Socio-legal Studies Major

The School of Political Science, Criminology and Sociology offers an interdisciplinary major in socio-legal studies. This program is designed to provide Bachelor of Arts students with an opportunity to examine law in its societal, political, and cultural context. It will appeal to students who wish to use the methods and perspectives of various academic disciplines to study legal issues and to use the conceptual framework of the law to illuminate empirical and theoretical concerns in the various disciplines. It is a field of study within the Faculty of Arts curriculum which helps students develop their ability to think clearly and to analyse arguments critically. It provides sound preparation for a variety of activities including teaching, public and social policy, public advocacy, business administration and government.

See course objectives.

A major in socio-legal studies consists of eight 12.5 point subjects totalling 100 points. It comprises:

• two first-year arts subjects (25 points) including Law In Society; and

• three socio-legal subjects at second-year level (37.5 points) including Law, Justice, and Social Change; and

• three socio-legal studies subjects at third-year level (37.5 points) including Law in Social Theory.

Students who commenced their degree before 2007 will need to complete 112.5 points toward this major in order to complete the major. For the specific major structure you must follow, refer to the handbook produced in the year you commenced your degree, available online at https://psc.unimelb.edu.au/.

If you have any questions about the major structure or subjects, please contact the Arts Student Centre.

Core Subject - First Year Subject

Core Subjects - Second/third-year subjects

Core Subjects - Third-year subject

First-year elective subjects

Second/third-year elective subjects

Students may choose their remaining three subjects from the following options. The inclusion of alternative subjects may be possible in consultation with the socio-legal studies convenor.

Indigenous People, History and the Law and Arts Law in Australia are third-year subjects only.