33 Major Hours, 120 Degree Hours
Students in this major must also complete the requirements for a degree in the College of Arts & Sciences .
The interdisciplinary major in Legal Studies allows students to explore the history and impact of the law, its underlying theoretical and philosophical framework, and the political, economic, and cultural forces that affect its development. Graduates with a B.A. or B.S. in legal studies are prepared to pursue graduate or professional study in law, the humanities, or other disciplines, and to begin careers in business, human resources, journalism, public policy, social work, and other fields.
Core: B.A./B.S. to Public Administration MPA Accelerated program (fast-track)
Students in Political Science, Criminal Justice, International Studies, or Legal Studies degree programs who are interested in public service careers may apply to the fast-track of the Master of Public Administration program. Students would apply to the USD Graduate School during the spring of their junior year and be admitted to the USD Graduate School contingent on receipt of their undergraduate degree. After completing 90 hours (senior status), students may take 12 graduate hours that will count toward their undergraduate degree and also count toward the NASPAA-accredited Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree. After receiving their undergraduate degree and satisfactory progress in the four graduate courses, students would continue to pursue coursework leading to the MPA degree. Additional information about the accelerated degree can be found on the accelerated program catalog page for the M.P.A. in Public Administration.
Location Matters for Non-Licensure Track Programs
This program is not designed or advertised to lead to a professional license or certification required for employment.
USD is permitted to operate under the terms of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) policies and standards in offering online courses/degree programs to residents in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Online courses/programs may also be offered to residents of California (a non-SARA state) because it does not regulate out-of-state public institutions.
Additionally, this program is authorized to offer supervised field study experiences (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) in South Dakota. Please be aware that there may be some restrictions on your ability to engage in supervised field study outside of South Dakota. Please contact a program representative if you have questions regarding supervised field study.
Distance education courses or programs will not be offered outside of the United States without prior written approval from the University, which may be withheld for any reason. If you are taking distance courses while physically located outside of the United States, it is your responsibility to confirm the following: (a) if the country will recognize an online degree; (b) the availability of supervised field study opportunities in the country; and (c) if the country charges any additional taxes, withholdings or fees associated with online distance education programs.
For more information, please visit USD’s State Authorization page or contact your admissions counselor.
