Legal Studies BS

The core curriculum provides a solid foundation in the areas of contract law, torts, professional ethics, criminal procedure, and legal research and writing. Students also have the opportunity to focus on specific areas of interest by taking elective coursework in the areas of litigation, wills, trusts and estates, real estate, family law, criminal law, and international law.

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The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Legal Studies prepares its graduates for success in both law school and for careers in legal assisting, paralegal, and other law-related professions with a rigorous curriculum designed to provide them with necessary critical thinking, writing and research skills, as well as an in-depth understanding of the entire legal system, including the court system, clients, and lawyers. The core curriculum provides a solid foundation in the areas of contract law, torts, professional ethics, criminal procedure, and legal research and writing. Students also have the opportunity to focus on specific areas of interest by taking elective coursework in the areas of litigation, wills, trusts and estates, real estate, family law, criminal law, and international law.

Students holding an associate’s degree in legal assisting (or equivalent) may be admitted to take upper level courses. The 48 credit hours of upper level courses include required core courses (21 credits), restricted electives (12 credits), general upper level electives (12 credits), and university required courses (3 credits).

In addition to preparing students for law school, the Legal Studies program prepares students for professional legal assisting and paralegal studies certification exams, including the Certified Legal Assistant’s (CLA) Exam sponsored by the National Association of Legal Assistants and Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) offered by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc. (NFPA). The program focuses on essential competencies identified by these organizations and includes the educational preparation recommended for success in the field.

Our graduates are continuing their education in law school, various graduate programs or are employed in various capacities in law firms, government offices and private businesses. Several of the students who attended law school have communicated to the Legal Studies faculty that their preparation at FGCU put them one step ahead of those who did not have similar educational opportunities.

Even if Legal Studies graduates decide not to enter the legal profession as lawyers, paralegals, or legal assistants, the knowledge and skills they acquire will serve them well, regardless of the career path they choose.

OUR MISSION: We prepare students to utilize contemporary theory and practical skills for employment and further scholarly endeavors in law and related fields.

Department Contacts

Kleeger, Jeffrey

Program Coordinator Legal Studies BS/Professor Legal Studies

MERWIN 0166

239-590-7861

jkleeger@fgcu.edu

Accreditation
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Admissions Information
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Admissions Information for the 2024-2025 Catalog Year
If you are not yet an FGCU student, visit the Admissions Office Website
If you are a newly-admitted FGCU student please be sure to sign up for an Eagle View Orientation session. As part of this session you will be meeting with an academic advisor who will assist you in registering for classes for your major.
Admission Deadlines
Visit the Admissions Office Web site for information on admission deadlines of the university.
Program Requirements
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Program Requirements for the 2024-2025 Catalog Year
The General Education Program Website is located at https://www.fgcu.edu/academics/undergraduatestudies/generaleducation/
Program Progression and Additional Graduation Requirements
- Attend an orientation session.
- Sign an Advising Agreement document.
In addition to the program requirements, students must:
- Complete a minimum of 120 credits.
- Complete a minimum of 48 of the 120 credits at the upper division (3000 - 4999 level).
- Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all coursework attempted at FGCU.
- Satisfy the College-Level Skills and foreign language entrance requirements.
- Satisfy the Service-Learning requirement.
- Satisfy the Civic Literacy requirement.
- Satisfy the residency requirement: 30 of the last 60 credits must be completed at FGCU.
- Complete the summer course enrollment requirement.
- Submit an Application for Graduation by the deadline listed in the FGCU Academic Calendar.
Program Requirements
1. FGCU General Education Program (https://www.fgcu.edu/academics/undergraduatestudies/generaleducation/)
  To prevent or minimize excess hours, select general education courses that satisfy common prerequisite requirements for your intended major.
2. Common Prerequisites
  None*
  
  *Local articulation agreements between institutions that allow for specific courses at the Florida College System (FCS) institution to be recognized and accepted by receiving institutions are still in place. If you are a FCS student, please see your advisor to see if there are any local agreements that are relevant to your transfer.
3. Required Courses in the Major (21 credits)
  A minimum grade of C is required in each course
  
  CCJ 4934 Senior Seminar (3)
  CJL 4064 Constitutional Crim. Procedure (3)
  PLA 1003 Introduction to Law (3)
  PLA 3116 Legal Research & Writing (3)
  PLA 3277 Torts (3)
  PLA 3428 Contracts (3)
  PLA 3703 Professional Ethics (3)
4. Restricted Electives in the Major (12 credits)
  A minimum grade of C is required in each course
  
  Select 9 credits from any of the following:
  PLA 3205 Courtroom Techniques (3)
  PLA 3240 Alternative Dispute Resolution (3)
  PLA 3436 Business Organizations (3)
  PLA 3764 Law Office Management (3)
  PLA 3806 Family Law Issues (3)
  PLA 4471 Employment Law (3)
  PLA 4530 Elder Law (3)
  PLA 4570 Globalization &the Rule of Law (3)
  PLA 4605 Wills, Trusts, and Estates (3)
  PLA 4616 Real Estate Transactions (3)
  PLA 4843 Immigration Law (3)
  PLA 4885 Constitutional Law (3)
  
