Political Science (B.A.) Legal Studies Concentration
Jackson State University’s legal studies program exists to engage students in the readiness process for successful law school admission and retention. The Legal Studies Curriculum introduces students to terminology, ideas, and skills related to law and the legal profession.
The curriculum has been specifically designed to enhance student readiness for law school and/other graduate study. The courses within the curriculum assist students in developing analytical and communication skills understanding the social, political, and economic contexts within which legal issues arise engaging in the meanings, values, practices, and institutions of law and legality in local, national, and international and international contexts that permit access to job placements and an appreciation for the practice of citizenship.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PS 134 | INTRO TO POLIT SCIENCE | 3 |
| PS 135 | AMERICAN GOVERNMENT | 3 |
| PS 136 | STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT | 3 |
| PS 236 | POLITICAL STATISTICS | 3 |
| PS 238 | INTRO TO COMPAR POLITICS | 3 |
| PS 320 | LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING | 3 |
| PS 341 | African American Politics | 3 |
| PS 343 | POLITICAL PHILOSPHY | 3 |
| PS 347 | Judicial Politics | 3 |
| PS 423 | CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I | 3 |
| PS 432 | INTRODUCTION TO LAW I | 3 |
| PS 446 | SCOPE AND METHODS | 3 |
| PS 447 | SENIOR RESEARCH SEMINAR | 3 |
| PS 450 | URBAN POLITICS | 3 |
| PS 473 | LEGISLATIVE POLITICS | 3 |
| PS 484 | INTER-GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS | 3 |
| Political Science Elective | 3 | |
| Legal Studies Elective | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 54 | |
Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PS 236 | POLITICAL STATISTICS | 3 |
| PS 320 | LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING | 3 |
| PS 343 | POLITICAL PHILOSPHY | 3 |
| PS 347 | Judicial Politics | 3 |
| PS 376 | LSAT SURVEY | 3 |
| PS 423 | CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I | 3 |
| PS 432 | INTRODUCTION TO LAW I | 3 |
| PS 433 | INTRODUCTION TO LAW II | 3 |
| PS 473 | LEGISLATIVE POLITICS | 3 |
| PS 346 | CIVIL RIGHTS & LIBERTIES | 3 |
| or PS 424 | CONSTITUTIONAL LAW II | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| UNIV 100 | UNIVERSITY SUCCESS | 2 |
| ENG 104 |
COMPOSITION I or English Composition I with Co-requisite Support or COMPOSITION & LITERATURE FOR L |
3 |
| HIST 201 | UNITED STATES HISTORY I | 3 |
| PS 134 | INTRO TO POLIT SCIENCE | 3 |
| Mathematics Option | 3 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences Option | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENG 105 or ENG 112 |
COMPOSITION II or COMPOSITION |
3 |
| HIST 202 | UNITED STATES HISTORY II | 3 |
| PS 135 | AMERICAN GOVERNMENT | 3 |
| Natural Sciences Option | 3 | |
| Pathway Option | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| PS 136 | STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT | 3 |
| PS 238 | INTRO TO COMPAR POLITICS | 3 |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences Option | 3 | |
| Humanities & Fine Arts Option | 3 | |
| Pathway Option | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| UNIV 200 | CIVIC ENGAGEMENT | 1 |
| GEOG 105 | INTRO TO CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY | 3 |
| Speech Option | 3 | |
| Natural Sciences Option | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Pathway Option | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| ECO 211 | PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS | 3 |
| PS 236 | POLITICAL STATISTICS | 3 |
| PS 320 | LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING | 3 |
| PS 347 | Judicial Politics | 3 |
| PS 432 | INTRODUCTION TO LAW I | 3 |
| Philosophy Option | 3 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| ECO 212 | PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS | 3 |
| PS 341 | African American Politics | 3 |
| PS 343 | POLITICAL PHILOSPHY | 3 |
| PS 446 | SCOPE AND METHODS | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| PS 423 | CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I | 3 |
| PS 447 | SENIOR RESEARCH SEMINAR | 3 |
| PS 473 | LEGISLATIVE POLITICS | 3 |
| PS 484 | INTER-GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PS 450 | URBAN POLITICS | 3 |
| Legal Studies Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 123 | |
Notes:
- Candidates that transfer 12 or more hours of college credit are exempt from UNIV 100 UNIVERSITY SUCCESS; however, the student must take 2 hours of general electives to replace the UNIV course.
- Online Graduation Clearance (to be completed during the graduating semester only).
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will learn how national, state, local and international governments operate in a democracy.
- Students will learn about the principles of state and local governments in the democratic system.
- Students will learn the fundamentals of state, local, and international governments.