BA (120 credit hour) Combined Honours in Law, Justice & Society
There are two possible Combined Honours degrees; Combined Honours with LJSO as the Primary subject, and Combined Honours with LJSO as the Secondary subject.
BA (120 credit hour) Combined Honours with Law, Justice & Society as Primary Subject
An Honours degree is an alternative version of the undergraduate degree, which involves more intensive—and extensive—coursework within Law, Justice & Society, and requires students to maintain higher grades in relevant courses.
The Honours degree is generally chosen by students planning to pursue graduate studies or a professional degree, but it can be a good choice for students who wish to enjoy the experience of an intensive research project – the Honours essay (or Honours thesis).
The Honours program provides the opportunity for students to pursue an independent research project, culminating in an Honours essay [or Honours thesis] of approximately 35-45 pages in length. After being admitted to the Program, this research project is undertaken in the 4th year of study, in consultation with a supervisor of the student’s choice. The supervisor is typically, but not required to be, a faculty member who is cross-appointed in LJSO, and/or who is teaching in the field of legal studies in any of the contributing disciplines. Students are encouraged to approach a potential supervisor in their 3rd year of study, so that they are in place by the time the Fall term of their final year begins.
To complete the 120 hour Combined Honours with Law Justice & Society being the primary subject, students need to complete the requirements for the B.A. 120-credit major, together with the ‘additional requirements’ specified below. They must take a minimum of 66 and a maximum of 84 total credit hours above the 1000 Level in both Honours subjects (21 credit hours of which are covered by LJSO core courses), with a minimum of 30 and no more than 48 credit hours in either subject. At least 18 credit hours must be at or beyond the 3000-level in each of the two subjects.
Additional requirements:
1. Honours students are required to take LJSO 3500.03: Legal Research and Writing and the Honours Seminar (Both LJSO 0400.00 in the Fall term and LJSO 4000.03 in the Winter term), which involves an independent research project culminating in an Honours essay [or Honours thesis]
2. Honours students are required to take at least one 4000-level seminar course from among the available electives (this requirement can not be fulfilled by the Honours Seminar nor POLI 4390.03).
3. Admission to the program is based entirely on academic performance: specifically, it requires a grade average of B+ (3.30) or higher on LJSO courses.
4. Only courses completed with a grade of “C” or better will count toward the degree.
Applications for Honours in LJSO are due by May 15th, during the student’s third year of study, to allow students time to ensure that they have the required courses to complete the degree. Late applications may be accepted, at the approval of the Coordinator or Honours Advisor.
The application, which is the standard form for all programs at Dalhousie, is available here.
Once students complete the application, they will submit it to the LJSO Honours Advisor (or Program Coordinator), for review and signature. Students must also have the form signed by the appropriate person [typically the Program Coordinator or Honours Advisor] representing their second subject, before submitting it to the Registrar’s office, the address of which is on the top of the form.
Only after a student’s application is approved will they be provided an override to enable them to register in the Honours seminars.
Honours Essay / Honours Seminar
The Honours essay (sometimes called an Honours thesis) is an opportunity for students to undertake a more sustained scholarly project, featuring theoretical analysis and/or systematic, empirical research. It normally takes the form of a formal essay of approximately 35-45 double-spaced pages in length.
Students in the LJSO Honours program will complete an Honours essay, under the supervision of a faculty member who is chosen by the student, ideally before the end of their third year, and who is typically cross-appointed in LJSO from any of the contributing disciplines. Although it is not necessary for students to have one in place at the time of their application, students are advised to secure an honours supervisor as soon as possible in their third year of study; even before being accepted into the Honours Program. Students should expect to meet with their supervisor regularly during their final year of study, mainly in the second half of the Fall and through the Winter term, to report on progress and receive advice on the project.
The Honours essay is associated with two formal courses (the “Honours Seminars” – LJSO 0400.00 in the Fall term and LJSO 4000.03 in the Winter term) which, together, count for a total of 3 credit-hours toward the degree. Participation in the Honours Seminar counts toward the "21st grade”, required by the University.
While the expectations may vary from year to year, students participating in the Honours seminar should expect to give a presentation of their work and will also submit the final written thesis, which will be read and evaluated by the supervisor and a second reader. Students will be asked to identify a 2nd reader of their thesis, who must be approved by the Seminar instructor.
