Jurisprudence & Social Policy / Legal Studies

Founded in 1978, the Jurisprudence and Social Policy (JSP) Program is the first interdisciplinary Ph.D. program housed in a leading law school and at the same time integrated with world-class graduate education in Berkeley’s top-ranked doctoral programs. JSP advances cutting-edge research and teaching on law and legal institutions through the perspectives of several disciplines, including history, economics, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology. Our graduates are leaders in universities, research centers, and public service in the US and many other countries. Founded simultaneously and associated with JSP, the undergraduate Legal Studies program is the only sociolegal studies major in the United States staffed and administered by a law school while being deeply grounded in liberal arts education, including belonging to Berkeley’s College of Letters & Science.  Our BAs pursue careers in innumerable professions, bringing with them the unique perspectives of Berkeley Legal Studies. JSP and Legal Studies remain clear leaders of a vibrant and growing field of such programs, because of their deep curricular resources and scholarly accomplishment.