2011-2012 Academic Catalog

Nov 23, 2024

2011-2012 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Law and Society Concentration

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Overview

Undergraduate Concentration

The interdisciplinary law and society concentration explores questions about the impact and effects of law, legal institutions and legal actors on society from a variety of perspectives. It also explores the identification and analysis of legal arguments in a variety of contexts. Some of the courses also help the students develop their oral advocacy skills. The concentration can be taken in conjunction with any major at Clark. Generally, 200-level courses are not appropriate for first-year students.

Program Faculty

Judith DeCew, Ph.D.
Patricia Ewick, Ph.D.
Mark Miller, Ph.D.

Courses

Program Requirements

Students must take a minimum of six courses to fulfill the concentration.
The six courses must come from at least three different departments.
At least two of the courses must be at the 200 level.
At least one of the six courses must be a core course, which should be taken as early as possible in the student’s academic program:

• PHIL 132 - Social and Political Ethics

• PSCI 050 - Introduction to American Government

• SOC 262 - Law and Society

One of the six courses must be a capstone experience (a seminar, an internship or a directed-research project):

• PHIL 270 - Philosophy of Law

• PSCI 291 - Lawyers and Politics

• SOC 272 - Punishment, Politics and Culture

• Legal internships sponsored by faculty in a variety of academic departments

• Independent study with faculty in a variety of academic departments

No more than two of the courses can also be counted for the student’s major or minor requirements, or for another concentration.

Internships

Participating faculty sponsor a variety of undergraduate legal and law-related internship experiences. Students interested in these opportunities should inquire with the internship coordinator in the Office of Career Services.

Directed Readings, Individual Research

Students who are motivated to undertake significant independent research should consult the individual faculty member with whom they wish to work regarding opportunities for independent study projects.