Legal Studies|Paralegal Program
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Curriculum and Courses
Curriculum Worksheet download pdf
Objectives
The Legal Studies program is designed to serve the needs both of students who already have completed a course of studies designed to prepare them for careers as paralegals and those who wish to undertake such a program. In addition to their major program, all students will graduate with a thorough undergirding in the liberal arts designed to improve their writing and analytical skills. Transfer students are advised that the residency requirement in the University College limits transfer courses to a maximum of twenty-five courses (seventy-five credits) and provides that a students must take four upper division courses (200 level) at Saint Joseph's University. The Legal Studies program has articulation agreements in place with both Community College of Philadelphia and Delaware County Community College.
Requirements for a B.S. in Legal Studies as of Fall 2004 (120 credits)
The General Education Requirement (GER)
English (4 courses required)
ENG 1005 (3 credits) Communication Skills
ENG 1015 (3 credits) Exposition and Argumentation
ENG 1105 (3 credits) Literature and Composition
English (3 credits) GER Selection
History (2 courses required)
History (6 credits) GER Selection
Language (2 courses required)
Language (6 credits) GER Selection
Mathematics (2 courses required)
Mathematics (6 credits) GER Selection
Philosophy (3 course required)
PHL 1015 (3 credits) Human Person
PHL 1035 (3 credits) Moral
Philosophy (3 credits) The God, World, and Society Area
Economics (1 course required)
ECN 1015 (3 credits) Introductory Economics (Micro)
Political Science (1 course required)
POL 1015 (3 credits) Introduction to American Government
Theology (3 courses required, one lower division and two upper division)
THE 1105-1305 (3 credits) One (and only one) of the following introductory courses must be taken as a prerequisite for upper division courses.
THE 1505-2005 (3 credits) Upper Division
THE 1505-2005 Level (3 credits) Upper Division
Field of Concentration|Required Law Courses
Accounting (1 course required)
ACC 1015 (3 credits) Concepts of Financial Accounting
Management (1 course required)
MGT 1005 (3 credits) Legal Environment of Business I
Decision & System Sciences (1 course required)
DSS 1015 (3 credits) Introduction to Information systems
Law
LAW 1055-1065 The Paralegal, Legal Research and Analysis I-II	6 credits
An introduction to the para-legal profession which will include an introduction to legal writing, discussion of the nature of the profession, the variety of opportunities available to trained para-legals, ethical issues that a para-legal will encounter, and how to prepare for the job market. Through a combination of lectures and practical exercises, students become familiar with both the sources of law, including cases and statutes, and methods of locating the sources of law. Students will learn to Shepardize and cite cases according to Guidelines in "A Uniform System of Citation."
LAW 2005 (POL 2135) Introduction to the Legal System	3 credits
The development of the American legal system and the continuous interpretation of the United States Constitution will be studied. This course examines the structure of the legal system and how is used to effectuate remedies.
LAW  2015 Professional Responsibility and Legal Ethics	3 credits
This course will focus on issues of professional responsibility for paralegals including an examination of roles and responsibilities. In addition, this course will provide an understanding of legal ethical obligations that have been established by statutes, court decisions, court rules and model codes including issues of unauthorized practice of law, conflict of interest, confidentiality, competence, solicitation, fees, billing, obligations of attorneys to clients and protection of client funds.
LAW 2075 Law and Litigation	3 credits
An introduction to basic legal terminology and the nature of the American adversary system. Using the rules of civil procedure, it follows litigation from commencement of a civil action, offensive and defensive pleadings and motions, through pre-trial fact finding procedures known as discovery, to preparation and presentation of the case at trial.
LAW 2085 Tort and Personal Injury Law	3 credits
This course examines traditional and emerging developments in tort law as it pertains to private or civil wrongs and injuries. General tort and personal injury categories of negligence, strict liability, and intentional torts will be covered. Specific topics discussed will be assault, battery, defamation, nuisance, false imprisonment, product liability, worker's compensation, malpractice, and auto insurance. Other subject matter areas highlighted will be liability, defenses available to defendants, remedies for injured parties, immunity, and tort reform.
