Socio-Legal Studies, Certificate
Analyze the law as a social, political and cultural force while sharpening your research, critical thinking and argumentation skills. This certificate complements any major and strengthens your path to law school, graduate study and careers in policy, advocacy and public service.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Certificate description
Socio-legal Studies undergraduate certificate 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.
Why earn a socio-legal studies undergraduate certificate at ASU?
At ASU, the curriculum examines how law intersects with race, gender, class, immigration and other axes of inequality and how legal tools can be used to advance justice and reform.
Additional details
Outside the classroom, connect with pre-law and law-related organizations such as moot court, debate and pre-law societies. Explore social justice, human rights and advocacy clubs that engage with policy and community issues and attend guest lectures, panels and workshops on law, policy and society hosted by The College and related units.
Courses
This undergraduate certificate includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below:
2026-2027 Catalog Year
The certificate requires 15 credit hours. A "C" minimum is required for all courses in the certificate, although students must maintain a 3.00 GPA in the post-baccalaureate certificate program.
| 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. |
||
|
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.
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.
6 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 6 |
|
Prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.
|
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- 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.
Critically assess core socio-legal theory, concepts and methods.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.
Here are the admission and application details
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this socio-legal studies undergraduate certificate prepares you for
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
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
School of Social Transformation
|
WLSN 5th floor
SSTadvising@asu.edu
480-965-7682
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
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.
