Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of General Studies in Law and Society
Law and society is an interdisciplinary field that examines how law works in practice in public administration, courts, the non-profit sector, policy, policing, and the justice system. A degree in law and society provides a strong background in how law works in practice. Students learn about legal history and legal policy, how law shapes managerial processes, how it shapes government and the system of justice, and how it affects ordinary people in every walk of life. Students can complete an internship for credit towards their degree. Past internship placements include: Johnson County District Attorney's Office, the City of Shawnee, Planned Parenthood, and Kansas City-area law firms.
Undergraduate Admission
Admission to KU
All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted. Consult the Office of Admissions for application deadlines and specific admission requirements.
Visit the International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of Admissions website.
B.A. or B.G.S. in Law & Society
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| LWS 330 | Introduction to Law & Society | 3 |
| LWS 332 | Methods in Law and Society | 3 |
| LWS 333 | The Pursuit of Rights: Law, Democracy & Power | 3 |
| LWS 443 | Theoretical Foundations of Law & Society | 3 |
| PUAD 333 | Hard Choices in Public Administration: _____ | 3 |
| PUAD 402 | Diversity and Social Equity in Public Administration | 3 |
| Capstone Course | ||
| LWS 699 | Capstone in Law and Society | 3 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Electives | ||
| Complete 3 courses from the following: | ||
| Legal Aspects of Business | ||
| Environmental Law | ||
| Topics in Law & Society: _____ | ||
| Stereotyping and Prejudice Across Cultures | ||
| Psychology and Social Issues | ||
| Psychology and the Law | ||
| Introduction to Public Administration | ||
| Administration of Justice | ||
| Conducting the People's Business Ethically | ||
| Concepts of Civil Society | ||
| Principles of Sociology | ||
| Principles of Social Problems | ||
| Global Ethnic and Racial Relations | ||
| Competing Perspectives on Crime and Deviance | ||
| American Racial and Ethnic Relations | ||
| Internship Experience | ||
| Research Experience | ||
| Directed Readings | ||
| Perspectives in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies | ||
| Policing the Womb | ||
| Gender, Sexuality and the Law | ||
Major Hours & Major GPA
While completing all required courses, majors must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
Major Hours
Satisfied by 30 hours of major courses.
Major Hours in Residence
Satisfied by a minimum of 15 hours of KU resident credit in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Hours
Satisfied by a minimum of 30 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Graduation GPA
Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major. GPA calculations include all junior/senior courses in the field of study including F’s and repeated courses. See the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.
A sample 4-year plan for the BA degree in Law and Society is available here: Law and Society BA, or by using the left-side navigation.
A sample 4-year plan for the BGS degree in Law and Society is available here: Law and Society BGS, or by using the left-side navigation.