisory Board.  It is the College’s way of recognizing the outstanding scholastic achievements of students completing a Bachelor of Science or Post-Bachelor’s Paralegal Certificate.

Minimum Grade Policy

The Legal Studies concentration has set a minimum passing grade of “C” for LES 200, 220, 225, 226, 228, and 390 (designated with an asterisk). Students receiving a grade lower than “C” in any of these courses must retake that course.

 

PARALEGALS MAY NOT PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC, EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY LAW.

 

Express ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø to the ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø School of Law or Widener University Delaware Law School

ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø graduates from any degree program who meet specified academic criteria will be admitted to the ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø School of Law and/or the Widener University Delaware Law School to complete a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree program.  These students may also be eligible for scholarships.  Terms and conditions vary between these institutions and will be outlined at the time of acceptance.

Criteria for Express ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø to ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø School of Law (WUSL) and Widener University Delaware Law School (DLS)

  • Complete all the requirements for conferral of a ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø baccalaureate degree.
  • Earn the specified cumulative undergraduate GPA: 3.3 or higher (WUSL); 3.5 or higher (DLS).
  • Achieve an LSAT score that meets or exceeds the median LSAT score of the institution's current first-year entering class.

 

Note: ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø School of Law median LSAT scores are emerging, and scores lower than 150 may not be eligible.

 

  • Satisfy all law school admissions requirements relating to character and fitness.
  • Submit a completed application to the desired institution no later than April 1st of the calendar year in which you plan to begin the J.D. degree program.

Legal Studies Core (24 credits)

Legal Ethics

Introduction to Legal Studies

Legal Research

Civil Procedure

Interviewing & Investigating

Advanced Legal Writing

Advanced Litigation Skills

Capstone: Virtual Experience in Legal Studies

Directed Core Electives (18 credits)

Choose 6 of the following courses:

State and Local Government

U.S. Regulatory Compliance

Global Financial Compliance

American Legal History

Environmental Compliance

Food and Drug Law and Policy

Business Organizations

Constitutional Law

Family Law

Bankruptcy

Estates, Trusts, and Probates

Contracts

Real Estate, Transfer, and Ownership Law

Law & Practice in Human Services

Intellectual Property

Personal Injury and Malpractice

Cyberlaw

Electronic Discovery

Topics in Legal Studies

Delaware Practice

Evidence

Internship in Legal Studies

or with Chair's Approval

Criminal Law

Criminal Evidence and Procedures

Legal Aspects of Human Resource Management

Healthcare Compliance

Suggested Program Sequence

Freshman

First Semester

Computer Applications

English Composition I

First Year Experience Seminar

Introductory Survey of Mathematics

Ìý

Introduction to Psychology

Introduction to Sociology

Second Semester

Economics I

English Composition II

Introduction to Critical Thinking

HUM Elective

Natural Science Elective

Sophomore

First Semester

Legal Ethics

Introduction to Legal Studies

Legal Research

Public Speaking

HUM Elective

Second Semester

American History

Legal Writing

Civil Procedure

Inferential Statistics

Survey of Human Dynamics

Junior

First Semester

Integrating Excel into Business Problem Solving

Economics II

The Art of Rational Thinking

Interviewing & Investigating

Legal Elective

Second Semester

Free Elective

Legal Elective

Advanced Litigation Skills

American Politics

Ethnic Groups and Minorities

Senior

First Semester

Free Elective

Free Elective

Legal Elective

Legal Elective

Advanced Legal Writing

Second Semester

Free Elective

Free Elective

Legal Elective

Legal Elective

Capstone: Virtual Experience in Legal Studies

Government and Public Policy Concentration

Program Philosophy

Public policy professionals play a key role in developing and implementing policies in areas such as the environment, energy, healthcare, poverty, transportation, education, justice system, and economic development. They educate the public and policymakers, draft laws, implement specific programs, and monitor the outcomes. Typically, public policy professionals pursue careers in government, government-related businesses, regulated industries, interest groups, and nonprofit organizations as well as graduate studies in law, public administration, public policy, political science, and healthcare administration.

