Insight into society’s significant issues
Learn to skillfully engage in justice, law, politics and advocacy.
Law & Justice Major
Be prepared for graduate or law school, or a career in politics, law, government, advocacy and more with this unique program — the first of its kind in SUNY. Network and gain practical skills through government or nonprofit internship experience and knowledge from across disciplines like political science, environmental studies, history and sociology.
What Will I Learn?
The law and justice major provides the knowledge you need to understand how government works and become an active citizen capable of enacting change. You will study constitutional law, political thought and international law and justice.
At the same time, you will deepen your understanding of political science by exploring how law and justice connect to many different fields — Africana studies, anthropology, criminal justice, English, environmental studies, geology, gender and women’s studies, history, Latin American studies, philosophy, and sociology. Your electives will help you see how law functions and what justice means in real-world contexts and make it easy to add a second major or a minor.
What is Unique About Our Program?
The law and justice major is the first of its kind in all of SUNY, and is a signature program at SUNY Plattsburgh. The major’s foundations are in political science, but it also draws on coursework from outside the field, giving you a more complete understanding of law and justice.
A strong emphasis on legal research and writing will sharpen your critical thinking and prepare you for professional or graduate-level work. You’ll explore political topics of your choice while learning to write clearly and persuasively and gain practical experience locating, analyzing and citing the law.
In addition, you have the option to design your own independent research project, serve as a teaching assistant and complete an internship — our students have interned with political campaigns, law firms, advocacy organizations and government offices — including placements in the NYS Assembly and U.S. Congress. You can also get a jump-start on your graduate studies through our accelerated pathways.
What Are My Career Opportunities?
Recent department graduates have pursued advanced degrees in law, political science, public policy, education, business and social work. Others have gone off to careers in public service, politics, policy, law and advocacy within the private and nonprofit sectors, as well as education.
Our graduates have been accepted to competitive law and graduate schools, including:
Graduate Schools
- University at Albany
- University of Baltimore
- Binghamton University
- University at Buffalo
- Concordia University
- Fordham University
- Howard University
- Johns Hopkins University
- Metropolitan College of New York
- University of Maryland
- New York University
- Pace University
Law Schools
- Albany Law School
- Baylor Law School
- Boston University School of Law
- University at Buffalo School of Law
- University of Connecticut School of Law
- Hofstra University School of Law
- New England Law
- New York Law School
- Pace University School of Law
- Seton Hall Law School
- St. John’s University School of Law
In addition, you’ll find our graduates making a difference with employers across the country, including:
- Advancing Arizona
- Behavioral Health Services North
- Council on Foreign Relations
- CUNY, Queens College
- The Healing Center NYC
- International Rescue Committee
- Massachusetts State Police
- Murray Osorio PLLC
- North Country Chamber of Commerce
- NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- NYS Excelsior Service Fellowship Program
- NYU Office of Global Programs
- Pierce Davis & Perritano LLP
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- U.S. House of Representatives
- Wilson Elser