Introduction
Programme overview
The Master of Science Programme in Sociology of Law is an interdisciplinary programme aimed at introducing students to the study of law, legal institutions and legal behaviour in a social context. It offers an advanced overview of the sociology of law with the possibility of specialisation in socio-legal areas, such as criminal justice, criminology, legal cultures, human rights, the legal profession, governance, law and gender, law and globalisation and regulation.
The objective of the programme is to increase the students’ knowledge of how the law and legal institutions work at the national and transnational levels and how they impact the everyday life of ordinary citizens. The programme will provide the students with the skills they need to critically examine, analyse and evaluate the interplay between socio-legal theory and practice, explore legal developments and study implementation problems at the national, international and global levels.
The programme offers a wide range of alternative courses for the individual student within the Faculty of Social Science, providing students with deeper knowledge in their main study discipline or in other fields of interest. Students can also choose from several courses in research methodology to adapt the programme to their particular interests. There are good opportunities to go abroad and take courses at one of the many universities with which we have exchange agreements.
Curriculum
Programme structure
Semester 1:
- Introduction to Sociology of Law (15 credits)
- Theory of Science and/or Research Methods (15 credits)
Semester 2:
- Socio-legal Theory and Practice (15 credits)
- Theory of Science and/or Research Methods (15 credits)
Semester 3:
- Elective courses offered in Sweden or abroad or, alternatively, an internship (30 credits)
Semester 4:
- Master's degree project (30 credits)
Career Opportunities
Career prospects
The skills provided within this programme will help students to gain a deeper social scientific understanding that is required to continue their studies at the PhD level. They will also enable students to pursue careers within fields which deal with public and private inquiries, project assessments and policy evaluation.
Furthermore, the programme will provide students with the vital knowledge required of policy-makers, instructors and practitioners who work with issues related to law and legal institutions, the criminal justice system, the EU and EU regulation at the level of regional authorities and government agencies as well as within the private sector (businesses and firms) and the NGOs at both national and international levels.