How do I declare
the Legal Studies major?
Students
wishing to declare the Legal Studies Major should contact
Dr. Irene B. Katele at (608) 262-2083 to set up an appointment.
Students wishing
to declare the major must bring a current DARS and a current Transcript
to the appointment.
May I earn major credit for taking a statistics or research
methods course in a department other than those listed in the Legal
Studies requirements?
The Legal Studies Program generally does not grant major credit for
statistics or research methods courses other than the ones listed in
our requirements.
May I earn major credit for a topics course not listed in
the Legal Studies requirements?
Legal Studies grants credit for topics courses other than the
ones listed in our permanent requirements on a case-by-case basis. Whether
you will receive major credit for a topics course depends on: (1) which
course you plan to take; and (2) how that course fits into your overall
academic goals. You should discuss this with the Legal Studies Program
advisor prior to enrolling.
What are the advantages of writing a Senior Thesis?
There are a variety of benefits you will receive from writing
a Senior Thesis. Most importantly, you likely will improve your research
and writing skills. These are vital skills if you plan to pursue graduate
work. Additionally, you will gain knowledge in a particular subject
area. This also will make you a more attractive job and graduate school
candidate. Finally, since you will work closely with your supervising
professor for an entire year, it is likely the faculty member will be
able to speak specifically to your skills as a student and researcher
when you are in need of a reference.
How do I request a DARS?
To print a "what-if"
Legal Studies DARS:
- Log onto: MyUW
- Click on the
"Student Record" page
- Follow the Instructions
on the "Student Record" page
- For more details,
go here to the Registrar's
DARS site and view the detailed explanation here.
Where may I obtain copies of my transcript?
Office
of the Registrar, 21 N Park St. You also can print unofficial copies
from MyUW.
We require a copy of both a DARS and transcript for students seeking
to declare the major.
How do I determine whether I can take a class "pass/fail"?
Courses that count toward the major -- or any L&S breadth
requirement -- may not be taken pass/fail.
Read about the
pass/fail rule here: http://www.wisc.edu/pubs/ug/10lettsci/geninfo.html#passfail
Use caution!! A
number of restrictions apply:
- Continuing
students must have a GPA or 2.5 or better;
- Students must
earn a grade of C or better to receive credit for the course and to
earn an "S" in a pass/fail course;
- A grade of
"U" shall be recorded by the registrar in place of the instructor's
grade of D or F;
- Students may
take only one course pass/fail per semester, including the summer
term. Seniors, however, may carry two courses pass/fail per semester;
- Students may
carry a maximum of ten courses pass fail;
- Only elective
work may be carried on a pass/fail basis:
- Courses carried
on a pass/fail basis cannot fulfill any L&S college requirements,
including, but not limited to, breadth requirements: "Humanities,"
"Social Science," "Science," and so forth (they
can be used to fulfill the 60-, 80-, and 100-Credit Rules and the
total credits needed to graduate);
- Students may
not carry work in their major department on a pass/fail
basis, even though they do not intend to use this course work
in partial satisfaction of the requirements of the major;
- Pass/fail work
may not be used as part of the course work offered in satisfaction
of the Individual Major.
If a course meets these eligibility requirements, then go to The
Office of Registrar's Student Forms Page and follow the directions
to complete and submit the
Pass/Fail Privilege Form.
What must I do to add/drop a credit in a course?
Go to The
Office of Registrar's Student Forms Page and complete and submit
the Course
Change Form.
May I earn credit toward the Legal Studies major for completing
an internship?
Legal Studies does not grant
academic credit for internships.
For information about non-credit
internship opportunities, visit the Letters
and Sciences Career Services Center located at 905 University Avenue
(262-3921).
Will I be able to double major and still graduate in four
years?
Many students complete two majors and graduate in four years, but this
will take good planning. To accomplish this goal, see the Legal Studies
advisor regularly. Commonly, students majoring in the Legal Studies
also major in Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology; however,
you are not limited to these majors.
What can I do with a major in the Legal Studies Program?
The Legal Studies major provides a general background for a number of
careers. The interdisciplinary nature of the major prepares students
for jobs in fields such as business, law enforcement, and government.
Many students have also found that the major has prepared them well
for law school and graduate programs in social work, criminal justice,
public policy, government, and business.
Will the Legal
Studies major prepare me for law school?
Legal Studies is
not a pre-law program. "Pre-law" is neither a major
nor a specific program of study; it is more a route to developing skills
through coursework that will prepare you for success in law school.
There are, for example, no course requirements that law schools require
undertgraduates to take (contrast this to medical school admission requirements).
The best preparation for law school is a broad liberal education background
that includes courses that strengthen your command of English; develop
your ability to think clearly, concisely, and logically; develop the
self-discipline to handle an extremely demanding educational experience;
and increase your broad understanding of social issues. (Information
partially drawn from the L&S
Advising Center.)
The Legal Studies
major is designed to be a liberal education program organized around
the themes of law and legal institutions. As such, the courses in the
major cover many facets of the law and legal institutions as a social,
political, and cultural phenomenon. Many courses are drawn from traditional
academic disciplines; others are designed specifically to be interdisciplinary.
The goal throughout the curriculum is to challenge you to think more
critically about the law -- whether or not you decide to pursue law
school.
Where
should I go for advice and pre-law planning?
Visit
the L&S Advising Center
in B12 Bascom Hall.
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