University of West Florida

Degree:	Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Minor:	Pre-Law
Department:	Justice Studies Building 85, Room 160 (850) 474-2336 http://uwf.edu/justice/
College:	Professional Studies
Semester Hours Required For Degree: 120

The Legal Studies Program offers a curriculum for students who have a desire to attend law school but who also want to be able to work in the legal field as a paralegal/legal assistant.  No previous legal/paralegal coursework is required to enter the program. Contact the academic advisor for the Department of Justice Studies for additional information concerning the post-baccalaureate certificate. Students majoring in Legal Studies are not permitted to earn the dual major in Criminal Justice or the minor in Criminal Justice.

Program Requirements

In addition to general University requirements, students seeking the B.A. in Legal Studies must meet the requirements listed below. A grade of “C” is required for all courses listed as core courses.

It is recommended that students have completed at least one or two legal studies courses before attempting PLA 3103 Legal Research and Writing. Also, PLA 4263 Evidence must be successfully completed before taking PLA 4204 Civil Procedure. Any course substitutions for specifically listed courses must be approved in writing, in advance by a Legal Studies faculty member. All Legal Studies majors must successfully complete PLA 4155 Legal Advocacynotwithstanding any prior course work in legal research and writing at any other institution. All PLA courses presume competency and experience with word processing, spreadsheets, databases, e-mail and Internet.  If you do not have experience in these areas, it is suggested that you complete CGS 2570 Personal Computer Applications prior to taking any PLA courses.

General Studies

In addition to the general studies requirements listed on this page, students must satisfy all additional University requirements, including the Gordon Rule, multicultural, and foreign language requirements. With appropriate planning and coordination with an academic advisor, students may satisfy some of the general University requirements through the General Studies curriculum. For a complete listing of general degree requirements, refer to the "Graduation and General Degree Requirements" section of this catalog.

General Studies Curriculum:

