Legal Studies Bachelor of Science Degree (BS)

Not all programs are offered for completion at each campus or through Berkeley College Online®. Please review the academic program pages (https://berkeleycollege.edu/academics/index.html) for information on where each program is offered. Additionally, all students may be required to take some courses at another campus or online. The Internship courses are only offered online.

PROGRAM LEARNING OBJECTIVES

SAMPLE PROGRAM SEQUENCE

Course Requirements

MAJOR CORE COURSES

CIS1115 Computer Applications

3 Credits

Provides an introduction to computer technology with an emphasis on applications. Students learn to use software, such as Microsoft Windows, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

LAW1100 Introduction to Law

3 Credits

Introduces the United States legal system. This course examines the structure and administration of the state and federal courts; the function of the trial and appellate courts; the sources of law; the differentiation between procedural and substantive law; and the legal principles of torts, contracts, criminal, civil and property law.

LAW1110 Contract Law

3 Credits

Examines the common law of contracts and the intricacies of the Uniform Commercial Code. The course covers the formation and performance of contracts; the role of the parties and the role of the court; defects in formation of contracts; failure of performance; and the rights and remedies of the parties upon breach.

LAW2000 Career Development

3 Credits

Introduces students to the fundamentals of career development and career planning. The course focuses on setting appropriate discipline specific career goals based on self-assessment exercises that align with skills and competencies. Students learn how to write a professional resume and cover letter, how to communicate effectively in multiple media formats and how to develop effective time management skills.

Note: LAW2000 is only offered as a 7-week course.

LAW2200 Professional Responsibilities and Legal Ethics

3 Credits

Introduces students to the defining ethical issues faced by lawyers and the legal community. Topics include access to justice; issues in the attorney-client relationship; and ethics in particular context, such as criminal practice, government, and corporate law.

Prerequisite: LAW1100

LAW2210 Legal Research and Writing

3 Credits

Examines legal research and writing. Students locate and identify primary and secondary sources of law using traditional and computer-assisted research techniques, including Lexis, Westlaw, and the Internet. Students use databases to formulate searches, retrieve and display documents, and validate findings.

Prerequisite: LAW1100 or BUS2231

LAW2215 Torts

3 Credits

Provides an introduction to civil wrongs. Topics include negligence, international torts, strict liability, products liability, defamation, and toxic torts. Students will examine relevant statutes as well as case law regarding various areas of torts.

Prerequisite: LAW1100

LAW2225 Real Property Law

3 Credits

Explores fundamental topics related to the petition, ownership, and transfer of real property interest. Topics will include closings of residential property real estate financing including mortgages, insurance, foreclosure, and short sales. Students will relate theory to practice through a simulated real estate closing exercise.

Prerequisite: LAW1100

LAW2230 Civil Litigation

3 Credits

Introduces the rules governing the civil litigation process in both the state and federal civil courts. Topics will include all aspects of civil litigation including preparation of pleadings, discovery methods, motion practice, trial documents, and the appellate process.

Prerequisite: LAW1100

LAW4430 Advanced Legal Research, Writing, and Advocacy

3 Credits

Develops and refines the research, analysis, citation, and writing skills introduced in Legal Research and Writing. Students will prepare either a complex trial brief or appellate brief, and present oral argument.

Prerequisite: LAW2210

LAW4483 Internship

3 Credits

Students work in a position related to their course of study while at the same time completing online course requirements – including focused online discussions and special online projects - that integrate the skills and knowledge learned through their degree program.

Prerequisite: Departmental permission; LAW2000

Legal Studies Electives*- 15 Credits

 

LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCE CORE COURSES*

*ENG1105 Writing and Research

3 Credits

An introduction to expository writing through a comprehensive survey of forms of composition. Students are taught to use words with precision and strengthen their understanding and application of grammatical and rhetorical principles. Students are encouraged to appreciate and incorporate the principles of academic and professional writing.

*ENG2205 Writing Through Literature

3 Credits

Further develop the writing, reading, and interpretive abilities introduced in ENG1105 through critical engagement with literary texts from a myriad of genres.

Prerequisite: ENG1105

ENG2215 Public Speaking

3 Credits

Designed to help students improve oral communication skills. Emphasis is placed on identifying good and poor speech habits, techniques for improving speech, oral interpretation, effective speech planning and delivery, and interpersonal communication.

Prerequisite or Corequisite: ENG2205

ENG3316 The Confident Writer 

3 Credits

Explores a wide variety of non-fiction writing genres, including personal profile, journalism, criticism, and more. Students build their reading, writing, and researching skills while also reinforcing the fundamental concepts and current developments associated with the areas of their respective majors.

Prerequisite: ENG2205

HUM2225 Introduction to Ethics

3 Credits

MAT2215 Statistics I

3 Credits

Introduces statistical methods and procedures. Students become acquainted with the collection, analysis, and presentation of quantitative data. Topics include basic concepts of probability, frequency distributions, binomial distributions, sampling theory, hypothesis testing, and regression and correlation.

SOC1123 First Year Experience

3 Credits

Explores the challenges students most frequently face in pursuing and achieving a college degree. Students will identify their own perceived challenges, share critical insights to meeting them, and implement their own plan of action to address and overcome such challenges.

SOC2215 Introduction to Political Science

3 Credits 

Provides an overview of the American political system, the ideas that shaped it, and the conflicts that continue to redefine the relationship between people and political power.

SOC2231 Human Relations

3 Credits

Students will develop the interpersonal skills known to be key ingredients for successful everyday interactions with a focus on the challenges of workplace relationships involving coworkers, supervisors, and customers/clients. Some major skill areas covered in the course include making a good impression with your employer, managing conflict with difficult coworkers, working on a team with diverse groups of people, providing exceptional service for customers/clients, and managing on-the-job stressors.