The Graduate Program in Political and Legal Thought (PLT) is a 12-month collaborative degree that allows students to specialize in social, political, and legal theory. Students complete an MA in the Departments of Philosophy or Political Studies, or an LLM in the Faculty of Law, by choosing from a broad range of designated courses across all three disciplines, which, in any given year, will cover topics such as global justice, jurisprudence, ethics and animals, just war theory, feminism and the law, bio-ethics, egalitarianism, and human rights. The only course of study of its kind in Canada, the PLT Program builds on the close connections that exist at Queen’s between the Departments of Philosophy and Political Studies and the Faculty of Law. It provides an exciting opportunity for interdisciplinary engagement with leading scholars in a lively intellectual community.
School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs course page
In addition to their other courses in Political and Legal Thought, students will normally participate in the Colloquium in Legal and Political Philosophy. The Colloquium is a highly distinctive course centered on seminars delivered by some of the world’s leading legal and political theorists. Students are also encouraged to participate in the Political Philosophy Reading Group, which meets informally every two weeks to discuss important contemporary writings, some written by faculty and graduate students in Philosophy, Political Studies or Law.
Law students apply to the PLT Program as part of their graduate application to law school. Please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator for more information.