The Major

Admission to the major is open to all. The introductory course, Legal 250, is available to majors beginning in the freshman year. Since Legal Studies is part of the New England Regional Student Program (NERSP), students from Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine with Legal Studies as their primary major may be eligible for a tuition reduction. Starting academic year 2012-2013, only sophomores, juniors and seniors are eligible for this tuition break. For more information, contact the Registrar’s Office. A cumulative average of 2.0, both within the major, and overall, is required for graduation. None of the courses listed below may be taken on a pass/fail basis.

Requirements

These requirements apply to students entering the University of Massachusetts in fall 2018 or later. For requirements for earlier entry years see archived Guides to Undergraduate Programs.

  1. 250 Introduction to Legal Studies
  2. Seven Legal Studies courses 200-400 level (excluding 250, 296, 298, 396, 450, 496, 498-499). One course must be an Integrative Experience (IE).
  3. 450 Legal Research and Writing (Junior Year Writing requirement)
  4. Three liberal arts law-related courses outside the major selected from a list prepared by the department and available on its website.
  5. Global Law & Society requirement - complete at least three courses (or nine credits) by choosing one of the following paths: (a) three courses from the Global Law & Society list (two must be Legal Studies, only one can be at the 100-level), (b) two courses study abroad, one class from the Global Law & Society list (c) six credits of foreign language and one class from the Global Law & Society list. Global Law & Society list is available on the department’s website.

Honors Work

The Legal Studies Program encourages all students in the major to consider participating in Honors Colloquia which can be designed ad hoc by faculty members as supplemental to a Legal Studies course.  Legal Studies Program faculty are open to being approached by students wishing to establish Honors Colloquia or Honors Independent Studies, or to create Honors Thesis or Project committees.

Legal Studies majors are encouraged to consider applying for the Departmental Honors track.  This provides students with the opportunity to extend and deepen their learning through Honors Colloquia and by conducting independent research culminating in an Honors Capstone thesis or project while working closely with a Legal Studies faculty member. 

To join Legal Studies Honors, acceptance into both the Commonwealth Honors College (CHC) and the Legal Studies Honors track is required.  Criteria, deadlines, and process for applying to join the CHC can be found on their website.  

The Honors track in Legal Studies requires at least two 300 level or above Legal Studies courses with attached Honors Colloquia and an Honors Thesis (Legal 499Y/499T; 6 credit minimum) or Honors Project (Legal 499P; 6 credit minimum).  Honors students should begin working with the faculty member who will serve as their Honors advisor for their thesis/project to develop and submit their research proposal (Form 499Y) by the end of the second semester of junior year.  Students complete the research during the first semester of the senior year, submitting the thesis/project proposal at the end of that semester (Form 499T/P).  Thesis writing/project completion is undertaken during the second semester of senior year. 

Additional information about Commonwealth Honors College can be found on their website.  More information about Legal Studies Departmental Honors can be found on the departmental website and by contacting the Legal Studies Honors Director, Leah Wing, lwing@legal.umass.edu.

Independent Study Opportunities

Legal Studies offers Independent Study opportunities to undergraduate students through LEGAL 296, 396, 496, 596, 696 and 796. A faculty sponsor is required, and the credit does not fulfill any Legal Studies major requirements.

Internships

A Legal Studies internship is a field-based learning experience in a law-related organization, office, or government agency that provides a public service.  According to University regulations, students who have completed 45 credits and have a GPA of 2.0 or higher are eligible to register for an internship.  There may be additional requirements for specific Legal Studies internships.

Legal Studies encourages students to pursue internships that will bridge the gap between the theory and practice of law. Internship opportunities are available on our website. For more information, contact Alan Gaitenby, gaitenby@legal.umass.edu.

Five College Legal Studies

Legal Studies is allied with law and law-related faculty in the four area colleges. Students at one school may take courses at any of the other schools. For courses to apply to your major requirements, course approval is given by the Director of the Legal Studies program.