Law and Society at Acadia University
Law and Society is an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary undergraduate program in the Faculty of Arts. Students have the choice to complete an Honours, Major, or Minor in Law and Society (LAWS).
This page explains the curriculum requirements for these different LAWS options.
If you are a new LAWS student who is preparing to select their first year courses, please visit the First Year Students page. This page will guide you through the process of selecting courses.
Students undertaking Honours in Law and Society must complete a minimum of 51 credit hours in Law and Society and cross-listed courses. There are 10 required courses (30 credit hours), as well as four courses (12 credit hours) that must be completed from Core Law and Society courses. The remaining three courses (9 credit hours) can be chosen from the Law and Society cross-listed courses. Of the courses completed for Honours, 21 credit hours must be at the 3000/4000 level.
Required Law and Society Courses for Honours
- LAWS 1003 Introduction to Law and Society
- LAWS 2003 Theories of Law and Justice
- LAWS 3003 Approaches to Law and Society
- LAWS 4003 Issues in Law and Society
- LAWS 407T Honours Thesis 1
- LAWS 408T Honours Thesis 2
- PHIL 2813 Logic and Critical Thinking
- POLS 1303 Introduction to Law, Politics, and Government or SOCI 1013 Introduction to Canadian Society
- ENGL 1413 or 1483 Writing and Reading Critically 1
- ENGL 1423 or 1493 Writing and Reading Critically 2
Major in Law and Society
Students undertaking a Major in Law and Society must complete 42 credit hours in Law and Society and cross-listed courses. There are eight required courses (24 credit hours), as well as four courses (12 credit hours) that must be completed from Core Law and Society courses. The remaining two courses (6 credit hours) can be chosen from the Law and Society cross-listed courses. Of the courses completed for the Major, 18 credit hours must be at the 3000/4000 level.
Required Law and Society Courses for Major
- LAWS 1003 Introduction to Law and Society
- LAWS 2003 Theories of Law and Justice
- LAWS 3003 Approaches to Law and Society
- LAWS 4003 Issues in Law and Society
- PHIL 2813 Logic and Critical Thinking
- POLS 1303 Introduction to Law, Politics, and Government or SOCI 1013 Introduction to Canadian Society
- ENGL 1413 or 1483 Writing and Reading Critically 1
- ENGL 1423 or 1493 Writing and Reading Critically 2
Second Major in Law and Society
Students undertaking a Second Major in Law and Society must complete 36 credit hours in Law and Society and cross-listed courses. There are six required courses (18 credit hours), as well as four courses (12 credit hours) that must be completed from the Core Law and Society courses. The remaining two courses (6 credit hours) can be chosen from the Law and Society cross-listed courses. Of the courses completed for the Second Major, 18 credit hours must be at the 3000/4000 level. The requirements for a Second Major vary by faculty and program of study. In addition to the requirements here, students pursuing a Second Major should consult with their Academic Advisor to ensure that they will meet the requirements for their specific program of study.
Required Law and Society Courses for Second Major
- LAWS 1003 Introduction to Law and Society
- LAWS 2003 Theories of Law and Justice
- LAWS 3003 Approaches to Law and Society
- LAWS 4003 Issues in Law and Society
- PHIL 2813 Logic and Critical Thinking
- POLS 1303 Introduction to Law, Politics, and Government or SOCI 1013 Introduction to Canadian Society
Minor in Law and Society
A Minor in Law and Society has two required courses: LAWS 1003 and LAWS 2003. The remaining courses for the Minor are chosen from Law and Society courses and cross-listed courses. Other than LAWS courses, no more than 12 credit hours can be from a single discipline.
Required Law and Society Courses for Minor
- LAWS 1003 Introduction to Law and Society
- LAWS 2003 Theories of Law and Justice
The requirements for a Minor vary by faculty and program of study:
- BA students are required to complete a minimum of 24 credit hours for their Minor program.
- BBA students are required to complete a minimum of 24 credit hours for their Minor program.
- BSc students are generally required to complete a minimum of 18 credit hours for their Minor program, but this depends on program and specialization. If you are a science student interested in completing a LAWS Minor, you should consult with your program's Academic Advisor in order to confirm your specific minor requirements.
In addition to the requirements outlined here, students pursuing a Minor should consult with their Academic Advisor to ensure that they will meet the requirements for their specific program of study.