***Students may substitute MGT 2415 for LAW 2105
***LAW 2105 Corporate and Commercial Law	3 credits
Divided into two parts, the course will first examine how businesses are conducted through several kinds of legal entities, each of which should be considered by a lawyer and an executive when choosing to form a new enterprise. Students will receive instruction and practice in the preparation and filing of incorporation documents, organizational and annual corporate materials, basic corporate agreements and resolutions. In the second half, the focus will be on commercial law. Students will receive instruction regarding the formation, performance and breach of contracts with primary focus on secured transitions. Students will receive instruction and practice in the preparation and filing of financial statements and documentation for corporate financial transitions. Students will also receive instruction regarding creditors, rights exercised under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code and federal and state laws. This section will also include debtors' remedies including review of the Bankruptcy Code and the responsibilities of debtors.
***MGT 2415 Legal Environment of Business II	3 credits
This course builds upon the students' knowledge of law atteined in the Legal Environment of Business I course. Areas of law such as product liability, sales, intellectual property, environmental, consumer, labor, securities and antitrust are examined. Accountants' liability is also covered. Highly recommended for students desiring to sit for the C.P.A. Exam or attend law school. Prerequisite: MGT 1005
Law Course Selections (choose 3 courses)
LAW 2145 Trusts and Estate a Administration	3 credits
Estate Administration deals primarily with how people transfer their property and to whom the various items of property are transferred. Students learn how the assets of an estate are discovered, collected, valued and inventorized. Students learn how the estate administrator pays the debts of the decedent. This course provides instructions in basic property and estate concepts and those procedures involved in administering an estate.
LAW 2165 Family Law	3 credits
This course will cover both the theoretical and the practical perspectives of legal concepts relating to the family. Topics addressed include marriage, divorce, remedies for child and spousal abuse, child and spousal support, child custody, property division, alimony, adoption, and pre-and post-nuptial agreements.
LAW  2185 Real Estate Law	3 credits
This course addresses the general principles of real estate law and the specifics of a sale of residential real estate. All phases of the residential sale transaction from negotiations of the agreement of sale through preparation for settlement are covered. The role of the legal assistant and documentation preparation are emphasized. view syllabus
LAW 2205 (POL 2185) Criminal Law and Procedure	3 credits
Students will study causes of action of criminal liability, on both the misdemeanor and felony levels, as well as the constitutional law issues raised by a criminal practice. The procedural aspects of the criminal system will also be explored through a study of each stage, from arrest through post-trial motions, sentencing and appeal.
LAW 2225 (POL 2075) Court Administration	3 credits
Study of the role of non-lawyers in administering the system of civil and criminal justice at both the federal and state levels including court office management.
LAW  2255 Intellectual Property and Patent Law	3 credits
An examination of the various different types of intellectual property (patents, trade secrets, and copyrights) and how developers of such property can use law to protect their rights. view syllabus
LAW  2265 Health Care Law for the Para-Legal	3 credits
An examination of the role of the para-legal in developing and preparing cases involving health care professionals and the health care industry.
LAW 2315 Law of Industrial Relations (See LAS 2715)	3 credits
LAW 2315 Employment Law (See LAS 2725)	3 credits
LAS   2715 (SOC 2715) Law of Industrial Relations	3 credits
A study of the current state of the law governing labor-management relations, emphasizing the National Labor Relations Act. Topics will include employer and union unfair labor practices, collective bargaining strikes and boycott activities, and labor issues in the health care industry. Formerly 1DR 2055.
LAS  2725 (SOC 2725) Employment Law	3 credits
Overview of employment law, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Age Discrimination Act, Equal Pay Act, Comparable Worth and other Women's Issues in employment, Immigration Law, Public Sec Labor Re atlons, Handicap Discrimination, Government Contracting, Workers Compensation, and various other legal bases to contest employment decisions.
Cognate Courses (Students do not have to take cognate courses. They may choose to meet all requirements by taking only Legal Studies (LAW) courses. Students may choose 2 courses as part of their major requirements)
ACC 1025 Managerial Accounting (Prerequisite: ACC 1015)	3 credits
This course covers basic cost accounting terminology, concepts, and classifications. Cost accumulation systems, cost-profit-volume analysis, and uses of accounting information for managerial decision-making purposes are discussed. Students are introduced to the use of spreadsheet application software as an essential tool for analysis of financial data.
LAS 2715 Law of Industrial Relations	3 credits
A study of the current state of the law governing labor-management relations, emphasizing the National Labor Relations Act. Topics will include employer and union unfair labor practices, collective bargaining, strikes and boycott activities, and labor issues in the health care industry.
LAS 2725 Employment Law	3 credits
Overview of employment law, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Age Discrimination Act, Equal Pay Act, Comparable Worth and other Women's Issues in employment, Immigration Law, Public Sector Labor Relations. Handicap Discrimination, Government Contracting, Workers Compensation, and various other legal bases to contest employment decisions.
