Academics
> Majors and Areas of Study > Legal Studies
Legal phenomena extend throughout many contemporary political systems, playing an important role in shaping the conduct of life for both individuals and institutions. Study in the minor emphasizes the forces that shape law and the ways law has been used and understood by a variety of peoples in differing historical circumstances. Political, sociological, historical, and philosophical approaches to legal phenomena are included in the program, with other approaches always a possibility for the interested student.
The legal studies minor treats law as a subject of liberal inquiry, open to all students in any major or concentration. The legal studies minor, as a liberal studies program, is not a program in prelaw or professional preparation. For those students interested in law as a political, social, historical or philosophical phenomenon, however, the legal studies minor presents an opportunity to study one of the most important aspects of contemporary human society.
For more information regarding the Legal Studies minor, please contact Professor Lisa Walton at lwalton@thiel.edu or 724-589-2074.
Minor Requirements:
21 hours of course work organized according to either Option 1 or Option 2
Option 1:
| Required classes |
|
| POSC 300 |
Introduction to Legal Studies |
| POSC 436 |
Constitutional Law |
| PHIL 267 or PHIL 377 |
Ethics or Legal Philosophy |
| |
|
| Elective classes |
|
Select four additional courses from the following list. All students should take introductory preparatory courses selected from political science, sociology, criminal justice, history, economics and philosophy prior to attempting course work within the minor. No more than two classes may be from the same
academic discipline. |
| |
| Substantive Law |
|
| ENSC 210 |
Introduction to Environmental Law |
| BADM 355 |
Business Law |
| BADM 356 |
Business Law II |
| COMM 455 |
Media Law and Regulations |
| POSC 437 |
First Amendment Issues |
| CJS 301 or CJS 303 |
Juvenile Justice Issues or Family Justice Issues |
| SOC/CJS 431 |
Selected Topics (if designated as an elective in the course description) |
| Historical Framework |
|
| HIST 300 |
U.S. Colonial History |
| HIST 305 |
Middle Period and American History |
| HIST 307 |
Emergence of Modern America |
| HIST 309 |
Recent American History |
| HIST 315 |
Diplomatic History of the United States |
| Law and Society |
|
| SOC 321 |
Deviance |
| SOC 331 |
Criminology |
| SOC 431 |
Selected Topics (if designated as an elective in the course description) |
| ENG 150 |
Introduction to Literature |
| Legal Policy and Process |
|
| POSC 396 |
International Organization and Law |
| POSC 316 |
Selected Topics (if designated as an elective in the course description) |
| POSC |
Anatomy of a Trial |
| POSC/SOC 438 |
Criminal Due Process Rights |
| Communication |
|
| COMM 300 |
Persuasion |
| |
|
| Other courses may be appropriate to meet program requirements when selected in consultation with the program adviser. |
Option 2:
Students may design their own individualized minor.
Portfolio:
At the conclusion of their course of study in the legal studies program all students, whether they have selected Option 1 or Option 2, will complete a portfolio demonstrating that they have met the various learning outcomes of the minor.
Course List:
All students should take introductory preparatory courses selected from political science, sociology, history, economics and philosophy prior to attempting course work within the minor.
Political Science: 300, 378, 396, 436 and 316 (Topic - Constitutional Law of Civil Rights and Liberties)
Sociology: 191, 251, 261, 321, 331
History: 315, 335, 405, 455, 465
Enviromental Science: 200
Business Administration: 355, 356
Philosophy: 377
Criminal Justice Studies: 101, 301
|
75
College Avenue