From close elections and the entire process around them to landmark court rulings, there are always exciting things happening in the American legal and justice systems. There will always be a need for scrutiny, discussion, debate and decision. There will always be a call for advocates, influencers and experts.
William Woods University legal studies degree programs — and their various prelaw and criminal justice concentration areas — are designed to lay a strong foundation for careers in law, law enforcement and advocacy. Our dedicated faculty have worked in the legal and criminal justice systems themselves as prosecutors, officers, attorneys and more. Their research is relevant and applicable.
Upon graduation, you will find yourself thinking critically, with a firm grasp of American government and political theory, the Constitution and case law, and the procedures surrounding investigations, corrections and criminal and civil courts.
Join a number of campus organizations designed to build leadership and ignite your passions, including the WWU American Mock Trial Team, Criminal Justice Club, the National Society of Leadership and Success, Student Alumni Council, and Student Assembly.
Assist our faculty in or conduct scholarly research of your own. Engage in internships for academic credit in the legal, political and criminal justice fields such as government agencies, law firms, non-profit organizations, or in corrections, law enforcement, industrial security and more.
Our alumni have found successful careers in leading agencies, companies and firms:
I am always proud of this program when I learn students have been accepted to law or graduate school; have been selected for awards through their professional work after leaving WWU; or send me an email telling me how much our program has helped them in their personal and professional lives.
— Cynthia Kramer, Professor of Legal Studies
Combine your passion for justice and making a difference with a well-rounded and relevant program, and prepare for careers in law enforcement, agencies, industrial security, corrections, and the judicial system.
With a combination of coursework in American political science, concepts and theory, and a liberal arts approach to the meanings and values of legality, a successful career in law or politics awaits.
