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Bachelor's Degree

Legal Studies
Online Bachelor's Degree Program

Calendar

CLASSES START
May 6th

36 Mo.

Program Length

125

Credits

Online

Format

$464

Cost Per Credit

Bachelor's Degree

Legal Studies
Online Bachelor's Degree Program

Learn online and take the next step in your career

AccreditationAccredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Transfer creditUp to 93 approved credits1
CertificationPrep for the Certified Paralegal Examination (NALA)
PathwaysEarn dual credit towards an MBA program; steppingstone to apply for law school (bachelor’s degree path)
QuickPathsTransfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University
Legal Studies Graduate Working from Home
US News Best Online Programs Bachelor's 2024 Badge

Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best online bachelor's programs in 2024

Legal Studies - Online

Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies - Online

The Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies degree is a 125-credit undergraduate program which prepares you for a variety of entry-level careers in legal studies. 

The online degree program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in legal research, contract law, family law, law office procedures, ethics, torts, and much more.

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Career-focused curriculum

Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.

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Flexible schedule

You can take classes during the day or in the evening. We strive to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.

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Virtual services

Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.

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Lifelong support

We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.

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Rolling admissions

No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.

Classes Start May 6th

Learn More Today

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Curriculum

Legal Studies program online classes & curriculum details

Designed to provide students with a more advanced understanding of law, the Herzing online legal studies program incorporates core business courses to provide a strong background in administration and management.

Graduates are prepared for careers in legal administration, legal assisting, business and management training. The bachelor’s degree path is also a great starting point for those seeking to apply to law school to become a lawyer.

All classes are delivered online with a capstone or internship (if available in your state).

ProgramMonthsiCredits
Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies36125
i. Average number of months for students to complete program

Required Management Core Courses

All courses, 33.00 semester credit hours, are required.

or  3.00 semester credit hours.

or  3.00 semester credit hours or  3.00 semester credit hours

Required Introductory Legal Studies Courses

All courses, 30.00 semester credit hours, are required.

Required Advanced Legal Studies Courses

All courses, 9.00 semester credit hours, are required.

or  3.00 semester credit hours or  3.00 semester credit hours

Elective Courses

A minimum of 12.00 semester credit hours is required. At least 6.00 semester credit hours must be paralegal (PL) courses.

Required Project Management

3.00 semester credit hours are required.

or

Required Capstone or Internship

3.00 semester credit hours are required.

Required Courses in General Education

Students enrolled in this bachelor's degree must complete a minimum of 33.00 semester credit hours in general education distributed among the following disciplines. Refer to the General Education section of the catalog for specific information about courses within each discipline. 9.00 Semester Credit Hours in Communications 9.00 Semester Credit Hours in Humanities (must include 3 semester credit hours of cultural diversity) 6.00 Semester Credit Hours in Mathematics 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Science 6.00 Semester Credit Hours in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Personal and Professional Development Courses

2.00 semester credit hours are required.

An alternative: Associate of Science in Legal Assisting/Paralegal

Looking to get started faster as a paralegal/legal assistant? The Associate of Science in Legal Assisting/Paralegal degree program in New Orleans prepares students with the skills and knowledge needed for a career as a legal assistant/paralegal working under the supervision of a licensed attorney. Learn more about our online paralegal associate degree program.

Tuition & Cost

Tuition & Cost

When you accept the 10% tuition discount from our Financial Commitment Scholarship, the cost of tuition for the legal studies program is $464 per credit.1

You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, applying for financial aid, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.

Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.

Find my estimate

 Scholarships & Financial Aid

You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants, both through Herzing University and several national scholarship websites.

Find scholarships and grants 

 Military/Veteran Discounts

Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10% tuition discount or tuition reduction to $250 per credit.

VA/Military benefits 

i. Financial Commitment Scholarship eligibility requirements: Recommended that students limit student loan borrowing to only what is needed to cover the cost of tuition and fees. Students may borrow up to $2,000 in student loans in excess of tuition and fees to cover their cost of attendance and retain eligibility for this scholarship. Excess loan eligibility dependent on individual student situation.

Requirements

Requirements

Legal studies program enrollment prerequisites

Enrollment requirements for the online legal studies bachelor’s degree program at Herzing University include:

  • A high school diploma, GED or equivalent
  • Meet and interview with a Herzing University admissions advisor
  • Fill out an enrollment application

Eligible states for enrollment: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, District Of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands.

Classes Start May 6th

Waived Enrollment Fee

Careers

What can I do with a legal studies degree?

