Graduate Degrees

Master's in Law, Policy and Society

The master’s degree (MS) in Law, Policy and Society is an interdisciplinary public policy program that prepares students for careers in government, non-profit and legal organizations, and research. If you are looking for a public policy program that is more than applied economics, you will appreciate our focus on strategizing public policy. LPS examines law, legal institutions, and public policy from an interdisciplinary social science perspective. Students examine a full range of strategies for creating policy change, including legislation, litigation, the ballot box, and civil action. Students engage in policy analysis and applied research that develops real-world solutions to public policy challenges. MORE ...

JD/MS dual degree in Law, Policy and Society

This interdisciplinary graduate program is designed for students who want a solid background in public policy as well as law. The master’s degree (MS) in Law, Policy and Society is an interdisciplinary public policy program that prepares students for careers in government, non-profit and legal organizations, and research. Students first complete the law degree, taking the specific courses indicated. After completing the Juris Doctor (JD) students then take one year of courses in LPS, ending with a capstone course. Students examine a full range of strategies for creating policy change, including legislation, litigation, the ballot box, and civil action. Students engage in policy analysis and applied research that develops real-world solutions to public policy challenges. MORE...

PhD degree in Law, Policy and Society

The Ph.D. in Law, Policy and Society is an interdisciplinary public policy program that provides a comprehensive view of the policy making process and its outcomes. Our interdisciplinary focus means that students come from a variety of backgrounds. And our students typically have several years of work experience. Students quickly find that engaging in a classroom with other students who hold degrees such as the MBA, JD, MPH, or other social science degrees is quite an intellectually stimulating experience. Areas of policy emphasis include health, environment, crime and justice, education and the labor market, urban policy, and race and gender.

Many graduates have found tenure‐track academic positions, some are well placed in the court system, and others have been hired in state government policy research positions. MORE