B.A. in Patent Law, Technology and Culture
Academic Advisor: Maureen O'Rourke
Faculty Coordinator: Alison Lefkovitz
Major Requirements
The patent law, technology, and culture major requires a minimum of 51 credits of LTC major courses with a grade of C or higher. These courses may include offerings at NJIT and Rutgers-Newark. The patent law B.A. also requires a minimum of 120 total credits, including completion of the General Education Requirements. Each student's program of study is subject to approval by an advisor or by the chairperson of the department.
Students in the patent law curriculum program follow the standard curriculum for the Law, Technology and Culture B.A. while focusing their science-based coursework around a specific discipline (biology, chemistry, or physics). The curricular options for the Patent Law concentration are as follows:
Biology Options (B.A. or B.S.)
Students choosing the biology option must complete 8 credits of approved chemistry or physics courses and 24 credits of approved courses in biology, botany, microbiology, or molecular biology. The 8 semester hours in chemistry or physics must be obtained in two sequential courses, each course including a lab. Only biology courses for biology majors will be accepted. Subject to the approval of an advisor, students can earn a double-major B.A. in LTC and biology with 124 total credits. It is also possible to earn a double-major B.S. degree in LTC and Biology with 128 total credits.*
Chemistry Options (B.A. or B.S.)
Students choosing the chemistry option must complete 30 credits of approved chemistry courses. Only chemistry courses for chemistry majors will be accepted. Subject to the approval of an advisor, students can earn a double-major B.S. in LTC and chemistry with 125 total credits.*
Physics Options (B.A. or B.S.)
Students choosing the physics option must complete 24 credits of approved physics courses. Only physics courses for physics majors will be accepted. Subject to the approval of an advisor, students can earn a double-major B.S. in LTC and applied physics with 127 total credits. Students doing the B.S. in Applied Physics and LTC choose to study one of two concentrations: either Astronomy or Optical Science and Engineering.*
General Science Option (B.A.)
Students choosing the general science option must complete 8 credits of approved chemistry or physics courses and 32 credits of approved courses in chemistry, physics, biology, botany, microbiology, molecular biology, or engineering. The 8 semester hours of chemistry or 8 semester hours of physics must be obtained in two sequential courses, each course including a lab. Only courses for science or engineering majors will be accepted.*
*Note: The science courses in each Patent Law, Technology and Culture major are taken in place of:
- 7-8 credits of the Natural Sciences GUR electives
- up to 24 credits of Law-Related electives
- up to 24 credits of Free Electives to fulfill 24 credits of Free Electives (as mandated by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office).
B.A. in Patent Law, Technology and Culture
(120 credits minimum)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1st Semester | Credits | |
| HUM 101 | English Composition: Writing, Speaking, Thinking I | 3 |
| MATH 111 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MGMT 290 | Business Law I | 3 |
| Natural Science GER | 3 | |
| Computer Science GER | 3 | |
| FRSH SEM | First-Year Seminar | 0 |
| Term Credits | 16 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| Social Science GER | 3 | |
| HUM 102 | English Composition: Writing, Speaking, Thinking II | 3 |
| Mathematics GER | ||
| Legal Foundations Elective | 3 | |
| Natural Science Literacy with Lab GER | 4 | |
| Term Credits | 13 | |
| Second Year | ||
| 1st Semester | ||
| Legal Foundations Elective | 3 | |
| LTC Core Elective | 3 | |
| History and Humanities GER 200 level | 3 | |
| Natural Science GER | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Term Credits | 15 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| Law Technology and Culture Core Elective | 3 | |
| Law Related Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Natural Science with Lab GER 1 | 4 | |
| Term Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| 1st Semester | ||
| Law Technology and Culture Core Elective | 3 | |
| Law Related Elective | 3 | |
| Natural Science GER 1 | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective 2 | 1 | |
