What is the Core Curriculum of a Business Law Major?
A degree in business law will teach you how legal principles apply to private businesses. The core curriculum of a business law major can help you develop general knowledge about business principles, as well as an understanding of the complicated legal issues that influence business transactions.
<h3 id="section---BusinessLawMajorOverview">Business Law Major Overview</h3>
<p>If you want to study business law at the undergraduate level, you can enroll in a Bachelor of Business Administration degree program that offers an emphasis in business law. In this type of program, you'll generally complete about 120 credit hours consisting of a combination of core business courses, major courses in business law or legal studies, business foundation pre-core classes, electives and general education classes. As part of your core business courses, you'll take classes that focus on general business topics and specific legal issues.
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<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutMajoringInBusinessLaw">Important Facts About Majoring in Business Law</h3>
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<table border="1"><tr><td> Online Availability </td><td>fully online</td></tr>
<tr><td> Possible Careers </td><td> legal secretary, law clerk, paralegal</td></tr>
<tr><td> Degree Levels </td><td> associates, bachelor's, master's</td></tr>
<tr><td> Pre-Requisites</td><td> philosophy, statistics, history</td></tr>
<tr><td> Median Salary (2021) </td><td> $127,990 (for <i>Lawyers</i>)</td></tr>
<tr><td> Job Outlook (2021-2031) </td><td> 10% (for <i>Lawyers</i>)</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
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<h3 id="section---CoreBusinessCourses">Core Business Courses</h3>
<p>You'll be required to take fundamental business classes if you plan to major in any business or business administration-related field, including business law. These courses provide you with a thorough understanding of basic business principles and help you develop a foundation on which to build your knowledge of business law. Some core business classes that you could take include:
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<ul><li>Accounting
</li><li>Business statistics
</li><li>Macroeconomics
</li><li>Marketing
</li><li>Business communication
</li><li>Organizational behavior
</li><li>Decision making
</li><li>Business finance
</li><li>Operations management
</li><li>Strategic management
</li></ul><h3 id="section---CoreBusinessLawOrLegalStudiesCourses">Core Business Law or Legal Studies Courses</h3>
<p>In your specialized courses, you'll conduct an in-depth examination of the legal theories, precedents and legislation that affect the business world. You'll learn how the legal system can influence the way a business is structured and operated. You'll likely be allowed a large amount of freedom in customizing your curriculum, since the legal studies courses offered in a business law major can vary widely, depending on the program. You might have the option to take business law courses that focus on specific topics, including:
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<ul><li>Contracts and sales
</li><li>International business law
</li><li>Mediation
</li><li>Marketing law
</li><li>Contemporary workplace issues
</li><li>Intellectual property laws
</li><li>Real estate laws
</li><li>Business ethics and corporate responsibility
</li><li>Labor and employment laws
</li></ul><h3 id="section---CareersAfterGraduation">Careers After Graduation</h3>
<p>A degree in business law or business administration with a concentration in business law can prepare you for a number of careers after graduation, including those in industries regulated by the government, administrative and financial support and employee relations. Some jobs you may be able to get include:
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<ul><li>Loss prevention manager
</li><li>Cost estimator
</li><li>Management analyst
</li><li>Supply chain manager
</li></ul><p>Job opportunities vary by specific position. As an example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that positions for cost estimators are expected to increase by 10% between 2021 and 2031. The BLS reports that, as of 2021, the median annual salary for cost estimators was $65,170, with most making between $38,880 and $115,690.</p>