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The minor in Legal Studies provides undergraduate students with the
opportunity to explore the law from an interdisciplinary perspective.
The law is central to theories and research in the social sciences,
humanities, business, and public policy. Courses concerned with law are
available in a variety of departments including political science,
sociology, communication, economics, history, accounting (business law),
finance (corporate governance), applied economics and statistics
(environmental law), marine studies, education, and urban affairs.
The minor program provides coherence and guidance in the study of law
in at least four ways. First, each student minoring in Legal Studies is
provided with an advisor who guides the student in constructing a
coherent program. Second, the minor provides students with an
opportunity to examine the law from a variety of perspectives. Third,
the program offers both a substantive disciplinary introduction to law
and an interdisciplinary introductory course in legal studies. Finally,
it offers an interdisciplinary capstone experience with a senior seminar
that requires a research paper.
This program is designed for any student who is interested in
examining the law and its influence on society from a variety of
perspectives. Legal studies is not a “pre-law” program, and it does not
offer paralegal training. However, the program is a suitable minor for
those who plan to pursue professional training. For information on
Pre-Law Advisement, consult the Pre-Law web site.
In addition to offering a minor in Legal Studies, the program
sponsors faculty seminars, a lecture series in the law, a student
conference and research paper competition, and films.