With an Bachelor of Science in legal studies from University of Maryland Global Campus, you'll acquire the tools you need to confidently and competently thrive in legal environments. In this program, you'll learn to produce and review legal forms and documents, apply statutes to legal cases, and assess fact patterns.
With this degree, you'll be equipped to conduct legal analysis, draft various types of legal documents, and perform research in the legal environment.
These requirements are for students who enroll in the 2020–2021 academic year. Read this year's program catalog to see our recommended course sequence for this program. For prior year academic requirements, visit our catalog archive.
This program has a related minor.
About the Legal Studies Bachelor's Degree
What You'll Learn
Through your coursework, you will learn how to
- Conduct research using appropriate resources to identify relevant, current legal authority
- Draft documents that reflect critical thinking and legal reasoning to inform, evaluate, and advocate on legal issues
- Apply an understanding of legal concepts and procedures to efficiently and ethically support the resolution of legal disputes
- Synthesize relevant information and complete a wide variety of forms and documents used to meet client objectives
Coursework Examples
In past projects, students have had the opportunity to
- Draft legal forms, such as petition for divorce, power of attorney, and identification and evaluation of estate property, for submission to court, using legal terms and nomenclature as well as knowledge of a particular case
- Review the elements of a statute and assess its application to a set of facts
- Review a current case or statutory law and produce a legal theory, approach, or case study to support a hypothetical client's case
Legal Studies Bachelor's Degree Requirements
Our curriculum is designed with input from employers, industry experts, and scholars. You'll learn theories combined with real-world applications and practical skills you can apply on the job right away.
Courses in the Major
Total Credits Required: 120
- Required Major Courses: 33
- Minor and Elective Courses: 46
- General Education Courses: 41
Required Major Courses
- LGST 101
- LGST 200
- LGST 201
- LGST 204
- LGST 301
- LGST 312
- LGST 315
- LGST 320
- LGST 325
- LGST 340
- LGST 495
General Education Requirements
UMGC outlines the options available to fulfill the 41 credits of general education coursework for bachelor's degrees on the General Education Requirements webpage.
In addition to the major, elective, and general education courses and requirements outlined on this page, please review the overall bachelor's degree requirements.
Career Preparation
This program is designed to help prepare you for law school or for a career researching and producing legal information and documents. This degree may meet the requirements to work in a professional support position in legal advocacy, legal research, legal writing, and legal case review/support.
Experience Recommended for Success in the Program
We recommend you have professional experience in a law firm or court.
Student Clubs and Organizations
Type: Honor society
Available To: Undergraduate
Lambda Epsilon Chi is the national honor society founded by the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE), which recognizes the scholarship and leadership of students in higher education. There are over 170 chapters throughout the United States and thousands of inductees who have been honored for their outstanding academic achievements.
About the Faculty
Our world-class faculty members combine academic credentials with a wealth of experience in the field.
Faculty members in this program hold or have recently held positions including
- In-house counsel
- Prosecutor
Featured Faculty

Patrick Bradley
Vice Dean, Business and Professional Programs, and Collegiate Professor