Legal Studies

Gwen Seaquist, Associate Professor and Coordinator

Legal studies offers both a minor and a major. In either, students have the opportunity to become familiar with legal ideas, legal institutions, and the legal process from the perspectives of multiple disciplines. Within the context of a growing literature in this field, students learn a variety of research and methodological approaches that enable them to understand and evaluate how the law works, as well as its underlying policies. Legal studies is premised on the belief that the study of law and justice necessarily incorporates a broad range of academic disciplines, and that its pursuit will encourage sustained reflection on fundamental values, as well as critical analysis of human behavior and institutions.

The major in legal studies is not intended as a substitute or as a preparation for any part of a law school curriculum, nor does it provide a paralegal certificate. The curriculum incorporates an interdisciplinary approach and prepares students for the complex lives they will lead, which assuredly will include law as an underpinning, even if it is not a career choice.

Students graduating in legal studies are particularly well qualified to pursue graduate work on legal topics in humanities and social science disciplines, or attend professional school in fields such as teaching, public policy, business and health administration, social work, and law. Legal studies graduates find employment in both the public and private sectors.

Requirements for the Major in Legal Studies - B.A.

Group 1 Required Courses

787-32300	Legal Research Seminar (3)
787-49800	Internship Requirement (3)
787-40200	Capstone Course (3)
310-12300	Political Justice (3)
319-12400	Courtrooms and Communications (3)
221-12300	Law and the Media (3)
319-11500	Business and Professional Communication (3)
377-10600	Academic Writing I (3) or
377-10700	Academic Writing II (3)
337-20100	Persuasive Argument (3) or
319-21500	Argument and Debate (3)
314-21200	Introduction to Ethics (3)
314-26500	Philosophical Problems in Law (3)
887-20300	The Legal Environment of Business I (3)
887-20400	The Legal Environment of Business II (3) or
887-32300	Commercial Law (3)
310-31000	Supreme Court in U.S. Politics (3)
310-30300	Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties (3)
887-32400	Alternative Dispute Resolution (3)
	Total required courses	48

Group 2: Applied Law Electives

Select 6 credits from the following:

787-30700	Environmental Law and Policy (3)
887-31000	International Business Law (3)
787-30500	Marketplace Regulation (3)
887-35300	Real Estate Law (3)
787-49900	Independent Study I & II (3)
787-30600	Criminal Law (3)
640-33500	Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Policy (3)
667-31000	Labor Relations in Sport (3)
884-39100	Electronic Commerce: Legal and Ethical Issues (3)
787-43000	Selected Topics (3)
885-44400	Employment Law (3
	Total applied law electives	6

Lists are updated every year. Contact Gwen Seaquist at 274-3944 for the most recent list.

Group 3: Social, Political, Ethical, and Cultural Electives

Select 6 credits from the following:

667-30300	Seminar in Legal and Ethical Issues (3)
221-31200	Government and Media (3)
310-12500	The Politics of Deviance (3)
310-14201	Power: Race, Sex, and Class (3)
310-14200	Ideas and Ideologies (3)
310-30100	Legislative Behavior (3)
310-32800	International Conflict (3)
310-34100	U.S. Political Thought (3)
310-34200	Liberalism and Marxism (3)
310-34300	Feminist Theory (3)
310-36200	Theory and Politics of Public Policy (3)
310-36400	Law and Public Policy (3)
310-36600	The Politics of Health (3)
310-36500	Environmental Politics (3)
310-37700	Selected Topics in Public Policy (3)
314-20400	Introduction to Logic (3)
314-20600	Problem of Evil (3)
314-22200	Political Philosophy (3)
314-25000	Environmental Ethics
314-32500	Philosophy of Public Policy
314-35200	Moral Philosophy (3)
314-37500	Selected Topics in Philosophy (3)
314-49500	Philosophy Seminar (3)
331-20300	Juvenile Delinquency (3)
331-20700	Race and Ethnicity (3)
331-20800	Social Change (3)
331-21300	Sexual Oppression (3)
331-21400	Definitions of Normality (3)
331-21500	Introduction to Contemporary Mental Health (3)
331-21800	Individual and Society (3)
331-29300	Introduction to Social Institutions (3)
331-30300	Global Race and Ethnic Relations (3)
331-30700	Social Policy (3)
331-31000	Civil Rights and Social Movements (3)
331-31300	Social Inequality (3)
331-31800	Political Sociology (3)
331-32200	Forms of Punishment (3)
331-32300	Family Violence (3)
331-30200	Sociology of Crime (3)
331-32400	Sociology of Violence (3)
331-32500	Race, Class and Gender (3)
331-41500	Seminar: The Police (3)
331-41600	Seminar: Treatment and Prevention of Family Violence (3)
331-41800	Seminar: Sociology of the Law (3)
331-42100	Seminar: Race, Racism, and the Law (3)
331-43200	Selected Topics in Criminal and Juvenile Justice Studies (3)
331-47200	Independent Studies in Criminal and Juvenile Justice Studies (3)
331-49200	Internship in Criminal and Juvenile Justice (3)
331-44200	Tutorial in Criminal and Juvenile Justice Studies (3)
	Total	6

Lists are updated every year. Contact Gwen Seaquist at 274-3944 for the most recent list.

Group 4: General Education Distribution Requirements

See listing of general education distribution requirements on page 194 36

	Other LA electives	12
	Open electives	12
	Total	120

Legal Studies Minor -- The purpose of the minor is to allow students to develop a greater understanding of the impact of law and legal institutions on society and public policy. Students study the sources and evolution of law, the legal process, and how law functions in a complex social, political, and economic system.

The minor consists of 18 credits. The two required foundation courses introduce legal methodology, including legal analysis, the Socratic method, and case-law studies. In addition, students select two courses on specific applications of the law and two courses on the larger social and ethical dimensions of the law. The requirements of the minor should complement and supplement the majors of students with diverse career goals.

Requirements for the Minor in Legal Studies - B.A.

Group 1 Required Courses

887-20300	The Legal Environment of Business I (3)
887-20400	The Legal Environment of Business II (3) or
887-32300	Commercial Law (3)

Group 2: Applied Law Electives

Select 6 credits from the list under the legal studies major. Lists are updated every year. Contact Gwen Seaquist at 274-3944 for the most recent list.

Group 3: Social, Political, Ethical, and Cultural Electives

Select 6 credits from the list under the legal studies major. Lists are updated every year. Contact Gwen Seaquist at 274-3944 for the most recent list.