Courses Required for Major

• Legal Studies 250, Introduction to Legal Studies (not open to freshmen)

This course is restricted to sophomores, juniors and seniors. This is a prerequisite for most Legal Studies courses.

• SEVEN Upper Level Legal Studies Courses, drawn from the 200, 300 or 400 levels

Majors are encouraged to take two 300 level Legal Studies courses before taking a 400 level course. 

Note that 250, 296, 298, 396, 398, 450, 496, and 498-499 may not be used toward your upper-level requirement.  Practicum and Independent Study courses may NOT be used toward major requirements, nor can courses be used that are taken pass-fail.

• Legal Studies 450 -- Legal Research and Writing (Junior Writing Requirement)

Double majors may substitute Junior Writing from their other major, Spire should pick this up automatically. Be aware that this only applies to students doing a double major. Should you drop your other major before graduating, you will be required to take Legal 450 to graduate. contact Tami Paluca at 413.545.9698 for more information

• TWO liberal arts law-related courses taken outside of the department.

These must be taken from a list prepared by the department.  Note that business law, sports law and applied legal training are specifically excluded from this list because they are not liberal arts courses. We have a list of courses previously accepted from the other four colleges as well.

If you see a liberal arts course that you think would be appropriate for this requirement, please get a copy of the course description and contact Tami Paluca (413.545.9698) to see if she will approve it as a law-related course. Many people use this "outside" requirement as the one they will fulfill if taking courses at home to be transferred back to UMass, or if they are on exchange. Get approval before you take them, or risk not having the course count toward major requirements.

Major Advising:

Tami Paluca is the Legal Studies Major advisor and she is available in Room 103, Gordon Hall. Call her at 413-545-9698 or email her at tlpaluca@legal.umass.edu. She is happy to schedule appointments for in person meetings, or for phone meetings.  She clears all Legal Studies majors for their Legal Studies Requirements, so it's smart to check in with her to be sure you are on track. If you are going to meet with her in person, bring a print out of your degree audit with you.

College Requirements:

All students with a primary major in SBS (Social and Behavioral Science) must fulfill the Global Education Requirement. For details, contact the Arts and Sciences Advising Center in E-20 Machmer, 413-545-2192.

Honors :

A Departmental Honors Track in Legal Studies is available. The Departmental Honors requirements are available in Word format and pdf format. Requirements include membership in the Commonwealth College, at least four honors courses and a thesis (LEGAL 499Y/499T; 6 credit minimum) or Honors Project (LEGAL 499P). Thesis research is typically done during the second semester Junior year. Thesis writing is completed during the first semester senior year. In Spring 2008, contact Bernie Jones for more details (her phone number is 413.577.6164 or email her at bdjones@legal.umass.edu).

Transfer Students:

Students who have credits transferred to the University under the Legal 980 designation from another school should see their departmental advisor, Tami Paluca as soon as possible to determine whether some of these credits may be applicable to the major. Note that there is a substantial delay in courses being approved and moved to your transcript, so bring as much information with you when you speak to Tami.  For information on whether coursework done elsewhere can be used for the Global Education Requirement contact the Arts and Sciences Advising Center in E-20 Machmer (413-545-2192). 

Double Majors:

• Global Education: If you have a double major, and your primary major is OUTSIDE of the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, you DO NOT have to fulfill the Global Education Requirements.  If your Primary Major is in CSBS, you DO have to fulfill the Global Education Requirement. Make sure you check with your College Advising office or offices to be sure you are fulfiling all your College Requirements.
  
  
• Double Counting your Law-Related Requirement.  While we are happy to let you use your law-related requirement for other majors or minors, not every other major or minor will let you "double count" so be sure to get their approval.  If they don't want you to "double count" then you will have to take additional course work.
  
  
• Junior Writing: We are are happy to let double majors use Junior Writing from another major in place of 450.  However, another major may not be willing to substitute Legal 450 for their junior writing requirement, so be sure to check first if you wish to take 450 in place of your other department's junior writing.  Note that substitutions for 450 are valid only as long as you are graduating with a double major.  If you drop your other major, you will need to take Legal 450 in order to graduate. Contact Tami Paluca (413.545.9698) if you have any questions.

Graduation:

Please review your degree audit regularly on Spire, and print it out for your records. Don’t assume that information won't change, or that mistakes will fix themselves.  Contact the appropriate offices to confirm that you’re on track for graduation.

• For questions about Gen Ed requirements, contact the Records Office, 207 Whitmore, 545-0555.

• For questions about your College Requirements, including the Language Requirement or Global Education Requirement, contact the College of Arts & Sciences Advising Office in E-20 Machmer Hall, 545-2192.

• For Legal Studies Major requirements, contact Tami Paluca, 103 Gordon Hall, 545-9698.

• If you have a double major, you will also need to contact the undergraduate advisor for your 2nd major, and check on the College Requirements for the second major as well (especially if your 2nd major is outside the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences).