Jul 04, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog

Legal Studies, B.A. – Online+


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About the Legal Studies, B.A.


This Legal Studies, B.A. degree will provide a strong pre-law foundation using an interdisciplinary approach. This guides and encourages the exploration of law and introduces students to the structures of law and how law interacts with other areas in society while also preparing students with the critical thinking and professional skills of lawyers, paralegals, public officials, and other legal and justice-related professionals. This program provides a strong foundation for students to enter law school or the workforce. The curriculum blends core required and prescribed elective courses coupled with challenging and relevant interdisciplinary course options offered across academic colleges at Texas Tech University. The program emphasizes the learning of substantive knowledge about the law, the role of law in society, and the development of important skills (oral and written communication, reading comprehension, logical and analytical thinking, and competence in conducting legal research) necessary for law school or related careers. Classes include pre-law topics like legal research, criminal law, contract law, torts, civil litigation, and legal writing to help prepare students to enter law school or become certified paralegals. 

The Legal Studies, B.A. contains required core courses, prescribed interdisciplinary elective courses students may choose from a preset list of classes covering a range of disciplines and departments, and additional electives a student may choose at their discretion, with advisor approval. A culminating capstone project will be required.

Communication Literacy Requirement. The Communication Literacy course for the Legal Studies, B.A. is LGST 4300 

Recommended Curriculum


First Year


Early Fall

Total: 6

Late Fall

  • Life and Physical Sciences 4 Semester Credit Hours *
  • Mathematics 3 Semester Credit Hours *
Total: 7

Early Spring

Total: 6

Late Spring

  • Life and Physical Sciences 4 Semester Credit Hours *
  • Mathematics 3 Semester Credit Hours *
Total: 7

Summer

  • Creative Arts 3 Semester Credit Hours *
  • Language, Philosophy, and Culture 3 Semester Credit Hours *
Total: 6

Second Year


Early Fall

  • Social and Behavioral Sciences 3 Semester Credit Hours *
  • Oral Communication 3 Semester Credit Hours *
Total: 6

Late Fall

  • Government/Political Science 3 Semester Credit Hours *
  • Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours †
Total: 6

Early Spring

  • Government/Political Science 3 Semester Credit Hours *
  • Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours †
Total: 6

Late Spring

  • Electives 6 Semester Credit Hours †
Total: 6

Summer

  • Electives 7 Semester Credit Hours †
Total: 7

Third Year


Early Fall

Total: 6

Late Fall

Total: 6

Early Spring

Total: 6

Late Spring

Total: 6

Summer

  • Electives 6 Semester Credit Hours †
Total: 6

Fourth Year


Early Fall

Total: 6

Late Fall

Total: 6

Early Spring

Total: 6

Late Spring

Total: 6

Summer

  • Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours †
Total: 3

Total Hours: 120


* Choose from core curriculum requirements .

† Choose 33-36 elective credit hours to fulfill graduation requirements such as junior/senior credit hours, conversion of alternative non-credit activity to semester credit hours (see OP 30.10), foreign language, optional academic minor, or free elective credit.

‡ Choose 6 credit hours from the prescribed LGST Elective Credit (LGST 3307 , LGST 3309 , LGST 3310 , LGST 3311 , OR POLS 3352 ) OR Elective Credit.

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