Legal Studies Course Descriptions

Courses Required for the Bachelor's in Legal Studies Online Program:

Minimum requirements for graduation:

• Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies: 123 Credits

Required courses in Legal Studies

All courses, 12 semester credit hours, are required.

PL 300 Legal Office Administration

This course is a study of the administration of a private law firm from the perspective of a paralegal office manager. Topics include supervision of paralegal personnel; managing time keeping and billing systems; document control; client development and case management. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisites: PL 106 Legal Research and PL 180 Law Office Procedures.

PL 425 Business Organizations

This course provides an overview of the nine most common ways of doing business in this country. Emphasis is placed on the corporate form beginning with the formation of a corporation, the financial structure, corporate management, dividends and termination of corporate existence. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisites: PL 100 Introduction to Legal Assisting, PL 106 Legal Research, and BU 203 Business Law.

PL 450 Advanced Legal Research

This course is designed to build on the basic skills of the student in legal research as well as other information using the computer. By searching Internet resources as well as legal databases, the student performs exercises in researching topics in business, bankruptcy, taxes, trademarks, employment law, environmental law and other topics. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisites: PL 100 Introduction to Legal Assisting, PL 106 Legal Research, and PL 250 Legal Writing.

BU 403 Constitutional Law

This course is designed to give the student a basic knowledge of constitutional law as well as the structure of the federal government (executive, legislative, and judicial) with emphasis on the judicial branch and the workings of the Supreme Court of the United States. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: None.

Electives Courses in Legal Studies

A minimum of 22 semester credit hours of electives is required.

PL 100 Introduction to Legal Assisting

This course provides an overview of the paralegal profession and an introduction to the law and legal procedures. Topics include paralegal duties and responsibilities; ethical issues in legal assisting; sources of American law and legal concepts; the
court system and government regulations; corporate law, civil litigation and trial procedures; criminal and administrative law and procedures; conducting interviews and investigations; and legal research and analysis. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: None.

PL 106 Legal Research

This course is a practical introduction to the law library and its resources and the fundamentals of traditional and electronic legal research. Emphasis is placed on the paralegal’s practical role and skill in assisting the attorney in legal research. Topics include the various research tools including codes; reporters, digests, Shepard’s, and Legal encyclopedias; treaties, law reviews, practice manuals, Westlaw, and CD ROM; and Internet research. 3 credit hours. Prerequisite: PL 100 Introduction to Legal Assisting.

PL 130 Family and Tort Law

This course provides the study of family law, torts, and personal injury law. Topics include ethics and family law; cohabitation and marriage alternatives; property settlements and spousal support; child support, child custody, and child custody issues; torts and legal analysis; intentional torts and defenses to intentional torts; negligence, negligence actions, and defenses to negligence; and strict liability, products liability, and tort immunities. 3.0 credit hours. Co-requisite: PL 106 Legal Research.

PL 138 Wills, Estates, and Bankruptcy

This course covers the estate of a deceased person and the process of placing the appropriate heirs into possession of the assets. Topics include the type, contents, terms and language in the document known as the Last Will and Testament. Probate of the will and preparation of estate documents are presented. The estate of a debtor is then covered in the second half of the course in bankruptcy. The reasons why persons are forced to file bankruptcy and the affect upon the debtor are explained. What debts are dischargeable and those that are not dischargeable are covered as well as property considered exempt. 3.0 credit hours. Co-requisite: PL 106 Legal Research.

PL 140 Ethics and Paralegal Professionalism

This course presents an in-depth study of the Codes of Professional Responsibility from the ABA and NALA as well as the Code of Judicial Conduct and existing guidelines and case law involving paralegals. 3 credit hours. Prerequisite: PL 100 Introduction to Legal Assisting.

