Undergraduate Program in Law and Public Policy
Answer the call to public service.
Our Bachelor of Arts (BA) programs in Law and Public Policy will teach you to be an effective leader; equip you with the knowledge needed to shape law and policy; and transform your desire to be a force for good in the world into a concrete plan of action.
We offer a Major and Minor in Law and Public Policy (LWPP) at the undergraduate level to prepare students for careers of public service—both in the legal professions, as well as with government, non-profits, and other civic organizations working to advance the public good. The Law and Public Policy program is distinguished by its applied focus, and innovative use of real-world cases and practitoner experiences to ground student learning.
Students in our Law and Public Policy BA program begin by taking introductory courses in politics and public administration in their first two years, before progressing to more specialized courses in ethics, leadership, legal reasoning, data analysis, governance, and policy design and delivery. We also offer a Diploma in Public Policy for Memorial undergraduate students who wish to complement their degree program in another discipline.
Law and Public Policy is the newest degree program in our department, and we have big plans for its expansion in the near future, including new partnerships, fellowships, and professional networking oppurtunities.
The exact program requirements will differ depending on whether you’re interested in declaring a Major or Minor, or taking some of classes as part of the diploma.
You can learn more about each of these programs on this website. But for the most detailed and up-to-date information about program requirements, we recommend consulting the official Memorial University Calendar, which is maintained by the Office of the University Registrar.
The BA degree at Memorial has a set of general core requirements that are expected to be completed in addition those of a student’s Major and Minor. More information can be found in the University Calendar.
Note that because the classes in our Law and Public Policy and Political Science programs overlap substantially, students must choose between one discipline or the other. This means that students cannot pursue a Major or Minor in Law and Public Policy and Political Science and as part of their BA degree. The restriction applies equally to students pursuing BA Honours or Co-op degrees.
Consult this handy year by year overview for declared Majors and Minors. All Law and Public Policy (Minors included) take POSC 1000 (“Introduction to Politics and Government”) before enrolling in LWPP 2600 (“Public Policy and Administration”). The rest of the courses are intended to be taken in sequence, with specialized classes in your third- and fourth year (i.e., 3000 and 4000 level) building on the knowledge you've gained in your first- and second year (i.e., 1000 and 2000 level).
For further information about particular Law and Public Policy you review the information on our upcoming undergraduate courses page to see what's currently being offered. A complete list of all department course offerings with brief descriptions can be found in the University Calendar. Many Political Science courses are cross-listed as LWPP, including all those numbered x6xx, as well as class in other relevant disciplines, such as Economics, Geography, and Sociology, which emphasize the study of law and/or public policy.
As of September 2023, the Major and Minor in Law and Society (LWSO) was discontinued, with the Major and Minor in Law and Public Policy (LWPP) taking its place.
In accordance with University Regulations (Undergraduate), Year of Degree and Departmental Regulations - Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and Faculty of Science, students who were declared Law and Society Majors or Minors prior to these change will be permitted to complete their programs. Students who had taken a LWSO course at the 2000 level or above prior to these changes can also still elect to follow the old or new curriculum. Any former Law and Society courses completed prior to September 2023 may be substituted as equivalent Law and Public Policy credit hours. Subsequent completion of Law and Society 1000, post September 2023, is ineligible towards the Major in Law and Public Policy, though it may count as a general elective credit in the programs of other departments. The Department ceased offering Law and Society 1000 in 2024, and students who need this course to fulfill degree requirements in other programs are advised to contact their home departments.
From the perspective of the department, LWSO students will continue to be given the same standing for priority registration and other department intiatives as LWPP students.
To ease the transition and ensure that remaining LWSO students can graduate in a timely manner, the Department has issued a blanket waiver allowing LWSO Majors and Minors to substitute any Law and Public Policy course at the 3000 or 4000 level for any required Law and Society course at the 3000 or 4000 level. This special waiver will be in place for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 academic years.
Prospective domestic and international students should visit the Memorial University undergraduate admissions page for Law and Public Policy and connect with our undergraduate admissions team. Questions about admissions requirements, tuition, scholarships, grades, visas, and more can be directed to the admissions office (admissions@mun.ca). When you’re ready to submit your application, it’s just as easy as following these instructions.
Students interested in signing up, or "declaring" a Major or Minor in Law and Public Policy may do so at any time in their studies. Preferably this will occur by the end of the first year of studies and/or after having completed at least two courses in the subject, including POSC 1000 and LWPP 2600.
Information on declaring a major or minor is available from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.