Public law examines the legal relationships between citizens and the state and among the different institutions of government. It analyzes the role of constitutions and courts in safeguarding the rule of law, protecting civil liberties, and curbing state power. The study of public law takes place in a global and historical context and explores the comparative and international dimensions of law and lawmaking. It investigates the normative foundations of justice and human rights and the systemic inequalities that law and legal institutions can sustain and replicate.
Our programs in public law introduce students to academic study of law. Students engage in the broad-based study of the legal system in Canada, with comparative, international, and historical contrasts. Early courses in the program provide foundational knowledge of legal theory, Canadian politics, and the Canadian Constitution, and situate public law within the field of political science. Advanced courses allow students to explore specific topics in depth, such as judicial politics, Indigenous law and politics, international law, comparative law, and law and social movements. The curriculum is designed to expose students to a wide range of pressing issues related to law and justice, including: racial bias in policing; indigenous land rights; sexual diversity; gender equality; transitional justice; and community building and legal mobilization.
Major Program in Public Law
The Major Program in Public Law is a four-year undergraduate program rooted in the foundations of social science and intended for students with an interest in interdisciplinary education that explores the way that public law is relevant to major themes in political science and sociology. Students will acquire in-depth understanding of the legal system in Canada, including the Canadian Constitution and legal institutions, as well as theories of rights and justice and the role of law in a democratic society. The program considers law in a global context to examine the constraints on state sovereignty posed by international law and international courts. Students will learn to appreciate both the emancipatory potential of law as well as its limitations as a tool of social change and the disproportionate burdens that the legal system places on minority groups.
The Major Program in Public Law focuses on developing students’ research, writing, and oral presentation abilities. Through a required methods sequence, students in the Major will learn to conduct academic research on law and politics. The program exposes students to the role that public law plays in our community through experiential learning and community engagement.
Enrolment Requirements
Enrolment in the Major is limited. A maximum of 50 students will be admitted to the program each academic year. Students may apply after completing 4.0 credits and must have achieved a minimum CGPA of 2.0. Students who have completed 10.0 or more credits are not eligible. Submission deadlines follow the Limited Enrolment Program Application Deadlines set by the Office of the Registrar each year. Failure to submit the program request on ACORN will result in that student’s application not being considered. Admission to the proposed Major will be assessed through a consideration of the student’s academic performance.
Please note that students will be able to request the Major Program in Public Law beginning Winter 2025.
Minor Program in Public Law
The Minor Program in Public Law complements the Specialist, Major and Minor programs in Political Science. The program introduces students to the study of public law by providing foundational knowledge of the legal system in Canada and appreciation for the major debates in political science concerning the role of law and courts. Students will also explore the normative foundations of legal rights and the methodologies that political science can bring to bear on the study of law and politics.
Similar to other programs in the department, the Minor Program in Public Law develops students’ reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. Students have the ability to choose from a range of elective courses to further their knowledge in particular areas of public law and engage in interdisciplinary study, community engagement, and experiential learning.
Competencies & Skills Learned in Public Law Programs
- An understanding of the legal system in Canada and its broader historical context
- An awareness of the limitations of the law in addressing systemic inequality and the disproportionate burdens the legal systems places on minority groups
- The ability to analyze issues from a variety of perspectives, think creatively, and make decisions while considering different sides of an argument
- Research, writing, and oral presentation skills
- Opportunities for experiential learning and community engagement
