Legal Studies, BS/BA Adult Degree

Curriculum

The major in legal studies leads to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and requires 128 credit hours of coursework:

Students in both pathways complete the following:

• BELL core requirements: 53 hours
• Major Core requirements: 24 hours
• Major Elective Hours: 6 hours

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Students in the 4-year pathway ONLY also complete the following:

• Minor: 18 hours
• General Electives: 27 hours

Students in the 3+3 Pathway ONLY must complete 99 hours before matriculating to Belmont's College of Law so also complete the following coursework:

• General Electives: 16 hours

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Major Core Requirements

• MGT 2410: Business Law I (3 hours): A course in the fundamentals of law in relation to business. Areas studied include: law and its sources, the judicial system, methods of resolving disputes, constitutional law, torts, criminal law, property, and contracts.
• COM 2200: Persuasion (3 hours) OR COM 2020: Argumentation & Debate (3 hours)
• COM 2200: Persuasion (3 hours): Provides advanced skills in the development of messages that aim to influence human behavior, attitudes and values. OR
• COM 2020: Argumentation & Debate (3 hours): This course focuses on argumentation and critical thinking skills with emphasis on analysis, evidence, reasoning, constructing and refuting claims. Students will receive both theoretical background and practice in debate.
• LGS 1300: Intro to Legal Studies (3 hours): A course in the fundamentals of our nation’s laws and legal system. Topics include: legal history, the Common Law, the U.S. Constitution, the judicial system, duty of lawyers and judges, criminal law, civil law, dispute resolution, and property.  Utilizing the case study method, students hone analytical reasoning skills and legal writing skills.
• LGS 3130: Legal Entrepreneurship (3 hours): This course will provide a basic understanding of the entrepreneurial process with a focus upon the legal industry, solo practitioners and innovation within the legal industry. Students will also examine entrepreneurship as a career. This course will provide students with the foundation for understanding how to build and manage a solo or small law practice, as well as an introduction to innovation within the legal industry. Students will be provided with fundamental concepts of entrepreneurship, and apply those concepts within the unique environment of a legal setting. Comparisons will be made between entrepreneurship in the legal industry and other business industries, as well as between solo/small firm practice and large firm practice. The course will also discuss recent technological innovations in the legal industry, such as electronic discovery, big data analysis, and artificial intelligence. In addition to the functional implications of innovation, attention will be paid to the implication upon attorney lifestyle, ethics and client management.
• PHI 3430: Philosophy of Law (3 hours) OR PHI 3440: Social & Political Philosophy (3 hours)
• PHI 3430: Philosophy of Law (3 hours): A study of the fundamental theories of the nature of law, the method and uniqueness of judicial reasoning and legal interpretation, the use of the law to enforce morality, and the establishment of legal responsibility and the justification of punishment. OR PHI 3440: Social & Political Philosophy (3 hours): This course explores the broad themes of social and political philosophy. Topics will include the source of legal authority, the nature of sovereignty, revolutions, and the nature and extent of individual rights. Several viewpoints will be considered, including Aristotle’s political naturalism, classical liberalism, communism, libertarianism, and political existentialism.
• MGT 3230: Business Ethics (3 hours): This course presents a practical approach that examines ethical issues faced in the contemporary business environment. A comprehensive body of information about business and managerial ethics is presented. This course uses real-world case studies to enable students to make responsible business ethics decisions
• MGT 4310: Negotiation (3 hours): This is a course in basic negotiation skills for business. Areas addressed include interests, options, alternatives, legitimacy, communication, relationships and commitment. There is a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills around conflict management and resolution in the workplace.
• MGT 4220: Business Law II (3 hours): A second course in law fundamentals related to business transactions. Topics include: the Uniform Commercial Code, bankruptcy, agency, property, and forms of business organization.

