bachelor-law-philosophy-and-history

Requirements and Learning Outcomes

Earn your UBalt degree by majoring in Law, Philosophy, and History.

Degree Requirements

  • These requirements apply to students entering this program in fall 2026 and thereafter. Students who enrolled in either the Legal Studies, History, Philosophy, Law, and Ethics majors earlier in the spring of 2026 or earlier should consult the  catalog in effect at the time that they enrolled for their degree requirements.
  • Transfer students: You may apply up to 6 credits (two courses) toward program requirements, with the approval of the program director.
  • Each course in this major will have one of three subject codes: HIST (History and Law), PHIL (Philosophy and Law), or Legal Studies (LEST). Read the course descriptions.

Law, Philosophy, and History Program Requirements (36 credits)

General Education requirements for all new students entering UBalt in fall 2022 and after.

Legal Studies (6 Credits) 

 Choose two from the following four courses (6 credits): 

  • LEST 401 Legal and Ethical Foundations
  • LEST 402 Legal Research and Analysis
  • LEST 403 The Trial Process
  • LEST 412 Law and Society

Law and Philosophy (6 Credits) 

Choose one of the following (3 credits): 

  • PHIL 101 Introduction to Philosophy
  • PHIL 140 Contemporary Moral Issues
  • PHIL 150 Critical Thinking and Arguments 

Choose one of the following (3 credits): 

  • PHIL 200 The Nature and Purpose of Law
  • PHIL 480 Philosophy, Law, and Current Events 

Law and History (6 Credits) 

 Choose two from the following 4 courses (6 credits): 

  • HIST 325 Prisons and Police in U.S. History
  • HIST 330 Immigration and Law in U.S. History
  • HIST 335 Race, Gender, Sexuality and the Law in U.S. History
  • HIST 364 Civil Rights in U.S. History
Student-Designed Tracks

Choose one of the following tracks:

  • Legal Studies
  • Law and Philosophy
  • Law and History

Legal Studies

Required course (3 credits):

  • LEST 498 Capstone Project 

Complete five of the following (courses not taken to fulfill the core requirements; 15 credits)

  • PHIL 200 The Nature and Purpose of Law
  • HIST 340 American Legal History
  • LEST 400 Topics
  • LEST 401 Legal and Ethical Foundations
  • LEST 402 Legal Research and Analysis
  • LEST 403 The Trial Process
  • LEST 404 LSAT and Beyond
  • LEST 412 Law and Society
  • LEST 425 Topics in Law and Applied Ethics
  • LEST 496 Internships 

LAW AND PHILOSOPHY

Required course (3 credits):

  • PHIL 499 Capstone in Philosophy, Law and Ethics 

Complete one PHIL course from the History of Ideas Series (3 credits)

  • PHIL 317 Ancient Philosophy
  • PHIL 319 Modern Philosophy
  • PHIL 320 20th Century Philosophy
  • PHIL 321 Philosophers that Changed the World

Complete four additional philosophy courses (courses not taken to fulfill the core requirements), two of which must be upper division (300 or 400) and one of which could be a history of ideas course not taken to fulfill the History of Ideas requirement. One philosophy course may be substituted after consultation with the faculty advisor. (12 credits)

  • PHIL 101 Introduction to Philosophy
  • PHIL 140 Contemporary Moral Issues
  • PHIL 150 Critical Thinking and Arguments
  • PHIL 200 The Nature and Purpose of Law
  • PHIL 250 Social and Political Philosophy
  • PHIL 280 Environmental Ethics
  • PHIL 301 Ethics
  • PHIL 302 Philosophy of Community
  • PHIL 305 Professional Ethics in Human Services
  • PHIL 309 Eastern Religions
  • PHIL 316 Logic of Language
  • PHIL 317 Ancient Philosophy
  • PHIL 319 Modern Philosophy
  • PHIL 320 20th Century Philosophy
  • PHIL 321 Philosophers that Changed the World
  • PHIL 322 God, Philosophy, And Religion
  • PHIL 419 The World's Religions in America
  • PHIL 450 AI and Philosophy
  • PHIL 460 Moral Leadership and The Pursuit of Excellence
  • PHIL 470 Philosophy and American Society
  • PHIL 480 Philosophy, Law, And Current Events
  • PHIL 490 Theories of Justice
  • PHIL 492 Independent Study
  • PHIL 493 Honors Seminar 
  • PHIL 494 Honors Project 
  • PHIL 495 Existentialism
  • PHIL 496 International Law and Morality
  • PHIL 497 Special Topics in Philosophy
  • Phil 498 Internship in Philosophy, Law, And Ethics

