Law & Society Minor

Law & Society Minor

Law is intrinsic to the organization of human society, shaping what it means to be female or male, a citizen or non-citizen, what we can eat and drink, how we are protected by—or from—the state.

The Law & Society Minor is designed for students who wish to explore how social forces influence the law and how the law affects society. Open to all undergraduates, this interdisciplinary minor will challenge you to grapple with the place of law in our social, political, economic, and cultural life. Our seasoned, devoted faculty will prepare you for a wide range of justice-related careers in law and related professions. 

You will leave this program with a greater insight into public affairs and a wealth of conceptual, analytical, and communication skills that will be valuable in any career. Graduates of our program have gone on to be senators, prosecutors, professors, and providers of humanitarian aid. 
 

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Curriculum

Law & Society, Minor

Requirements

Overview Course

Take the following required overview course

  • American Legal Institutions (3 units)

Domestic Justice Course

Take one of the following courses

  • Communication Policy and Law (4 units)
  • Law and Literature (4 units)
  • Theory and Inquiry in JCL (4 units)
  • Legal Aspects of Sport (4 units)
  • Business Law (4 units)
  • Congress and the Presidency (4 units)
  • Politics of Mass Incarceration (4 units)
  • Envirmntl Law and Regulation (3 units)
  • Theory of Law (4 units)
  • Justice and Community (4 units)
  • Crime and Delinquency (4 units)

Global Justice Courses

Take one of the following courses

  • Intro:Global&Regional Studies (4 units)
  • Environmental Justice (4 units)
  • Global Perspectives (3 units)
  • Philosophy of Law (4 units)
  • Modern Legal Philosophy (4 units)
  • Human Rights (4 units)
  • Theories of Justice (4 units)
  • Special Topics (1-4 units)
  • The Bible & Economic Justice (3 units)

Skills Courses

Take one of the following courses

  • Communication Theory (3 units)
  • Advanced Composition (4 units)
  • Creating Community
  • The Art of Logic
  • Writing for Nonprofits (3 units)

Field Placement Courses

Take one of the following courses, at least 2 units.

  • Communication & Social Justice (4 units)
  • Issues and Topics in Economics (2-4 units)
  • Politics and Race (3 units)
  • Gender Politics (3 units)
  • Internship in Politics (1-4 units)
  • Field Experience (1-3 units)
  • Special Study: Internship (1-3 units)
  • Catholic Social Teaching (3 units)

Unit Requirement

Take one additional course from this list if needed to achieve 18 units for the minor

  • Communicat & Soc Justice EL (1 units)
  • Creating Community EL
  • Politics and Race EL (1 units)
  • Gender Politics EL (1 units)
  • The Bible and Econ Justice EL (1 units)
  • Catholic Social Teaching EL (1 units)
  • Writing for Nonprofits EL (1 units)

All Politics Courses

  • Intro to American Politics (4 units)
  • Intro to Comparative Politics (4 units)
  • Intro to International Relatns (4 units)
  • Intro to Political Theory (4 units)
  • Transfer Course (1-5 units)
  • Wrting, Resrch, and Analysis (3 units)
  • California and Local Politics (4 units)
  • Pol Parties, Soc Mvmnt, Int Gr (4 units)
  • Campaigns and Elections (3 units)
  • Congress and the Presidency (4 units)
  • Introduction to Public Policy (3 units)
  • Intro to Public Policy EL (1 units)
  • US Public and Const Law (4 units)
  • American Legal Institutions (3 units)
  • Politics of Mass Incarceration (4 units)
  • Politics of Labor (4 units)
  • Politics and Race (3 units)
  • Politics and Race EL (1 units)
  • Environmental Politics (3 units)
  • Envirmntl Law and Regulation (3 units)
  • Politics and the Media (3 units)
  • Gender Politics (3 units)
  • Gender Politics EL (1 units)
  • Contemporary Revolutions (3 units)
  • Middle East Politics (4 units)
  • Asian Politics (4 units)
  • Latin American Politics (4 units)
  • West European Politics (4 units)
  • Russian Politics from Lenin (4 units)
  • East European Politics (4 units)
  • American Foreign Policy (4 units)
  • Defense Policy (3 units)
  • Human Rights (4 units)
  • Dynamics of Terrorism (4 units)
  • Politics of Develop Countries (4 units)
  • Food Politics (3 units)
  • Food Politics EL (1 units)
  • Politics in the Global Economy (4 units)
  • Human Rights (4 units)
  • Modern Political Theory (4 units)
  • American Political Theory (4 units)
  • Just and Unjust Wars (4 units)
  • Theories of Decolonization (4 units)
  • Theories of Justice (4 units)
  • Theory of Law (4 units)
  • Poltcl Polling and Survey Res (3 units)
  • Poli Polling & Survey Res EL (1 units)
  • Topics in American Politics (3-4 units)
  • Topics in Comparative Politics (3-4 units)
  • Topics in Intl Politics (3-4 units)
  • Topics in Political Theory (3-4 units)
  • Social Justice Speakers Series (1 units)
  • Democracy Lab (1 units)
  • Internship in Politics EL (1-4 units)
  • Transfer Course (1-5 units)
  • Internship in Politics (1-4 units)
  • Independent Study (1-4 units)

School and Department Information