The Law and Society Minor is an interdisciplinary and experiential approach to the study of law. This 18-credit, upper-level learning opportunity is designed to help students understand law in order to critically analyze it and use it as an instrument of change. Students will be introduced to law and society scholarship through courses taught by University of Maryland’s diverse faculty as well as law faculty from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. Coursework will challenge students’ assumptions about law and its function in society, encouraging them to think creatively and critically in coursework, internships, research and other field work.
Academic tracks: The students will have the opportunity to tailor their minor experience to specific academic interests through topical tracks.
| Curricular Track Options |
|---|
| Constitutionalism & International Law |
| Immigration, Race, Gender and Ethnicity |
| Crime & Punishment |
| Student Proposed Track (approve by department) |
Practical Experiences: The Law and Society Minor draws inspiration from the University’s proximity to the nation’s capital, which offers incredibly real world internship, research projects, and field work opportunities to its students. Students will apply concepts studied in the classroom to the real world through a required law related internship experience and a breadth of events, activities and trips throughout the academic year. For example, students will have the chance to visit the Supreme Court, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, and administrative law courts in the nation’s capital. Very few public universities can provide opportunities for students to visit and work in Congress, federal and state courts, federal agencies like the Department of Justice and Department of State, or for international centers/organizations like the RFK Memorial Center for Human Rights, the World Bank, and the U.S. National Central Bureau of Interpol. This breadth of practical opportunity makes this minor program very unique.
Collaboration: MLaw's collaboration with with the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law provides faculty, classes and other resources to the minor. The law school faculty will teach a minimum of two elective courses in the minor curriculum. Further, undergraduates can work with law school faculty and students outside of the classroom, as well as make use of ongoing activities and resources that take place at the law school.
Due to the challenging curriculum, numerous practical experience opportunities, and collaboration with a great law school, this interdisciplinary Law and Society minor is one of the first of its kind and a benchmark for similar programs to follow.
Yes. As long as you have satisfied all application requirements, you may apply for Spring admission in the fall of the same academic year. For 2024 Spring admission, best consideration is October 31, 2023.
All applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. If you applied during the Fall or Spring of an academic year for admission in the following year, you should hear back within that academic school year. Most times, decisions come within 4-6 weeks of application submission, however, response time varies based on the amount of applications up for review. It is also important to check your spam or junk folders of your email as application decisions are sometimes lost in inbox clutter.
