Fairfax, USA
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest start date
TUITION FEES
USD 4,897 / per semester **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for International student | Domestic student is 1st of February
** in-state tuition full-time (12-15 credits); USD 16,980 - out-of-state tuition full-time (12-15 credits); USD 1,803 - mandatory student fee
Key Summary
Introduction
Who Should Apply?
If you have completed an associate’s in applied science (AAS) degree in Paralegal Studies, with a minimum GPA of 2.0, and have been out of high school for seven or more years – this degree is designed for you!
Why Study Legal Studies?
This integrative concentration combines coursework in government, business, philosophy, communication, sociology, conflict resolution, and international studies to prepare students for the rigors of graduate work in the area of law or careers in the field of mediation or paralegal studies.
Because of the law’s sweeping influence on society, it will likely continue to expand its defining role in American daily life. As the demand for private and public legal services grows, the need for keenly analytic and reasoning practitioners expands. The legal studies concentration focuses on developing these abilities and preparing students for careers in a global environment that requires increasing awareness of cultural and political diversity.
Program Outcome
- A concentration in legal studies provides a perfect entry for those students wishing to pursue a career in law.
- The interdisciplinary nature of the concentration provides an excellent springboard for graduate study in many disciplines such as law, business, history, politics, and economics.
- The legal studies curriculum is excellent preparation for a job as a court official or for careers in business, government, and corrections.
- The legal studies concentration hones important tools such as critical thinking and analysis, which are valuable in any career field.
Career Opportunities
Some fields in which graduates find jobs include:
- Court Officials
- Paralegal
- Corrections Officers
- Mediator
- Legal Aids
Curriculum
Degree Requirements
Total credits: 120-126
In addition to satisfying all Mason Core requirements, students must satisfy the requirements for one of the eight concentrations.
Concentration in Legal Studies (LGLS)
This concentration is in collaboration with the School of Integrative Studies, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Schar School of Policy and Government.
Core Requirements
- BAS 300 Building Professional Competencies 3
- BAS 490 Introduction to Research Methods 3
- BAS 491 Applied Sciences Capstone (Mason Core) 3
Concentration Requirements
Required Courses:
- INTS 300 Law and Justice (Mason Core) 3
Additional Courses (minimum 18 credits): 18
- BULE 303 Legal Environment of Business
- CLAS 330 Roman Law and Society
- COMM 230 Case Studies in Persuasion
- COMM 430 Persuasion
- COMM 475 Journalism Law
- CONF 425 Mediating Conflict
- CRIM 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice (Mason Core)
- CRIM 220 Introduction to Law and Society
- CRIM 301 Public Law and the Judicial Process 3 or GOVT 301 Public Law and the Judicial Process
- CRIM 405 Law and Justice around the World (Mason Core)
- CRIM 406 Family Law and the Justice System
- CRIM 407 Advanced Topics in Law and Society
- CRIM 422 Controversial Legal Issues
- CRIM 423 Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties or GOVT 423 Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties
- CRIM 424 Constitutional Law: Criminal Process and Rights
- CRIM 430 Criminal Law
- ECON 415 Law and Economics
- GOVT 103 Introduction to American Government (Mason Core)
- GOVT 407 Law and Society
- GOVT 443 Law and Ethics of War
- GOVT 446 International Law and Organization
- GOVT 452 Administrative Law and Procedures
- HAP 312 Healthcare Law
- HDFS 401 Family Law and Public Policy
- INTS 202 Public Speaking and Critical Thinking Skills (Mason Core)
- INTS 304 Social Movements and Community Activism (Mason Core)
- INTS 305 Conflict Resolution and Transformation
- INTS 336 Poverty, Wealth and Inequality in the US (Mason Core)
- INTS 362 Social Justice and Human Rights (Mason Core)
- INTS 416 Refugee and Internal Displacement (Mason Core)
- INTS 417 Human Trafficking and Smuggling
- PRLS 460 Sport and Recreation Law
- PHIL 311 Philosophy of Law
- RELI 364 Religion and Law in the United States
- SOCI 301 Criminology
- SOCI 302 Sociology of Delinquency
Total Credits: 33
Admissions
Gallery
English Language Requirements
Certify your English proficiency with PTE. The faster, fairer, simpler English test, accepted by thousands of universities around the world. PTE, Do it worry-free!