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See Courses & Program Info
View a complete list of program courses, program-specific and undergraduate degree-level requirements, and more.
This program requires a total of 120 credits.
- 33 Required Major Credits: Review the required major courses outlined below or view the recommended course sequence to progress through this program.
- 41 General Education Credits: Review the options available to fulfill the 41 credits of general education coursework requirements for bachelor's degrees.
- 46 Minor & Elective Credits: Review a list of available academic minors or see the course catalog or Schedule of Classes to help you select elective courses.
Required Major Courses
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Not ready to get started on a bachelor’s degree? If you’re still interested in a law-related course of study, you can pair a 15-credit minor in law for business with another major at UMGC.
Master New Skills in Legal Studies
Employers are on the lookout for professionals who have the writing, research, and critical thinking skills needed to drive results. This program can help teach you those universal skillsets, as well as specific, career-relevant skills in legal research, negotiation, risk analysis, proofreading, legal discovery, and critical thinking.
Our program directors refresh and update the curriculum regularly, with a focus on helping students achieve the following:
91K
Annual Openings
About 91,000 openings for jobs in legal occupations are projected each year over the next decade.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | “Occupational Outlook Handbook” | Last Reviewed: April 1, 2024
No. 1
Social Services Job
According to U.S. News & World Report, lawyer is the top-ranked social service job in the United States.
Source: U.S. News & World Report | “Best Social Services Jobs” | Last Reviewed: April 1, 2024
60%+
Jobs Requiring Degree
More than 60 percent of all jobs in the legal field require at least a bachelor’s degree.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | “Occupational Requirements Survey” | Last Reviewed: April 1, 2024
Practice Real-World Skills in Your Legal Studies Courses
Throughout your curriculum, your instructors will assign hands-on coursework that may help you prioritize real-world skills and experience. In past courses, students have been able to complete the following course projects:
- Draft a mock client information letter that explains the applicable laws involved in a theoretical slip-and-fall case and determines whether a lawsuit would be successful in recovering compensation for your client.
- Prepare a case report that identifies the potential crimes a client may have committed and analyze the most likely arguments that the prosecution could bring up in response.
- Create a brochure that describes the two primary components of the American legal system: civil and criminal law.
Explore UMGC Legal Studies Insights
Gain insight from our faculty and staff and delve deeper into a range of topics.
FAQs
Get answers to questions that current and prospective students are asking about program admission, credibility, student organizations, and more.
This legal studies degree is a 120-credit undergraduate program that covers substantive, in-depth topics like criminal law, legal systems, legal theory, torts, and more. The program can help students prepare to work in a wide range of industries, corporations, non-profits, and private and government organizations. Potential job titles include paralegal, legal assistant, law clerk, and legal secretary. This program is also aligned with pre-law standards to help students prepare for law school after earning their four-year undergraduate degree.
This legal studies degree offers courses year-round. The time it will take you to complete your degree will depend on several factors, including your goals, how many transfer credits you have, your course load each semester, and whether you are able to benefit from one or more of our fast paths to credit, including credit for prior learning and credit for military education and training.
Tuition rates for the online bachelor’s degree in legal studies from UMGC are very competitive and appear at the top of this page. We offer a low in-state rate for Maryland residents and a reduced tuition rate for military service members and their spouses and dependent children. We also offer scholarships for those who qualify, an interest-free monthly payment plan, and no-cost digital materials in place of most textbooks to help make online bachelor's degrees even more affordable.
You do not need any background or experience in legal studies to apply for and graduate with an online bachelor’s degree in legal studies. As long as you meet our undergraduate admission requirements, you can enroll in this program.
You do not need any certifications to enroll in or complete this program.
Lambda Epsilon Chi (Legal Studies)
Lambda Epsilon Chi recognizes scholarship and leadership in students pursuing legal studies. It is available to undergraduate students. Membership is open to legal studies majors by invitation only. To qualify, you must demonstrate superior academic performance as evidenced by an overall GPA of at least 3.25, as well as a GPA of at least 3.5 in your legal studies classes at UMGC. For more information, please email lex@umgc.edu.