Program Competencies

In addition to demonstrating college level proficiency in the ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø undergraduate competencies outlined in this catalog, Government and Public Policy graduates will also be able to:

1. Construct persuasive oral presentations to communicate effectively with various constituencies.

2. Create persuasive position papers, press releases, and original legislation.

3. Differentiate economic, legal, political, and governmental institutions, systems, and processes.

4. Draft an original law based on analysis of problems or issues.

5. Access, use, and evaluate information effectively and appropriately, and use technology to effectively locate and communicate information.

6. Integrate an understanding of economic, legal, political, and governmental institutions, systems, and processes.

Minimum Grade Policy

The Government and Public Policy concentration requires a minimum grade of “C-” for program core courses. Students receiving a grade lower than “C-” in any required program core course must retake that course.

Government and Public Policy Core (24 credits)

Applied Concepts in Accounting and Finance

Public Policy and Social Issues

Economic, Welfare and Income Policy

Education Policy

Energy and Environmental Policy

Health Care Policy

Analysis of Public Policy

Writing for Public Policy

Public Policy Internship

Directed Core Electives (18 credits)

Choose 6 of the following courses:

Constitutional Law

Financial Fraud Examination

State and Local Government

U.S. Regulatory Compliance

Global Financial Compliance

American Legal History

Environmental Compliance

Food and Drug Law and Policy

Law & Practice in Human Services

Cyberlaw

Electronic Discovery

International Organization and Politics

Healthcare Compliance

Fundamentals of Compliance Management

Corporate Governance and Regulation

Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing

Political Science Concentration

Program Philosophy

Students concentrating in political science can qualify for multiple careers in private, non-profit and for-profit organizations, as well as the private sector. Graduates can pursue careers in a variety of disciplines such as law, consulting, research, business and financial services, government jobs at local, state and federal levels, elected office, campaign management, journalism, media and communications, advocacy, non-profit jobs and teaching.

Program Competencies

In addition to demonstrating college level proficiency in the ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø undergraduate competencies outlined in this catalog, political science graduates will also be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of government in relation to its citizens.
  2. Apply basic political ideologies to assess their impact on individual societies.
  3. Differentiate the impact of ideological, social, and political systems on individual nation’s political decisions.
  4. Integrate the ability to identify a problem in state or local government, research, evaluate solutions, and present a recommendation.
  5. Demonstrate effective mastery of political theory through proficient written and oral expression of ideas through tests, projects, papers, and/or presentations.

Minimum Grade Policy

The political science concentration requires a minimum grade of “C-” for program core courses. Students receiving a grade lower than “C-” in any required program core course must retake that course.

Political Science Core (24 credits)

Introduction to Public Administration

State and Local Government

American Legal History

Constitutional Law and Procedures

Comparative Government and Politics

International Organization and Politics

Public Policy and Social Issues

Research, Writing and Information Literacy in the Behavioral Sciences

Public Policy Internship

Directed Core Electives (18 credits)

Choose 6 of the following courses:

Financial Fraud Examination

U.S. Regulatory Compliance

Global Financial Compliance

Environmental Compliance

Food and Drug Law and Policy

Law & Practice in Human Services

Cyberlaw

Electronic Discovery

Healthcare Compliance

Global Financial Compliance

Criminal Justice Policy

Fundamentals of Compliance Management

Economic, Welfare and Income Policy

Corporate Governance and Regulation

Education Policy

Energy and Environmental Policy

Health Care Policy

Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing


Law Policy and Political Science Completion Degrees

What is a Completion Degree?

A Completion Degree is a personalized version of a bachelor’s degree created exclusively for students who have completed an associate degree at an accredited institution. A student who expects to transfer a completed associate degree should communicate with a ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø Academic Advisor before registering for courses. A transcript with documentation of the conferred degree must be received by ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø to confirm eligibility.

Legal Studies Completion Degree

Curriculum

As a transfer student who holds an associate degree from a partner institution, the following courses are required.

