******************************************************************************

DRAFT MOTION

Approve NSU’s new program proposal for a minor in Legal Studies as presented.

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL

AGENDA ITEM: 3 – C (4)

DATE: May 23, 2018

******************************************************************************

SUBJECT

New Minor: NSU Minor in Legal Studies

CONTROLLING STATUTE, RULE, OR POLICY

BOR Policy 2:23 – Program and Curriculum Approval

BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION

Northern State University (NSU) requests permission to offer a minor in Legal Studies.

The proposed minor includes an interdisciplinary approach engaging with the meanings,

values, practices, and institutions of law and legality. Currently, students interested in

attending law school assemble their own program of study across the disciplines of criminal

justice, political science, and business administration. The Legal Studies minor would

provide students with a strong foundation for law school admission (NSU coordinated the

curriculum with the USD Law School). The minor will also provide graduates with skills

and knowledge applicable to careers as law enforcement officers, paralegals, and other

positions within the criminal justice system.

IMPACT AND RECOMMENDATION

NSU projects 6 graduates per year with the minor after full implementation. NSU does not

request any new resources. The minor consists of 18 credit hours with 5 new courses

(mostly as electives within the minor).

Board office staff recommend approval of the minor.

ATTACHMENTS

Attachment I – New Program Request Form: NSU – Minor in Legal Studies

Program Forms: New Baccalaureate Degree Minor Form (Last Revised 05/2017)

SOUTH DAKOTA BOARD OF REGENTS

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS FORMS

New Baccalaureate Degree Minor

Use this form to propose a new baccalaureate degree minor (the minor may include existing and/or new courses. An

academic minor within a degree program enables a student to make an inquiry into a discipline or field of study beyond

the major or to investigate a particular content theme. Minors provide a broad introduction to a subject and therefore

develop only limited competency. Minors consist of a specific set of objectives achieved through a series of courses.

Course offerings occur in a specific department or may draw from several departments (as in the case of a topical or

thematic focus). In some cases, all coursework within a minor proscribed; in others cases, a few courses may form the

basis for a wide range of choices. Regental undergraduate minors typically consist of 18 credit hours. Proposals to

establish new minors as well as proposals to modify existing minors must recognize and address this limit. The Board

of Regents, Executive Director, and/or their designees may request additional information about the proposal. After

the university President approves the proposal, submit a signed copy to the Executive Director through the system

Chief Academic Officer. Only post the New Baccalaureate Degree Minor Form to the university website for review

by other universities after approval by the Executive Director and Chief Academic Officer.

UNIVERSITY: NSU

TITLE OF PROPOSED MINOR: Legal Studies

DEGREE(S) IN WHICH MINOR MAY BE

EARNED:

All baccalaureate degrees

EXISTING RELATED MAJORS OR MINORS: Political Science, Criminal Justice,

Business Administration

INTENDED DATE OF IMPLEMENTATION: Fall 2018

PROPOSED CIP CODE: 22.0000

UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT: History and Social Sciences

UNIVERSITY DIVISION: College of Arts & Sciences

University Approval

To the Board of Regents and the Executive Director: I certify that I have read this proposal, that

I believe it to be accurate, and that it has been evaluated and approved as provided by university

policy.

4/17/2018

President of the University or Designee Date

1. Do you have a major in this field (place an “X” in the appropriate box)?

2. If you do not have a major in this field, explain how the proposed minor relates to your

university mission.

One of NSU’s missions is to offer pre-professional programs. Without a Legal Studies minor,

students considering work in the legal profession must assemble their own program of study

☐ ☒

Yes No

ATTACHMENT I 2

Program Forms: New Baccalaureate Degree Minor Form (Last Revised 05/2017)

across the disciplines of criminal justice, political science, and business administration.

Moreover, the minor will provide NSU students a strong foundation upon which to build if they

decide to pursue professional legal education at the USD Law School.

Board Policy 1:10:6 authorizes NSU to offer undergraduate programs in arts and sciences,

business, education, and fine arts, as well as to provide service to the state, region, and nation.

The Legal Studies minor is an interdisciplinary program between multiple fields currently

offered at NSU.

3. What is the nature/purpose of the proposed minor?

Legal Studies will be an interdisciplinary minor that engages the meanings, values, practices,

and institutions of law and legality. The purpose of the minor is to offer students an additional

avenue of focused study in an independent topical area that is recognized and highly valued by

society. By structuring political science, criminal justice, and business administration courses

into a cohesive, complementary package, the curriculum can examine how law shapes and is

shaped by political, economic, and cultural forces. The program is designed to instill

foundational knowledge and stimulate critical understanding of the theoretical frameworks,

historical dynamics, and cultural embeddedness of law by allowing students to consider

important questions of social policy within the context of jurisprudence and competing theories

of justice.