| Term Credits | 16 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| LTC Core Elective | 3 | |
| Law Related Elective | 3 | |
| Natural Science with Lab GER 1 | 4 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Term Credits | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| 1st Semester | ||
| HIST 310 | Co-op in Law, Technology, Culture and History I | 3 |
| HSS 404 | Humanities Senior Seminar - History | 3 |
| MGMT 390 or HRM 301 | Principles of Business or Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| HIST 312 | Prof Development in Law | 1 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Term Credits | 13 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| Law Related Elective | 3 | |
| Law Related Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Term Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 117 | |
| * | Student may replace 1-credit elective if he or she has taken a 4-credit course elsewhere |
B.A. Double Major in Biology & Law, Technology and Culture
(124 credits minimum)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1st Semester | Credits | |
| BIOL 200 | Concepts in Biology | 4 |
| CHEM 121 or CHEM 125 | Fundamentals of Chemical Principles I or General Chemistry I | 3 |
| MATH 138 | General Calculus I | 3 |
| HUM 101 | English Composition: Writing, Speaking, Thinking I | 3 |
| BNFO 135 | Programming for Bioinformatics | 3 |
| FRSH SEM | First-Year Seminar | 0 |
| Term Credits | 16 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| R120 201 | Foundations Of Biology | 3 |
| R120 202 | Foundations Of Biology Lab | 1 |
| CHEM 122 or CHEM 126 | Fundamentals of Chemical Principles II or General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 124 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| MATH 238 | General Calculus II | 3 |
| HUM 102 | English Composition: Writing, Speaking, Thinking II | 3 |
| Physical Education: GUR Elective | 1 | |
| Term Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| 1st Semester | ||
| BIOL 205 | Foundations of Biology: Ecology and Evolution Lecture | 3 |
| BIOL 206 | Foundations of Biology: Ecology and Evolution Lab | 1 |
| CHEM 243 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| PHYS 102 | General Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 102A | General Physics Lab | 1 |
| HIST 213 | The Twentieth-Century World | 3 |
| Physical Education: GUR Elective | 1 | |
| Term Credits | 15 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| Biology Cluster Elective | 3 | |
| CHEM 244 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 244A | Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | 2 |
| PHYS 103 | General Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 103A | General Physics Lab | 1 |
| Social Science: GUR Elective | 3 | |
| Term Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| 1st Semester | ||
| Biology Functional Laboratory Elective | 3 | |
| Biology Cluster Elective | 3 | |
| Management: GUR Elective | 3 | |
| IE 447 | Legal Aspects of Engineering | 3 |
| Legal Foundations Elective | 3 | |
| Term Credits | 15 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| Biology Laboratory Elective | 3 | |
| Biology Elective | 3 | |
| HIST 378 | Medicine and Health Law in Modern America | 3 |
| Social Science: GUR Elective | 3 | |
| Legal Foundations Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Term Credits | 18 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| 1st Semester | ||
| Biology Laboratory Elective | 3 | |
| Biology Elective | 3 | |
| HIST 310 | Co-op in Law, Technology, Culture and History I | 3 |
| HSS 404 | Humanities Senior Seminar - History ( (LTC Section)) | 3 |
| Legal Foundations Elective | 3 | |
| Term Credits | 15 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| Biology Elective | 3 | |
| HIST 375 or EVSC 335 | Legal Issues in Environmental History or Environmental Law | 3 |
| IT 400 | Information Technology and the Law or Privacy and Information Technology or Digital Crime | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Term Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 124 | |
B.S. Double Major in Biology & Law, Technology and Culture
(128 credits minimum)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1st Semester | Credits | |
| BIOL 200 | Concepts in Biology | 4 |
| CHEM 121 or CHEM 125 | Fundamentals of Chemical Principles I or General Chemistry I | 3 |
