Gwen Seaquist, Professor and Coordinator
Legal studies offers both a major and a minor. 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 that prepares students for the complex lives they will lead, which assuredly will include law as an underpinning, even if the law 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 to 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.
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LGST 32300 |
Legal Research Seminar (3) |
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LGST 49800 |
Internship: Legal Studies (3) |
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LGST 40200 |
Capstone Course (3) |
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POLT 12300 |
Political Justice (3) |
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SPCM 12400 |
Courtrooms and Communications (3) |
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TVR 12300 |
Law and the Media (3) |
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SPCM 11500 |
Business and Professional Communication (3) |
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WRTG 10600 |
Academic Writing I (3) or |
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WRTG 11100 |
Academic Writing II (3) |
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WRTG 20100 |
Persuasive Argument (3) or |
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SPCM 21500 |
Argument and Debate (3) |
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PHIL 21200 |
Introduction to Ethics (3) |
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PHIL 26500 |
Philosophical Problems in Law (3) |
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GBUS 20300 |
The Legal Environment of Business I (3) |
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GBUS 20400 |
The Legal Environment of Business II (3) or |
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GBUS 30700 |
Commercial Law (3) |
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POLT 31000 |
Supreme Court in U.S. Politics (3) |
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POLT 30300 |
Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties (3) |
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GBUS 32400 |
Alternative Dispute Resolution (3) |
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Total required courses |
48 |
Select 6 credits from the following:
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LGST 30700 |
Environmental Law and Policy (3) |
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GBUS 31000 |
International Business Law (3) |
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LGST 32000 |
Marketplace Regulation and Consumer Protection (3) |
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GBUS 35300 |
Real Estate Law (3) |
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LGST 49900 |
Independent Study: Legal Studies (3) |
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LGST 30600 |
Criminal Law (3) |
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HPS 33500 |
Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Policy (3) |
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SPMM 31000 |
Labor Relations in Sport (3) |
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MKTG 39100 |
Electronic Commerce: Legal and Ethical Issues (3) |
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LGST 43000 |
Selected Topics (3) |
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HRM 44400 |
Employment Law (3) |
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Total applied law electives |
6 |
Lists are updated every year. Contact Gwen Seaquist at 607-274-3944 for the most recent list.
Select 6 credits from the following:
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SPMM 30300 |
Seminar in Legal and Ethical Issues in Sport (3) |
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TVR 31200 |
Government and Media (3) |
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POLT 11500 |
Sustainable Politics (3) |
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POLT 12500 |
The Politics of Deviance (3) |
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POLT 12800 |
Introduction to International Relations (3) |
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POLT 14100 |
Power: Race, Sex, and Class (3) |
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POLT 14200 |
Ideas and Ideologies (3) |
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POLT 30100 |
Legislative Behavior (3) |
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POLT 32800 |
International Conflict (3) |
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POLT 34100 |
U.S. Political Thought (3) |
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POLT 34200 |
Liberalism and Marxism (3) |
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POLT 34300 |
Feminist Theory (3) |
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POLT 36200 |
Theory and Politics of Public Policy (3) |
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POLT 36400 |
Law and Public Policy (3) |
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POLT 36600 |
The Politics of Health (3) |
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POLT 36500 |
Environmental Politics (3) |
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POLT 37000 |
Selected Topics in Public Policy (3) |
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PHIL 15100 |
Reasoning (3) |
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PHIL 20300 |
Introduction to Logic (3) |
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PHIL 20600 |
Problem of Evil (3) |
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PHIL 21000 |
Freedom, Authority, and Responsibility (3) |
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PHIL 22000 |
Political Philosophy (3) |
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PHIL 25000 |
Environmental Ethics (3) |
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PHIL 32500 |
Philosophy of Public Policy (3) |
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PHIL 35200 |
Moral Philosophy (3) |
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SOCI 20300 |
Juvenile Delinquency (3) |
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SOCI 20700 |
Race and Ethnicity (3) |
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SOCI 20800 |
Social Change (3) |
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SOCI 21300 |
Sexual Oppression (3) |
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SOCI 21400 |
Definitions of Normality (3) |
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SOCI 21500 |
Introduction to Contemporary Mental Health (3) |
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SOCI 21800 |
Individual and Society (3) |
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SOCI 29300 |
Introduction to Social Institutions (3) |
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SOCI 30200 |
Sociology of Crime (3) |
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SOCI 30300 |
Global Race and Ethnic Relations (3) |
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SOCI 30700 |
Social Policy (3) |
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SOCI 31000 |
Civil Rights and Social Movements (3) |
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SOCI 31300 |
Social Inequality (3) |
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SOCI 31800 |
Political Sociology (3) |
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SOCI 32200 |
Forms of Punishment (3) |
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SOCI 32300 |
Family Violence (3) |
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SOCI 30200 |
Sociology of Crime (3) |
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SOCI 32400 |
Sociology of Violence (3) |
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SOCI 32500 |
Race, Class, and Gender (3) |
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SOCI 41500 |
Seminar: The Police (3) |
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SOCI 41600 |
Seminar: Treatment and Prevention of Family Violence (3) |
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SOCI 41800 |
Seminar: Sociology of the Law (3) |
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SOCI 42100 |
Seminar: Race, Racism, and the Law (3) |
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SOCI 43200 |
Selected Topics in Criminal and Juvenile Justice Studies (3) |
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SOCI 47200 |
Independent Studies in Criminal and Juvenile Justice Studies (3) |
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SOCI 49200 |
Internship: Criminal and Juvenile Justice (3) |
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SOCI 44200 |
Tutorial in Criminal and Juvenile Justice Studies (3) |
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Total |
6 |
Lists are updated every year. Contact Gwen Seaquist at 607-274-3944 for the most recent list.
See explanation of general education distribution requirements in the "General Education in Humanities and Sciences" section.
General Education in Humanities and Sciences
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Self and society -- 3 credits in values, beliefs, behavior; 6 credits in cultures and institutions; 3 additional credits in category A or B |
12 |
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Science, mathematics, and formal reasoning -- 6 credits in science; 3 credits in mathematics and formal reasoning |
9 |
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Human expression -- 6 credits in language; 6 credits in visual and performing arts |
12 |
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Global and historical perspectives |
3 |
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Total |
36 |
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Other LA electives |
12 |
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Open electives |
12 |
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Total |
120 |
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.
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GBUS 20300 |
The Legal Environment of Business I (3) |
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GBUS 20400 |
The Legal Environment of Business II (3) or |
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GBUS 30700 |
Commercial Law (3) |
Select 6 credits from the list under the legal studies major. Lists are updated every year. Contact Gwen Seaquist at 607-274-3944 for the most recent list.
Select 6 credits from the list under the legal studies major. Lists are updated every year. Contact Gwen Seaquist at 607-274-3944 for the most recent list.