Curriculum
General Education Requirements (27 Credits)
Writing Requirement (3 Credits)
Students pursuing concentrations in GPP or Poli Sci should take ENG 310;
Legal Studies students should take LES 226.
Humanities Electives (6 Credits)
Choose 2 of the following courses:
or any course that begins CUL, DRA, ETN, ART, SPA, HIS, HUM, LIT, MUS, PHI, or REL
Natural Science Elective (3-4 Credits)
Free Electives (18 Credits)
Students with less than 16 transfer credits are required to take
FYE 101 as one of their electives.
Interdisciplinary Core (21 Credits)
Law, Policy, and Political Science Concentrations
Legal Studies Concentration
Purpose
The Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Legal Studies is designed to prepare students to enter the legal field as a paralegal or legal assistant working under the supervision of an attorney in the public, private, or governmental sectors. Additionally, students will gain a solid foundation for graduate studies in law or careers in other areas, including corporate compliance, human resources, and banking.
Program of Study
This program is oriented around the critical job functions of competent and ethical professionals working in the legal services industry. That means each course within the program has been strategically selected and designed to deliver the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to enter the workforce upon graduation. To enhance this core curriculum and provide a well-rounded academic experience, students will also take a series of general education courses that emphasize analytical thinking, reading comprehension, and interpersonal communication.
Program Competencies
In addition to demonstrating college level proficiency in the Wilmington University undergraduate competencies, Legal Studies graduates will also be able to:
1. Locate, evaluate, use, and communicate legal and non-legal information effectively and appropriately.
2. Apply legal and ethical principles to guide professional behaviors and decision-making.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the use, management, assessment, and application of technology in the legal environment.
4. Exercise critical thinking strategies, including reasoning, problem solving, analysis, and evaluation in the legal context.
5. Demonstrate effective written communication of legal issues, concepts, and authority, utilizing the Bluebook Uniform System of Citation.
6. Exercise effective interpersonal skills, including building and enhancing interpersonal relationships, and interacting effectively with others.
“Legal Specialties”
Students must take a minimum of 18 credits of "legal specialty" courses to earn a degree in Legal Studies. The 18 credits may be satisfied with a combination of transfer courses and courses taken at Wilmington University. A legal specialty is defined by the American Bar Association (ABA) as a course that covers substantive law or legal procedures or processes, has been developed for paralegals, emphasizes practical paralegal skills, and meets the ABA's instructional requirements. The Legal Studies concentration offers legal specialties in face-to-face, hybrid, and online formats. Legal Specialty courses are designated with (LS) below; however, they can also be identified by course description and by the Basic Course Information provided on the website.
Face-to-Face Requirement
Students must take a minimum of 9 credits of legal specialty courses through traditional, face-to-face or synchronous classroom instruction. This requirement may be satisfied through any combination of semester, block, or hybrid courses.
Transfer Policy
The Legal Studies concentration may accept in transfer equivalent, legal specialty courses that are taken at another institution. A maximum of 21 credits of legal specialty courses may be accepted from ABA-approved institutions, and a maximum of 9 credits of legal specialty courses may be accepted from institutions which are not ABA-approved.
Credit Through Alternate Sources
The award of credit for legal specialty courses through Portfolio Assessment or by Examination is coordinated by the Law, Policy, and Political Science program Chair to ensure that the quality and integrity of the program are maintained. Any award of credit requires the approval of the program Chair upon demonstration that the credits can be classified as legal specialty, meets the course objectives and practical skills to be developed for the course for which credit is being awarded, meets the needs of the legal community the program serves, and is comparable to course work offered within the program. A maximum of 15 credits may be earned through Portfolio Assessment, and a maximum of 15 credits may be earned through Examination. For more information, please consult the Student Handbook section entitled "Alternative Credit Methods" or speak to the program Chair or an academic advisor.
Lambda Epsilon Chi Honor Society
Lambda Epsilon Chi (LEX) is a national honor society for paralegal students and one of the highest scholastic honors that can be achieved in the Wilmington University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Invitation to membership in Lambda Epsilon Chi is based on application, grade point average (GPA), and formal recommendation of the Legal Studies Advisory Board. It is the College’s way of recognizing the outstanding scholastic achievements of students completing a Bachelor of Science or Post-Bachelor’s Paralegal Certificate.
Minimum Grade Policy
The Legal Studies concentration has set a minimum passing grade of “C” for LES 200, 220, 225, 226, 228, and 390 (designated with an asterisk). Students receiving a grade lower than “C” in any of these courses must retake that course.
PARALEGALS MAY NOT PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC, EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY LAW.
Express Admission to the Wilmington University School of Law or Widener University Delaware Law School
WilmU graduates from any degree program who meet specified academic criteria will be admitted to the Wilmington University School of Law and/or the Widener University Delaware Law School to complete a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree program. These students may also be eligible for scholarships. Terms and conditions vary between these institutions and will be outlined at the time of acceptance.
