FALL 2021 Trine Course Catalog

Bachelor of Arts - General Studies Major (120 hrs.)

The Department of Criminal Justice offers a General Studies major with a Concentration in Pre-Legal Studies which is designed to prepare students for law school and is recommended for students intending to go to law school who do not have a strong interest in another undergraduate discipline. The department stresses that pre-law students should seek frequent, regular advice from their advisors and from the pre-law advisor located in this department.

Pre-law

Admission to an accredited school of law normally requires a bachelor’s degree. The Association of American Law Schools does not recommend a specific major, but students will be expected to have a broad academic background, a good scholastic record, and acceptable scores on the law school admission test. Usually that type of preparation is more beneficial for a prospective law student than is the specialized study of subjects closely related to law.

Any degree program that stresses the ability to communicate both verbally and in writing, encourages an understanding of human values, promotes understanding, reasoning and critical thinking, and fosters creativity is an excellent program for a student planning to pursue a law degree after graduation.

Degree Requirements

General Education Requirements - 36 hours

Communication – 9 hrs.

ENG 143College Composition

3

HUM 203Humanities Seminar

3

SP 203Effective Speaking

3

Humanities and Social Science – 9 hrs.

HIS 103American History I

3

HIS 113American History II

3

Humanities Elective

3

Mathematics and Science – 9 hrs.

Math Elective

3

Science Elective

3

Math or Science Elective

3

Other – 9 hrs.

CSIT 103Introduction to Information Systems

3

POLS 113Introduction to Government

3

PSY 113Principles of Psychology

3

Content Requirements - 36 hours

Required

UE 101University Experience

1

Or

UE 111Online Learning Orientation

1

 

Free Electives – 35 hrs.

Electives are determined in conjunction with an advisor and based on student career objectives.

Concentrations - 48 hours

Select one of the Concentration options below.

Option A – Pre-Legal Studies Concentration – 48 hrs.

COM 213Business Communication

3

COM 363Rhetoric and Persuasion

3

ENG 2113American Literature I

3

POLS 333State & Local Government

3

POLS 403American Constitutional Development

3

LE 153Juvenile Justice

3

 

LE 263Introduction to Criminal Law & Justice

3

And

LE 273Criminal Procedure & Evidence

3

Or

9 hours from BA or LAW

9

 

PHL 313Ethics

3

PHL 343Logic

3

PSY 373Political Psychology

3

SOC 103Principles of Sociology

3

SOC 323The Family

3

PL 4003Legal Capstone Experience

3

Electives

6

Electives: 6 hours from LE, ENG, PSY, or COM

Option B – Self-Designed Studies Concentration – 48 hrs.

15 to 30 hours must be taken from two to three different academic departments at the 300 level or higher.

GS 4003Senior Capstone Project

3

Total Credit Hours: 120