| MATH 111 | Calculus I | 4 |
| HUM 101 | English Composition: Writing, Speaking, Thinking I | 3 |
| BNFO 135 | Programming for Bioinformatics | 3 |
| FRSH SEM | First-Year Seminar | 0 |
| Term Credits | 17 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| R120 201 | Foundations Of Biology | 3 |
| R120 202 | Foundations Of Biology Lab | 1 |
| CHEM 122 or CHEM 126 | Fundamentals of Chemical Principles II or General Chemistry II | 3 |
| MATH 112 | Calculus II | 4 |
| CHEM 124 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| HUM 102 | English Composition: Writing, Speaking, Thinking II | 3 |
| Physical Education: GUR Elective | 1 | |
| Term Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| 1st Semester | ||
| BIOL 205 | Foundations of Biology: Ecology and Evolution Lecture | 3 |
| BIOL 206 | Foundations of Biology: Ecology and Evolution Lab | 1 |
| CHEM 243 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| PHYS 111 | Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 111A | Physics I Lab | 1 |
| MATH 211 | Calculus III A | 3 |
| BNFO 236 | Programming for Bioinformatics II | 3 |
| Term Credits | 17 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| CHEM 244 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 244A | Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | 2 |
| PHYS 121 | Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 121A | Physics II Lab | 1 |
| Math Elective | 3-4 | |
| MGMT 290 | Business Law I | 3 |
| Physical Education: GUR Elective | 1 | |
| Term Credits | 16-17 | |
| Third Year | ||
| 1st Semester | ||
| Biology Functional Laboratory Elective | 4 | |
| Biology Cluster Elective | 3 | |
| MATH 333 | Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| HIST 213 | The Twentieth-Century World | 3 |
| Legal Foundations Elective | 3 | |
| Term Credits | 16 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| Biology Laboratory Elective | 3 | |
| Biology Cluster Elective | 4 | |
| HIST 378 | Medicine and Health Law in Modern America | 3 |
| IE 447 | Legal Aspects of Engineering | 3 |
| MGMT 390 | Principles of Business | 3 |
| Term Credits | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| 1st Semester | ||
| Biology Laboratory Elective | 3 | |
| Biology Cluster Elective | 3 | |
| HIST 310 | Co-op in Law, Technology, Culture and History I | 3 |
| IT 400 | Information Technology and the Law or Privacy and Information Technology or Digital Crime | 3 |
| Legal Foundations Elective | 3 | |
| Term Credits | 15 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| Biology Elective | 3 | |
| Biology Elective | 3 | |
| Legal Foundations Elective | 3 | |
| HSS 404 | Humanities Senior Seminar - History ( (LTC Section)) | 3 |
| HIST 375 or EVSC 335 | Legal Issues in Environmental History or Environmental Law | 3 |
| Term Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 128-129 | |
B.S. Double Major in Chemistry & Law, Technology and Culture
(125 credits minimum)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1st Semester | Credits | |
| CHEM 121 or CHEM 125 | Fundamentals of Chemical Principles I or General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 125A | General Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| CS 113 or BNFO 135 | Introduction to Computer Science or Programming for Bioinformatics | 3 |
| HUM 101 | English Composition: Writing, Speaking, Thinking I | 3 |
| MATH 111 | Calculus I | 4 |
| PHYS 111 | Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 111A | Physics I Lab | 1 |
| FRSH SEM | First-Year Seminar | 0 |
| Term Credits | 18 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| CHEM 122 or CHEM 126 | Fundamentals of Chemical Principles II or General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 124 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| MATH 112 | Calculus II | 4 |
| PHYS 121 | Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 121A | Physics II Lab | 1 |
| HUM 102 | English Composition: Writing, Speaking, Thinking II | 3 |
| Physical Education: GUR Elective | 1 | |
| Term Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| 1st Semester | ||
| CHEM 221 | Analytical Chemical Methods | 2 |
| CHEM 222 | Analytical Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 243 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| MATH 211 | Calculus III A | 3 |
| HIST 213 | The Twentieth-Century World | 3 |
| Physical Education: GUR Elective | 1 | |
