Law, Societies, and Justice: About us--University of Washington

1. How competitive is LSJ to get into?
Answer: Applicants admitted to our major usually are strong all-around students, but especially in social science courses. More importantly, successful applicants show an interest in the academic topics and social issues that are discussed in our classes. Because students' interests and academic motivations have so much to do with admission, each batch of applicants is completely unique and so is each quarter's competitiveness. Typically, seventy-five percent of those who apply to the major are admitted

Remember that at the University of Washington there are three different types of majors (open admission, minimum requirement, and competitive), but these terms do not define the quality or difficulty of one major to another. Mostly, they indicate how many students each major can support. LSJ is competitive because we cannot support as many students as would like to be admitted to the major.

I encourage any student interested in the major, no matter what grades they have earned, to apply as soon as they have completed the prerequisites. You are also welcome to bring in your admission essay to the LSJ Advising Office before turning it in so that we can discuss it. I would be glad to look it over and tell you what I see, but it is impossible for me to say who is and who is not competitive without seeing all of the applicants for the given quarter.

2. I am transferring to the UW from another institution, how can I improve my chances of getting into LSJ as a major?
Answer: The first task is getting into the University of Washington so that you can complete the last prerequisite course(s) before applying to the major. When applying to the university, you should certainly mention your interest in this major, even if you still have prerequisite courses to complete. The Admissions staff knows that one of the major prerequisites has to be completed after being admitted, so not having it completed will not keep you from getting into UW.

Transfer students who are admitted to LSJ usually have good grades, but they also show a genuine interest in the study of law and justice. Our program is built on the research and scholarly goals of our faculty rather than on a certain career field. As a result, any evidence of commitment to the academic field carries more weight than a student's wish for a certain career after college.

3. If I am NOT interested in becoming a lawyer or getting a job in law enforcement, is this a good major for me?
Answer: This major is ideal for students interested in the practices of institutions meant to create justice, human and civil rights, law, and the complex workings of society. Since we are not a vocational or pre- professional program, we are ideally suited to serve students interested in these topics even if their career goals are not decided.

4. With a major in LSJ, what job can I get?
Answer: Our program is designed to not only allow students to focus their studies topically, but also to encourage the development of skills that can be applied in almost any job or career path. These skills include: written communication, analytical thinking, logical reasoning, statistics, and understanding of different social, political, and cultural groups. Graduates from our program currently work in NGOs (non-govermental organizations), criminal justice, law, policy development, education, and government. Many of our students also choose to continue on to graduate or professional degrees in: political science, sociology, anthropology, geography, international studies, ethnic studies, women studies, social work, education, and law.

Rather than choosing a major in order to get a certain job, look for a major that you will enjoy. While you are working on that major, you can take advantage of resources on and off campus that help you choose, get, and keep jobs after you graduate. Visit the UW Center for Career Services; volunteer or intern as often as possible; talk with faculty, advisers, graduate students and undergraduates about your plans; go to career fairs; construct your resume and job hunting skills; and be active in the community.

5. Is this the best major for me if I want to go to law school or work in law enforcement?
Answer: Law, Societies, and Justice is a broadly comparative and interdisciplinary major. As a result, it gives students a more challenging, flexible, and creative approach to issues of law, justice and society than a major constructed to prepare students for a single career field.

For students interested in continuing on to law school, this major offers a chance to develop some of the most important skills that juris doctor programs want to see in students: writing, research, analysis, logical reasoning, synthesis of ideas, listening and speaking. Since these skills are learned while studying topics related to law, many students find it to be an ideal preparation for applying to law school.

For students interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement, probations, or corrections this major offers a different approach than the more traditional 'administration of justice' or 'criminal justice' majors. As with pre-law, there are a lot of vital skills which can be gained from an LSJ major that are valued in criminal justice careers: analytical and logical thinking, written communication, oral communication, appreciation of different cultures and life experiences, and complex problem solving.

Because fields like probations, corrections, and law enforcement are very competitive, it is a good idea to supplement your education with as much interning and volunteer work as you can.

6. Do you have a graduate program in LSJ?
Answer: The Law, Societies, and Justice Program is organized under the Center for Law and Society Studies (CLASS), which has a CLASS Fellows Program. The Fellows Program is a way for graduate students in other disciplines to work with and take classes from the faculty who research in socio-legal studies. Long-term goals for our Program include the construction of more educational opportunities for graduate studies, perhaps as a graduate certificate or a full-fledged PhD degree.

If you have further questions that were not answered in this FAQ, please contact the LSJ Academic Counselor, Mark Weitzenkamp, Ph.D.:

University of Washington
Gowen 42
phone: (206) 543-2396
email: lsjadv@u.washington.edu

This page last updated 8/31/08

Website created by: W. Washington

Photos: Deborah Hughes