PL 180 Law Office Procedures

This course presents a study of the operation of a private law firm from the perspective of a legal assistant/paralegal. Topics include personnel and their responsibilities and managerial concepts; the various systems and procedures in the law office including time keeping and billing systems, word processing, file organization and management, accounting/bookkeeping systems, trust accounts, docket control, tickler systems, conflicts checks, client development and case management; and current legal office software. 3.0 credit hours. Co-requisite: PL 106 Legal Research.

PL 215 Civil Litigation

This course provides an intensive examination of the role of the paralegal in civil litigation. Topics include litigation and the paralegal’s role, the courts and their jurisdiction, ethical considerations, investigation and evidence procedures, the initial pleadings, response to the initial pleading, motion practice, discovery procedures and requests, settlements and alternative dispute resolution, and trial techniques and post-trial practices. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: PL 106 Legal Research.

PL 225 Criminal Law

This course explores the basic concepts of both substantive and procedural criminal law. Topics include the legal system and criminal law; the study of crimes against a person, property, habitation, and the public; the examination of factual, statutory, and constitutional defenses; and the constitutional aspects of criminal procedures including the pretrial, the trial, sentencing, and appeal processes. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: PL 106 Legal Research.

PL 235 Property Law and Intellectual Property Law

These courses provide the basics of property law, real and personal, as well as tangible and intangible. The topic of real estate is presented and includes sales, financing, zoning and the legal acts that govern. Mortgages, liens, surveying and servitudes are included in this study. The second half of the course covers intellectual property including trademarks, copyrights, patents and trade secrets. Topics also include the application, possession, protection, violation and transfer of rights in intellectual property. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisites: PL 100 Introduction to Legal Assisting, PL 106 Legal Research.

PL 246 Environmental Law and Administrative Agencies

This course begins with exposure of the student to the topic of administrative law. The need for, function of, and importance of the administrative agency in the government are outlined and explained. As paralegals are today allowed limited practice before these agencies, this course is most important. Environmental law and the role of this vital administrative agency are then presented. Topics include government regulation, both state and federal, of the environment as well as superfund sites, pollution and all matters that affect air, ground and water resources. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisites: PL 100 Introduction to Legal Assisting, PL 106 Legal Research.

PL 250 Legal Writing

This course allows the student to apply practical legal research skills to the drafting and preparation of typical documents that the paralegal will be expected to prepare by their supervising attorney. Topics include research memoranda; client correspondence, demand letters, appellate briefs, incorporation documents, and partnership agreements; wills, leaves, and promissory notes; and medical record summaries. 3 credit hours. Prerequisites: PL 106 Legal Research and EN 104 English Composition I.

BU 499 Senior Project

Students will complete one of the following requirements for the senior project: capstone project, supervised internship, or senior research thesis. 4.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: Senior year.

Required Courses in Business

All courses, 44 semester credit hours, are required.

AC 103 Accounting I

This introductory accounting course provides the practical application of the concepts and principles of the accounting cycle for service businesses. Topics include an overview of accounting concepts and procedures; analyzing and recording transactions; beginning the accounting cycle by journalizing, posting, and working with the trial balance; using worksheets, financial statements, and adjusting entries; completing the accounting cycle with adjusting, closing, and post-closing trial balance; working with cash and its control; working with accounting systems, journals, internal controls and an introduction to cash flow management. 4.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: IS 102 Computers and Application Software.

AC 205 Accounting II

This accounting course provides practical application of the concepts and principles of the accounting cycle for merchandising businesses with an emphasis upon partnerships and the analysis of financial statements. Topics include accounting for partnerships, accounting for long-term assets and liabilities, managing inventory, investing in capital assets, preparing and using cash flow statements; and the analysis and interpretation of financial statements. 4.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: AC 103 Accounting I.

AC 220 Finance

This course introduces corporate financial management and analysis. Topics include evaluating financial performance; measuring cash flow; forecasting and planning; and capital budgeting and the cost of capital. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: AC 103 Accounting I.

