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Program
Legal Studies (Diploma)
Faculty
Humanities & Social Sciences
Department
Legal Studies
Credits
60.00
Length of program
Four semesters
Credential type
Diploma
Campus
Coquitlam
New Westminster
Learning format
Full-time
Part-time
Admission type
Open Enrolment - General Admission Requirements
Offered
Fall
Summer
Winter
Overview
Learn about the administration of justice, business law, criminal law, criminal procedure and evidence, public law (including immigration and human rights law), constitutional law, and private law (torts, contracts, property) with the Diploma in Legal Studies program.
Through this program, you’ll take legal studies courses in legal research skills, legal remedies, and the basic principles of legal reasoning. In keeping with the liberal arts basis of the program, you’ll also take elective courses that are not related to law studies. These courses will further develop and enhance your critical thinking, writing, research and presentation skills, competencies that are crucial to success in your future career.
Continue your education
If you’re interested in furthering your education, this credential transfers directly into the Bachelor of Arts in Criminology at Douglas, provided you choose the correct courses that satisfy criminology requirements. Your credential may also transfer to criminology programs at other post-secondary institutions. Visit the B.C. Transfer Guide and your transfer university’s website regularly to confirm which courses transfer.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants must meet the admission requirements listed below:
Cost
Calculate your tuition and see the approximate cost of taking your program at Douglas College with the tuition & fee estimator. See costs broken down into categories including tuition fees, textbooks, student activity fees, U-Pass and more.
For more information, refer to the tuition fee charts.
Program Requirements
Curriculum framework
Graduation Requirements For Students Completing By Summer 2023:
- Successful completion of 60 credits
- 25% (15 credits) of all coursework must be completed at Douglas College
- All courses must be University Transferable
- Time limit to complete program graduation requirements: seven (7) years
Graduation Requirements For Students Completing After Summer 2023:
- Successful completion of 60 credits
- 50% (30 credits) of all coursework must be completed at Douglas College
- All courses must be University Transferable
- Graduate in Good Academic Standing (Cumulative GPA of 1.50 – See Academic Performance Policy)
- Time limit to complete program graduation requirements: seven (7) years
**A University Transferable course is a course that transfers to one of the 5 Research Universities - SFU, UBC, UBCO, UNBC, UVIC according to the BC Transfer Guide.
Course Requirements:
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|
Introduction to Business Law |
3.00 |
|
|
The Criminal Justice System |
3.00 |
|
|
Introduction to the Canadian Legal System |
3.00 |
|
|
Criminal Law |
3.00 |
|
|
The Administration of Justice |
3.00 |
|
|
Criminal Procedure and Evidence |
3.00 |
|
|
Legal Research and Reasoning |
3.00 |
|
|
Legal Processes and Remedies |
3.00 |
|
|
Private Law |
3.00 |
|
|
Public Law |
3.00 |
|
|
Introduction to Canadian Government |
3.00 |
|
|
An Introduction to Psychology (I) |
3.00 |
|
|
Elective |
Select seven University Transferable courses |
21.00 |
|
Select one course from the following five options: |
||
|
Critical Thinking |
3.00 |
|
|
Values and Contemporary Issues |
3.00 |
|
|
Knowledge, Reason and Experience |
3.00 |
|
|
Reality and Existence |
3.00 |
|
|
Logical Reasoning |
3.00 |
|
|
Total Credits |
|
60.00 |
Highly Recommended UT courses:
- LGST 3310 (Sex, Love, Relationships and Law)
- LGST 3320 (Immigration Law)
- LGST 3330 (Indigenous Peoples and Law)
- ENGL 1130 (Academic Writing)
Recommended UT courses:
- ANTH 1120 (Indigenous Cultures of BC)
- ANTH 1160 (Indigenous Cultures of Canada)
- BLAW 3750 (Human Resources Law)
- BLAW 3760 (Labour Law)
- BLAW 3770 (Real Estate Law)
- CRIM (Any 1000, 2000, 3000, or 4000 level)
- ECON 1101 (The Canadian Economy)
- GEOG 1100 (Introduction to Human Geography)
- GEOG 1160 (The Geography of British Columbia)
- GEOG 1180 (The Geography of Canada)
- GSWS 1100 (Introduction To Feminisms: Silences, Voices And Experiences)
- GSWS 1101 (Contemporary Issues in Gender, Sexualities, and Women's Studies)
- HIST 1113 (Canada Before Confederation)
- HIST 1114 (Canada After Confederation)
- POLI 1100 (Politics and Ethics)
- POLI 2202 (Introduction to Canadian Politics)
- PSYC 1200 (An Introduction to Psychology II)
- SOCI 1155 (Social Issues)
- SOCI 2230 (Race and Ethnicity)
- SOCI 2250 (Families and Social Change)
Program Guidelines
Program Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this program and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the program, consider the previous version as the applicable version.
Career Pathways
With further education, the Legal Studies Diploma is a first step towards careers such as:
- Court clerk/Supreme Court registry staff
- Legal agents
- Sheriff
- Court reporter
- Parole officer
- Court translator
- Lawyer
- Paralegal
- Notary
- Policing
- Corrections