Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.) Justice Studies - Criminal Justice with a Concentration in Social Welfare at Berkeley College

The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (B.I.S.) program in Law and Society provides students an opportunity to acquire a career-oriented range of skills and knowledge about the law from social science and humanities perspectives.

The degree is an excellent choice for pre-law students.

Law and Society students typically take courses in the following fields:

• Political Science
• History
• Criminal Justice
• Legal Studies
• Economics
• Philosophy
• Sociology
• Speech Communication

The mission of the Professional Legal Studies Program is to engage students in the scholarly pursuit of the law and its practice. The Program is committed to provide students with knowledge of procedural and substantive law and a professional skill set that will prepare them for employment in a changing and competitive legal environment.

The Legal Studies program consists of 18 hours of core courses in Political Science, History, and Professional Legal Studies (including a capstone experience), and 18 hours of electives from many disciplines across Western Kentucky University. A second major, minor, or certificate is required.

The program provides students an interdisciplinary perspective while fostering greater understanding of the law as it relates to history, the sciences, and ethics in the United States and around the world.  While the program appeals to pre-law students, it also serves as a background for a wide variety of careers, including public administration, academics, government, diplomatic corps, homeland security, non-governmental organizations, and law enforcement.

​Legal Studies allows students from many disciplines to focus their studies using their individual disciplinary interests as a launching point for exploring how the study of law cuts across disciplinary lines. It offers courses in a wide range of subjects, including American legal history, political process, constitutional law, philosophy and ethics, sociology and criminal justice, business, journalism and broadcasting, economics and property law, English, and environmental law and regulations.