Double Major in Legal Studies and Political Science

What is the Double Major in Legal Studies and Political Science?

This double major enables students to receive degrees in both Legal Studies and Political Science through a four-year program map. The two programs are especially complementary given law and politics are deeply intertwined and co-constitutive. Students will learn to navigate how legal systems affect governance, and how power impacts lawmaking and legal decision-making. They will acquire knowledge and skills that especially equip them to enter the legal profession, including law school.

How can I apply?

Although admission to the Double Major in Legal Studies and Political Science program is competitive, the specific grade average required for admission varies from year to year and preference will be given to applicants with the best qualifications. At a minimum, current Ontario secondary school student applicants to the program must complete the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with six 4U or 4M credits including English (ENG4U), and demonstrate proof of English-language proficiency. To learn more about the admissions process and apply, visit our Undergraduate Admissions website.

Experiential Learning: Internships, Practicums, and Community Engagement

To learn more about the Double Major in Legal Studies and Political Science program’s experiential learning opportunities (e.g., the practicum, the internship, and community engagement projects), check out the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities’ Experiential Learning Office.

What courses will I take?

Required first-year courses for Bachelor of Arts students completing a Double Major in Legal Studies and Political Science (15 credit hours):

LGLS 1000U – Foundation of Legal Studies
POSC 1000U – Introduction to Political Science
POSC 1200U – Introduction to Democracy in Theory & Practice
SSCI 1910U – Writing for the Social Sciences

One of:

COMM 1100U – Introduction to Communication Studies or
CRMN 1000U – Introduction to Criminal Justice or
PSYC 1000U – Introductory Psychology

Double Major core courses (105 credit hours):

LGLS 2100U – Public Law
LGLS 2101U – Private Law
LGLS 2200U – Legal Theory
LGLS 2940U – Legal Research Methods
POSC 2000U – Canadian Politics
POSC 2100U – Global Politics
CRMN 3040U – Restorative Justice
POSC 3000U – Policy, Democracy and Governance
POSC 3800U – Capitalism and Socialism
LGLS 4200U – Law and Social Change
POSC 4000U – International Politics and Policy

Two of:

POSC 2200U – Fundamentals of Policy Theory or
POSC 2300U – Mobilizing for Change or
POSC 2502U – Community Development and Social Change

Two of:

LGLS 2120U – International Law or
LGLS 2420U – Canadian Human Rights Law or
LGLS 2500U – Information and Privacy Law
One 1000- or 2000-level Legal Studies Elective

Two of:

LGLS 3200U – Sociology of Law or
LGLS 3220U – Philosophy of Law or
LGLS 3230U – Law and Globalization or
LGLS 3240U – Cultural Studies of Law or
LGLS 3520U – Law and Technology or
LGLS 3700U – Law and Power

One of:

LGLS 3303U – Disability and the Law or
LGLS 3310U – Indigenous Peoples, Law and the State in Canada or
LGLS 3320U – Race, Ethnicity and the Law or
LGLS 3300U – Gender, Sexuality and the Law

Three of:

POSC 3100U – Political Economy of Global Development or
POSC 3101U – Inequality, Environment and Development or
POSC 3102U – Race and Racism in Political Culture or
POSC 3300U – Building Sustainable Communities or
POSC 3301U – Eco-Justice or
POSC 3302U – Environment and Globalization or
POSC 3303U – Policies for Sustainability or
POSC 3310U – Indigenous Peoples, Sustainability and Development: A Global Perspective or
POSC 3600U – Politics of Education in Canada or
POSC 3700U – Technology, Politics and Social Theory or
POSC 3750U – American Politics and Political Culture or
POSC 3751U – Media, War and Conflict

One of:

POSC 3201U – Rural Communities or
POSC 3203U – Urban Development or
POSC 3500U – Equity Policy or
POSC 3501U – Politics and Poverty or
POSC 3601U – The Politics of Health or
POSC 3602U – Labour in the Global Economy or
POSC 3603U – The Politics of Housing

One of:

POSC 4300U – Special Topics in Political Science or
POSC 4310U – The Politics of Indigenous Rights

One of:

LGSL 4099U - Integrating Project or
POSC 4005U – Independent Study or
SSCI 4101U – Honours Thesis I

One of:

One 4000-level LGLS course or
SSCI 4098U – Practicum or
SSCI 4103U – Internship

One 3000- or 4000-level LGLS elective course

Eight FSSH General Electives

Total (120 credit hours)