Socio-Legal Studies ,Certificate

You'll gain an understanding of the legal system's impacts on society and how people experience law in their everyday lives, enabling you to put your knowledge of the system into action.

Description ▲

The distinction between law on the books and law in action, which refers to how people experience law in their everyday lives, is a cornerstone of the undergraduate certificate program in socio-legal studies.

The program offers you a model for educating and training you in the study of legal ideas, institutions and practices from the perspectives of the social sciences, law and the humanities.

At a glance ▲

College/school: The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Location: Tempe

Curriculum ▲

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2026-2027 Catalog Year

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Requirement	Minimum Grade	Credit Hours

Requirement	Minimum Grade	Credit Hours
The certificate in socio-legal studies requires 15 credit hours, of which 12 credit hours must be upper-division. A minimum of six upper-division credit hours must be completed through The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. When selecting courses, the college offering the course can be identified by viewing the course details in Class Search. Only courses completed with a grade of "C" (2.00 on a scale of 4.00) or better may be applied toward the certificate requirements.
JUS 303 Justice Theory (CIVI) JUS 308 Courts and Society (SOBE) JUS 360 / CRJ 350 Law and Social Control (CIVI) JUS 410 Punishment: Logic and Approach JUS 463 / CRJ 470 Discretionary Justice (SOBE) JUS 465 Death Penalty in the United States PHI 307 Philosophy of Law (AMIT) PHI 336 Social and Political Philosophy (CIVI) PHI 408 Feminist Ethics (HUAD) POS 315 The Supreme Court POS 465 International Organization and Law (GCSI) POS 471 Constitutional Law I (AMIT) POS 472 Constitutional Law II 6 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	6
Interdisciplinary electives must be taken from at least two different academic disciplines. Any course listed below may count towards this requirement. Other courses can be approved by contacting the School of Social Transformation Advising. AFR 215 / JUS 215 Bob Marley and Reggae: Lyrics of Resistance AFR 301 Race and Racism in Africa/African Diaspora (HUAD) AFR 304 / JUS 304 Islands of Globalization: Caribbean Politics and Political Economy AFR 420 / JUS 421 Race Ethnicity and Politics in the African Diaspora AFR 428 / JUS 428 Critical Race Theory CRJ 305 Gender, Crime, and Criminal Justice CRJ 306 Race, Ethnicity, Crime, and Criminal Justice (CIVI) JUS 329 Domestic Violence (SOBE) JUS 350 Immigration and Justice (SOBE) JUS 374 The Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights JUS 422 / WST 422 Women, Law, and Social Control JUS 425 Race, Gender, and Justice (CIVI) JUS 430 Social Protest, Conflict, and Change (CIVI) JUS 432 Racial Justice (CIVI) JUS 467 Terrorism, War, and Justice (CIVI) JUS 469 Political Deviance and the Law JUS 470 Alternative Dispute Resolution JUS 484 / SST 484 Internship JUS 498 / SST 498 Topic: Research Apprenticeship POS 370 Law and Society (CIVI) POS 470 Law and the Political Order PSY 468 Psychology and Law SOC 340 Social Deviance SOC 445 Globalization, Development, and Resistance TCL 335 / HST 323 / AFR 335 Historical Studies in Race, Crime, and the Law TCL 340 Chicana/o and Latina/o Politics and Policy 3 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3
Interdisciplinary electives must be taken from at least two different academic disciplines. Any course listed below may count towards this requirement. Other courses can be approved by contacting the School of Social Transformation Advising. AFR 301 Race and Racism in Africa/African Diaspora (HUAD) AFR 304 / JUS 304 Islands of Globalization: Caribbean Politics and Political Economy AFR 420 / JUS 421 Race Ethnicity and Politics in the African Diaspora AFR 428 / JUS 428 Critical Race Theory CRJ 305 Gender, Crime, and Criminal Justice CRJ 306 Race, Ethnicity, Crime, and Criminal Justice (CIVI) JUS 329 Domestic Violence (SOBE) JUS 350 Immigration and Justice (SOBE) JUS 374 The Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights JUS 422 / WST 422 Women, Law, and Social Control JUS 425 Race, Gender, and Justice (CIVI) JUS 430 Social Protest, Conflict, and Change (CIVI) JUS 432 Racial Justice (CIVI) JUS 467 Terrorism, War, and Justice (CIVI) JUS 469 Political Deviance and the Law JUS 470 Alternative Dispute Resolution JUS 484 / SST 484 Internship JUS 498 / SST 498 Topic: Research Apprenticeship POS 370 Law and Society (CIVI) POS 470 Law and the Political Order PSY 468 Psychology and Law SOC 340 Social Deviance SOC 445 Globalization, Development, and Resistance TCL 335 / HST 323 / AFR 335 Historical Studies in Race, Crime, and the Law TCL 340 Chicana/o and Latina/o Politics and Policy 6 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	6

Notes

Prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.

Enrollment requirements ▲

Students who have attained sophomore standing (30 credit hours) in any undergraduate degree program at ASU are eligible for admission to the certificate program for socio-legal studies.

A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded before the completion of an undergraduate degree. A student who already holds an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student.

Program learning outcomes▲

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program’s learning outcomes include the following:

Critically assess core socio-legal theory, concepts and methods.
Demonstrate the ability to apply the fundamental principles of socio-legal studies to specific domestic or international issues through direct community engagement or research.

Career opportunities▲

Graduates who have combined the certificate in socio-legal studies with their major program of study may be more marketable to employers. They often decide to pursue employment in law, education, public service, and human welfare and social work. Advanced degrees or certifications may be required for academic or clinical positions.

Contact information▲

School of Social Transformation | WLSN 5th floor
SSTadvising@asu.edu
480-965-7682

Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.

Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.

ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.

Socio-Legal Studies ,Certificate