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Law and society1911-2011 | Wilfrid Laurier University

1911-2011 | Wilfrid Laurier University

Law and Society

Everyday, the legal system impacts your life. The choices you make, the

actions you take: law governs almost every interaction you have with other individuals and with society. But how did these laws get established? Who decided which of your freedoms to enhance and which of your rights to limit? And whose definition of justice informs the law?

Laurier Brantford’s new Law and Society program will explore these issues, to help you acquire an understanding of the law and the legal system as evolving social institutions in motion, and not simply as a set of ‘facts’. As a society, we face a number of issues that demand our response. This program will use these issues as focal points for examining the law as an important tool available to us to make the world better. You will begin to understand the not-so-subtle difference between what the law says and what the law does. You will learn about those processes that shape the law, and how some people are able to use law more effectively than others.

The program aims to incorporate a teaching practice known as Inquiry-Based

Learning. This method of teaching engages you as an active learner by drawing your attention to current social issues, exposing legal tools and ideas to shape your response to those issues. Classes will be filled with lively discussion, exercises, debates and collaboration. You will gain essential skills for those life situations that require you to think creatively, to advocate your position and to write or research.

Law and society and your futureA degree in Law and Society opens the doors to a wealth of possibilities. Graduates may choose careers in a wide variety of professions, including community services, the legal system, social work, business, advocacy, non-governmental organizations or any career that intersects with law or the legal system.

Graduates will also be well prepared for continued studies at the graduate level in criminology, sociology, social work, law or other professional studies.

About the programLaw and Society is offered as an Honours Bachelor of Arts. Normally taken over four years, it consists of 20 credits, including a minimum of 9.0 senior credits in Law and

Society. Students may complete another honours program in combination with Honours Law and Society or complete a minor.

Contemporary studiesLaurier Brantford’s curriculum includes Contemporary Studies, an innovative program designed to provide students with an understanding of the issues, opportunities and problems of the 21st century. The program emphasizes an innovative approach to learning that is problem-centred, interdisciplinary and emphasizes the basic skills necessary for success in any field.

mature and transfer studentsTransfer students may apply to the Law and Society program through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre online at www.ouac.on.ca. Students who have completed university or college courses elsewhere may be granted advanced credit as transfer students. Mature students may apply to study at Laurier Brantford part-time to start. Application forms can be found at www.choosebrantford.ca.

Options are collections of courses that allow you to incorporate an accompa-nying area of study with your honours degree courses. An Option can be a strong addition to your degree, providing addi-tional skills and a broad knowledge base that appeals to prospective employers.

Laurier Brantford offers a diverse collection of Options, many offered only at the Brantford campus.

Children’s Education and development option The CED Option allows students to combine their degree with a focus on children’s issues, with particular emphasis on developmental and educational issues. The program will help prepare students for any career focusing on children, including teaching or other forms of education such as museum programs, coaching and chil-dren’s advocacy.

Environment and society optionThe Environment and Society Option provides students with the skills to develop a background on the current state we find our world in, and investigate the links between our values and behaviour, and the challenges that lie ahead.

indigenous studies optionThe Indigenous Studies Option takes a holistic approach, and explores various issues and topics from a variety of perspec-tives to foster a greater understanding of indigenous peoples, their history and their place in the contemporary world.

international development optionThe International Development Option provides students with a firm grasp of development, global governance and the institutions of the global economy, enhancing their capacity to implement programs and policies in NGOs, public organizations, education avenues and international organizations.

management option The Management Option provides students with an understanding of the core prin-ciples in the world of business, including accounting, marketing, management, operations and finance. Combining an arts degree with knowledge of the fundamen-tals of business is one way to significantly enhance your future job prospects.

media studies optionThe Media Studies Option is designed to develop increased media literacy, including critical thinking about the validity of information available through technology. The program will provide a framework to access, analyze, evaluate and create messages in a variety of forms from print and video to online content, in a world where “wikis” and user-generated content allow for a collaborative approach to infor-mation creation and distribution.

Public relations optionThe Public Relations Option provides students with a unique opportunity to take courses in journalism, leadership and business in order to develop a broad understanding of organizational life and the critical written and oral communication skills needed by those working in public relations.

gEt invoLvEdLaurier Brantford students find it

easy to get involved on our close-knit, community-based campus.

Maximize your options

A wide choice of courses

73 George Street | Brantford, Ontario, Canada N3T 2Y3Tel: (519) 756-8228 ext. 5777 | Fax: (519) 759-2127 | Email: chooselaurierbrantford@wlu.ca

www.chooselaurierbrantford.ca1 0 0 Y E A R S I N S P I R I N G L I V E S O F L E A D E R S H I P A N D P U R P O S E

While every effort has been made to ensure this publication is accurate at time of printing, the information contained herein is subject to change without notice. LIAS

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Dr. Mark Davidson’s path to academia had an interesting beginning.

“I was working as an actor in Toronto, and grew frustrated with the lack of political activism in the theatre community at the time,” he says. “So, I decided to become a human rights

lawyer.”

While in law school, Davidson was drawn to the ‘deep’ issues in

law, rather than the strictly legal questions, and his work at a

legal aid clinic led him to do a PhD in law. His research interests centre on the corporation, with a focus on corporate crime.

“Corporations play a role in every major social issue we face: war, inter-national human rights, environmental justice, food and water, energy and freedom generally.”

The Law and Society program allows students to look at these issues, and any other issues they care about. It’s a learning environment “for anyone

who wants to know why legal structures are the way they are, and to under-stand what holds legal processes together so that we can make them even

better,” notes Davidson.

Using Inquiry-Based Learning allows students to participate in each and every class through sharing their own ideas and research. In this regard, Davidson describes himself as a personal trainer of the mind.

“Students build intellectual muscle by doing intellectual training, not by watching and listening,” he says.

Students build intellectual muscle by doing intellectual training, not by watching

and listening.

Admission informAtionfor the most up-to-date information about admission to Laurier,

go to www.wlu.ca/admissions.