  Select 3 credits from any of the following:
  PHI 3130 Logic (3)
  Any upper division (3000-4999 level) course(s) from the following prefixes: PLA**,CCJ**, CJC, CJE, CJJ, or CJL**
  
  **Courses used to fulfill required courses in the major cannot also be used to fulfill restricted electives.
5. University Requirements (3 credits)
  Select one of the following:
  IDS 3920 University Colloquium (3)
  Or at least 3 credits in sustainability coursework (SCGR Attribute)
6. Additional Electives - as needed to reach total credits required for the degree
Total Credits Required: 120
Degree Map
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Degree Maps are to be used as a general guideline for students. Some students scheduling needs may vary based upon completed courses and transfer credits. Please see your advisor for assistance and verification.
2024-2025 Legal Studies BS Degree Map

Additional Graduation Requirements include:
- A minimum of 120 credit hours.
- A minimum of 48 of the 120 hours must be at the upper division (3000 - 4999) level.
- A cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all coursework attempted at FGCU.
- A minimum grade of C for each course used to satisfy the following categories: common prerequisites, required courses in the major, and courses in the concentration.
- Satisfaction of the College-Level Skills and foreign language entrance requirements.
- Satisfaction of the Service Learning requirement (See www.fgcu.edu/connect).
- Satisfaction of the residency requirement: thirty of the last sixty credits must be completed at FGCU.
- Completion of the summer course enrollment requirement.
- Submit an online Application for Graduation via Gulfline by the deadline listed in the FGCU Academic Calendar.
Transfer Notes and Acceptable Substitutes

For All Majors: Students are strongly recommended to select required lower division electives that will enhance their General Education coursework and that will support their intended baccalaureate degree program. Students should consult with an academic advisor in their major degree area.
Course Description
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Official Course Descriptions

Search for official course descriptions by using the Course Description Search utility.

Go to the Course Descriptions Search Web page, then follow these steps:
1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select a course prefix from one of the SUBJECT dropdowns (required)
3. Enter search words in the TEXT field (optional, but will narrow the search results)
4. Press Search
Course Schedule
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Getting Started With the Course Schedule Search

Search for program courses by using the Course Schedule Search utility.

Go to the Course Schedule Search Web page, then follow these steps:
1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select one or more of the search options to narrow your results (for example, CAMPUS, COLLEGE, DEPARTMENT, LEVEL, PREFIX*, COURSE ATTRIBUTE**). For virtual or web courses, select VIRTUAL in the CAMPUS field.
3. Press Search.
*A course prefix is a three-letter designator for a major division of an academic discipline (for example, ACG for Accounting , BSC for Biological Science, ENC for English Composition). See the Degree Requirements page for a list of courses (with prefix and number) that can be used to fulfill degree requirements.

**A course attribute identifies specific characteristics of courses that can be used in a Degree Evaluation to satisfy a degree requirement. (Course attribute examples are Humanities courses - GEHM and Social Science courses - GESO.)
Learning Outcomes
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Academic Learning Compact

Consistent with its mission and guiding principles, Florida Gulf Coast University is committed to academic excellence and continuous quality improvement, as supported by a sound teaching-learning process. Within this process, students and instructors share responsibility for learning that is a movement from the simple to the complex, the concrete to the abstract, and the dependent to the independent. The Academic Learning Compact (ALC) initiative supports the teaching-learning process by clearly identifying expected core student learning outcomes in the areas of content/discipline knowledge and skills, communication skills, and critical thinking skills; aligning curricula with expectations; and using assessment to guide continuous improvement.

Content/Discipline Knowledge and Skills
Graduates will be able to:
1. Gain a working knowledge of the law and its impact on the legal system and society.
2. Conduct legal research
Content/discipline knowledge and skills are assessed at the program level through student work in one or more of the following courses: PLA 3116 Legal Research & Writing, PLA 3703 Ethics, CCJ 4934 Senior Seminar.
Communication Skills
Graduates will be able to:
1. Utilize technical skills required for legal writing and prepare various legal documents including, but not limited to, legal memorandum, case briefs and appellate briefs.
2. Demonstrate written and verbal communication skills, with particular emphasis on effective and persuasive oral and written arguments pertaining to the legal arena.
Communication skills are assessed at the program level through student work in one or more of the following courses: PLA 3116 Legal Research & Writing, CCJ 4934 Senior Seminar.
Critical Thinking Skills
Graduates will be able to:
1. Discuss the impact of certain laws on the legal system and society.
2. Recognize ethical issues that arise in the practice of law.
Critical thinking skills are assessed through student work in one or more of the following courses: PLA 3116 Legal Research & Writing, PLA 3703 Ethics, CCJ 4934 Senior Seminar.
Tuition, Fees, and Financial Assistance
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Tuition and Fees

Information on Tuition, Fees and estimated total Cost of Attendance is available on the Office of the Bursar web site.

Financial Aid Opportunities

Visit FGCU's Financial Aid Web site for information about grants, additional scholarships, loans, and student employment.