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. 
 

Learn more about the program

Get to know our well-respected faculty and their academic specialties. Or explore scholarship opportunities and an array of internship possibilities.

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)
  • Environmental 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
  • Introduction to Global & Regional Studies (4 units)
  • Environmental Justice (4 units)
  • Global Perspectives in Business & Society (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 and 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 Nonprofit Organizations (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
  • Communication Theory (3 units)
  • Communication Policy and Law (4 units)
  • Communication & Social Justice (4 units)
  • Communication & Social Justice EL (1 units)
  • Issues and Topics in Economics (2-4 units)
  • Advanced Composition (4 units)
  • Law and Literature (4 units)
  • Creating Community
  • Creating Community EL
  • Introduction to Global & Regional Studies (4 units)
  • Theory and Inquiry in JCL (4 units)
  • Legal Aspects of Sport (4 units)
  • Global Perspectives in Business & Society (3 units)
  • Business Law (4 units)
  • Philosophy of Law (4 units)
  • Modern Legal Philosophy (4 units)
  • The Art of Logic
  • Congress and the Presidency (4 units)
  • Politics of Mass Incarceration (4 units)
  • Politics and Race (3 units)
  • Politics and Race EL (1 units)
  • Environmental Law and Regulation (3 units)
  • Gender Politics (3 units)
  • Gender Politics EL (1 units)
  • Human Rights (4 units)
  • Theories of Justice (4 units)
  • Internship in Politics (1-4 units)
  • Justice and Community (4 units)
  • Crime and Delinquency (4 units)
  • Special Topics (1-4 units)
  • Field Experience (1-3 units)
  • Special Study: Internship (1-3 units)
  • The Bible and Economic Justice (3 units)
  • The Bible and Economic Justice EL (1 units)
  • Catholic Social Teaching (3 units)
  • Catholic Social Teaching EL (1 units)
  • Writing for Nonprofit Organizations (3 units)
  • Writing for Nonprofit Organizations 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)
  • 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)
  • 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 (1-4 units)
  • Independent Study (1-4 units)

School and Department Information