Minor in Law and Society
Why study Law and Society?
Law affects all aspects of our lives. It structures our social, economic and political relationships, it allocates property, it defines crime and deviance, and it frames controversial ethical, moral and political debates. As the influence of legal institutions in society grows, it becomes increasingly important for students to have an informed understanding of how law works and how it affects social relations. In this minor program, students will study law in an interdisciplinary way – not as a set of rules, but as an important discourse within society (in Quebec, in Canada and globally). Students will study issues such as governance, crime, conflict and social justice from the perspectives of sociology, history, anthropology, political science and philosophy, among others.
Program details
The Minor in Law and Society (24 credits) must be combined with an honours, specialization or major program.
Minimum cut-off averages
- Quebec CEGEP: 20
- High School: C+
- University Transfers (internal/external): C
- Bacc. français: 11
- International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma: 26
Course requirements for admission
None. You must meet Concordia’s minimum admission requirements.
Minimum cut-off averages should be used as indicators. The cut-off data may change depending on the applicant pool. Applicants who meet the stated minimum requirements are not guaranteed admission to these programs.
We consider complete applications year round and we give priority to applicants who apply by official deadlines. Late applications will be considered if places are still available.
| Fall term deadline: | |
|---|---|
| Canadian citizen or permanent resident |
March 1 |
| International Students | February 1 |
| Winter term deadline: | |
| Canadian citizen or permanent resident |
November 1 |
| International students | September 1 |
We reserve the right to close admission to a program at any time after the official deadline without prior notice.
1) Introduction (3 credits)
All students must take the following course, preferably in the first year of the program.
- ANTH 285/SOCI 285/HIST 285/POLI 285 Introduction to Law and Society
2) Analytical tools and contexts (6 credits)
Students must take TWO of the following courses, selecting one course from each of two of the following units. Students whose major program is in one of the following units must draw from the other units. Another relevant 200-level course in these or another unit may be substituted with permission of the program advisor.
- Anthropology ANTH 202 (Introduction to Culture)
- History HIST 205 (History of Canada, Post-Confederation)
- Political Science POLI/SCPA 204 (Introduction to Canadian Politics)
- Sociology SOCI 261 (Social Problems)
3) Approved courses (15 credits)
Students must take FIVE of the following courses, no more than 3 credits of which may be at the 200-level, and no more than 12 credits of which may be from any one department. Another relevant course (at the 300- or 400-level) may be substituted with permission of the program advisor.
200-level
- PSYC 242 Psychology and the Law
- SOCI 262 Social Deviance
- SOCI 263 Juvenile Crime and Delinquency
300-level
- ANTH/SOCI 380 Contemporary Issues in Human Rights
- ANTH/SOCI 363 Law and Society
- FPST 301 The Indian Act*
- FPST 321 First Peoples and Justice
- HIST 309 Law and Society in Canadian History**
- HIST 315 Rights and Freedoms in Canadian Society
- PHIL 343 Philosophy of Law: General Jurisprudence
- PHIL 345 Legal Philosophy: Legal Rights and Duties
- POLI 311 International Public Law
- POLI 320 Development of Western Legal Systems
- POLI 324 Parliament and the Charter***
- POLI 328 Public Policy and the Politics of Equality
- POLI 350 Canadian and Quebec Law
- POLI 388 Human Rights and International Justice
- RELI 312 Justice and Social Conflict in a Globalized World
- SOCI 362 Crime and Justice
*: Students who have received credit for POLI 314B may not take this course for credit.
**: Students who have received credit for HIST 398P may not take this course for credit.
***: Students who have received credit for POLI 398O may not take this course for credit.
Please consult the Undergraduate Class Schedule for a complete list of current courses.
