The Law & Society program was established in the early 1970s and is one of the oldest undergraduate programs of its kind in North America. Law is one of the most significant expressions of a modern society's social and political development. In recent years, social scientists from many disciplines have analyzed the interplay between law and society. We live in a period of widespread public interest in law that arises from a concern with problems of social justice, social control and deviance.

The academic disciplines - anthropology, economics, history, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology - have increasingly focused on such issues as the nature and origin of law; law-making and law breaking; rights and obligations; freedom and responsibility. These are matters of increasing concern to teachers, social workers, businesspersons, doctors and public servants whose professional responsibilities demand a knowledge of the relationship of law to their own fields.

The goals of the Law & Society program are:

• to affirm the intellectual importance of the study of law and society and law in society;
• gain an understanding of the law in its broader social cultural context and the ability to analyze issues from many perspectives;
• and to sharpen the appreciation of law as part of the active daily life of the student.

Please note: Law and Society is not a pre-law preparatory program.

Questions?

Contact us at goyork@yorku.ca