LAS 2735 Collective Bargaining	3 credits
This course focuses on the legal and practical elements involved in negotiating and enforcing a collective bargaining agreement. Issues include topics of mandatory bargaining, contract negotiation, grievances and dispute settlement, arbitration and mediation, and the collective bargaining agreement as it relates to other areas of employment law.
LAS 2815 Benefits and Compensation	3 credits
This course explores numerous component elements of compensation and benefits packages including wages and salaries, retirement plans, Employee Stock Ownership Plans, pension funds, health insurance, stock options, and others.
DSS 2215 Visual Basic	3 credits
This course will provide a hands-on introduction to Visual Basic language syntax and use Rapid Application Development (RAD) using a Windows-based Integrated Development Environment (IDE) object-oriented and event-driven programming, and methods and guidelines to plan for and evaluate the usability of a software interface design. Prerequisite: DSS 1011. Note: Any non-trivial computer programming language course (e.g.: JAVA, C++, COBOL) may be take in place of Visual Basic.The department will review any course substitute. Students do not need permission to substitute CSC 1405 for this course.
DSS 2315 Database Management (prerequisite: MIS 2075)	3 credits
The course provides an in-depth understanding of the database environment. Besides covering the important process of database design, this course comprehensively covers the important aspects of relational modeling including SQL and QBE. Students will be required to design and develop a database application using a modern fourth generation language system. Co-requisite: 2115
MGT 2005 Management Skills	3 credits
This course focuses on developing skills that are critical to being a successful manager. Three skill areas are emphasized: team management, communication and research methods.
MGT 2015 Organizational Behavior (Prerequisite: MGT 1015)	3 credits
This course surveys the basic principles, concepts and theories concerning individual behavior, (e.g., perceptions, attitudes, motivation) and groups and interpersonal processes (e.g., leadership, power, conflict) in work organizations.  The goal is to learn how to use these ideas to manage oneself, other individuals, and groups effectively and creatively in work organizations.
MGT 2025 Management of Human Resources (Prerequisites: MGT 1015 and 2015)	3 credits
This course surveys the functional areas of human resource management: planning, recruiting, selection and placement, training and development, performance appraisal and management, compensation, health and safety promotion, and labor relations.  Ethical, legal, and international issues and applications of Human Resources Information Systems will be emphasized.
MGT 2445 Managing Workforce Diversity (Prerequisite: MGT 1015)	3 credits
An introductory, analysis of the critical issues confronting multinational corporations today from a managerial point of view. Barriers to the effective conduct of business in foreign countries will be discussed through a combination of lectures, reading, and cases.
MKT 1015 Principles of Marketing (Prerequisite: ECN 1015)	3 credits
An introduction to the theory and practice of marketing-the process of meeting or exceeding customer expectations at a profit. Discussion of the basic structure of distribution; consumer research, product planning, advertising and promotion, and pricing. We will also examine the broad social, cultural, political, and economic issues that impact this process.
POL 2155 Constitutional Politics	3 credits
An examination of how the supposedly weakest of the three branches of the federal government has come to exercise political power. The course will study how the Court has employed its functions of judicial review and statutory interpretation to enhance its role within the political system. Cases examined will span the period from Marbury v. Madison (1803) to Bush v. Gore (2000). The course will also review how the appointment and amendment processes have been used to influence the judiciary.
POL 2165 Civil Rights and Liberties	3 credits
A study of contemporary issues of civil rights and liberties in the United States, based on an examination of the development of these protections. Issues addressed include the return of substantive due process, freedom of speech, press, and religion, racial and gender discrimination and the issue of fundamental rights.
SOC 2395 Law Enforcement Management	3 credits
An analysis of the principles and theories of the professional management and administration of law enforcement organizations. This course focuses on the execution and impact of policy decisions made by administrators in the courts, police departments, and other criminal justice agencies. It examines specific operational and staff functions, including budgeting, personnel, planning, and productivity measurement. Other topics include organizational development and information systems.
SOC 2635 Criminology	3 credits
The nature and extent of modern criminality, including organized and white collar crime. Prominent theorists are evaluated. Brief appraisal ofpenological systems in perspective and in their present condition of development. Discussion of causes and some modern legal implications.
For more information contact: Dr. Francis Graham Lee, Coordinator glee@sju.edu Site designed and developed for Legal Studies|Para-Legal Program by: Jane Frangiosa, Saint Joseph's University Political Science Department Administrative Assistant.
Last updated: July 2005