Program Overview

Introduction to the M.A. in Law, Justice & Culture

The M.A. in Law, Justice & Culture is a graduate program that requires a substantial research paper produced under faculty supervision in accordance with program guidelines. Students are strongly encouraged to present their research findings to a wider audience at a CLJC or departmental research workshop or symposium or academic conference.

Research Requirement: M.A. Research Essay Option

The M.A. research essay option requires a substantial research paper produced under faculty supervision in accordance with program guidelines. Students are strongly encouraged to present their research findings to a wider audience at a CLJC or departmental research workshop or symposium or academic conference.

Submission and Graduation

The student's M.A. research essay must be read and approved by the Graduate Program Director in consultation with the CLJC Graduate Committee in order for the student to complete the M.A. degree. Each M.A. research essay must be submitted with the signature page, included in this graduate handbook. The Graduate Program Director will read the M.A. research essay and either approve it or return it for revision and resubmission.

Master's Research Essay Format

The M.A. research essay presents a substantial paper with strong analysis and discussion of secondary sources and some analysis of primary sources and original research, carried out over one semester. The topic is open to any historical or contemporary subject, but it must focus on a theme relevant to law and society, and it must demonstrate an appropriate and sophisticated use of theoretical and methodological approaches to this interdisciplinary field. M.A. research essays are typically 25 to 40 pages and approximately 7,000 to 9,000 words in length, including abstract, references, and works cited.

Structure of the M.A. Research Essay

M.A. research essays should generally follow the outline below:

• Introduction: Depending on the approach and methodology, the introductory section could begin with a relevant example or anecdote about the topic at hand. It should then present the "aim and scope" of the project that clearly states the argument, the goal of the essay, and the research questions.
• Literature Review: Here provide a short overview of the main bodies of literature that you will engage with in your project. The goal of this section is to situate your research question within the scholarly literature.
• Background/Context: Assume that the reader is not familiar with the topic of the paper. Set up the discussion by providing the reader with enough information to understand the nature of the project. Provide a road map to the essay, previewing each section so that readers can follow the logic of your argument as they proceed through the paper. Be sure to provide a road map to the essay, previewing each section so that readers can follow the logic of your argument as they proceed through the paper. Be sure to provide a road map to the essay, previewing each section so that readers can follow the logic of your argument as they proceed through the paper. Be sure to provide a road map to the essay, previewing each section so that readers can follow the logic of your argument as they proceed through the paper.