Law and Society, Bachelor of Arts
The Law and Society major offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of law and legal institutions, their impact on society, and society’s impact on them. The major is organized around the central theme of understanding law as an instrument of political and social change and examines questions concerning how law matters in people’s lives; how law and law–like systems of rules empower and constrain individuals, groups, organizations and communities; and how the structures and values in social institutions shape and are shaped by law.
Learning Outcomes. Students will:
- Demonstrate knowledge of law, legal phenomena and legal institutions from a variety of perspectives outside the discipline of law, with a focus on the relationship between law and political and social change.
- Initiate, develop, and present independent research addressing and analyzing the relationship between law and society.
- Develop written and oral communication skills to express informed opinions about issues in law and society.
Credits Required.
| Law and Society Major |
42 |
| General Education |
42 |
| Electives |
36 |
| Total Credits Required for B.A. Degree |
120 |
Prerequisites. Prerequisites for individual courses include ANT 315 which requires at least one course in either ANT or LAW, and ECO 215 which requires ECO 101.
Co-Coordinators. Professors Michael Yarbrough (646-557-4615, myarbrough@jjay.cuny.edu) and Ke Li (212-237-8186, kli@jjay.cuny.edu), Department of Political Science
Advisor. Ms. Tatyanna Robinson, Academic Advisement Center (tarobinson@jjay.cuny.edu)
Advising resources. Law & Society Advising Resources (including a Sample Four Year Degree Map). . Law & Society Major Checklist
Experiential learning opportunities. Students in the Law and Society major have various opportunities for experiential learning. They can participate in one of four internship programs during their junior and senior years. The Judicial Internship (LWS 378) places students with trial court judges in N.Y. state courts. The New York City Internship program (POL 406), places students in the local offices of city, state, and federal elected representatives. Lastly, students can apply to intern in the New York State Legislature in Albany for a semester, or in Washington, D.C. during the summer term. Students can also engage in undergraduate research opportunities, either working individually with a faculty member as a research assistant or on their own project or with a group of three or more students working collaboratively with a faculty member. Finally, our students can also join the nationally recognized and award-winning Model United Nations Club.
Additional information. Students who enrolled for the first time at the College or changed to this major in September 2020 or thereafter must complete the major in the form presented here. Students who enrolled prior to that date may choose the form shown here or the earlier version of the major. A copy of the earlier version may be obtained in the 2019-20 Undergraduate Bulletin.
Part One. Introductory Courses
Required
| POL 101 | American Government & Politics | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| LWS 200 | Introduction to Law and Society | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 9
Part Two. Skills
Required
| LWS 225 | Research Methods in Law and Society | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 3
Part Three. Foundations
(Two courses in this area must be at the 300-level or above)
Category A: American Legal Foundations
Select two (one course must be at 300-level or above)
| HIS 277 | American Legal History | 3 |
| POL 235 | Judicial Processes and Politics | 3 |
| POL 301 | Constitutional Powers | 3 |
| POL 305 | Constitutional Rights and Liberties | 3 |
Category B: International Legal Foundations
Select one
| ANT 315 | Systems of Law, Justice and Injustice Across Cultures | 3 |
| POL 250 | International Law and Justice | 3 |
| POL 320 | International Human Rights | 3 |
Category C: Sociological Foundations
Select one
| SOC 206 | The Sociology of Conflict and Dispute Resolution | 3 |
| SOC 232 | Social Stratification | 3 |
| SOC 302 | Social Problems | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 12
Part Four: Philosophy/Jurisprudence/Ethics
Select oneTotal Credit Hours: 3
Part Five: Societal and Political Change
Select four courses, or two courses plus a six credit internship (LWS 378, POL 406, POL 407, POL 408, or three courses plus a three-credit internship (LWS 375, POL 277). Only one 200-level course and a maximum of six credits of internship can be applied towards Part Five of the major. All students must take at least one course dealing with social change and race, gender, the LGBTQ community, or ethnicity (POL 313 or POL 318 or POL 319 or LLS 322 mentioned in the note below).
| ANT 330 | American Cultural Pluralism, Justice and the Law | 3 |
| ECO 215 | Economics of Regulation and the Law | |
| LLS 322 | Latinx Struggles for Civil Rights & Social Justice | 3 |
| LWS 330 | Law in Everyday Life | 3 |
| LWS 385 | Faculty Mentored Research Experience in Law and Society | 3 |
| POL 308 | State Constitutional Law and Politics | 3 |
| POL 313/LAW 313 | The Law and Politics of Race Relations | 3 |
| POL 316 | The Politics of Rights | 3 |
| POL 318 | The Law and Politics of LGBTQ Rights | 3 |
| POL 319 | Gender and Law | 3 |
| POL 344 | The Law and Politics of Immigration | 3 |
| SOC 305 | The Sociology of Law | 3 |
LLS 322, POL 313, POL 318, POL 319: All students must take at least one course dealing with social change and race, gender, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.
Internship Options
(Each internship requires permission of the instructor)
| LWS 375 | Law and Society Internship | 3 |
| LWS 378 | Law and Society Internship Intensive | 6 |
| POL 277 | Political Science Internship | 3 |
| POL 406 | Seminar and Internship in New York City Government and Politics | 6 |
| POL 407 | New York State Assembly/Senate Session Internship Program | 15 |
| POL 408 | CUNY Washington, D.C. Summer Internship Program | 6 |
Total Credit Hours: 12
Part Six: Senior Capstone
Required
| LWS 425 | Colloquium for Research in Law and Society | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 3
Total Credit Hours: 42