4. How will the proposed minor benefit students?

A minor in Legal Studies meets the unique personal and professional interests of students

interested in pursuing legal career paths. Whether an individual wants to be a law enforcement

officer, an FBI agent, a paralegal, a court clerk, a lawyer, a judge, or any other of the numerous

professions in the legal field, a Legal Studies minor can put students on the path toward

professional success. Students who go on to work in law enforcement, as a paralegal, or court

clerk would have better hiring prospects and be better employees due to the development of

analytical thinking abilities, general legal research and writing skills along with a broader

understanding of their respective role in the civil or criminal process. In addition, students who

pursue a law degree or MBA can expect greater academic success due to such skills and their

foundational knowledge of what the law is and the societal forces driving it.

5. Describe the workforce demand for graduates in related fields, including national demand

and demand within South Dakota. Provide data and examples; data sources may include but

are not limited to the South Dakota Department of Labor, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics,

Regental system dashboards, etc.

Most students pursuing a Legal Studies minor are interested in a career in law. Various types of

legal professionals will experience growth over the next seven years according to Bureau of

Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition:

Occupational Title

SOC

Code

Employment,

2014

Projected

Employment, 2024

Change, 2014-24

Percent Numeric

Lawyers 23-1011 778,700 822,500 6 43,800

Arbitrators, mediators &

conciliators 23-1022 8,400 9,200 9 800

ATTACHMENT I 3

Program Forms: New Baccalaureate Degree Minor Form (Last Revised 05/2017)

Occupational Title

SOC

Code

Employment,

2014

Projected

Employment, 2024

Change, 2014-24

Percent Numeric

Judges, magistrate judges &

magistrates 23-1023 29,700 29,900 1 200

Paralegals & legal assistants 23-2011 279,500 300,800 8 21,200

Similarly, the Projections Managing Partnership, an entity funded by the US Department of

Labor, Employment and Training Administration and supported by the Bureau of Labor

Statistics, identifies lawyers as a growing career field in their 2014-2024 Long Term

Occupational Projections for South Dakota1:

Area Title Base Projected Change Percent Change Annual Average Openings

South

Dakota

Lawyers 980 1080 100 9.2% 20

Finally, legal professionals are also on the South Dakota Department of Labor Hot Career List,

a listing of occupations in South Dakota with above average annual demand and above average

annual pay2:

SOC*

Code

SOC*

Title

Average

Annual

Demand for

Workers

2014

Workers

2024

Workers

Percent

Change

2014-2024

Annual

Average

Wage

SD

Educational

Requirement

23-1011 Lawyers 23 984 1,075 9.3% $96,577 Doctoral or

professional

degree

6. Provide estimated enrollments and completions in the table below and explain the

methodology used in developing the estimates (replace “XX” in the table with the appropriate

year).

The estimate is based upon a review of regional universities offering a Legal Studies minor.

Fiscal Years*

1st 2nd 3rd 4th

Estimates FY 19 FY 20 FY 21 FY 22

Students enrolled in the minor (fall) 3 6 9 12

Completions by graduates 0 1 3 6 *Do not include current fiscal year.

7. What is the rationale for the curriculum? Demonstrate/provide evidence that the

curriculum is consistent with current national standards.

The minor provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to enter a variety of

professions in the legal field or pursue graduate study in law or various related disciplines.

1 http://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm 2 https://dlr.sd.gov/lmic/hot_careers.aspx

ATTACHMENT I 4

Program Forms: New Baccalaureate Degree Minor Form (Last Revised 05/2017)

Students will learn how to think analytically, how specific legal regimes operate, and the

organizational structure and function of government institutions related to such regimes. In late

November 2017, the proposed curriculum was coordinated with and approved by the USD Law

School’s Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.

8. Complete the tables below. Explain any exceptions to Board policy requested.

A. Distribution of Credit Hours

Legal Studies

Credit Hours Percent

Requirements in minor 12 67%

Electives in minor 6 33%

Total 18 100%

B. Required Courses in the Minor

Select One of Two Courses Listed

Prefix Number Course Title

(add or delete rows as needed) Credit

Hours

New

(yes, no) PHIL 100 Introduction to Philosophy 3 No

PHIL 200 Introduction to Logic 3 No

Subtotal 3

Select One of Four Courses Listed

Prefix Number Course Title

(add or delete rows as needed) Credit

Hours

New

(yes, no) POLS 430 Constitutional Law 3 No

CJUS 431 Criminal Law 3 No

CJUS 433 Criminal Procedure 3 No

POLS 454 International Law and Organizations 3 Yes

Subtotal 3

Select Two of Five Courses Listed

Prefix Number Course Title

(add or delete rows as needed) Credit

Hours

New

(yes, no) POLS 100 American Government 3 No

CJUS 201 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 No

CJUS 205 Introduction to Homeland Security 3 Yes POLS 210 State and Local Government 3 No

POLS 250 Introduction to International Relations 3 No

Subtotal 6

9. Elective Courses in the Minor: List courses available as electives in the program. Indicate

any proposed new courses added specifically for the minor.