AC 305 Managerial Accounting

This course focuses on managerial accounting concepts by determining costs of products and services for planning and controlling business operations. Topics include management accounting concepts; working with cost concepts, cost behavior, product costing, and costing systems; accounting for planning and control through the master and flexible budgets; and capital budgeting and related business decisions. 4.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: AC 103 Accounting I.

BU 105 Business Principles and Management

This course introduces the environment of American business with an overview of various topics that serve as a foundation for further study of business. Topics include the environments that businesses operate in; the organizational structures of businesses; management functions in enterprises; and the challenges of managing marketing, operations, information technology, finance, and human resources. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: None.

BU 155 Team Development and Group Management

This course provides guidelines for building and managing teams. Topics include teamwork development, group organization, assessing team requirements, support role development, and how to work together in a diverse environment. The opportunity to experience teamwork concepts is provided through running meetings and presenting reports. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: PS 101 Psychology.

BU 206 Business Law I

This course provides a study of the American legal system and its effect on business and business organizations, as well as an overview of the ethical issues that businesses encounter. Topics include business law and ethics, contracts and sales, consumer protection issues, agency and employment issues, the regulation of business organizations, analyzing risk-bearing devices, and dealing with real property issues. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: None.

BU 220 Principles of Marketing

This course provides a practical and managerial approach to the principles and applications of marketing in organizations and in the marketplace. Topics include the marketing process and strategic planning; the global marketing environment; developing marketing opportunities and strategies; developing the marketing mix through product development, pricing strategies, distribution channels, and promotion techniques; and managing marketing through customer relationships, social responsibility, and marketing ethics. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: BU 105 Business Principles and Management.

BU 245 Business Communications

This course introduces communication theories and strategies for a variety of business situations, including memo, letters, meetings, presentations, proposals, reports, and technology-based communications. Using a developmental approach to business communication, the course examines methods for organizing ideas, analyzing data, addressing diverse concerns, presenting information, developing a professional communication style, and developing negotiation skills. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisites: BU 105 Business Principles and Management, EN 104 English Composition I.

BU 426 Organizational Behavior

This course examines the nature of organizational behavior through the study of group and inter-group relations, organizational design, and the structure and factors affecting organizational design. Topics include the external environment; the impact of technology, power, and politics; and organizational change and development. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: BU 105 Business Principles and Management.

EC 111 Principles of Microeconomics

This course presents an overview of the American economic system. Topics include the principles of economics; the elements of supply and demand; the concepts of money, spending, output, and income; national income analysis; inflation, unemployment and related stabilization factors; the impact of trade and the function of prices in markets; and the relationship of economics to environmental issues. 3.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: None

IS 124 Database Applications

This course provides the study of the principles and features of a leading desktop database management system. Topics include creating and managing databases, data management and integrity, working with queries and forms, managing reports, using tools and macros, database and file management, analyzing and filtering data, relational databases, and linking databases to the Web. 4.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: IS 102 Computers and Application Software.

IS 160 Spreadsheets

This course presents the practical application of the concepts and features of a leading spreadsheet package Topics include using and managing worksheets and workbooks; applying formatting and style features; working with data, formulas, and functions; managing charts and graphics; working with outlines, views, and reports; automating tasks with the macro feature; using auditing tools, collaborative tools, and hyperlinks; and integrating with other programs. 4.0 credit hours. Prerequisite: IS 102 Computers and Application Software.

Personal and Professional Development

PD 100 Student Success Skills

This course provides instruction in the both theory and practice of personal growth that lead to successful life experience. Topics include research in critical self-analysis of student habits and attitudes; and psychological impediments to successfully setting and achieving personal goals. 1.0 credit hour. Prerequisite: None.

PD 200 Career Development Seminar

This seminar provides an opportunity for the student to apply critical self-examination techniques and processes for developing a career path and an awareness of the need to embed life-long learning into career management. Topics include career planning research, job searching, developing career search documents, and refining interview and communication skills within an awareness of psychological boundaries implicit in this process. Successful completion of this course requires the creation of a professional resume suitable for email. 1.0 credit hour. Prerequisite: None.