Law

Bachelor of Arts

This course on public international law will introduce subjects including the use of force and allies, terrorism, principal organizations, concepts of sovereignty, treaties, climate change, statehood and territoriality, mitigating world poverty, the bases for jurisdiction, and state responsibility. The course will also explore international human rights, environmental law and economic law.

This is a foundational course in environmental law and regulatory policy. The course will focus on the concepts underlying approaches to protecting the environment, using the common law and various environmental statutes primarily as examples of the different approaches to environmental protection.

This course will dive into analyzing the structure, function, and processes of the "third branch" of the American government; the judicial system and process. 

This course focuses on the development and analysis of constitutional law of the U.S.; problems of distribution of powers

This course explores the legal process and procedures followed in our systems of civil and criminal justice.  Topics include the components of due process, the adversarial system, stages of a case, and the roles of attorneys, judges, prosecutors, and professional ethics, and the core elements of civil and criminal procedure.

This course will introduce students to the basic legal and administrative structure of the U.S. immigration system. We will consider how the law determines who may enter the country lawfully, what rights immigrants have once in the country, and on what grounds they can be forced to leave and return to their home countries. As the class progresses, we will build on this legal framework to consider several of the policy debates regarding immigration that currently embroil the nation.

This course will introduce you to the foundation of public law and the distinctive modes of argument lawyers and judges employ in shaping that law for the future. Subjects covered include the constitutional law of federalism; executive power, including presidential war powers and the role of administrative agencies; and civil liberties, with particular emphasis on the freedom of speech.

You will learn how to find legal authorities relevant to legal problems, how to analyze a legal issue using facts and law and how to communicate legal analysis logically and concisely. This course consists of research exercises and more complex research and writing assignments. You will work in groups and individually to learn the fundamentals of good writing and editing skills.

In this survey course on human rights law, you will gain a foundation in sources of law, enforcement mechanisms, and fundamental human rights derived from international law. Using case studies, decisions and commentary by governmental and non-governmental bodies, scholarly writings, and policy work and featuring human rights advocates and experts, this course will provide you with a basic understanding of human rights legal principles and processes to enable you to apply these concepts to current events and human rights abuses occurring globally.

    
This course will introduce you to the basic legal and administrative structure of the U.S. immigration system. We will consider how the law determines who may enter the country lawfully, what rights immigrants have once in the country, and on what grounds they can be forced to leave and return to their home countries. We will build on this legal framework to consider several of the policy debates regarding immigration that currently embroil the nation. In discussing possible policy reforms, we will consider a broad range of perspectives, drawing on academic scholarship, policy research, and judicial opinions that capture views across the political spectrum. 

This course will explore the relationship between modern American law and the oldest and most basic societal association - the family. We will look at how the law deals with evolving concepts of family, with the intersection of religion and law as it relates to family, and with the government's interest in particular families and in particular aspects of family life. We will look at marriage, children, family ownership of property and what happens when families break up. We will also pay extra attention to situations where the government has set (or has tried to set) the rules of family life - i.e. laws.

This course will concentrate on the fundamental concepts of substantive criminal law. You will be engaged in analysis and discussion of theories of punishment and the basic elements of criminal liability and responsibility. The course will cover criminal offenses, defenses to criminal liability and related policy arguments. Topical subjects as mandatory sentencing, capital punishment and the insanity defense will be examined. You will participate in classroom role playing as advocates on topical criminal law subjects such as the duty to retreat and "stand your ground."