Criteria for Express Admission to Wilmington University School of Law (WUSL) and Widener University Delaware Law School (DLS)
- Complete all the requirements for conferral of a Wilmington University baccalaureate degree.
- Earn the specified cumulative undergraduate GPA: 3.3 or higher (WUSL); 3.5 or higher (DLS).
- Achieve an LSAT score that meets or exceeds the median LSAT score of the institution's current first-year entering class.
Note: WilmU School of Law median LSAT scores are emerging, and scores lower than 150 may not be eligible.
- Satisfy all law school admissions requirements relating to character and fitness.
- Submit a completed application to the desired institution no later than April 1st of the calendar year in which you plan to begin the J.D. degree program.
Legal Studies Core (24 credits)
Directed Core Electives (18 credits)
Choose 6 of the following courses:
or with Chair's Approval
| CRJ 316 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| CRJ 411 | Criminal Evidence and Procedures | 3 |
| HRM 400 | Legal Aspects of Human Resource Management | 3 |
| HSC 325 | Healthcare Compliance | 3 |
Suggested Program Sequence
Freshman
First Semester
| CTA 206 | Computer Applications | 3 |
| ENG 121 | English Composition I | 3 |
| FYE 101 | First Year Experience Seminar | 3 |
| MAT 205 | Introductory Survey of Mathematics | 3 |
| | | |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| OR | | |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
Second Semester
| ECO 101 | Economics I | 3 |
| ENG 122 | English Composition II | 3 |
| PHI 100 | Introduction to Critical Thinking | 3 |
| | HUM Elective | 3 |
| | Natural Science Elective | 3 or 4 credits |
Sophomore
First Semester
Second Semester
Junior
First Semester
| CTA 326 | Integrating Excel into Business Problem Solving | 3 |
| ECO 102 | Economics II | 3 |
| PHI 310 | The Art of Rational Thinking | 3 |
| LES 350 | Interviewing & Investigating | 3 |
| | Legal Elective | |
Second Semester
| | Free Elective | 3 |
| | Legal Elective | |
| LES 440 | Advanced Litigation Skills | 3 |
| POL 300 | American Politics | 3 |
| SOC 304 | Ethnic Groups and Minorities | 3 |
Senior
First Semester
| | Free Elective | 3 |
| | Free Elective | 3 |
| | Legal Elective | |
| | Legal Elective | |
| LES 390 | Advanced Legal Writing | 3 |
Second Semester
| | Free Elective | 3 |
| | Free Elective | 3 |
| | Legal Elective | |
| | Legal Elective | |
| LES 491 | Capstone: Virtual Experience in Legal Studies | 3 |
OR
Government and Public Policy Concentration
Program Philosophy
Public policy professionals play a key role in developing and implementing policies in areas such as the environment, energy, healthcare, poverty, transportation, education, justice system, and economic development. They educate the public and policymakers, draft laws, implement specific programs, and monitor the outcomes. Typically, public policy professionals pursue careers in government, government-related businesses, regulated industries, interest groups, and nonprofit organizations as well as graduate studies in law, public administration, public policy, political science, and healthcare administration.
Program Competencies
In addition to demonstrating college level proficiency in the Wilmington University undergraduate competencies outlined in this catalog, Government and Public Policy graduates will also be able to:
1. Construct persuasive oral presentations to communicate effectively with various constituencies.
2. Create persuasive position papers, press releases, and original legislation.
3. Differentiate economic, legal, political, and governmental institutions, systems, and processes.
4. Draft an original law based on analysis of problems or issues.
5. Access, use, and evaluate information effectively and appropriately, and use technology to effectively locate and communicate information.
6. Integrate an understanding of economic, legal, political, and governmental institutions, systems, and processes.
Minimum Grade Policy
The Government and Public Policy concentration requires a minimum grade of “C-” for program core courses. Students receiving a grade lower than “C-” in any required program core course must retake that course.
Government and Public Policy Core (24 credits)
| FIN 300 | Applied Concepts in Accounting and Finance | 3 |
| POL 326 | Public Policy and Social Issues | 3 |
| POL 350 | Economic, Welfare and Income Policy | 3 |
| POL 360 | Education Policy | 3 |
| POL 370 | Energy and Environmental Policy | 3 |
| POL 380 | Health Care Policy | 3 |
| POL 402 | Analysis of Public Policy | 3 |
| POL 403 | Writing for Public Policy | 3 |
Directed Core Electives (18 credits)
Choose 6 of the following courses:
OR
Political Science Concentration
Program Philosophy
Students concentrating in political science can qualify for multiple careers in private, non-profit and for-profit organizations, as well as the private sector. Graduates can pursue careers in a variety of disciplines such as law, consulting, research, business and financial services, government jobs at local, state and federal levels, elected office, campaign management, journalism, media and communications, advocacy, non-profit jobs and teaching.
Program Competencies
In addition to demonstrating college level proficiency in the Wilmington University undergraduate competencies outlined in this catalog, political science graduates will also be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the role of government in relation to its citizens.
