Law, Policy, and Philosophy
Understand how laws are made, how public policy shapes people's lives and how ideas about justice, rights and ethics influence both. The Law, Policy, and Philosophy major develops the critical thinking, communication and problem-solving skills you can use in law, government, public service, business and other careers where complex decisions require more than a simple answer.
Build Skills in Law, Policy, Ethics and Critical Thinking
This interdisciplinary major brings together law, political science, philosophy and history, with opportunities to explore related areas such as criminal justice, economics, psychology, environmental policy and communications.
You'll learn to:
- Analyze complex legal, political and ethical issues
- Build and defend persuasive arguments using evidence and sound reasoning
- Understand how laws, courts, government and public policy influence one another
- Examine questions of justice, rights, liberty and equality
- Communicate clearly through strong writing and public speaking
Skills Built for a Changing Workplace
As AI changes how work gets done, employers continue to place a premium on skills that require human judgment, analysis and communication. In the National Association of Colleges and Employers' Job Outlook 2025 survey, 96% of employers rated both communication and critical thinking as very or extremely important for new college graduates, while only about half rated recent graduates highly proficient in those areas.
The World Economic Forum similarly identifies analytical thinking as employers' top core skill, cited by 69% of surveyed employers, and expects analytical and other human-centered skills to remain important as AI adoption grows.
Career Paths in Law, Policy and Public Service
The major is designed for students interested in careers where laws, public institutions, policy and decision-making intersect. It can also provide a strong undergraduate foundation for law school or graduate study in public policy and related fields.
Potential paths include:
- Law and legal careers
- Government and public administration
- Public policy and policy analysis
- Public affairs and government relations
- Nonprofit and advocacy organizations
- Business and consulting
- Compliance and regulatory work
- Research
Did you know? Legal occupations had a $99,990 median annual wage in 2024. Many roles require law school or other advanced credentials, making your undergraduate preparation an important first step toward those careers.
*Data courtesy of the Bureau of Labor Statistics