Law and Society

[ faculty advisory committee | courses ]

Interdisciplinary Programs, EBU 3B
Computer Science and Engineering Building, Room 1114
Warren College
http://lawandsociety.ucsd.edu

Law and Society is an interdisciplinary minor that emphasizes the complexity and interrelationship of legal, social, and ethical issues in their historical context. Although it is administered by Warren College, it is available to all UC San Diego undergraduate students considering law-related careers or those with a general interest in law as a social institution. The purpose of the program is to enhance students’ critical analysis of social and ethical issues related to law and of the legal implications and ramifications of policy and decision-making in their major fields of study. Students examine the role of the legal system and specific legal issues from the perspectives of the social sciences and humanities. Social forces, historical questions, and issues of values will be considered in the context of the legal system. The focus of the minor is on the process of law—how the law both reflects and defines basic social values—and its relation to the political, economic, and social conflicts within society.

The interdisciplinary content of the Law and Society minor offers students the opportunity to examine law-related issues from the perspectives of a broad range of disciplines, including anthropology, communication, critical gender studies, economics, environmental studies, ethnic studies, history, linguistics, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology, and urban studies and planning.

Students should consult an academic adviser at their college to determine how the Law and Society minor can best meet their college graduation requirements. Minor declarations must be made online using the TritonLink major and minor application.

Students are urged to supplement the Law and Society minor with a law-related internship. The Academic Internship Program offers local placements with lawyers, judges, elected officials, government offices, and public interest groups. In addition, placements are available in Washington, D.C. with senators, representatives, legislative committees, and political action committees.

A number of extracurricular events and programs are also available to students interested in law. Information on these programs and activities is available in the Warren College Interdisciplinary Programs Office, EBU 3B, Computer Science and Engineering Building, Room 1114, Warren College, or call (858) 534-3068. Website: http://lawandsociety.ucsd.edu.

Law and Society Minor Requirements

The minor consists of four required courses and three elective courses. At least five courses must be taken at the upper-division level. To assure an interdisciplinary learning experience, students must include at least one course from each of the following academic departments: history, philosophy, political science, and sociology. Law and Society 101, Contemporary Legal Issues, will count as a history, philosophy, political science, or sociology course according to the departmental affiliation of the instructor. Law and Society 101 may be repeated for credit once (separate topic required), for a maximum total of eight units.

Required Courses

  1. One of the following two courses:
    Political Science 40. Introduction to Law and Society
    Sociology 50. Introduction to Law and Society
  2. Law and Society 101. Contemporary Legal Issues
  3. One of the following four courses:
    History US 150. American Legal History to 1865
    History US 151. American Legal History since 1865
    Political Science 104A. The Supreme Court and the Constitution
    Political Science 104B. Civil Liberties—Fundamental Rights
  4. One of the following two courses:
    Philosophy 168. Philosophy of Law
    Sociology 140. Sociology of Law

Electives Chosen from the Following

Anthropology

100. Topics in Socio-Cultural Anthropology (topic approval required)

Communication

139A–B. Law, Communication, and Freedom of Expression

Critical Gender Studies

106. Gender, Equality, and the Law

107. Gender and Reproductive Rights

Dimensions of Culture

2. Justice (open to Thurgood Marshall College students only)

Economics

118. Law and Economics: Torts, Property, Crime

119. Law and Economics: Contracts and Corporations

Environmental Studies

110. Environmental Law

Ethnic Studies

152. Law and Civil Rights

History of Science

131. Science, Technology, and Law

History Topics

134. International Law: War Crimes and Genocide

History of the United States

128. African American Legal History

150. American Legal History to 1865

151. American Legal History since 1865

152A. A Constitutional History of the U.S. to 1865

152B. A Constitutional History of the U.S. since 1865

153. American Political Trials

155A. Religion and Law in American History: Foundations to the Civil War

155B. Religion and Law in American History: Civil War to the Present

169. Topics in American Legal and Constitutional History

Law and Society

101. Contemporary Legal Issues (may be repeated for credit once; separate topic required)

102S. Crimes, Civil Wrongs, and Constitution

Linguistics

105. Law and Language

176. Language of Politics and Advertising

Philosophy

10. Introduction to Logic

12. Logic and Decision Making

162. Contemporary Moral Issues

163. Biomedical Ethics

167. Contemporary Political Philosophy

168. Philosophy of Law

Political Science

13. Power and Justice

40. Introduction to Law and Society

104A. The Supreme Court and the Constitution

104B. Civil Liberties—Fundamental Rights

104C. Civil Liberties—The Rights of Criminals and Minorities

104D. Judicial Politics

104F. Seminar in Constitutional Law

104I. Law and Politics—Courts and Political Controversy

104L. Positive Political Theory of Law

104M. Law and Sex

140A. International Law and Organizations

145A. International Politics and Drugs

150A. Politics of Immigration

Psychology

162. Psychology and the Law

Sociology

50. Introduction to Law and Society

120T. Special Topics in Culture, Language, and Social Interaction (topic approval required)

140. Sociology of Law

140F. Law and the Workplace

141. Crime and Society

142. Social Deviance

144. Forms of Social Control

145. Violence and Society

146. Law Enforcement in America

152. Social Inequality and Public Policy

159. Special Topics in Social Organizations and Institutions (topic approval required)

160E. Law and Culture

163. Migration and the Law

173. Elite Crime

Urban Studies and Planning

124. Land Use Planning

Students may petition to substitute courses in the minor that have substantial legal content. Petitions should be submitted to the Warren College Interdisciplinary Programs Office.

Recommended Internship Experience

A law-related internship (AIP 197) is recommended and should be arranged at least one quarter in advance through the Academic Internship Program, Literature Building, Second Floor, http://aip.ucsd.edu/.

Faculty Advisory Committee

Farrell Ackerman, Professor, Linguistics

Steven Adler, Provost, Earl Warren College; Program Director

Richard Arneson, Professor, Philosophy

Thomas Barton, Professor, California Western School of Law

Michal Belknap, Professor, California Western School of Law; Adjunct Professor, History

Laurence Benner, Professor, California Western School of Law; Visiting Professor, Political Science

David Brink, Professor, Philosophy

Gerald Doppelt, Professor, Philosophy

Richard Finkmoore, Professor, California Western School of Law; Visiting Professor, Environmental Studies

Tal Golan, Associate Professor, History

Robert Horwitz, Professor, Communication

Alan Houston, Professor, Political Science; Provost, Eleanor Roosevelt College

Kwai Ng, Assistant Professor, Sociology

Michael Parrish, Professor, History

Patrick Patterson, Assistant Professor, History

Samuel Rickless, Professor, Philosophy

Sanford Schane, Professor Emeritus, Linguistics

Glenn Smith, Professor, California Western School of Law; Visiting Professor, Political Science