Business Administration - John F. Kennedy University

College of
Undergraduate Studies
College of Undergraduate Studies
Legal Studies
JFK University is the only school in northern California to offer an
American Bar Association (ABA) approved bachelor’s degree in
Legal Studies along with an ABA approved paralegal certificate.
The program’s mission is to provide a curriculum that focuses on
the practical application of the substantive law while encouraging
critical thinking, ethical conduct, and social responsibility. With
this in mind, students will gain the knowl edge, practical application
skills, attitudes, and values that are necessary to excel as legal
professionals. Graduates are able to pursue careers as paralegals
working for lawyers, law offices, corporations, and governmental
agencies.
Note that the policies and procedures in this section of the catalog
apply to both the paralegal certificate and the BA pro gram.
Mission
To provide Legal Studies students with a curriculum that is current
and focuses on the practical application of substantive law while
encouraging critical thinking, ethical conduct, and social
responsibility.
goals and objectives
The Legal Studies program will provide students with the
knowl edge, skills, tools, and values necessary to be effective
members of a legal team. We will provide students with:
• Analytical and critical thinking ability;
• Strong written communication skills;
• Proficiency in legal research and legal writing;
• The knowledge of the ethical guidelines and limitations
gov erning the profession in the public and private sectors;
• The ability to navigate the use of various legal technologies.
Program learning outcomes
The specific goals of the Legal Studies program are to provide
students with the knowledge, skills, tools, and values necessary to
be effective members of a legal team. At the end of the program, all
graduates should be able to:
• Demonstrate proficiency in legal writing;
• Describe and assess the ethical obligations and limitations of
legal professionals in specific factual situations;
• Demonstrate proficiency in legal research;
• Be proficient in software applications used in legal
environ ments;
• Practice analytical and critical thinking ability.
admission requirements
Applicants with an associate’s degree or equivalent may be
admitted to the degree or certificate program. Applicants must have
54 quarter units (36 semester units) of college transferable credit
which include at least 27 quarter units (18 semester units) of
general education.
Freshman English or college composition must be completed with
a C or better prior to admission. In addition to composition,
applicants must have completed courses from at least three of the
following disciplines prior to admission:
• Communication. Composition, rhetoric, literature, English, and
some journalism.
• Humanities. Art or music appreciation, art or music history,
literature, religion, theater, philosophy, classics, music theory,
film history, logic, foreign language, sign language.
• Natural Science. Natural or physical science that is not
vocation ally oriented.
• Mathematics. Any college-level mathematics course.
• Social Science. Government, economics, sociology, history,
political science, anthropology, and psychology.
State regulation
our curriculum complies with California Business and Profes sions
Code §§6450–56 requiring paralegals to be educated at an
accredited institution offering a minimum of 37 quarter units of
legal specialty coursework. Paralegals cannot provide legal advice
except as directed by an attorney, nor can they establish an
attorney-client relationship or represent a client in court.
attendance
Students are expected to attend all class meetings for the courses
in which they are enrolled and must attend at least nine of the 11
scheduled class meetings. Students may not miss more than two
class sessions per quarter. This is strictly enforced; students with
excessive absences will receiving a failing mark for the course.
Students who have extraordinary circumstances may petition the
program chair or dean for an exception to this policy.
academic Probation
To remain in good academic standing and to graduate, students
must maintain a 2.0 grade-point average (a C average). Students
who fall below a 2.0 in their coursework will be placed on academic
probation. At that time, a probation letter will be sent to the student
requiring that the GPA be brought up to a 2.0 by the completion of
the subsequent academic quarter. Students who do not raise their
grade-point average to 2.0 or higher in the subsequent term are
subject to dismissal from the University. Cases for academic
dismissal are reviewed by the School of Management’s Academic
Standards Committee.
Credit by assessment
The Legal Studies programs do not accept credit by assessment.
Students in these programs are not eligible to earn credit by
assessment and existing credits by assessment may not be applied
to the degree or certificate programs in Legal Studies.
Transfer of legal Specialty Courses
This transfer policy does not apply to Paralegal Certificate students.
All certificate courses must be taken in residency. This transfer
policy only applies to students enrolled in the Bachelor’s Degree in
Legal Studies.
At the discretion of the Legal Studies program, students may be
given credit for other legal specialty courses (LSC) taken at another
school or University provided the course is also offered in this
38 College of Undergraduate Studies JoHN F. KENNEDy UNIvERSITy