LAW AND HISTORY

Required courses (6 credits):

  • HIST 295 The Historian's Toolkit 
  • HIST 495 Senior Seminar in History

Complete one 100 or 200-level HIST course (3 credits):

  • HIST 101 World History to 1500 
  • HIST 102 World History Since 1500 
  • HIST 111 Early America 
  • HIST 112 Modern America 
  • HIST 123 World History of Art 
  • HIST 197 Conflicts in History 
  • HIST 204 African American History to 1865 
  • HIST 205 African American History Since 1865
  • HIST 240 Everyday Lives 
  • HIST 250 Digital History 
  • HIST 290 Great Issues in History 

Complete three 300 or 400-level HIST courses (courses not taken to fulfill core requirements; 9 credits)

  • HIST 306 Popular Music in U.S. History 
  • HIST 308 History of American Business 
  • HIST 310 Ancient Civilizations 
  • HIST 312 Age of Revolutions 
  • HIST 313 Europe 1815-1914 
  • HIST 314 War in Europe, 1914-1945 
  • HIST 315 Europe Since 1945 
  • HIST 316 Black Europe 
  • HIST 321 America Since 1940 
  • HIST 324 Modern China 
  • HIST 325 Prisons and Police in U.S. History 
  • HIST 326 Modern Japan 
  • HIST 328 Modern Korea
  • HIST 330 Immigration and Law in U.S. History 
  • HIST 335 Race, Gender, Sexuality and the Law in U.S. History 
  • HIST 340 American Legal History 
  • HIST 344 World War II 
  • HIST 345 Politics in U.S. History 
  • HIST 350 History of U.S. Foreign Relations 
  • HIST 354 History of Germany 
  • HIST 360 Darwin, Marx, Nietzsche and Freud 
  • HIST 364 Civil Rights in U.S. History 
  • HIST 375 Civil War and Reconstruction 
  • HIST 380 The Chesapeake World 
  • HIST 381 American Cities
  • HIST 382 History of Baltimore 
  • HIST 385 U. S. Women's History 
  • HIST 390 Film and History 
  • HIST 391 History of Fashion 
  • HIST 396 Introduction to Public History
  • HIST 434 Constitutional History 
  • HIST 438 Great Trials in History 
  • HIST 440 History of Common Law 
  • HIST 445 Topics in The History of Religion 
  • HIST 460 The Cold War, 1945-1990 
  • HIST 466 History of Africa
  • HIST 477 Technology and History
  • HIST 490 Internship 
  • HIST 492 Independent Study 
  • HIST 496 Seminar in Public History
  • HIST 497 Special Topics in History 

Meet the UBalt Information Literacy graduation requirement by successfully completing one of the following:

  • HIST 295: The Historians’ Toolkit
  • IDIS 110 Introduction to Information Literacy
  • PHIL100 Introduction to Philosophy
  • PHIL 140 Contemporary Moral Issues

Assurance of Learning

B.A. IN LAW, PHILOSOPHY, AND HISTORY

 

Mission Statement

The mission of the Law, Philosophy, and History program (LPH) is to prepare students for careers in law, professional success, civic engagement, and life-long personal fulfillment through an interdisciplinary humanities-based curriculum grounded in legal studies, philosophy, and history. LPH will develop students’ analytic argumentation skills and oral and written communication skills through its emphasis on civil discourse, intellectual rigor, and writing across the curriculum. Through LPH, students will develop a unique and nuanced understanding of the law, its practice, and its philosophical and historical foundations, through a range of diverse perspectives that value careful analysis and argument. 

 

Program-Level Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduating from the B.A. in Law, Philosophy, and History program (LPH) program, students will be able to:

Formulate sustained oral or written arguments based on philosophical reasoning,legal analysis, or historical evidence. 

Assess how law functions within a larger context, including its social, philosophical, and/or historical impact and significance. 

LEGAL STUDIES TRACK

Track-Level Student Learning Outcomes 

Locate, analyze, and evaluate sources of law and communicate effectively orally and in writing about how such sources help answer legal questions. 

Demonstrate an understanding of the legal system and apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills within the context in which law operates. 

LAW AND PHILOSOPHY TRACK

Track-Level Student Learning Outcomes 

Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between law, ethics, and philosophy. 

Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between law, ethics, and philosophy. 

Demonstrate the ability to make, defend, and criticize philosophical and ethical arguments. 

LAW AND HISTORY TRACK

Track-Level Student Learning Outcomes 

Analyze a range of relevant historical primary and secondary sources. 

Situate events and individuals within their broader historical context.