Program Overview
By majoring in Law and Policy, you will learn to think analytically about both law and public policy. Our coursework links with the challenges facing policy makers and social activists in Tacoma, Washington State, the U.S., and the world.
Career Options
Majoring in Law and Policy is a good start for students interested in a range of different careers related to government, law, and politics, such as:
- Public policy analysis and management
- Nongovernmental organizations
- Local, state and federal government
- Law and legal administration
- Rights advocacy
- Teaching
Many Law and Policy majors continue on to graduate programs in law, policy studies, public policy, politics, public administration, management, education, and community advocacy. Read more about our alumni here.
Law and Policy Degree Requirements
Note: Law and Policy majors cannot minor in Law and Policy or Politics.
- Two law courses:
- TLAW I; At least one of these courses must be:
- TLAW 150 Introduction to the American Legal System (formerly TPOLS 150; TLAW 205)
- TLAW 215 Introduction to International Organizations (formerly TPOLS 328)
- TLAW II; One of these courses may be:
- TLAW 363 Law in Society (formerly TPOLS 363)
- TLAW 367 Comparative Law and Courts (formerly TPOLS 367)
- TLAW I; At least one of these courses must be:
- Two politics courses:
- One practical reasoning course:
- One ethical and philosophical reasoning course:
- One writing course:
Each of the courses selected from the lists below must be in addition to those chosen to fulfill core requirements.
LAW AND LEGAL SYSTEMS IN POLICY MAKING (15 CREDITS)
- TCOM 454 Communications Law
- TCRIM 395 American Criminal Courts
- TLAW 320 Constitutional Law: Institutional Powers and Constraints (formerly TPOLS 320)
- TLAW 348 Gender and Law (formerly TPOLS 348)
- TLAW 361 Constitutional Law: Rights and Liberties (formerly TPOLS 361)
- TLAW 363 Law in Society (formerly TPOLS 363)
- TLAW 367 Comparative Law and Courts (formerly TPOLS 367)
- TLAW 422 International Humanitarian Law (formerly TPOLS 422)
- TLAW 423 International Law (formerly TPOLS 423)
- TLAW 424 The Politics and Law of International Human Rights (formerly TPOLS 368)
- TLAW 438 Environmental Law (formerly TPOLS 438)
- TLAW 452 Minorities and the Law (formerly TPOLS 452)
- TLAW 465 Law and Public Policy in the United States (formerly TPOLS 465)
THEORY AND PRACTICE IN LAW AND POLICY (10 CREDITS)
- TAMST 420 Drugs and U.S. Culture
- TCOM 465 Contemporary Free Speech Issues
- TCOM 481 Communication Regulation and Policy
- TECON 316 Current Issues in US Public Policy (formerly TECON 416)
- TECON 321 Economics of Education (formerly TECON 420)
- TECON 360 Poverty in Developing Countries
- TECON 370 Economics and Social Mobility
- TECON 450 Labor Economics and Policy
- TECON 470 Economics of Health and Health Policy
- TESC 345 Pollution and Public Policy
- THIST 410 Early American Politics, Constitution and Law
- TLAW 339 Washington Environmental Law (formerly TEST 339)
- TLAW 486 Field Work in Law and Policy (formerly TPOLS 486)
- TPHIL 314 Philosophy of Crime and Punishment
- TPHIL 414 Philosophy of Law
- TPHIL 453 Political Theory of Human Rights (formerly TPOLS 453)
- TPOLS 325 Issues in Local Government
- TPOLS 340 Middle East Politics
- TPOLS 353 U.S. Congress
- TPOLS 400 The American Presidency
- TPOLS 451 Human Rights and the Use of Force
- TPOLS 360 Genocide
- TPOLS/TSOCWF 425 Comparative Social Policy
- TSOC 335 Social Class and Inequality
- TSOCWF 300 Historical Approaches to Social Welfare
- TURB 312 Race and Poverty in Urban America
- TURB 316 Cities and Citizenship
- TURB 430 Pacific Rim Cities
Toward the end of their studies, all Law and Policy students engage in a capstone class. You must complete the below seminar for your final five (5) credits in this major. This course will be your culminating work for your major and illustrate that you have met the student learning objectives.
Toward the end of their studies, all Law and Policy students engage in a capstone class. As a Law and Policy student, you also have the option of graduating with honors, which requires a second capstone class. This route is especially recommended for students expecting to enter graduate school.
In addition to the coursework required for the major, students are required to complete general university requirements and electives, and to bring their total number of credits to 180.
Transfer Students
Almost all colleges offer courses that can be applied toward your Law and Policy degree. Below you will see a list of equivalent courses at select community colleges. An advisor at your institution should be able to help you, or contact UW Tacoma's Law and Policy advisor, Heather Hucks.
| Courses that will fulfill specific requirements in the Law & Policy major | |
|---|---|
| GREEN RIVER COURSES WITHIN THE AA | UW TACOMA EQUIVALENT COURSES WITHIN TLAWPL |
| POLS 202 American Government | TPOLS 202 Introduction to American Politics |
| POLS 203 International Relations | TPOLS 203 Introduction to International Relations |
| PHIL 240 Introduction to Ethics | TPHIL 240 Introduction to Ethics |
| HIGHLINE COURSES WITHIN THE AA | UW TACOMA EQUIVALENT COURSES WITHIN TLAWPL |
| POLS 202 American Government | TPOLS 202 Introduction to American Politics |
| POLS 180 or 190 Critical Issues in World Politics | TPOLS 203 Introduction to International Relations |
| OLYMPIC COLLEGE COURSES WITHIN THE AA | UW TACOMA EQUIVALENT COURSES WITHIN TLAWPL |
| POLS 202 American Government | TPOLS 202 Introduction to American Politics |
| POLS 203 International Relations | TPOLS 203 Introduction to International Relations |
| PHIL 240 Introduction to Ethics | TPHIL 240 Introduction to Ethics |
| PIERCE COURSES WITHIN THE AA | UW TACOMA EQUIVALENT COURSES WITHIN TLAWPL |
| POLS 202 American Government | TPOLS 202 Introduction to American Politics |
| POLS 203 International Relations | TPOLS 203 Introduction to International Relations |
| PHIL 150 Introduction to Ethics | TPHIL 240 Introduction to Ethics |
| PHIL 115 Critical Thinking | Practical Reasoning requirement - either TPHIL 250 or TPHIL 251 |
| SEATTLE CENTRAL COURSES WITHIN THE AA | UW TACOMA EQUIVALENT COURSES WITHIN TLAWPL |
| POLS 202 American Government | TPOLS 202 Introduction to American Politics |
| POLS 203 International Relations | TPOLS 203 Introduction to International Relations |
| PHIL 240 Liberation Ethics | TPHIL 240 Introduction to Ethics |
| SOUTH PUGET SOUND COURSES WITHIN THE AA | UW TACOMA EQUIVALENT COURSES WITHIN TLAWPL |
| POLS 202 American Government | TPOLS 202 Introduction to American Politics |
| POLS 203 International Relations | TPOLS 203 Introduction to International Relations |
| TACOMA COURSES WITHIN THE AA | UW TACOMA EQUIVALENT COURSES WITHIN TLAWPL |
| POLS 202 American Government | TPOLS 202 Introduction to American Politics |
| POLS 203 International Relations | TPOLS 203 Introduction to International Relations |
| PHIL 215 Introduction to Ethics | TPHIL 240 Introduction to Ethics |