Select Two of the Thirteen Courses Listed

Prefix Number Course Title

(add or delete rows as needed) Credit

Hours

New

(yes, no)

ATTACHMENT I 5

Program Forms: New Baccalaureate Degree Minor Form (Last Revised 05/2017)

BADM 350 Legal Environment of Business 3 No BADM 351 Business Law 3 No BADM 458 International Business Law 3 No POLS 320 Public Administration 3 No POLS 331 US Congress 3 No POLS 339 Courts and Judicial Politics 3 No

CJUS 401 Law and Society 3 No

CJUS 403 Counterterrorism and Cybersecurity Policy 3 Yes POLS 430 Constitutional Law 3 No

CJUS 431 Criminal Law 3 No

CJUS 433 Criminal Procedure 3 No

POLS 454 International Law and Organizations 3 Yes POLS 455 International Human Rights 3 Yes

Subtotal 6

10. What are the learning outcomes expected for all students who complete the minor? How

will students achieve these outcomes?

The bulk of the courses for the minor are upper level. As such, they have more rigorous writing

and speaking requirements. Legal courses are conducted to maximize class discussion in the

same manner as law school courses. The specific outcomes are:

Demonstrate a broad understanding of specialized areas of the law;

Demonstrate reasonable proficiency in legal research and writing;

Demonstrate highly proficient analytical and communication skills;

Effectively apply interpersonal skills in a professional environment;

Explain and describe the organization and operation of US legal systems;

Explain and apply legal terminology and general constitutional law and procedures;

Demonstrate ethical awareness and understand the concept of integrity.

11. What instructional approaches and technologies will instructors use to teach courses in the

minor? This refers to the instructional technologies and approaches used to teach courses and

NOT the technology applications and approaches expected of students.

Lecture and guided discussion will be employed with a preference for discussion to the

maximum extent possible.

12. Delivery Location3

A. Complete the following charts to indicate if the university seeks authorization to deliver

the entire program on campus, at any off campus location (e.g., UC Sioux Falls, Capital

University Center, Black Hills State University-Rapid City, etc.) or deliver the entire

program through distance technology (e.g., as an online program)?

Yes/No Intended Start Date

3 The accreditation requirements of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) require Board approval for a university

to offer programs off-campus and through distance delivery.

ATTACHMENT I 6

Program Forms: New Baccalaureate Degree Minor Form (Last Revised 05/2017)

On campus Yes Fall 2018

Yes/No If Yes, list location(s) Intended Start Date

Off campus No Choose an item. Choose

an item.

Yes/No If Yes, identify delivery

methods4

Intended Start Date

Distance Delivery

(online/other distance

delivery methods)

No

B. Complete the following chart to indicate if the university seeks authorization to deliver

more than 50% but less than 100% of the certificate through distance learning (e.g., as

an online program)? 5

Yes/No If Yes, identify delivery methods Intended Start Date

Distance Delivery

(online/other distance

delivery methods)

No Choose an item. Choose

an item.

13. Does the University request any exceptions to any Board policy for this minor? Explain

any requests for exceptions to Board Policy. If not requesting any exceptions, enter “None.”

None

14. Cost, Budget, and Resources: Explain the amount and source(s) of any one-time and

continuing investments in personnel, professional development, release time, time

redirected from other assignments, instructional technology & software, other operations

and maintenance, facilities, etc., needed to implement the proposed minor. Address off-

campus or distance delivery separately.

The courses are either already offered or proposed independently by current faculty. The minor

is simply a way to structure them into a package to offer an additional avenue of focused study

for our students considering a career in law or a related field.

15. New Course Approval: New courses required to implement the new minor may receive

approval in conjunction with program approval or receive approval separately. Please

check the appropriate statement (place an “X” in the appropriate box).

☐ YES,

the university is seeking approval of new courses related to the proposed program in

conjunction with program approval. All New Course Request forms are included as

Appendix C and match those described in section 7.

☒ NO,

4 Delivery methods are defined in AAC Guideline 5.5. 5 This question responds to HLC definitions for distance delivery.

ATTACHMENT I 7

Program Forms: New Baccalaureate Degree Minor Form (Last Revised 05/2017)

the university is not seeking approval of all new courses related to the proposed

program in conjunction with program approval; the institution will submit new course

approval requests separately or at a later date in accordance with Academic Affairs

Guidelines.

ATTACHMENT I 8