Law and African-American Studies


A four-year program offered by UCLA Law and UCLA’s Department of African-American Studies, leading to a J.D. and an M.A. in African-American Studies.

The first program of its kind in the country, UCLA’s joint-degree program in Law & African-American Studies equips students to practice law with a fuller understanding of its intersections with the historical, social and cultural dimensions of the African-American experience, and to provide social and political leadership within or for the black community. The program requires satisfactory completion of all requirements of the Juris Doctor degree, including eighty-seven (87) semester units of mandatory first-year, Professional Responsibility and upper-division elective courses; and satisfactory completion of all requirements of the Master's degree in African-American Studies, including required coursework, written thesis and fulfillment of a foreign language requirement.

More Info About the M.A. Requirement

For more information about the African-American Studies portion of the Joint Degree Program, contact the UCLA Department of African-American Studies at 310.825.7403 or staff@afam.ucla.edu.

Campus updates

Follow UCLA Law in real time

Beyond the headlines, UCLA Law’s story unfolds every day on social media, where we share insights on student life, faculty research, campus events, alumni milestones, and other remarkable moments.

Stay connected
News
See All
Oct 30, 2026

Rick Hasen's scholarship on the recent spike in election-related litigation is cited by Reuters

Read More
Oct 30, 2026

Rick Hasen speaks with the LA Times about the ongoing battle over voting and ballot counting in California

Read More