Major Overview
- Description
What impact does law have on our lives? To what extent does law either control what we do or allow us to achieve what we want? Is the law the same thing as justice? Can the world be saved by law? This major examines broad theoretical issues about the nature of law and society as well as how the relationship plays out in particular fields of legal and social policy at both domestic and international levels. The fields you may study include human rights, decisions about birth and death, crime and justice, Indigenous rights, freedom of expression and religion. Studying Law and Society will help you develop important skills in research, analysis, teamwork and communication.
- Outcomes
Students are able to:
- demonstrate comprehensive understanding with depth in what we know about the law, how it is made and how it works in our society
- demonstrate understanding of the underlying dynamics of the interdisciplinary field of law and society and its relationship to criminology including an in-depth understanding of legal reasoning, rules, institutions, players and power structures
- demonstrate understanding of the relationship between local, national and international legal systems, rules, practices and institutions
- demonstrate understanding of how law operates within social, cultural, political and historical contexts
- demonstrate well-developed cognitive skills to review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge, identify and solve defined problems, and exercise critical judgement and thinking in creating new understanding
- demonstrate well-developed bibliographic and referencing skills
- demonstrate basic time and project management skills
- demonstrate well-developed skills to present data and evidence in an appropriate format and communicate through written and oral media clearly, effectively and appropriately in a range of contexts for a variety of audiences
- demonstrate well-developed skills to work productively in a group; (10) use judgement and initiative by developing (a) ethical approaches and mature judgement in practical and academic matters; and (b) the capacity for effective citizenship, leadership and teamwork; and (11) take responsibility and accountability for their own learning having developed attitudes which (a) value learning; and (b) respect Indigenous knowledge, values and culture.
- Broadening guidelines
All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.
- Courses
Law and Society can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:
Example Study Plan
See study plans for more information.
Units
Key to availability of units:
- S1
- Semester 1
- S2
- Semester 2
- N/A
- not available in 2026 – may be available in 2027 or 2028
Level 1
Students taking this major in conjunction with the Criminology major [MJD-CRIMN] must select their units such that no more than 18 points, comprising 12 points at level one and 6 points at level two, of units are shared between the two majors. No level three units may be shared between the majors. Students encountering any difficulties reflecting this requirement in their study plan should seek guidance from their allocated advising office.
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (12 points):
Level 2
Students taking this major in conjunction with the Criminology major [MJD-CRIMN] must select their units such that no more than 18 points, comprising 12 points at level one and 6 points at level two, of units are shared between the two majors. No level three units may be shared between the majors. Students encountering any difficulties reflecting this requirement in their study plan should seek guidance from their allocated advising office.
Degree-specific major units
Take the following unit:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | LAWS2227 | Law in Action |
|
Degree-specific major units
Take unit(s) to the value of 12 points:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | LAWS2220 | Birth, Life and Death: Health and Medical Law |
|
| S2 | LAWS2223 | Criminal Justice Systems |
|
| S2 | LAWS2224 | Human Rights: Law and Context |
|
| S1 | LAWS2225 | Indigenous Peoples and the Law |
|
Level 3
Students taking this major in conjunction with the Criminology major [MJD-CRIMN] must select their units such that no more than 18 points, comprising 12 points at level one and 6 points at level two, of units are shared between the two majors. No level three units may be shared between the majors. Students encountering any difficulties reflecting this requirement in their study plan should seek guidance from their allocated advising office.
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | LAWS3316 | Law and Social Change |
|
| S1 | LAWS3344 | Law and Power |
|
Degree-specific major units
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | LAWS3214 | International Law and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) |
|
| N/A | LAWS3221 | Creative Expression and the Law | |
| S1 | LAWS3317 | Social Media and the Law |
|
| S2 | LAWS3374 | Crime, Justice and Public Policy |
|