Communication	6
ENC 1101 English Composition I 3 ENC 1102 English Composition II 3
Mathematics	6
MAC 1105 College Algebra 3 MAC 1114 Trigonometry 3 MAC 1140 Precalculus Algebra 3 MAC 2233 Calculus with Business Applications 3 MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I 4 MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II 4 MAC 2313 Analytic Geometry and Calculus III 4 MAD 3107 Discrete Mathematics and Applications 3 MGF 1106 Mathematics for Liberal Arts I 3 MGF 1107 Mathematics for Liberal Arts II 3 STA 2023 Elements of Statistics 3
Social Sciences	9
Choose one course from each of the following clusters of courses Social Sciences: Historical Perspectives: 3 AMH 2010 United States to 1877 AMH 2020 United States since 1877 EUH 1000 Western Perspectives I EUH 1001 Western Perspectives II Social Sciences: Behavioral Perspectives: 3 ANT 2000 Introduction to Anthropology ANT 2100 Introduction to Archaeology CCJ 2002 Survey of Crime and Justice DEP 2004 Human Development Across the Lifespan PSY 2012 General Psychology SOW 2192 Understanding Relationships in the 21st Century Social Sciences: Socio-Political Perspectives: 3 ANT 2400 Current Cultural Issues CPO 2002 Comparative Politics ECO 2013 Principles of Economics Macro GEA 2000 Nations and Regions of the World GEB 1011 Introduction to Business INR 2002 International Politics MMC 2000 Principles of Mass Communication PLA 2013 Survey of American Law POS 2041 American Politics SYG 2000 Introduction to Sociology SYG 2010 Current Social Problems
Humanities	8-9
Choose one course from each of the following clusters of courses Literature: 3 AML 2072 Sex, Money, and Power in American Literature LIT 2030 Introduction to Poetry LIT 2040 Introduction to Drama LIT 1122 Great Books I LIT 2100 Introduction to Literature LIT 2110 Western Literature I LIT 2120 Western Literature II Fine Arts: 3 ARH 1010 Introduction to Art History ARH 2050 Western Survey I: Greek to Renaissance ARH 2051 Western Survey II: Baroque to Contemporary ART 1015C Exploring Artistic Vision ART 2821 Art and Visual Culture Today MUH 2930 The Music Experience: Special Topics MUL 2110 Music in Western Civilization THE 2000 The Theatre Experience THE 2300 Survey of Dramatic Literature Contemporary Values and Expressions: 3 PHI 2010 Introduction to Philosophy PHI 2100 Introduction to Logic PHI 2603 Ethics in Contemporary Society REL 2000 Introduction to Religion SPC 2608 Basic Communication Skills
Natural Sciences	7
Take two of the following courses, including at least one with lab: ANT 2511 Biological Anthropology 3 ANT 2511L Biological Anthropology Lab 1.0 AST 3033 Modern Astronomy 3 BOT 1801 Introduction to Plant Science 3 BOT 2010+L General Botany (+Lab) 4 BSC 1005 General Biology for Non-Majors * 3 BSC 1005L General Biology Laboratory for Non-Majors 1 BSC 1050 Fundamentals of Ecology 3 BSC 1085 Anatomy and Physiology I * 3 BSC 1085L Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory 1 BSC 1086 Anatomy and Physiology II * 3 BSC 1086L Anatomy & Physiology II Laboratory 1 BSC 2311 Introduction to Oceanography and Marine Biology * 3 BSC 2311L Introduction to Oceanography and Marine Biology Laboratory 1 CGS 2060 Excursions in Computing 3 CGS 2060L Excursions in Computing Lab 1.0 CHM 1020 Concepts in Chemistry * 3 CHM 1020L Concepts in Chemistry Lab 1 CHM 1032 Fundamentals of General Chemistry * 3 CHM 1032L Fundamentals of General Chemistry Laboratory 1 CHM 2045 General Chemistry I * 3 CHM 2045L General Chemistry I Laboratory 1 CHM 2046 General Chemistry II * 3 CHM 2046L General Chemistry II Laboratory 1 GEO 1200+L Physical Geography (+Lab) 4 GEO 2330 Environmental Science 3 GLY 2010 Physical Geology * 3 GLY 2010L Physical Geology Laboratory 1 MCB 1000 Fundamentals of Microbiology * 3 MCB 1000L Fundamentals of Microbiology Laboratory 1 PHY 1020 Introduction to Concepts in Physics * 3 PHY 1020L Introduction to Concepts in Physics Laboratory 1 PHY 2048 University Physics I ** 3 PHY 2048L University Physics I Lab 1 PHY 2049 University Physics II ** 3 PHY 2049L University Physics II LAB 1 PHY 2053 General Physics I ** 3 PHY 2053L General Physics I Laboratory 1 PHY 2054 General Physics II * 3 PHY 2054L General Physics II Laboratory 1 PHZ 1450 Exotic Physics 3 ZOO 1010+L General Zoology (+Lab) 4 * May be taken with or without lab. ** General Physics is non-calculus based and is usually recommended for non-science majors. University Physics is calculus based and is usually recommended for science majors.
Total Semester Hours:	36-37

Legal Studies majors should take PLA 2013 Survey of American Law to fulfill the socio-political component and PHI 2603 Ethics in Contemporary Society to meet the contemporary values and expressions component of General Studies.  Legal Studies students planning to take the LSAT should take a course in Logic or Critical Thinking to meet the contemporary values and expressions component of General Studies. 

Lower Division Electives

Students must complete sufficient 1000/2000 level electives to complete at least 60 semester hours in the lower division. Current UWF students may use elective courses at any level (1000-4000) to meet this elective requirement.		24
Total Hours		24

Recommended electives include PLA 2013 Survey of American Law if not taken as part of the General Studies Program.

It is strongly recommended that Legal Studies students take advantage of courses that will strengthen their skills with spreadsheets, databases, and accounting needed for employment in the legal profession and courses that will strengthen their written and verbal communication skills needed for success in law school.