Legal Studies
Office of Interdisciplinary Degree Programs
College of Arts and Sciences
203 Clemens Hall
North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260-4670
Phone: 716.645.2245
Fax: 716.645.3640
Web: cas.buffalo.edu/programs/idp/ugrad/
Lee Dryden
Director
dryden@buffalo.edu
About the Department
The Legal Studies concentration of the Social Sciences Interdisciplinary major is designed for students who are interested in studying the law, legal processes, legal institutions and the role of law in society. The program offers a multidisciplinary perspective on the law in its social and political context, as an instrument of social order, and as a means of social change. It has academic rather than vocational emphasis. Although it is appropriate for students interested in law school, Legal Studies does not necessarily confer advantage for law school admission.
Degrees Offered
Undergraduate: B.A. in Social Sciences Interdisciplinary
Concentration: Legal Studies
About Our Degrees
Acceptance Criteria
Minimum GPA of 2.0 overall.
Minimum grade of "C" in the following: HIS 161 or HIS 162, and PSC 101.
Acceptance Information
Deadlines: Rolling
Minimum required GPA: 2.0 overall
Number of Accepted Majors (2003-2004): 113
Total number of majors currently enrolled: 203
Degree Requirements
Please see the Undergraduate Catalog.
Transfer Policy
Transfer students must first apply to the university and meet the university’s transfer admission GPA requirements. Applications for students are then forwarded to the Office of Interdisciplinary Degree Programs for review and course equivalency evaluation. Newly admitted transfer students who have completed the prerequisite requirements or have completed 60 or more credit hours at their transfer school are accepted to the major on a provisional basis, with full admission dependent upon completion of prerequisite requirements and attaining a minimum UB GPA of 2.0 within a specified time frame.
Courses from two-year colleges cannot be used toward fulfillment of the advanced-level course requirements in any of the interdisciplinary programs. At least 50 percent of coursework toward the major must be completed at UB.
About Our Courses
Each of the Interdisciplinary Degree Programs' concentrations offers a curriculum that allows students to combine coursework from three or more departments in the College of Arts and Sciences. In aulition, a number of interdisciplinary and special-interest courses are offered through the IDP. There are also options to incorporate courses from other areas of the university allowing students to obtain a broad range of skills and education.
The typical class size for:
Freshman/introductory courses is: 50-250
Sophomore/intermediate courses is: 25-50
Upper level/advanced courses is: 35-45
In the Legal Studies program, what do student teaching assistants (TA's) do?
There are no teaching assistants in IDP. Many courses in the social sciences interdisciplinary program’s curricula originate in other departments, where teaching assistants may be assigned instructional or grading duties.
Suggested Introductory Courses
- HIS 161 U.S. History I or HIS 162 U.S. History II
- PHI 239 Law and Morality
- PSC 101 Introduction to American Politics
- PSC 215 Law and the Political Process
- A statistics course
For course descriptions, please see the Undergraduate Catalog.
About Our Faculty
The IDP faculty, though limited in number, not only teach courses applicable to the program's degree tracks, but are also involved in the advisement of IDP majors, a function that is vitally important for students selecting courses from a number of different departments.
Special Academic Opportunities
The interdisciplinary degree programs offer an opportunity to focus studies on a particular topic whose brealih and diversity overlap several departments in the faculty.
Internships
The interdisciplinary degree program in Legal Studies includes an opportunity for practical fieldwork in an internship experience. The primary academic emphasis of the internship notwithstanding, many graduates have found the experience beneficial when seeking employment.
Extracurricular Activities
See the UB Student Association.
Complementary Program and Courses
Majors that Complement Legal Studies
- English
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Sociology
Minors that Complement Legal Studies
- English
- Philosophy of Law
- Political Science
- Sociology
Career Information
Alumni have found employment in the following fields:
- Administrative assistant at National Corporate Research
- Financial representative at Jacobi Hosptial
- Legal administrative assistant at Andrews, Sanchez and Amigone
- Legal aide with the City of Buffalo
- Legal assistant at Honen and Wood
- Legal secretary with Siegel, Kellehre and Kahn
- Paralegal assistant at Hurwitz and Fine
- Paralegal at Ziller, Marsh and Lang, LLP
- Paralegal with Acea M Mosey, Esq.
- Patrol officer with Amherst Police Department
- State trooper with New York State Police
Career Hints
While the IDP tracks were not developed primarily to train students for specific careers, they are intended to provide an academic background relevant to a wide range of occupations and fields of graduate study.
Courses outside the major that could improve employment opportunities:
Personal computing courses (i.e, word processing, spreadsheets, database)
Post-undergraduate opportunities:
- Criminal Justice at SUNY College Buffalo
- English at University at Buffalo
- Law school at New England School of Law
- Law school at Tulane University
- Law school at University at Buffalo
- Management at University at Buffalo
- Urban Planning at University at Buffalo
What percentage of graduates goes on to graduate school?
60-65%
What percentage of graduates goes on to find related employment?
25-30%