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 the University Registrar website.
B.A. or B.G.S. in Law & Society
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core 34 General Education | 34 | |
| The KU Core 34 is comprised of 34-35 credit hours typically completed during the first two years of study. The Core 34 consists of the following requirements: English (6), Communications (3), Math & Statistics (3), Natural & Physical Sciences with lab (4-5), Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 in two different disciplines), Arts & Humanities (6 in two different disciplines), US Culture (3), and Global Culture (3) | ||
LWS 330 is a required course of the major. Students are strongly advised to satsify 3 credits of their Core 34 Social and Behavioral Sciences by taking this course. | ||
| Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) Degree Requirements | 16-21 | |
| Students will follow the BA or BGS degree specific requirements based on their degree selection. BA students will demonstrate proficiency in a Non-English Language, complete a Quantitative Literacy course, a Laboratory or Field Experience, and two semesters of Writing. BGS students will complete a minor, two certificates, or a second major and a Career Preparation Course. Please see the College's undergraduate tab for more detailed information on these requirements. | ||
1 credit hour of a Laboratory of Field Experience, 6 credit hours of Writing, and 3 credit hours of Quantitative Literacy are required for all BA students. These requirements will be met through the completion of the KU Core 34. | ||
| Major Requirements | ||
| 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 350 | Public Policy and Democracy | 3 |
| PUAD 401 | Administration of Justice | 3 |
| PUAD 402 | Diversity and Social Equity in Public Administration | 3 |
| Major Electives | 6 | |
| Complete 2 courses from the following. NOTE: some courses may require additional prerequisites. | ||
| Legal Issues and the African American | ||
| The Politics of Racial Injustice in the United States | ||
| Legal Aspects of Business | ||
| Environment and History | ||
| Environmental Policy Analysis | ||
| Environmental Law | ||
| Environmental Geopolitics | ||
| Community Resilience | ||
| Environmental Justice and Public Policy | ||
| The Politics of Public Health | ||
| Latina/o/x Civil Rights Movements | ||
| History, Women, and Diversity in the U.S. | ||
| Law and Society in America | ||
| Topics in Law & Society: _____ | ||
| Constitutional Law: Governmental Powers | ||
| Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties | ||
| Psychology and the Law | ||
| Collaboration in Public Administration | ||
| Ethics in Public Service | ||
| Ethics in Public Service | ||
| Generating, Allocating and Managing Public Resources | ||
| Managing People in Public Organizations | ||
| Principles of Sociology | ||
| Principles of Social Problems | ||
| American Racial and Ethnic Relations | ||
| Global Ethnic and Racial Relations | ||
| Competing Perspectives on Crime and Deviance | ||
| Career Exploration and Planning: _____ | ||
| Internship Experience | ||
| Research Experience | ||
| Directed Readings | ||
| Perspectives in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies | ||
| Policing the Womb | ||
| Gender, Sexuality and the Law | ||
| General Electives | 40-35 | |
| Students will need to complete additional general elective credits to reach the required 120 hours. | ||
| Capstone Course | ||
| LWS 699 | Capstone in Law and Society | 3 |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
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 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 12 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.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Develop and apply knowledge of legal institutions, the link between law and policy making, and law-like action in non-governmental settings.
- Develop knowledge of values of equity and procedural justice, and the ability to use these values when analyzing legal institutions and the application of law in both governmental and non-governmental settings.
- Develop basic knowledge of research skills using legal settings or public law as the context.