Major Electives (Choose 2 courses from the following)

• MBU 2520: Copyright Law (3 hours): This course provides an in-depth study of copyright law in the entertainment industry including its origins, rationale, protections, and limitations.
• MBU 3550: Music Industry Contract Law (3 hours): This course examines the background and principles of contract law as applied to the negotiation, creation, interpretation, and enforcement of binding agreements in the music industry.
• PSC 4320: International Law (3 hours): A survey of public international law, this course focuses the nature of international law, its origin and capabilities, and the actors involved. It then pursues these larger issues through specific topics in international law, such as laws of war, sea, or environment.
• PUB 2500: Copyright & Publishing Law (3 hours): This course covers the foundations of copyright law and intellectual property. Specifically it will focus on covers rights (copyright, trademark and right of publicity) that are important for publishers to understand in their business life; and outlines the exemptions and exceptions that publishers can rely on to avoid having to obtain these rights, with special emphasis on fair use. Additionally it will cover issues with regard to print verses digital, US verses international, and works that are public domain.
• MDS 4100: Communication Law (3 hours): Examines governmental regulations affecting news media, advertising, radio broadcasting and telecasting, and the direct effects of such regulations upon management and daily operations.
• SOC 3700: Criminal Justice (3 hours): The study of the institutions that process suspected and convicted criminal offenders, this course focuses on legal codes, courts, police, prisons, and mass-media crime scares. It offers study of the ways in which these institutions shape and are shaped by large-scale inequality.
• SOC 2450: Law and Society (3 hours): This course is designed to utilize sociological concepts and methods to examine the relationship between the legal system and other institutions in society. We will consider the importance of law in shaping our social existence and explore the way laws are structured by people, ideas, and social conditions. During the semester, you will be given the opportunity to: (1) examine historical influences on the role of law in society; (2) isolate contexts and social forces which shape the creation of laws; (3) analyze compatible and competing theoretical explanations used to justify laws; and (4) perfect and demonstrate meaningful exchange of ideas through both written and verbal communication skills.
• REL 3540: Eco-Justice & Faith (3 hours): This course explores ways in which theologies, spiritual traditions, and social ethics guide and motivate human beings in their interaction with the environment. The course examines the tensions between religion and science in order to see how those have an effect on the way we think about the environment. This course applies moral and theological analysis to a broad range of environmental issues.
• REL 3510: Poverty & Justice (3 hours): A study of poverty and homelessness in the United States and the world in light of social, biblical, and theological approaches to economic justice. This course combines experiential and theoretical learning to help students develop an understanding of economic justice.
• LGS 1350: Introduction to Legal Writing (3 hours): This course will provide students with an introduction to the fundamental skills of legal writing. Specifically, students will learn the basic tools for effective legal writing including IRAC - the underlying format for legal writing. Additionally, students will learn about three different types of legal writing and the specific strategies for each (case brief, legal memorandum, motion). Students will also learn how to interpret statutes, cases, and pleadings as well as synthesize the material. Finally, students will develop strong legal writing skills by preparing a case brief, memo, and a simple motion.
• LGS 2320: Trial Practice (3 hours): This course will provide students with the fundamental skills of trial advocacy. In addition to gaining an understanding of the U.S. court system, students will gain practical experience preparing mock trial. Students will learn how to prepare a case for trial and the skills necessary for litigation including opening statments, direct and cross examination of witnesses, entering evidence, making and responding to objections, and closing arguments. Emphasis will also be given to courtroom etiquette and professional obligations of attorneys.

The admission decision process for the Adult Degree Program is different from what someone might experience right out of high school. To be eligible for an Adult Degree program,  applicants must be 24 years or older or provide evidence of two years or more of military service, marriage or having a family of your own.

Even if you struggled academically when you first attended college, the Belmont Admissions Committee looks at more than just your academic history. We also consider your professional experience and personal accomplishments as we review your application materials.

Learn more about Adult Degree Admissions & Financial Aid

Beyond the classroom, you’ll have a wealth of opportunities to explore law-related opportunities, make connections and discover your purpose.

• Explore the World: Study global conflict transformation at Queen’s University Belfast or pursue other study abroad opportunities or international internships. You can also obtain law-related internships and more through Belmont USA study away programs in NYC, LA and Washington D.C.
• Gain hands-on experience: Pursue an internship through our many Nashville opportunities! Our students have interned in the Metro Nashville Mayor’s Office - Office of Neighborhood and Community Engagement, Nashville Public Defenders Office and for a wide array of attorneys specializing in various areas of the law.
• Join a Student Organization: Choose from 180+ student organizations, including ones focused on various aspects of a career in law like Pre Law Society, AMTA Mock Trial, Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature, International Justice Mission, Enactus and more.