As an interdisciplinary liberal arts degree, the master?s degree draws on perspectives from African American studies, anthropology, criminology, political science, sociology, history, law, and women?s, gender and sexuality studies. The degree is housed within the OHIO Center for Law, Justice & Culture (CLJC), an interdisciplinary teaching and research center focusing on law in relation to the social and political challenges of the 21st century. The program prepares graduates for careers in research and policy centers, public institutions, advocacy organizations, private companies, and nonprofit agencies, as well as for J.D. programs, Ph.D. programs, and research positions in universities and public agencies.

Program Learning Objectives:

Graduates of this program will demonstrate:

• Understanding of a law and society perspective built upon a critical approach to law in relation to society, culture, politics and power (Core Knowledge)
• Basic knowledge of social science data collection methods and the analytic techniques that scholars use to evaluate their data (Research Methods and Analysis)
• Ability to carry out graduate level academic research in law and society studies through project design, data collection, analysis and interpretation, and representation (Independent Research)
• Professional skills necessary for ethical and engaged scholarship and practice (Professionalism)

Program Overview:

The M.A. in Law, Justice & Culture is designed to offer graduate training in law and society studies, an interdisciplinary field focusing on the foundations and structures of institutions of justice and law in specific contexts, including the US as well as other western and non-western legal traditions. The MA degree is housed within the Center for Law, Justice & Culture, with faculty drawn from anthropology, criminology, political science, sociology, history, African American studies, women?s, gender and sexuality studies, and law.

This M.A. in Law, Justice & Culture is the first of its kind in Ohio and is one of a few in the United States. As a liberal arts program, it provides a broad view of law?s place in society as well as a theoretical investigation of the fundamentals of law and how it operates in comparative social and historical contexts, emphasizing a context-driven approach to law as ideology and practice.

Students may complete the program across two semesters of coursework on the Athens campus, or four semesters entirely through online coursework. The courses focus on: the theoretical and methodological traditions of law and society studies; law and society perspectives across the disciplines; and training in legal research and writing. All students must carry out graduate-level independent research by completing either a thesis or a master?s research essay through a capstone research course. The program emphasizes professionalism in academic presentation and communication through its curricular and extra-curricular components.

Through the M.A. program, students develop their analytical and conceptual thinking, legal and scholarly research and writing, ethical and public interest concerns, public advocacy skills, and active engagement with the challenges of law and justice in the twenty-first century.