Legal Studies

The legal studies major provides a broad liberal arts background upon which a cadet may build expertise in the study of law and its role and function in both American society and the international community.

Increasingly complex legal considerations permeate every aspect of modern life in both the civilian and military environments. Cadets who choose the Legal Studies major will build expertise in the study of law and its role and function in both American society and the international community. Cadets will also develop the critical thinking skills that will permit them to identify, understand, and begin to resolve the complex legal and other issues which they will encounter after graduation. The Legal Studies major is not a “pre-law” major; rather, it is designed to provide cadets an enhanced knowledge of the law and a respect for the rule of law, while intentionally developing critical thinking and clear communication skills that will serve our graduates well both in the Air Force and beyond.

Legal studies cadets must complete 14 courses in addition to the required academic core; five of these must be upper-level courses offered by the Department of Law. In addition to the law courses, a legal studies major has discretion in taking courses offered by the Departments of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, Economics and Geosciences, English and Fine Arts, Foreign Languages, History, Management, Military Strategic Studies, Philosophy and Political Sciences. This program is designed to expose cadets to a range of issues within the discipline of law.