Requirements for the M.A. Degree in Legal Institutions and Theory
The Department of Political Science now offers an M.A. degree in Legal Institutions and Theory.
Students may either begin their graduate career at GW, or make the degree part of a five-year BA/MA program. Those who enroll in the program as a BA/MA student may transfer six credits (two courses) of undergraduate coursework from the list below.
Students will take ten of the following courses. REQ are courses that students in the field are expected to take and OPT are courses that some students may take depending on scheduling, previous coursework, and intellectual interests.
| CODE | TITLE | REQ | INSTRUCTOR | SYLL |
| PSC 6113 | The Constitution: History and Ideas | Req | Kelts | |
| PSC 6114 | Theories of Judicial Review | Req | Kelts | |
| PSC 8213 | Judicial Politics | Req | Wahlbeck | |
| PSC 8215 | Law, Politics, and Society | Req | Bartels | |
| PSC 8388 | Constitution and Democracy | Req | Brown | |
| PSC 6987 | Legal Internship | Req | Kelts | |
| PSC 8210 | American Institutions | Opt | Maltzman | |
| PSC 8217 | Executive Branch Politics | Opt | Balla | |
| PSC 8218 | Legislative Politics | Opt | Deering Binder |
|
| PSC 8219 | Political Parties and Elections | Opt | Binder | |
| PSC 6444 | International Law | Opt | Staff | |
| HIST 6370 | U.S. Legal History | Opt | Cottrol | |
| HIST 6312 | Law of Race and Slavery | Opt | Cottrol | |
| PHIL 6242 | Philosophy, Law and Social Reform | Opt | Brand-Ballard | |
| SOC 6259 | Criminology | Opt | Kurbin, Cambliss, Weitzer, Buntman | |
| SOC 6261 | Sociology of Law | Opt | Cambliss, Buntman | |
| SOC 6263 | Race and Crime | Opt | Kurbin, Weitzer, Buntman | |
| WSTU 6266 | Gender and Criminal Justice | Opt | Buntman | |
| EDUC 6236 | School Law and Policy | Opt | Staff | |
| EDUC 6560 | Legal Problems in Higher Education | Opt | Barber | |
| PSC 2213 | Judicial Politics | Opt | Wahlbeck | |
| PSC 2214 | US Constitutional Law and Politics I | Opt | Staff | |
| PSC 2215 | US Constitutional Law and Politics II | Opt | Wahlbeck | |
| ECON 2190 | Law and Economics | Opt | Staff |
Students must take between four and six courses (12-18 credit hours) from the following courses: PSC 8210, PSC 8217, PSC 8218, PSC 8219, PSC 6444, HIST 6370, HIST 6312, PHIL 6242, SOC 6259, SOC 6261, SOC 6263, WSTU 6266, EDUC 6236, and EDUC 6560. Students may take up to three of the following courses (9 credit hours): PSC 2213, PSC 2214, PSC 2215, and ECON 2190. Students must satisfy department prerequisites for the selected courses.
Anyone interested in pursuing this option should contact Steven Kelts.
» Political Science Course Descriptions