Socio-Legal Studies

York's interdisciplinary program in Socio-Legal Studies builds on York? long tradition of law & society teaching and research.

Contributing faculty are leaders in international and domestic
human rights, socio-historical approaches to law, transnational
policing, immigration and border security, indigenous rights, and global
financial crime, and gender, race, sexuallity and the law.

The one-year MA program offers students courses in socio-legal theory and methods as well as a required Major Research Paper.

York's PhD in Socio-Legal Studies is at the vanguard of a growing number of postgraduate programs in Europe and North America in interdisciplinary legal studies. Our PhD is the first such doctoral program in Canada that is not based in a law school. Students who are accepted into our program will join faculty with a strong commitment to research and scholarship. Our program consists of scholars drawn from law and society, criminology, political science, sociology, psychology, history, communication studies, women's studies, and law.

Our faculty is actively involved in building an academic community of socio-legal scholars. We are doing this through our participation and leadership in professional associations as well as through our projects and published work.

Degrees Offered

MA

• You must have graduated from a recognized postsecondary institution holding an honours degree or equivalent. Some programs consider applicants with a three-year undergraduate degree and relevant work experience.
  
  Undergraduate degrees not designated as honours degrees may be acceptable as the equivalent of an undergraduate honours degree if they contain a minimum of 120 credits (typically, a four-year program with full time enrolment) including the completion of a minimum of 6 credits at the fourth-year level at an accredited postsecondary institution.
  
  Three-year first cycle undergraduate degrees from institutions that meet the criteria set forth in the Bologna Declaration may be acceptable as the equivalent of an undergraduate honours degree.
  
  If you completed your undergraduate or master’s studies outside Canada, you may need to complete additional courses to qualify for admission to a graduate program at York. Please contact the relevant program office for more information.
  
  If you have completed a four year undergraduate degree at an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology, you will need to contact Office of Admissions to have the requirement added to your record. This will allow your transcript to be uploaded to continue the admission process.


• A minimum grade point average (GPA) of at least a “B” or equivalent, is required. Most programs require at least a “B+” or equivalent. Your GPA is assessed over the last two years of undergraduate study (full time, or equivalent); or, if you have a master’s degree, we will use your highest level of education to calculate your GPA. Please be sure to check International Credential Equivalencies.
  
  Your GPA is a critical consideration is determining admissibility. Also, be sure to check the specific requirements of your program of choice. In rare cases, a program any choose to give priority to a candidates professional or creative accomplishments, or other relevant experiences, recommendations, portfolio, or test results.

If your first language is not English, you must show you have an acceptable level of English by completing a language proficiency test.

If you have completed at least one full year at an accredited university in a country where English is the official language of the institution, you may be exempt from this requirement.

1. Meet minimum admission requirements
2. Meet program-specific requirements
3. Know the application deadlines
4. Submit your application
5. Submit all required documentation
6. Check on Transfer Credit for Advanced Placement