Students join USC’s new undergraduate degree from across the nation and globe
The USC Gould School of Law welcomed its inaugural first-year cohort of undergraduates into the Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies this fall. There are now more than 300 students enrolled in Gould’s undergraduate degree and minor programs.
“I feel really proud to be a part of this program,” said Laisha Campos, a member of the Class of 2027. “I am really grateful for the opportunity to be here and to be able to be working with such wonderful professors and mentors. Knowing that I got to be a part of the first admitted cohort for the BS in Legal Studies continues to give me that motivation to further succeed.”
The inaugural cohort comes from 11 states — including an international student — and were selected from a large pool of applicants from across the U.S. and beyond. These students will earn a bachelor’s degree from Gould, taking classes taught by some of the top legal minds in their field.
“As an international student, I was scared that I would struggle as a Legal Studies major. However, it has become clear to me that an international background was not a hindrance to my academic experience at all at USC — rather, I love the comparisons I can make based on my personal experiences, meeting other diverse students, and sharing our stories,” said Rin Choi, who joins USC from Korea.
USC Gould offers more than two dozen undergraduate law courses, tailored for the Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies as well as its minor programs in Legal Studies, Law and Social Justice, Law and Migration Studies, and Law and Technology. The classes have various interdisciplinary foci including economics, history, philosophy, psychology and sociology. Offerings will continue to expand as the program grows.
“We are thrilled to welcome the inaugural first-year cohort to the Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies, and we are excited to contribute to their development as future leaders of our society,” said Professor Bob Rasmussen, faculty director of USC Gould Undergraduate Law Programs. “Law is ubiquitous and those who wish to lead must attend to its consequences.”
The BS in Legal Studies examines the normative commitments that shape legal infrastructure and legal rules. It explores how the law both reflects and shapes our society. The degree also provides the skills and knowledge to excel in a wide variety of careers and professional roles that intersect with the law, and don’t require being a practicing attorney.
“USC Gould’s Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies gives students a strong foundation in legal concepts and a broad understanding of the law’s importance in our world. Whether they choose to pursue careers in the public, private or nonprofit sector — or pursue graduate studies — this degree will benefit them significantly in the future,” says USC Gould Interim Dean Franita Tolson.
For more information on the BS in Legal Studies, visit gould.law/bs-legal-studies or contact [email protected].
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