First year students are encouraged to select from existing introductory courses across the arts and social sciences such as ASSC 1300.03 or ASSC 1400.03. It is recommended that selections include the prerequisites for the LJSO courses that are required at the 2000 and 3000 levels in the disciplines of Political Science, Sociology and/or Anthropology, Philosophy, and History (see below). Students should also make sure that 6 credit hours are taken in courses that satisfy the Writing Requirement (WR). Examples of recommended courses include:
King’s Foundation Year Program and the DalCAP combination of courses also provide suitable entry points.
Second year there are 9 required credit hours at the 2000-level:
Third year there are 12 required credit hours at the 3000-level:
- POLI 3505.03 Human Rights: Foundations
- HIST 3226.03 Law & Justice in Canadian Society to 1890, OR HIST 3227.03 Criminal Law, Crime and Punishment, 1890 to the Present
- LJSO 3000.03 Processes of Justice
- LJSO 3500.03 Legal Research and Writing
Fourth year there are 3 required credit hours (2 courses) at the 4000-level:
Other requirements: Electives
- A minimum of 6 and a maximum of 21 credit hours from the List of Approved Electives; 3 of which must be a 4000-level seminar (other than POLI 4390.03 and LJSO 0400.00/LJSO 4000.03).
BA (120 credit hour) Combined Honours with Law, Justice & Society as Secondary Subject
An Honours degree is an alternative version of the undergraduate degree, which involves more intensive—and extensive—coursework within Law, Justice & Society, and requires students to maintain higher grades in relevant courses.
The Honours degree is generally chosen by students planning to pursue graduate studies or a professional degree, but it can be a good choice for students who wish to enjoy the experience of an intensive research project – the Honours essay (or Honours thesis). This is not an LJSO requirement when LJSO is the Secondary subject, but the Primary subject may require one.
To complete the 120 hour Combined Honours with Law Justice & Society being the secondary subject, students need to complete the requirements for the B.A. 120-credit major, together with the ‘additional requirements’ specified below. They must take a minimum of 66 and a maximum of 84 credit hours above the 1000 Level in both Honours subjects (21 credit hours of which are covered by LJSO core courses), with a minimum of 30 and no more than 48 credit hours in either of them. At least 18 credit hours must be at or beyond the 3000-level in each of the two subjects.
Additional requirements:
1. Honours students are required to take LJSO 3500.03: Legal Research and Writing
2. Honours students are required to take at least one 4000-level seminar course from among the available electives (this requirement can not be fulfilled by POLI 4390.03).
3. Admission to the program is based entirely on academic performance: specifically, it requires a grade average of B+ (3.30) or higher on LJSO courses.
4. Only courses completed with a grade of “C” or better will count toward the degree.
Applications for Honours in LJSO are due by May 15th, during the student’s third year of study, to allow students time to ensure that they have the required courses to complete the degree. Late applications may be accepted, at the approval of the Coordinator or Honours Advisor.
The application, which is the standard form for all programs at Dalhousie, is available here.
Once students complete the application, they will submit it to the LJSO Honours Advisor (or Program Coordinator), for review and signature. Students must also have the form signed by the appropriate person representing their Primary subject before submitting it to the Registrar’s office; the address of which is on the top of the form.
First year students are encouraged to select from existing introductory courses across the arts and social sciences suc as ASSC 1300.03 or ASSC 1400.03. It is recommended that selections include the prerequisites for the LJSO courses that are required at the 2000 and 3000 levels in the disciplines of Political Science, Sociology and/or Anthropology, Philosophy, and History (see below). Students should also make sure that 6 credit hours are taken in courses that satisfy the Writing Requirement (WR). Examples of recommended courses include:
King’s Foundation Year Program and the DalCAP combination of courses also provide suitable entry points.
Second year there are 9 required credit hours at the 2000-level:
Third year there are 12 required credit hours at the 3000-level:
- POLI 3505.03 Human Rights: Foundations
- HIST 3226.03 Law & Justice in Canadian Society to 1890, OR HIST 3227.03 Criminal Law, Crime and Punishment, 1890 to the Present
- LJSO 3000.03 Processes of Justice
- LJSO 3500.03 Legal Research and Writing
Fourth year there are no required core courses at the 4000-level. Students choose an approved elective course at the 4000-level.
Other requirements: Electives
- A minimum of 9 and a maximum of 24 credit hours from the List of Approved Electives; 3 cr hrs must be at or beyond the 3000-level, and an additional 3 cr hrs must be fulfilled by a 4000-level seminar (other than POLI 4390.00).