- Apply basic political ideologies to assess their impact on individual societies.
- Differentiate the impact of ideological, social, and political systems on individual nation’s political decisions.
- Integrate the ability to identify a problem in state or local government, research, evaluate solutions, and present a recommendation.
- Demonstrate effective mastery of political theory through proficient written and oral expression of ideas through tests, projects, papers, and/or presentations.
Minimum Grade Policy
The political science concentration requires a minimum grade of “C-” for program core courses. Students receiving a grade lower than “C-” in any required program core course must retake that course.
Political Science Core (24 credits)
| BBM 103 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| LES 205 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| LES 213 | American Legal History | 3 |
| POL 304/LES 304/CRJ 304 | Constitutional Law and Procedures | 3 |
| POL 315 | Comparative Government and Politics | 3 |
| POL 321 | International Organization and Politics | 3 |
| POL 326 | Public Policy and Social Issues | 3 |
| SOC 331 | Research, Writing and Information Literacy in the Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
Directed Core Electives (18 credits)
Choose 6 of the following courses:
Law Policy and Political Science Completion Degrees
What is a Completion Degree?
A Completion Degree is a personalized version of a Bachelor’s degree created exclusively for students who have completed an Associate’s degree at an accredited institution. A student who expects to transfer a completed Associate’s degree should communicate with a Wilmington University Academic Advisor before registering for courses. A transcript with documentation of the conferred degree must be received by Wilmington University to confirm eligibility.
Legal Studies Completion Degree
Curriculum
As a transfer student who holds an associate's degree from a partner institution, the following courses are required.
A minimum of seven (7) approved legal studies electives must be completed at Wilmington University.
Legal Studies Core
| CTA 326 | Integrating Excel into Business Problem Solving | 3 |
| LES 350 | Interviewing & Investigating | 3 |
| LES 390 | Advanced Legal Writing | 3 |
| LES 440 | Advanced Litigation Skills | 3 |
| LES 491 | Capstone: Virtual Experience in Legal Studies | 3 |
| MAT 308 | Inferential Statistics | 3 |
| ORG 304/PSY 304 | Survey of Human Dynamics | 3 |
| PHI 310 | The Art of Rational Thinking | 3 |
| | Approved Legal Studies Elective | |
| | Approved Legal Studies Elective | |
| | Approved Legal Studies Elective | |
| | Approved Legal Studies Elective | |
| | Approved Legal Studies Elective | |
| | Approved Legal Studies Elective | |
| | Approved Legal Studies Elective | |
The following courses are prerequisites for a concentration in Legal Studies
Government and Public Policy Completion Degree
Curriculum
As a transfer student who holds an associate's degree from a partner institution, the following Government and Public Policy courses are required.
Government and Public Policy Core (24 credits)
| FIN 300 | Applied Concepts in Accounting and Finance | 3 |
| POL 326 | Public Policy and Social Issues | 3 |
| POL 350 | Economic, Welfare and Income Policy | 3 |
| POL 360 | Education Policy | 3 |
| POL 370 | Energy and Environmental Policy | 3 |
| POL 380 | Health Care Policy | 3 |
| POL 402 | Analysis of Public Policy | 3 |
| POL 403 | Writing for Public Policy | 3 |
Government and Public Policy Core Electives (21 credits)
Choose 7 of the following courses:
The following courses are prerequisites for a completion degree in Government and Public Policy
POL to MSM with a concentration in Public Administration Accelerated Option
This accelerated option will allow eligible POL students who have selected a concentration in Government and Public Policy to have the option of taking up to two selected graduate level courses in place of selected POL courses and the opportunity to be formally accepted into the MSM program with a concentration in Public Administration prior to completion of the B.S. in Law, Policy and Political Science degree.
In order to be eligible, students must have completed 90 undergraduate credits, completed all required 100 and 200 level POL courses, and successful completion of POL 300 and ENG 310 (or LES 226). Furthermore those students seeking approval for the POL/MSM (with concentration in Public Administration) accelerated option must have obtained an overall GPA of 3.50 or better. Courses taken at the graduate level will fulfill the requirements for both programs.
Students interested in making application may secure the necessary forms and begin the approval process with the Chair of the undergraduate Law, Policy and Political Science program.
Political Science Completion Degree
Curriculum
As a transfer student who holds an associate's degree from a partner institution, the following political science courses are required.
Political Science Core (24 credits)
| BBM 103 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| LES 205 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| LES 213 | American Legal History | 3 |
| POL 304/LES 304/CRJ 304 | Constitutional Law and Procedures | 3 |
| POL 315 | Comparative Government and Politics | 3 |
| POL 321 | International Organization and Politics | 3 |
| POL 326 | Public Policy and Social Issues | 3 |
| SOC 331 | Research, Writing and Information Literacy in the Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
Political Science Core Electives (21)
Choose 7 of the following courses:
The following courses are prerequisites for a completion degree in Political Science