diff --git a/jwcrypto/jwt.py b/jwcrypto/jwt.py
index 157d519..64d3dfc 100644
--- a/jwcrypto/jwt.py
+++ b/jwcrypto/jwt.py
@@ -479,6 +479,7 @@ def _check_check_claims(self, check_claims):
         self._check_string_claim('iss', check_claims)
         self._check_string_claim('sub', check_claims)
         self._check_array_or_string_claim('aud', check_claims)
+        self._check_string_claim('scope', check_claims)
         self._check_integer_claim('exp', check_claims)
         self._check_integer_claim('nbf', check_claims)
         self._check_integer_claim('iat', check_claims)
@@ -556,7 +557,26 @@ def _check_provided_claims(self):
                                                    "'%s'" % (name,
                                                              claims[name],
                                                              value))
+            elif name == 'scope':
+                if value is not None:
+                    if not isinstance(claims[name], str):
+                        raise JWTInvalidClaimValue(
+                            "Invalid '%s' value. Scope list has to be "
+                            "a string, got a %s instead: %s" % (
+                                name, type(claims[name]), str(claims[name])))
 
+                    found = False
+                    got_scopes = claims[name].split()
+                    for s in got_scopes:
+                        if s == value:
+                            found = True
+                            break
+
+                    if not found:
+                        raise JWTInvalidClaimValue(
+                            "Invalid '%s' value. Scope list '%s' does not "
+                            "contain the required scope '%s'" % (
+                                name, claims[name], value))
             else:
                 if value is not None and value != claims[name]:
                     raise JWTInvalidClaimValue(
diff --git a/jwcrypto/tests.py b/jwcrypto/tests.py
index ae3b140..647235b 100644
--- a/jwcrypto/tests.py
+++ b/jwcrypto/tests.py
@@ -1977,6 +1977,68 @@ def test_unexpected(self):
         jwt.JWT(jwt=enctok, key=key)
         key.key_ops = None
 
+    def test_claims_scope(self):
+        key = jwk.JWK().generate(kty='oct')
+
+        string_header = '{"alg":"HS256"}'
+
+        # no scopes provided
+        claims = '{}'
+        t = jwt.JWT(string_header, claims)
+        t.make_signed_token(key)
+        token = t.serialize()
+        self.assertRaises(jwt.JWTMissingClaim, jwt.JWT, jwt=token,
+                          key=key, check_claims={"scope": "read"})
+
+        # non-string scopes
+        claims = '{"scope": 12345}'
+        t = jwt.JWT(string_header, claims)
+        t.make_signed_token(key)
+        token = t.serialize()
+        self.assertRaises(jwt.JWTInvalidClaimValue, jwt.JWT, jwt=token,
+                          key=key, check_claims={"scope": "read"})
+
+        # empty scopes
+        claims = '{"scope": ""}'
+        t = jwt.JWT(string_header, claims)
+        t.make_signed_token(key)
+        token = t.serialize()
+        self.assertRaises(jwt.JWTInvalidClaimValue, jwt.JWT, jwt=token,
+                          key=key, check_claims={"scope": "read"})
+
+        # one correct scope
+        claims = '{"scope":"read"}'
+        t = jwt.JWT(string_header, claims)
+        t.make_signed_token(key)
+        token = t.serialize()
+        jwt.JWT(jwt=token, key=key, check_claims={"scope": "read"})
+        self.assertRaises(jwt.JWTInvalidClaimValue, jwt.JWT, jwt=token,
+                          key=key, check_claims={"scope": "write"})
+
+        # multiple scopes including the correct one
+        claims = '{"scope":"view read write"}'
+        t = jwt.JWT(string_header, claims)
+        t.make_signed_token(key)
+        token = t.serialize()
+        jwt.JWT(jwt=token, key=key, check_claims={"scope": "view"})
+        jwt.JWT(jwt=token, key=key, check_claims={"scope": "read"})
+        jwt.JWT(jwt=token, key=key, check_claims={"scope": "write"})
+        self.assertRaises(jwt.JWTInvalidClaimValue, jwt.JWT, jwt=token,
+                          key=key, check_claims={"scope": "wrong"})
+
+        # one correct scope, invalid value
+        claims = '{"scope":"read"}'
+        t = jwt.JWT(string_header, claims)
+        t.make_signed_token(key)
+        token = t.serialize()
+        self.assertRaises(jwt.JWTInvalidClaimFormat, jwt.JWT, jwt=token,
+                          key=key, check_claims={"scope": 123})
+        self.assertRaises(jwt.JWTInvalidClaimFormat, jwt.JWT, jwt=token,
+                          key=key, check_claims={"scope": ["test", "wrong"]})
+
+        # finally make sure it doesn't raise if not checked.
+        jwt.JWT(jwt=token, key=key)
+
 
 class ConformanceTests(unittest.TestCase):