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2026-2027

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies - Legal Studies (AAS Pathways)

VCU

Community college:
AAS in Paralegal Studies (Virginia Community College System)
Virginia Community College System
Associate degree

Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies

Completing this AAS degree will waive VCU's general education requirements.

Program description

The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies: Legal Studies pathway combines coursework from an approved list of law-related classes from multiple disciplines, including political science, criminal justice, and philosophy, with BIS core courses and other relevant coursework. 

Students will choose 39-45 credits to create their major focus area, including a minimum of 18 credits from the approved list. Students may substitute relevant coursework from their Paralegal AAS to count towards the required 18 credits. Students may choose to create their major entirely from this list, including courses from their Paralegal AAS, or they may supplement the 18 required credits with relevant coursework from additional disciplines in coordination with advisor and subject to approval by Associate Director of Interdisciplinary Studies. Options could include business, communications, psychology, or other disciplines, and should be tailored to the student's career goals. Students may also include prerequisites from chosen Legal Studies courses in their major focus area. The curriculum is flexible. Students, in consultation with their BIS advisor, can make changes to the recommended courses taken at VCU. 

Depending on the student’s choice of coursework, this pathway positions students for a range of careers related to law, including nonprofit management, political advocacy, corrections, and court reporting. Upon graduation, students will be awarded the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies.

Career opportunities

BIS graduates with a focus in Legal Studies are well prepared to seek employment in corporate, nonprofit and government agencies.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Compliance Officer
  • Court Clerk
  • Court Manager
  • Court Reporter
  • Insurance Broker
  • Law Firm Administrator
  • Mediator
  • Mortgage Specialist
  • Policy & Grant Writer
  • Professional Advocate
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Attorney
  • Nonprofit director
  • Researcher
  • Social Worker
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

No guaranteed admission, but successful applicants will have:

  • Completion of associate degree
  • Minimum GPA of 2.5
  • All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • Quantitative Foundations requirement only
Science required
  • Natural Sciences requirement only
Foreign language requirements
  • No
Additional tuition/fees
  • No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0+ cumulative GPA, 2.0+ major GPA
VCU Major Maps

View VCU Major Map for Interdisciplinary Studies

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2026-2027

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies - Legal Studies (AAS Pathways)

Virginia Community College System (AAS in Paralegal Studies)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Schedule an appointment with your community college advisor to map out your associate degree course plan.
  • Complete your math and english requirements in your first year.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges and utilize tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Explore community college financial aid resources and submit your FAFSA on time.
  • Enroll in the SDV student success course.
  • Explore the Interdisciplinary Studies program website.
  • Learn about the transfer admission process for VCU.
  • Get involved with student clubs and organizations at your community college.
  • Volunteer for community service projects.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Practice independent living skills such as money and time management, self-care, and personal responsibility.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
Experience Year 2
  • Apply to VCU.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the Interdisciplinary Studies program, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your community college advisor to map out your associate degree course plan.
  • Complete your math and english requirements in your first year.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges and utilize tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Explore community college financial aid resources and submit your FAFSA on time.
  • Enroll in the SDV student success course.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Explore the Interdisciplinary Studies program website.
  • Learn about the transfer admission process for VCU.
  • Get involved with student clubs and organizations at your community college.
  • Volunteer for community service projects.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Practice independent living skills such as money and time management, self-care, and personal responsibility.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Apply to VCU.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the Interdisciplinary Studies program, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2026-2027

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies - Legal Studies (AAS Pathways)

Virginia Community College System (AAS in Paralegal Studies)

Virginia Community College System courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 100 College Success Skills UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I UNIV 111 3 General education
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
MTH 154 or MTH 161 Quantitative Reasoning or Precalculus I MATH 131 or MATH 141 3 General education
PLS 135 U.S. Government and Politics POLI 103 3 General education
PHI 220 Ethics PHIL 201 3 General education
LGL 125 Legal Research CRJS 1XX 3 Elective
LGL 126 Legal Writing CRJS 302 3 Major
Complete requirements of the AAS degree VCU equivalents 39 Elective
Community college credits transferred to VCU 61
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
IDST 301 Interdisciplinary Theory and Practice 3 Major
IDST 499 BIS Senior Capstone 3 Major
Select 15 credits from "Legal Studies" approved list (see VCU advisor for course options) 15 Major
Select 12-21 credits of coursework from any discipline related to individual career goals (selected in coordination with advisor and subject to approval by Associate Director). Students may substitute relevant coursework from their Paralegal AAS to count towards these required credits. 12 to 21 Major
Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses) Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. 17 to 26 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 59
Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree 120