The training included in our online legal studies program helps you build a foundation in pre-law so you may pursue a wide variety of career paths. Holders of a bachelor’s degree in legal studies may qualify for many different types of jobs.

Examples of jobs you may pursue with a legal studies degree include:

  • Business positions such as HR representative or compliance
  • Political lobbyist & legislative liaisons
  • City/county, state or federal government jobs
  • Probation officer & parole officer
  • Real estate agent
  • University advising, career departments, libraries & research
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Typical prerequisites to get into law school include:

  • A bachelor’s degree
  • Admissions test – take the LSAT
  • Letter(s) of recommendation
  • Personal statement
  • Any requirements unique to the school

Law schools evaluate applicants primarily based on your undergraduate GPA and LSAT score.

Note: a bachelor’s degree related to pre-law is not required to apply to law school. However, if you’re choosing an undergraduate program and seeking a career in law, a legal studies program is a great choice, and can help you affirm your interest in the law as a profession.

Yes! Many lawyers begin their careers as a paralegal / legal assistant, gain valuable experience, continue their education in a graduate program, and advance to higher roles.

If your goal is to become a lawyer or eventually climb the ladder from a legal assisting position, our Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies program provides a strong foundation in pre-law so you may qualify for and excel in law school.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), paralegals earn an average salary of $62,840 per year ($30.21 per hour).* Keep in mind this is not an estimate for starting pay in an entry-level position—average pay will vary based on your experience, level of education and the state in which you work. Find the average paralegal salary by state.

The BLS reports a positive outlook for jobs over the next ten years, projecting a 4% increase in employment for paralegals and legal assistants from 2022-2032—well above the expected increase across all occupations.*

Yes! Earning an undergraduate degree in legal studies helps you become eligible for the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) Certified Paralegal Examination, position yourself for a job as a paralegal / legal assistant and open many doors for advancement in the legal field.

Herzing’s legal studies program helps you build a strong foundation for a long career in law.

There are a wide variety of career opportunities in law, including:

  • Lawyer / attorney
  • Paralegal / legal assistant
  • Border patrol & immigration
  • Criminal investigator
  • Criminology
  • Law enforcement
  • FBI, TSA, customs agent

Herzing’s legal studies program prepares many students for careers in business, real estate, government, research, legal office administration, and can be a strong foundation for a future career as a lawyer.

The education you will receive by earning a degree will make you an excellent candidate for many different types of jobs.

A legal studies degree may be used as a stepping stone to enter law school. The Herzing legal studies program is designed to provide an in-depth understanding of how the legal system works as it relates to law, courts, clients and lawyers. Classes include pre-law topics like legal research, contract law, torts, civil litigation, legal writing and law office procedures along with core management courses and electives.

Herzing University offers associate degree and bachelor’s degree paths in legal studies. Earning an associate degree will prepare you for a job as a paralegal / legal assistant, and earning a bachelor’s in legal studies (with foundation topics in pre-law) will best prepare you for further career possibilities in law.

Our online bachelor of science in legal studies program takes an average of 36 months to complete, meaning you can earn a degree and be ready to start your new career in law in about 3 years.

There are many types of degrees in law, most of which are at the graduate level:

  • Juris Doctor (JD)
  • Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
  • Master of Dispute Resolution (MDR)
  • Master of Laws (LLM)
  • Doctor of Juridicial Science (SJD)

Herzing University does not offer any graduate law degree programs.

However, if you are looking to start your career in law, Herzing’s undergraduate associate and bachelor’s degree options in legal studies are a great place to begin. Earning an excellent GPA in a degree program like Herzing’s and you can position yourself well to get accepted into law school and pursue the law degree of your choice.

Are there other graduate degree options?

Yes! Your bachelor’s degree in legal studies can also prepare you for Herzing’s Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program. You can even begin to take MBA classes during your bachelor’s degree with our dual enrollment program. Many attorneys who work in business related fields may also choose to complete an MBA in addition to their JD.

Disclosures

Accreditation

Accreditation & Disclosures

Note: Only the Herzing University legal studies programs in Atlanta is approved by the American Bar Association. The online legal studies program is not ABA approved.

Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

View Herzing University Accreditation and Approvals

* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.

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Herzing Tuition Wizard

When do you want to start classes?

The program has an automatic transfer of credits, and allows you to transfer up to additional credits.

  Transfer Credits

The program allows you to transfer up to credits.

  Transfer Credits

The program allows you to transfer up to credit hours.

