Oct 12, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Law and Society, B.I.S.


Return to: 3030.30 Interdisciplinary Studies  

Program coordinator: Michael Yontz

The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) program in Law and Society offers students a career-oriented range of skills and knowledge about the law from social science and humanities perspectives. The degree is an excellent choice for pre-law students.  

Students have flexibility to craft a degree program that fits their interests and goals. Students will complete courses in at least 3 disciplines and may apply up to 6 hours of internship credit toward their degree. Law and Society students typically take courses in Political Science, History, Criminal Justice, Legal Studies, Economics, Philosophy, Sociology, Speech Communication, and related fields.  

Career paths for Law and Society majors include: 

  • lawyer 
  • judge 
  • mediator 
  • victim advocate 
  • paralegal or legal assistant 
  • politician 
  • legislative assistant 
  • public affairs officer 
  • journalist 
  • educator 

Program Admission

Students may enroll in a concentration upon admission to Georgia State University. Students who wish to change their major to this degree program should select a concentration in consultation with their academic advisor and the faculty coordinator. A 2.0 Georgia State University GPA is required.

Students who enroll in a concentration will be required to submit a course plan checklist to demonstrate their understanding of the degree requirements. It is highly recommended that students develop a course of study with their specific faculty coordinator before taking coursework in the degree program to avoid taking courses that will not count towards graduation.

Academic Advisement for Undergraduate Students

Academic advisement for undergraduate students is provided through the University Advisement Center (freshman through junior status/fewer than 90 hours) and the college’s Office of Academic Assistance (senior status/90 or more hours). See Office of Academic Assistance for additional information.

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Arts students should also consult regularly with the faculty program coordinator for the specific program regarding course selection, program plans, experiential learning, and other academic opportunities.

Graduation with Distinction in the Major

This unit offers undergraduate students with the opportunity to earn the designation of graduation with distinction in the major. Please contact the undergraduate director for the specific criteria for this honor.

Degree Requirements (120 Hours)


Please refer to the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies College Degree Requirements  of this catalog for academic regulations for this program.

Students must complete coursework in at least three disciplines (defined by course prefixes) in the Major Area and in at least two disciplines in the Allied Studies Area. Each area should be constructed so that students take courses in distinct disciplines in each area (with some overlap expected); that is, the same prefix should not predominate in both areas.

In addition to the Program Degree Requirements, students must fulfill the College of Arts and Sciences Degree Requirements (see College Degree Requirements ) and the University Degree Requirements (see 1400 University Degree Requirements and Graduation ).

University Grade-Point Average and Grade Requirements

Georgia State University undergraduate students must achieve an overall institutional grade-point average of 2.0 and a major GPA of 2.0 in the Major and Allied Studies areas to receive a bachelor’s degree from the university. Grades of C- can be used to satisfy graduation requirements. However, some courses have prerequisites that require a grade of C or higher. (See 1460 GPA Requirement for additional information.)

Field of Study Area (18 Hours)


  • Students must complete level 1002 of a world language. 3 Hours

Field Electives


Select additional elective courses from the following to complete 18 hours in the Field of Study Area:

Major Area (27 Hours)


Students must complete coursework in at least three disciplines (defined by course prefixes) in the Major Area.

Select two courses (6-7 Hours)


Select four additional courses (12 Hours)


Allied Studies Area (15 Hours)


Students must complete coursework in at least two disciplines (defined by course prefixes).

Select additional courses to reach at least 15 credit hours from the list in section 4 above (excluding courses already counting toward the Major Area) or from any of the following:

Additional Courses Area


Electives are used to build the hours in the Major, Allied Studies, and Additional Courses areas to 60 hours, have 30 hours at Georgia State University taken at the 3000-4000 level for residency, and complete 120 hours required for graduation.