Department of Law

Loeb Building C473
Telephone: 520-3690
Fax: 520-4467

The Department

Chair of the Department: T.B. Dawson

Supervisor of Graduate Studies: J.B. Wright

The Department of Law offers a program of advanced study and research leading to a Master of Arts degree in Legal Studies. The program is open to full-time and part-time students.

The M.A. program provides an interdisciplinary, theoretical, and research-oriented approach to studying law as a social and political institution, with emphasis on the relationship between law and social transformation. The plan of studies includes a range of fields linked by a common theoretical and methodological concern with the way law shapes and is shaped by its social environment. The program is designed to develop the conceptual and analytical skills required for conducting independent research on law and society.

Within this context, students will focus on one or more of the following areas of specialization:

The location of the M.A. program in Legal Studies at Carleton provides students with a wealth of resources for research purposes. As well as the resources of the MacOdrum Library, students will have access to extensive Canadian and international research material through the Social Science Data Archives located at Carleton. The Library of the Supreme Court of Canada, the National Library, the National Archives, the Library of Parliament, Statistics Canada, and the Centre for Justice Statistics are all located in Ottawa. Ottawa houses many federal government departments and agencies, and the national headquarters of non-governmental organizations such as the Elizabeth Fry Society, the John Howard Society, and the National Association of Women and Law. Many government departments and non-governmental organizations maintain specialized libraries, and offer access to documents and other research materials.

Qualifying -Year Program

Applicants with exceptional promise who have less than honours B.A. status may be admitted into a qualifying-year program designed to raise their standing to honours status. To be considered for admission into the master's program, students must obtain at least a high honours average in their qualifying-year courses.

Master of Arts

Admission Requirements

The requirement for admission into the M.A. program in Legal Studies is an honours bachelor's degree or the equivalent, with at least high honours standing.

Applicants will be considered for admission on the basis of their academic background and standing. Where relevant, previous professional experience may be taken into account.

Applicants without a background in law may be required to complete one or more designated courses, including Law 51.397*, Legal Research Methods, from the department's undergraduate program before taking courses towards the master's degree.

The deadlines for submitting applications for graduate studies in the Legal Studies program are as follows: February 15 for students seeking financial assistance; July 1 for students not seeking financial assistance; November 1 for students who are seeking admission in January.

* Denotes a 0.5 credit at the undergraduate level

Program Requirements

In consultation with the supervisor of graduate studies, each candidate is required to complete the following program of studies:

All students are required to take Law 51.500, Theories of Law and Social Transformation; and Law 51.501, Legal Method and Social Enquiry. These courses provide students with a common theoretical and interdisciplinary framework for the program. The methods course is designed to develop the link between the theoretical orientation and the important research component of the program. Rather than seeking to provide all possible research skills, the course focuses on the importance of methodological issues and choices in research design.

In addition, students are encouraged to take at least 0.5 credit in a related discipline, in consultation with the supervisor of graduate studies.

All students must obtain satisfactory grades in their course work; make satisfactory progress in their research; maintain a close working relationship with their thesis supervisors; and attend seminars on current research and related topics. Each student will be required from time to time to present a seminar on his/her research.

Thesis

The thesis must represent the result of the candidate's independent research undertaken after being admitted into graduate studies in the Department of Law. Previous work of the candidate may be used only as introductory or background material for the thesis.

A student may carry on research work related to the thesis off campus if the work is approved in advance and supervision arrangements have been made with the supervisor of graduate studies.

Guidelines for Completion of Master's Degree

Full-time students are expected to complete the required two courses, Law 51.500 and Law 51.501, and an additional 2.0 credits (or the equivalent) by the end of the second term of registration. The thesis proposal should be submitted by the end of the sixth week of the second term of study. The thesis should be submitted by the end of the fourth term of study.

Part-time students are expected to complete the required two courses, Law 51.500 and Law 51.501, and an additional 2.0 credits (or the equivalent) by the end of their third year of study. The thesis proposal should be submitted by the end of the second month of the fourth year of study. The thesis should be submitted by the end of the fifth year of study.

Graduate Courses*

Core Courses

The two compulsory courses are designed to give substance to the major objectives of the program. They provide the theoretical and interdisciplinary framework which will set the terms of discussion and debate for the program. The courses are designated as compulsory because it is anticipated that students will be drawn from both law and social science backgrounds, and consequently there is a need to provide a central and shared basis for the whole program. The methods course is designed to develop the link between the theoretical orientation and the important research component of the program. Rather than seeking to provide all the research skills that students might require, the course focuses on the importance of methodological issues and choices in research design.

Other Law Courses

The following is a complete list of all graduate courses in the Department of Law. Please note that not all courses are offered every year. Students should consult the University and departmental timetables for the scheduling of courses offered in 1996-97.

Selection of Courses in Related Disciplines

In addition to the graduate courses offered by the Department of Law, students in the M.A. program are encouraged to take at least 0.5 credits in a related discipline, in consultation with the supervisor of graduate studies. Courses offered by other academic units which can be taken towards the requirements of the M.A. in Legal Studies are listed below. This list is not exhaustive and is subject to change.

In certain circumstances (with the approval of the supervisor of graduate studies) up to 1.0 credit may be selected from among those offered at the 400 level.

Note: Students should be aware that the number of spaces in graduate courses offered by other departments may be limited, and that registration may be conditional upon obtaining the prior approval of the department concerned. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that permission is obtained from the appropriate department prior to registering in any of the department's courses.

Students are advised that there is no guarantee that all of these courses will be offered in any given year, or in any given term. 1.0 credit courses are scheduled over two terms. Students should check the current University timetable to ensure course availability and schedule when planning their program.

Canadian Studies

Economics

Geography

History

International Affairs

Journalism and Communication

Political Science

Psychology

Public Administration

Sociology and Anthropology