| Term Credits | 15 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| CHEM 231 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 244 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 244A | Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | 2 |
| EPS 202 | Society, Technology, and the Environment | 3 |
| MGMT 290 | Business Law I | 3 |
| IT 400 | Information Technology and the Law or Privacy and Information Technology or Digital Crime | 3 |
| Term Credits | 17 | |
| Third Year | ||
| 1st Semester | ||
| CHEM 235 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| ECON 201 | Economics | 3 |
| Legal Foundations Elective | 3 | |
| IE 447 | Legal Aspects of Engineering | 3 |
| HIST 375 or EVSC 335 | Legal Issues in Environmental History or Environmental Law | 3 |
| Term Credits | 15 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| CHEM 340 | Chemistry and Engineering of Materials | 3 |
| CHEM 336 | Quantum Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 235A | Physical Chemistry II Laboratory | 2 |
| MATH 225 | Survey of Probability and Statistics | 1 |
| Legal Foundations Elective | 3 | |
| HIST 378 | Medicine and Health Law in Modern America | 3 |
| Term Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| 1st Semester | ||
| CHEM 473 | Biochemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 412 or R160 413 | Inorganic Chemistry or Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| HIST 310 | Co-op in Law, Technology, Culture and History I | 3 |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| Term Credits | 15 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| CHEM 480 | Instrumental Analysis | 2 |
| HSS 404 | Humanities Senior Seminar - History ( (LTC Section)) | 3 |
| Management: GUR Elective | 3 | |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| Term Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 125 | |
B.S. Double Major in Physics & Law, Technology and Culture - Astronomy Option
(127 credits minimum)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1st Semester | Credits | |
| HUM 101 | English Composition: Writing, Speaking, Thinking I | 3 |
| PHYS 111 | Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 111A | Physics I Lab | 1 |
| MATH 111 | Calculus I | 4 |
| CS 113 or CS 115 | Introduction to Computer Science or Introduction to Computer Science in C++ | 3 |
| CHEM 121 or CHEM 125 | Fundamentals of Chemical Principles I or General Chemistry I | 3 |
| FRSH SEM | First-Year Seminar | 0 |
| Term Credits | 17 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| PHYS 114 | Introduction to Data Reduction with Applications | 3 |
| PHYS 121 | Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 121A | Physics II Lab | 1 |
| MATH 112 | Calculus II | 4 |
| CHEM 122 or CHEM 126 | Fundamentals of Chemical Principles II or General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 124 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| Physical Education: GUR Elective | 1 | |
| Term Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| 1st Semester | ||
| MATH 211 | Calculus III A | 3 |
| MATH 225A | Survey of Probability and Statistics | 1 |
| PHYS 234 | Physics III | 3 |
| PHYS 231A | Physics III Lab | 1 |
| HIST 213 | The Twentieth-Century World | 3 |
| HUM 102 | English Composition: Writing, Speaking, Thinking II | 3 |
| Physical Education: GUR Elective | 1 | |
| Term Credits | 15 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| MATH 222 | Differential Equations | 4 |
| MATH 328 | Mathematical Methods for Scientists and Engineers | 3 |
| PHYS 335 | Introductory Thermodynamics | 3 |
| Legal Foundations Elective | 3 | |
| Legal Foundations Elective | 3 | |
| Term Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| 1st Semester | ||
| PHYS 418 | Fundamentals of Optical Imaging | 3 |
| PHYS 432 | Electromagnetism I | 3 |
| PHYS 320 | Astronomy and Astrophysics I | 3 |
| PHYS 430 | Classical Mechanics I | 3 |
| Legal Foundations Elective | 3 | |
| Term Credits | 15 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| PHYS 433 | Electromagnetism II | 3 |
| PHYS 321 | Astronomy and Astrophysics II | 3 |
| Math Elective | 3 | |
| HSS 404 | Humanities Senior Seminar - History ( (LTC Section) ) | 3 |
| IT 400 | Information Technology and the Law or Privacy and Information Technology or Digital Crime | 3 |
| HIST 310 | Co-op in Law, Technology, Culture and History I | 3 |
