Legal Studies (BS)

Why Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Studies at Indiana State? 

The Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies at Indiana State provides a comprehensive understanding of legal principles, procedures, and systems. It will equip you with the analytical, research, and communication skills needed for a successful career in law, government, business, or advocacy.

Prepare for Law School 

The Legal Studies BS program offers a specific curriculum for students planning to attend law school or pursue law-related careers. This curriculum has been developed based on recommendations by the Pre-Law Committee of the American Bar Association's section on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar. 

Our program emphasizes the learning of substantive knowledge about the law and the development of important skills (oral and written communication, reading comprehension, logical and analytical thinking, and competence in conducting legal research) designed to prepare you to succeed on the LSAT and in law school.  

See the Legal System in Action 

As a Legal Studies student, you will have opportunities to engage with members of the legal profession and to observe the system at work. Faculty regularly accompany students on trips to Washington, D.C. to visit the U.S. Supreme Court and explore careers in Washington D.C.  

The Legal Studies program supports an annual visit by the Indiana Court of Appeals to Indiana State. The Court hears oral arguments on campus, and students may join Appeals Court judges for lunch after the hearing. 

The American Democracy Project 

Indiana State is home to a variety of politically active and socially conscious student groups, clubs, and programs. Additionally, the Political Science Department supports the American Democracy Project (ADP), a multi-campus initiative that seeks to engage students in democratic life.  

Indiana State’s ADP activities include voter registration drives, guest-speaker events, campus marches, presidential debate parties, State of the Union Tweet-Ups, local candidate forums, and many others. 

Learn from Our Excellent Faculty 

Faculty in the Department of Political Science bring to the classroom decades of practical and research experience in the legal and political systems. Many have worked in the legal or governmental sectors and actively produce scholarship on today’s most relevant legal and political trends.   

As a Legal Studies major, you will have many opportunities to participate in faculty-directed research on topics such as media and the law, Frist Amendment rights, gender and decision-making, women judges, and judicial selection, among others. Small- and medium-sized classes allow for individualized attention from full-time, award-winning professors.  

What You’ll Learn in the Legal Studies Program 

Coursework in the Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies program includes study in constitutional law and judicial processes, a legal research course, and a culminating academic experience, during which you will complete a major research project. You will work in consultation with an advisor to tailor the program to fit your needs and interests. 

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The Department of Political Science also offers opportunities to participate in internships and study abroad – and offers practice LSAT sessions each fall. The Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies may be completed in four years of full-time study.

Career Possibilities for Legal Studies Majors  

The Legal Studies Program can prepare students for law school, thereby paving the way for a career as an attorney, corporate counsel, public defender, judge, or law professor. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for attorneys is expected to grow 8% from 2021 to 2031, faster than the national average. (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/lawyers.htm) In addition, our program offers a strong basis for alternative careers in the public, educational, and nonprofit sectors. 

Accreditation

Indiana State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.