Legal Studies Program Description

The Legal Studies program is an interdisciplinary liberal arts major that provides multiple perspectives on legal issues and the conceptual frameworks of law. The program is housed within the Politics Department, but it is intended to appeal to students who wish to gain from a variety of disciplinary themes and methods.

Students who join our major have the opportunity to take courses with faculty from a range of backgrounds and disciplines in the Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts, including Law, but also Anthropology, Art, Economics, Environmental Studies, Feminist Studies, History, Latin American and Latino Studies, Literature, Music, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, and Sociology. This allows our students to engage their interests through different approaches and analytical frameworks.

Although the Legal Studies program may be of interest to students considering law school or law-related careers, the major is not organized as a "pre-law" preparation for law school. Instead it seeks to provide a broad academic platform from which students may pursue careers or advanced studies in various fields.

The Legal Studies program encourages students to participate in program events, such as our Speakers' Series, and to undertake law-related fieldwork or internships. Some students may also want to consider developing independent research projects on topics of special interest to them. In addition, the Legal Studies program encourages students to pursue additional academic opportunities while at UCSC. Possible programs include the UCDC Program, the Education Abroad Program (UCEAP), and the UC Center Sacramento (UCCS).