This program is approved by the American Bar Association and is designed to prepare you for a career as a paralegal. Students who complete the Law in Liberal Arts Major will simultaneously complete the requirements for the Paralegal Certificate and receive the BA and the certificate together. This major focuses on providing students with practical legal skills as well as a background in legal concepts so that you will graduate with immediate job prospects in a rapidly expanding profession.
Law in Liberal Arts Major Requirements
Our Law in Liberal Arts courses will train and prepare you for careers in the legal profession. This major aims to provide you with practical legal skills as well as a background in legal concepts. Law in Liberal Arts majors are required to complete 33 credit hours of legal specialty courses, earning a C or better in each. Majors must take at least nine semester credits or the equivalent of legal specialty courses through synchronous instruction. Courses may be selected from the list below:
Major Requirements: Required Specialty Courses – 15 credit hours
- POLS-Y211: Introduction to Law (3 hrs)
- POLS-Y221: Legal Research and Writing for Paralegals (3 hrs)
- POLS-Y222: Litigation for Paralegals (3 hrs)
- POLS-Y223: Litigation for Paralegals II (3 hrs)
(Prerequisite: Y222)
- POLS-Y 232: Professional Responsibility for Paralegals (3 hrs)
Required Electives: Legal Specialty Courses – 12 credit hours
(Prerequisite for all following courses: Y211)
- POLS-P324: Property Law for Paralegals (3 hrs)
- POLS-P325: Contract Law for Paralegals (3 hrs)
- POLS-P326: Tort Law for Paralegals (3 hrs)
- POLS-P327: Criminal Law for Paralegals (3 hrs)
- POLS-P328: Family Law for Paralegals (3 hrs)
- POLS-P329: Estate Law for Paralegals (3 hrs)
- POLS-P330: Bankruptcy Law for Paralegals (3 hrs)
- POLS-P333: Business Associations for Paralegals (3 hrs)
- POLS-Y480: Undergraduate Readings in Political Science (3 hrs)
- POLS-P485: Field Experience in Paralegals (3 hrs)
Optional Elective Courses
(The following courses may count towards 12 required electives)
- INFO-I330: Legal and Social Informatics of Security (3 hrs)
- INFO-I350: Foundations in Legal Informatics (3 hrs)
- INFO-I410: Electronic Discovery (3 hrs)
- INFO-I470: Litigation Support Systems and Courtroom Presentation (3 hrs)
- NEWM-N480: technology and Law (3 hrs)
Required Perspective Elective Courses – 3 credit hours
- POLS-Y304: Constitutional Law (3 hrs)
- POLS-Y305: Constitutional Rights and Liberties (3 hrs)
- HIST-A421: American Legal History (3 hrs)
- PHIL-P383: Philosophy of Law (3 hrs)
- PSY-B 375: Psychology and the Law (3 hrs)
- SPEA-V408: Community and the Constitution (3 hrs)
- POLS-Y367: International Law (3 hrs)
- POLS-Y380/WOST-W300: Women in the Law (3-6 hrs)
- BUS-L 203: Commercial Law (3 hrs)
- SPEA-V376: Law and Public Policy (3 hrs)
Senior Capstone Requirement – 3 credit hours
- POLS-P431: Advanced Legal Writing for Paralegals (3 hrs)
Transfer Students
Not all previous courses meet the required departmental guidelines. It is strongly recommended that transfer students meet with an Advisor, Paralegal Studies Advisor, in order to avoid conflicts and missing important courses, which may delay your graduation. Only up to four legal specialty courses will be accepted on transfer. The Director of Paralegal Studies reviews these transfer requests for adherence to our student learning outcomes and paralegal competencies.
If you find that your previous courses do not meet the 200-level equivalency, you should complete the 200-level courses as early as possible after transferring to IU Indianapolis. Be advised, that it is assumed by instructors of 300/400-level courses that you have completed ENG-W270, and know how to write a research paper.
Degree Map
To help you guide your four-year college journey, consult your degree map for a snapshot of classes you will be taking to finish your degree.