| Term Credits | 18 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| 1st Semester | ||
| PHYS 420 | Special Relativity | 3 |
| PHYS 442 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics | 3 |
| Elective (Math/Physics/Computer Science) | 3 | |
| IE 447 | Legal Aspects of Engineering | 3 |
| Management: GUR Elective | 3 | |
| Term Credits | 15 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| PHYS 322 | Observational Astronomy | 3 |
| PHYS 421 | General Relativity | 3 |
| PHYS 450 | Advanced Physics Lab | 3 |
| HIST 378 | Medicine and Health Law in Modern America | 3 |
| HIST 375 or EVSC 335 | Legal Issues in Environmental History or Environmental Law | 3 |
| Term Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 127 | |
B.S. Double Major in Physics & Law, Technology and Culture - Optical Science & Engineering Option
(127 credits minimum)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1st Semester | Credits | |
| HUM 101 | English Composition: Writing, Speaking, Thinking I | 3 |
| PHYS 111 | Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 111A | Physics I Lab | 1 |
| MATH 111 | Calculus I | 4 |
| CS 113 or CS 115 | Introduction to Computer Science or Introduction to Computer Science in C++ | 3 |
| CHEM 121 or CHEM 125 | Fundamentals of Chemical Principles I or General Chemistry I | 3 |
| FRSH SEM | First-Year Seminar | 0 |
| Term Credits | 17 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| PHYS 114 | Introduction to Data Reduction with Applications | 3 |
| PHYS 121 | Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 121A | Physics II Lab | 1 |
| MATH 112 | Calculus II | 4 |
| CHEM 122 or CHEM 126 | Fundamentals of Chemical Principles II or General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 124 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| Physical Education: GUR Elective | 1 | |
| Term Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| 1st Semester | ||
| MATH 211 | Calculus III A | 3 |
| MATH 225A | Survey of Probability and Statistics | 1 |
| PHYS 234 | Physics III | 3 |
| PHYS 231A | Physics III Lab | 1 |
| HUM 102 | English Composition: Writing, Speaking, Thinking II | 3 |
| Legal Foundations Elective | 3 | |
| Physical Education: GUR Elective | 1 | |
| Term Credits | 15 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| MATH 222 | Differential Equations | 4 |
| MATH 328 | Mathematical Methods for Scientists and Engineers | 3 |
| PHYS 335 | Introductory Thermodynamics | 3 |
| Legal Foundations Elective | 3 | |
| HIST 213 | The Twentieth-Century World | 3 |
| Term Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| 1st Semester | ||
| OPSE 301 | Introduction to Optical Science and Engineering | 3 |
| PHYS 418 | Fundamentals of Optical Imaging | 3 |
| PHYS 430 | Classical Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYS 432 | Electromagnetism I | 3 |
| HIST 310 | Co-op in Law, Technology, Culture and History I | 3 |
| Term Credits | 15 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| PHYS 433 | Electromagnetism II | 3 |
| PHYS 446 | Solid State Physics | 3 |
| OPSE 402 | High Power Laser and Photonics Applications | 3 |
| Legal Foundations Elective | 3 | |
| HIST 378 | Medicine and Health Law in Modern America | 3 |
| Elective (Physics/OPSE) | 3 | |
| Term Credits | 18 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| 1st Semester | ||
| PHYS 442 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics | 3 |
| IT 400 | Information Technology and the Law or Privacy and Information Technology or Digital Crime | 3 |
| Management: GUR Elective | 3 | |
| HIST 375 or EVSC 335 | Legal Issues in Environmental History or Environmental Law | 3 |
| Elective (Physics/OPSE/EE) | 3 | |
| Term Credits | 15 | |
| 2nd Semester | ||
| OPSE 610 | Virtual Instrumentation | 3 |
| PHYS 450 | Advanced Physics Lab | 3 |
| Elective (Physics/EE) | 3 | |
| IE 447 | Legal Aspects of Engineering | 3 |
| HSS 404 | Humanities Senior Seminar - History ( (LTC Section) ) | 3 |
| Term Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 127 | |
This curriculum represents the maximum number of credits per semester for which a student is advised to register. A full-time credit load is 12 credits. First-year students are placed in a curriculum that positions them for success which may result in additional time needed to complete curriculum requirements. Continuing students should consult with their academic advisor to determine the appropriate credit load.
