BA in Legal Studies

Law in historical, social and political context

Legal Studies is UB's most flexible pathway to a career in law. Unlike a single-discipline law degree, Legal Studies is an interdisciplinary major that examines law through the lenses of philosophy, history, sociology, political science and psychology, giving students a richer, broader foundation for your career.

Program highlights

Explore specialized topics such as environmental law, international law and juvenile justice
Advanced coursework in constitutional law, civil liberties, human rights, criminal justice and legal advocacy
Strong emphasis on analytical reasoning, research and written communication
Internship opportunities that provide practical exposure to legal and policy-related settings

What you'll learn

By completing the BA in Legal Studies, you will:

Understand the structures, functions and principles of the American legal and governmental systems
Analyze law through historical, political, philosophical and social perspectives
Examine how law influences social institutions, public policy and human behavior
Understand the development and interpretation of the U.S. Constitution and the role of the courts
Complete coursework that draws heavily from political science, sociology, history and philosophy
Develop strong analytical, research and writing skills for evaluating legal arguments and evidence

Crime and Punishment in America
Empirical Political Science
Native American Law and Politics
Protecting Civil Liberties

Explore the course catalog

Career outcomes

Graduates of the BA in Legal Studies pursue careers or further study in areas such as:

Compliance officer
Judicial clerk
Law school
Legal assistant
Legal policy analyst
Non-profit legal advocate

Add a minor

For students interested in how laws affect individuals and communities or how organizations advocate for change, these minors can complement your Legal Studies degree by providing additional perspectives on public service, policy and community impact.

Health and Human Services minor

Connect global issues to health, social services and community support
Build skills in communication, interviewing and human services practice
Learn how values and cultural differences shape the provision of hhs
Prepare for work or graduate study in global health, public service or humanitarian fields

More about the HHS minor

Nonprofit Leadership minor

Understand how nonprofit organizations influence policy and advocate for communities
Build skills in governance, fundraising, program evaluation and organizational leadership
Examine the relationship between law, public policy and civic engagement
Gain experience thinking critically about social issues and institutional change

More about the Nonprofit Leadership minor

Combined degree option

Earn your Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies AND your Juris Doctor (JD) in just six years–one full year less than the traditional route, saving time, tuition and launching your legal career sooner.

BA Legal Studies/JD Juris Doctor (3+3)

Student spotlight

Legal Studies

“Each semester, I look forward to the plethora of classes I can take and am excited to learn about different academic disciplines. I really enjoyed being able to combine my interests within IDP: political science, sociology, and law.”

8/17/26

Lilian Macancela, '20

“I was determined to go from...the Legal Studies program then straight into law school. Although I made a different choice by going into Urban Planning, I still use the skills learned from the Social Sciences Interdisciplinary Program, specifically all the statistics, demographics, logic/game theory”

8/17/26

Stephanie Simeon, '03

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