Dr. Bridgett A. King
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Department of Political Science
bridgett.king@uky.eduThe Law and Justice program focuses on the relationships between law, politics, and society in the U.S. and abroad. Bound up in the study of law, politics, and society are fundamental issues of justice - basic rights, liberties, and struggle for political and social equality - that the program emphasizes. Drawing on multiple disciplines, Law and Justice offers students an opportunity to gain expertise related to law and law-related careers across multiple disciplines. Students develop expertise in the topic of law and courts and acquire skills in analytics and logic; writing, composition, and communication; and the ability to conduct original research. They may also gain practical experience through the program’s internship component. The program’s training prepares students to contribute to the most pressing societal issues in law and justice.
Graduating from the Law and Justice program can be a critical first step toward various career paths. The foundational knowledge of law and justice acquired during the program, provides graduates with diverse opportunities to apply their skills in various settings. Whether you choose to work directly within the legal system or in related fields, the law and justice degree will provide a strong base for making meaningful contributions to your chosen career.
Potential Career Paths
In addition to completing the pre-major and core classes, majors pursue advanced studies across four areas: law and courts, justice and rights, analysis and logic, and law and letters. As an interdisciplinary major, students are provided with the opportunity to consider matters of law and justice from a variety of disciplinary perspectives including political science, philosophy, sociology, English, writing, rhetoric, and digital studies, and history.
The major is designed to provide students with a broad liberal arts education. Graduates leave the program having cultivated their analytical abilities and having exercised their written and spoken communication skills. Such disciplinary training leads to a wide variety of career options.
Any student earning a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree must complete a minimum of 39 hours at the 300+ level. These hours are generally completed by the major requirements. However, keep this hour requirement in mind as you choose your course work for the requirements in the major. See the complete description of College requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in the Arts and Sciences section of the Undergraduate Catalog.
Total Credit Hours - 30
Core Component (9 credit hours)
Law and Courts Component (12 credit hours, with no more than 9 hours from any non-LJ prefix)
Justice and Rights Component (6 credit hours)
Analysis and Logic Component (6 credit hours)
Law and Letters Component (9 credit hours)
Distribution Requirements
Students may not apply to their LJ major more than 18 credit hours that have already been applied to another major or minor program.
Total Hours - 51
Lawyers advise and represent clients on legal proceedings or transactions.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.
Median Salary
$145,760
per year in 2023
Number of Jobs
826,300
in 2023
Lawyers work for a variety of organizations, usually in office settings. Some work for federal, local, or state governments. Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Read MoreArbitrators, mediators, and conciliators facilitate negotiation and dialogue between disputing parties to help resolve conflicts outside of the court system.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.
Median Salary
$71,540
per year in 2023
Number of Jobs
9,100
in 2023
10 Year Job Outlook
500
new jobs (average)
Many arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators work for state or local governments or in the legal services industry.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Read MoreUnderstanding that over 70 percent of university students will change their declared major at least once during their college careers, the College of Arts and Sciences has developed an Exploratory Studies program for students who have yet to decide the specific field of study that most closely aligns both their personal interests and their professional career goals and objectives. The Exploratory Studies Program provides students with an extraordinarily diverse educational environment that includes coursework spanning Math and Natural Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences and provides students with the unique opportunity to explore multiple areas of interest during their first several semesters on campus. For more information please contact a recruiting representative at asrecruting@uky.edu.
While there are endless ways to create an unforgettable journey as a Wildcat, we can only think of one that gives you the chance to step outside the classroom and into exploring new parts of the world around you: participating in an Education Abroad opportunity! Whether it’s in a study, research, service, or internship program, taking your UK experience international with EA is the most hands-on way for you to expand your global perspective while making yourself a more well-rounded, marketable candidate to future employers no matter your field. As you take these first steps towards investing in your future, EA encourages you to take advantage of all the opportunities UK has to offer. Take a look at some of the many suggested opportunities UK Education Abroad & Exchanges has to complement your major! #ukyabroad
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Dr. Bridgett A. King
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Department of Political Science
bridgett.king@uky.eduCollege of Arts & Sciences
202 Patterson Office Tower
