The Certificate in Law and Humanities promotes the interdisciplinary study of law through the lens of the humanities. It addresses the broader cultural, theoretical, and historical contexts of law. The certificate’s courses provide  a critical understanding of legal systems through the analysis of law within the context of various disciplines, like literature, history, cultural and media studies, philosophy and religion. Through this study, you will  develop ethical, analytical, and communicative skills like critical textual analysis and writing that are necessary for careers in diverse professional paths that have a connection to law. Such a cross-disciplinary dialogue between law and other fields opens the door to a broader and more complex understanding of law and justice.

How to Get in

No application required. For information on how to declare, visit Advising & Careers.

Requirements

The Certificate requires a minimum of five courses and a minimum of 15 credits. The courses must be distributed as follows: 

Complete one course from the Introduction to Law and Humanities section, three courses from Themes in Law and Humanities, and one course from the Capstone Experience. 

Introduction to Law and Humanities

Complete one course from:

Themes in Law and Humanities

Complete three courses from:

The Capstone Experience

Complete one course from:

Residence and Quality of Work

• Minimum 2.000 GPA on all certificate courses.
• At least 8 certificate credits must be completed in residence.

Certificate Completion Requirement 

This undergraduate certificate must be completed concurrently with the student’s undergraduate degree. Students cannot delay degree completion to complete the certificate.

Learning Outcomes

1. Examine the interplay between law and cultural expressions: Explain how law both shapes and is shaped by cultural narratives, social norms, philosophy, history, and artistic representations.
2. Apply critical methods of inquiry used in humanistic fields like literature, history, and philosophy to the analysis of legal topics.
3. Develop interdisciplinary arguments: Construct arguments that integrate legal reasoning with insights from the humanities, demonstrating an ability to navigate between different forms of analysis.
4. Interpret legal texts through humanistic lenses: Analyze legal texts such as statutes and judicial opinions using tools from literature, philosophy, history, and cultural studies.
5. Develop and communicate original ideas and arguments clearly and persuasively in both oral and written forms.

Advising and Careers

Advising Appointments

Please schedule an advising appointment using Starfish.

If you are not a current UW–Madison student, please email us at cjcp@ssc.wisc.edu to schedule a meeting.

Mentoring Opportunities

Speed Mentoring: Each fall and spring we hold speed mentoring events to provide our students an opportunity to connect one-on-one with community members within the legal, criminal, justice, policy, and nonprofit fields.

Peer Mentoring: Join the student-led group created to help students declared in majors and certificates in the Center for Law, Society, and Justice navigate classes, schedules, homework, and more, all in a fun and social setting. You choose what communication method works for you, how involved you want to be, and what your involvement looks like.

Study Abroad

Learning in Letters & Science emphasizes discovery, growth, understanding different perspectives, and challenging yourself, which makes studying abroad an excellent fit for many L&S students: studyabroad.wisc.edu

As a university with global influence, we have more than 300 study abroad programs in over 80 countries. These vary in length, academic focus, teaching format, language requirements, cost, and level of independence. There are many programs to complement every major and any year of college (including the final semester)—and all meet UW–Madison’s high academic standards. Students admitted into Letters & Science can even choose a short program in the summer before they start college or their whole first year: studyabroad.wisc.edu/launch. Talk with your academic advisor about how studying abroad might fit with your academic plan.

SuccessWorks

SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.

Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.

• What you can do with your major  (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
• Make a career advising appointment
• Learn about internships and internship funding
• Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students