Getting Started (Majors Guide)

College: SBS

 (Revised Spring 2018)  

How to Explore/Get Started in the Major

Suggested General Education Courses

Under the new guidelines students are still required to take two courses, one in U.S. Diversity and one in Global Diversity. Students entering in Fall 2018 are expected to take one of these diversity courses, either U.S. or Global, in their first year on campus.  For Fall 2018 Registration, look for courses with DU (formerly U) and DG (formerly G) to help students stay on track.  Any course labled DU will satisfy the requirement for a U.S. diversity course and any course labeled DG will satisfy the the requirement for Global diversity course. Course planning guidelines, including guidelines for students, are available at www.umass.edu/gened.

Majors should take a broad range of liberal arts courses in meeting these requirements.

Suggested Major and Prerequisite courses

Required prerequisites:
LEGAL 250 is required of all majors and is a prerequisite for most of our 300- and 400-level courses. It should be taken in freshman or sophomore year.

Transfer students should take LEGAL 250 in their first semester on campus and follow the requirements listed below. They cannot take LEGAL 450, the Junior Year Writing Requirement, until they have completed LEGAL 250 and ENGLWRIT 112 (College Writing).

How to Declare the Major

Students can declare when they enter the university or at any time in their UMass career by scheduling an advising appointment via the department website.

Transfer Students:

Transfers should schedule an advising appointment through the department website as soon as they arrive on campus.

Summary of Requirements for the Major

Minimum total # of credits required: 37

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.

  • LEGAL 250
  • Seven 200-, 300-, or 400-level Legal Studies courses including one Integrative Experience course in Legal Studies, excluding LEGAL 250, 296, 298, 396, 398R, 450, 496 and 498-499.
  • LEGAL 450
  • Three Law-Related Liberal Arts courses outside of Legal Studies (list of accepted courses available on the department website).
  • Three courses of Global Law & Society work. Students may choose one of the following options: Option 1 - three courses from the Global Law & Society list (two must be Legal courses and only one may be at the 100 level; list is available on department website); or Option 2 - two courses of Study Abroad work and one class from the Global Law & Society list; or Option 3 - two foreign language courses and one class from the Global Law & Society list. The Legal Studies and Law-Related Liberal Arts courses used to fulfill the Global Law & Society requirement can also count toward the seven 200-, 300-, or 400-level Legal Studies courses requirement or the Law-Related Liberal Arts requirement.

Is there a minor? If so, what are the requirements?
There is no minor.

Additional notes:

  • Honors courses, colloquia and independent studies are offered periodically by the faculty and honors students are encouraged to make their interest in honors work known to the faculty.
  • Legal Studies faculty are supportive of students who wish to engage in independent studies, internships, the Undergraduate Research Engagement Program, or a study abroad program.
  • For more information on special opportunities and programs offered through the Legal Studies Department, including internships, please refer to the Guide to Undergraduate Programs or the Legal Studies website at polsci.umass.edu/legal.

For further information, contact:

Barbara Ciesluk, Thompson 310, ciesluk@polsci.umass.edu
Amy Grieger, Thompson 302, agrieger@umass.edu
Adrian Grace, Thompson 308, amgrace@polsci.umass.edu

Or visit the Department’s website at http://polsci.umass.edu/
our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/UMass-Amherst-Department-of-Political-Science/185778744792124
Twitter at https://twitter.com/umasspolsci/
Linked In at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2312224/profile