A minimum of seven (7) approved legal studies electives must be completed at ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø.

 

Legal Studies Core

Integrating Excel into Business Problem Solving

Interviewing & Investigating

Advanced Legal Writing

Advanced Litigation Skills

Capstone: Virtual Experience in Legal Studies

Inferential Statistics

Survey of Human Dynamics

The Art of Rational Thinking

Approved Legal Studies Elective

Approved Legal Studies Elective

Approved Legal Studies Elective

Approved Legal Studies Elective

Approved Legal Studies Elective

Approved Legal Studies Elective

Approved Legal Studies Elective

The following courses are prerequisites for a concentration in Legal Studies

CTA 206

Computer Applications

ENG 121

English Composition I

ENG 122

English Composition II

ENG 131

Public Speaking

MAT 205

Introductory Survey of Mathematics

LES 200

Legal Ethics

LES 220

Introduction to Legal Studies

LES 225

Legal Research

LES 226

Legal Writing

LES 228

Civil Procedure

Government and Public Policy Completion Degree

Curriculum

As a transfer student who holds an associate degree from a partner institution, the following Government and Public Policy courses are required.

 

Government and Public Policy Core (24 credits)

Applied Concepts in Accounting and Finance

Public Policy and Social Issues

Economic, Welfare and Income Policy

Education Policy

Energy and Environmental Policy

Health Care Policy

Analysis of Public Policy

Writing for Public Policy

Public Policy Internship

Government and Public Policy Core Electives (21 credits)

Choose 7 of the following courses:

Constitutional Law

Financial Fraud Examination

State and Local Government

U.S. Regulatory Compliance

Global Financial Compliance

American Legal History

Environmental Compliance

Food and Drug Law and Policy

Law & Practice in Human Services

Cyberlaw

Electronic Discovery

International Organization and Politics

Healthcare Compliance

Fundamentals of Compliance Management

Corporate Governance and Regulation

Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing

The following courses are prerequisites for a completion degree in Government and Public Policy

BBM 201

CTA 326

ENG 122

ENG 131

LES 205

POL 300

MAT 205

SOC 101 OR

PSY 101

BBM 103

Principles of Management

Integ. Excel into Bus. Problem Solv.

English Composition II

Public Speaking

State and Local Government

American Politics

Intro Survey of Mathematics

Intro to Sociology OR

Intro to Psychology

Intro to Public Administration

 

 

Political Science Completion Degree

Curriculum

As a transfer student who holds an associate degree from a partner institution, the following political science courses are required.

Political Science Core (24 credits)

Introduction to Public Administration

State and Local Government

American Legal History

Constitutional Law and Procedures

Comparative Government and Politics

International Organization and Politics

Public Policy and Social Issues

Research, Writing and Information Literacy in the Behavioral Sciences

Public Policy Internship

Political Science Core Electives (21)

Choose 7 of the following courses:

Financial Fraud Examination

U.S. Regulatory Compliance

Global Financial Compliance

Environmental Compliance

Food and Drug Law and Policy

Law & Practice in Human Services

Cyberlaw

Electronic Discovery

Healthcare Compliance

Global Financial Compliance

Criminal Justice Policy

Fundamentals of Compliance Management

Economic, Welfare and Income Policy

Corporate Governance and Regulation

Education Policy

Energy and Environmental Policy

Health Care Policy

Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing

The following courses are prerequisites for a completion degree in Political Science

 

PHI 310

CTA 326

ENG 122

HIS 381

POL 300

MAT 205

SOC 101

PSY 101

PHI 302

The Art of Rational Thinking

Integ. Excel into Bus. Problem Solv.

English Composition II

Contemporary Global Issues

American Politics

Intro Survey of Mathematics

Intro to Sociology

Intro to Psychology

Ethics and Values in Behavioral Sciences



This information applies to students who enter this degree program during the 2024-2025 Academic Year. If you entered this degree program before the Fall 2023 semester, please refer to the academic catalog for the year you began your degree program.