Jan 01, 2026  
USC Catalogue 2025-2026 
    
USC Catalogue 2025-2026

Legal Studies (BS)


The Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies will provide students with an in-depth understanding of the legal system including the infrastructure, the reasoning process and the substantive commitments that the legal system has made. As future leaders, students in this major will become critical thinkers able to apply and understand various legal concepts in their interaction with real world issues locally, nationally and globally.

This program is particularly appropriate for students interested in pursuing a career that integrates legal concepts with other disciplines or that requires familiarity with extensive aspects of the legal system. It is a major designed for students who are looking to become future leaders in the community, the city, the state, the nation and the world. It is also suitable for students wanting to pursue graduate education in various disciplines, such as economics, humanities, social science, political science, business, health care, public service and many more, and for anyone who wants to obtain a general understanding of the place of law in contemporary society.

Departmental Honors Designation: 

To qualify and to request Departmental Honors, students must have completed at least 96 units of course work (toward the 128 total units which are required to satisfy the degree requirements).

Students must have a minimum 3.5 cumulative USC GPA at the time of their request and achieve at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA (A = 4.0) at the time of graduation.

Departmental Honors designation is linked to the Capstone Project. Additional requirements are set by the Office of Undergraduate Law Programs.

General Education


Eight courses in six Core Literacies, plus two courses in Global Perspectives (which may double-count with courses in the Core Literacies). In addition, all entering freshmen are expected to complete a General Education Seminar during their first year at USC. These seminars satisfy one of the Core Literacy requirements.

Core Literacies:

  • GE-A: The Arts (one course)
  • GE-B: Humanistic Inquiry (two courses)
  • GE-C: Social Analysis (two courses)
  • GE-D: Life Sciences (one course)
  • GE-E: Physical Sciences (one course)
  • GE-F: Quantitative Reasoning (one course)

Global Perspectives:

  • GE-G: Equity in a Diverse World (one course) 
  • GE-H: Traditions and Historical Foundations (one course) 

Major Requirements - 48 Units


Students must choose one of the tracks listed

General Legal Studies - 20 Units


Select 20 units from the categories below. At least 16 units must be at the upper-division level.

  • Must take 8 units from the Public Law Track
  • Must take 8 units from the Private Law Track
  • Must take 4 units from the Regulatory State Track

Additional Requirements - 4 units