  Transfer Credit Hours
Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies Online Campus
Tuition
Cost per Credit$515.00
Base Tuition$64,375.00
Savings from Transfer Credits (93 x $515.00 )(-$47,895.00)
Estimated Tuition Cost*$16,480.00
Fees
One-time Program Fee$0.00
Per-semester Program Fee$0.00
Per-semester Learner Resource Fee$530.00
Estimated Total Fee*$1,590.00
Total Semesters 1
RequiredNeeded
93
Total Credits
RequiredNeeded
12532
Estimated Cost 2
Base CostYour Cost
$69,145.00$18,070.00
Estimated Savings*
$51,075.00

Available Scholarships & Loan Options

Who Can Apply

Recipients and the amounts of the scholarships vary.

Requirements

Scholarship recipients, amounts, and terms and conditions are determined by Herzing University and its donors and are subject to change. An endowment is an amount of money (fund) that is given to the University with a stipulation that the funds are invested to earn annual interest rather than spent immediately. Students and alumni can learn more through the following channels: email give@wikiwagsdisposables.com, call (262) 735-6189, or visit http://superlaan.comta.wikiwagsdisposables.com/make-donation-herzing-university.

Who Can Apply

Any student in a degree-seeking program that makes on-time, out of pocket payments toward tuition and fee expenses.

Requirements

The amount of the payments made that exceed the amount of excess loan funding received will be used to calculate total award. Eligible students must make on-time payments, according to a predetermined payment plan. Restrictions may vary.

  • Matching percentage is based on student’s EFC at the time of application.
  • Student’s with a Pell eligible EFC will receive a 100% match
  • Students will non-Pell eligible EFC will receive 50% match
  • Students who do no complete the FAFSA will automatically qualify for the 50% match.
Who Can Apply

Students enrolled in the following undergraduate and diploma programs:

  • Business; Criminal Justice; Dental Hygiene Bridge; Dental Assisting; EMT-Paramedic Associates Degree Program, Healthcare Administration; Health Information Management; Insurance Billing and Coding; Legal Studies; Medical Assisting; Medical Billing; Medical Office Administration; Sterile Processing; Surgical Technology
  • Students enrolled in Graduate and Post Master’s Certificate Business Programs

Continuing students may contact a Financial Aid Advisor to confirm eligibility

Requirements

Recommended that students limit student loan borrowing to only what is needed to cover the cost of tuition and fees. Students may borrow up to $2,000* in student loans in excess of tuition and fees to cover their cost of attendance and retain eligibility for this scholarship. *Excess loan eligibility dependent on individual student situation.

Who Can Apply

Available to applicants in any program that demonstrate a financial need, who are unable to cover cost of attendance with alternative resources

Requirements

Must show financial need and are unable to cover cost of attendance with alternative resources

Who Can Apply

Available to undergraduate students enrolled in an Associates or Bachelor’s degree that are on the Dean’s or President’s list

Requirements

Eligible Applicants must:

  1. Submit an application by the required deadline for applicable semester answering the following questions in paragraph form/essay format, bulleted outline, video submission, or other creative means.
    • What are your proudest achievements during this semester? (Examples: community service, campus involvement, family life, charity work, major improvement to grades, etc.)
    • What obstacles did you have to overcome to achieve your academic success this semester?
  2. Not have received any HU Strive Scholarship in any enrollment. If an applicant is not selected during a semester, they may reapply by submitting a new application in subsequent semesters for as long as they remain on the Dean’s or President’s list

The application must be submitted through Canvas by the end of the A Term immediately following the semester when the Dean’s or President’s list was earned.

Who Can Apply

Available to Herzing graduates who have re-enrolled in a higher-level degree

Requirements

Alumni may qualify as many times as they re-enroll in a higher-level degree

Who Can Apply

Employees of a business participating in the Herzing Partnerships Program

Requirements
  • Documentation showing proof of employment is required
  • Recipients must be packaged at direct cost (receiving financial aid for tuition and fees only)

Questions?

Reach out to a member of the Financial Aid team at the Online campus:

1 

Actual semesters to complete are dependent upon university approved transfer credits and program mapping.

2 

Estimated program length, estimated number of semesters, and estimated program shown above are standard by program for each student based on: a student taking a full-time course load each semester, the student not having any transfer credits (from previous Herzing experiences or from other post-secondary institutions), and successful completion of each course.

Current tuition rates for all programs are effective through the Summer 2024 semester.