Legal Studies - Program Description

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, "The legal system affects nearly every aspect of our society, from buying a home to crossing the street." Such a profound impact suggests that there are a variety of opportunities for individuals with an education in Legal Studies. The Department of Labor states that employers prefer graduates of postsecondary education programs. A graduate of SUNY Canton's Legal Studies program may find employment in law firms, corporations, hospitals, and local, state or federal government offices. Since the program covers many legal specialties, students may choose electives that may help them to specialize in one or more areas.

Students in this Major:

  • Spend a significant amount of time doing legal research and legal writing
  • May also take courses in Accounting, Business, Criminal Justice or Law Enforcement Leadership
  • Receive an interdisciplinary education
  • Complete a semester-long internship with a legal organization as a culminating experience

Career Opportunities:

  • Paralegals or legal assistants in law firms
  • Real estate and mortgage preparation
  • Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
  • Occupational health and safety specialists
  • Government paralegals local state and federal
  • Contracts administrators
  • District Attorney, Sheriff and Probation Offices
  • Freelance Paralegal

Career Outlook:

  • Jobs for graduates in Legal Studies are projected to grow faster than average for all occupations through 2018 according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Admission Requirements:

  • Refer to the table of high school course prerequisites for admission.
  • Students must be prepared to take Composition and the Spoken Word (ENGL 101).
  • Transfer students must meet re-registration requirements to be considered for admission.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (Curriculum 0818)

Semester I Credits

Prefix Course Name Credits
ENGL 101 Composition & the Spoken Word (GER 1/2) 3
FYEP 101 First Year Experience 1
LEST 101 American Legal System 3
  Social Sciences Elective (GER 7) 3
  Math Elective (GER 4) 3-4
  US History & Civic Engagement (GER 9) 3
  TOTAL CREDITS 16-18

Semester II Credits

Prefix Course Name Credits
ACCT 101 Foundations of Financial Accounting 4
BSAD 201 Business Law I 3
CITA 101 Library/Information Literacy 1
  Arts Elective (GER 8 - Must be in Liberal Arts) 3
  Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective 3
  Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective 3
  TOTAL CREDITS 17

Semester III Credits

Prefix Course Name Credits
BSAD 202 Business Law II 3
LEST 221 Criminal Practice 3
  Natural Science Elective (GER 5) 3-4
  DEISJ Elective (GER 3) 3
  World Languages Elective (GER 11) 3-4
  TOTAL CREDITS 15-17

Semester IV Credits

Prefix Course Name Credits
LEST 310 Legal Research 3
ENGL 301 Professional Writing and Communication** 3
  World History & Global Awareness Elective (GER 10) 3
  Humanities Elective (GER 6) 3
  U/L Legal Studies Elective 3
  TOTAL CREDITS 15

Semester V Credits

Prefix Course Name Credits
LEST 330 Legal Writing** 3
LEST 340 Constitutional Law 3
LEST 350 Civil Litigation 3
  Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective 3
  Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective 3
  TOTAL CREDITS 15

Semester VI Credits

Prefix Course Name Credits
BSAD 319 Professional Ethics** 3
LEST 449 Advanced Legal Writing** 3
  Lib. Arts and Sciences Elective (U/L Recommended) 3
  Lib. Arts and Sciences Elective (U/L Recommended) 3
  Lib. Arts and Sciences Elective (U/L Recommended) 3
  TOTAL CREDITS 15

Semester VII Credits

Prefix Course Name Credits
LEST 429 Internship Orientation
(if taking LEST 480 in 8th semester)
1
  U/L Legal Studies Elective 3
  U/L Legal Studies Elective 3
  Upper Level Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective 3
  Upper Level Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective 3
  Upper Level Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective 3
  TOTAL CREDITS 16

Semester VIII Credits

Prefix Course Name Credits
 

TOTAL OF 15 CREDITS TO BE COMPLETED BY EXERCISING ONE OR A MIX OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS:

  1. Internship – LEST 480 (3 – 15 Credits depending on hours worked) OR
  2. Senior Project – LEST 485 (3 – 15 Credits depending on hours worked) AND/OR
  3. Up to 5 Upper Level Program Electives as needed to complete a total of 15 semester credits for this semester.
3-15
  TOTAL CREDITS 3-15

** Writing Intensive Course

U/L = Upper Level
GER = General Education Requirement

U/L Program Electives:

U/L Legal Studies (LEST) Electives:

In order to receive an LEST Bachelor of Science degree, at least 45 Upper Level (U/L) Credits must be completed with 24 credits being in Upper Level LEST courses.

50% of all credits must be earned in the Liberal Arts and Sciences.

ENGL 301 gives three credits as both an Upper Level and a Liberal Arts and Sciences requirement but only counts as three credits in total (not six).

In order to graduate with a SUNY Canton degree, at least 30 credits must be completed by courses offered through SUNY Canton.

Review the Index of Course Descriptions

Business Department Director
Nick Kocher
Lecturer
MacArthur Hall 422
kochern@canton.edu