COURSE CURRICULUM

The Pre-Law Legal Studies BA degree at the University of Southern Mississippi is a 120-credit undergraduate program designed to build a strong foundation in law, legal reasoning, communication, and critical thinking for students preparing for law school or related graduate studies. The program begins with a general education curriculum covering written communication through ENG 101 and ENG 102, natural sciences requiring two lab-based courses from subjects like biology, chemistry, physics, geology, or astronomy, and humanities courses including literature, history, philosophy, ethics, and comparative religion to develop broad analytical and cultural understanding. Students also complete aesthetic values through courses in art, music, theatre, or dance appreciation, along with social and behavioral sciences such as psychology, sociology, economics, anthropology, or political science. A mathematics requirement must be fulfilled through courses like college algebra or quantitative reasoning, ensuring basic quantitative literacy. The program emphasizes communication skills through writing-intensive legal courses like legal drafting or legal rhetoric and speaking-intensive courses such as public speaking or professional communication. A capstone course, Advanced Paralegalism (LGL 490), is completed in the senior year to integrate learning and demonstrate legal competence. The major area of study includes core legal courses such as legal research, American legal tradition, and a choice of advanced electives in law, political science, criminal justice, philosophy, and related disciplines, ensuring both depth and flexibility in legal studies. Students must also complete a minor in another discipline and fulfill a foreign language requirement of at least 12 credit hours, typically culminating at the intermediate level. The degree requires at least 30 credit hours at the 300-level or higher and adherence to residency rules, including completing a portion of credits at USM. Overall, this program is structured to prepare students for law school by combining rigorous academic coursework, legal specialization, and strong communication, analytical, and interdisciplinary skills necessary for success in legal education and careers.