law and american civilization

Curriculum

Law and American Civilization majors must complete 54 units. The program is divided into four parts, and writing skills are emphasized throughout. First, students must complete two introductory courses, one each in political science and economics, which acquaint students with the nature of law and its role in American society. Second, students will take four required courses: one at the lower-division, two at the upper-division level and an advanced writing course. These courses further situate students in American culture, politics, judicial policymaking and logical thinking. Third, students will have several options in choosing electives, which will be offered by several departments: Accounting, Mass Communication and Communication Studies, English, History, Philosophy and Religious Studies, and Political Science. Fourth and finally, students will undertake a 6-unit capstone experience of their choice and, if possible, design.

Advanced students may wish to undertake a project in the workplace and then write an evaluative essay on that experience as it fits into the overall program. Other students will participate in a senior seminar, in which they will write a research paper on some aspect of the law or develop a thesis supervised by the program director. Finally, qualified students may choose to write an honors thesis.

I. Introductory Courses (6 units)
ECON 201 Microeconomic Principles (3)
POSC 209 Introduction to Law (3)

II. Required Courses (12 units)
ENGL 310 Writing Argument (3)
COMM 331 Advocacy and Argument (3)
PHIL 111 Logic (3)
POSC 384 The Judicial System (3)

III. Electives (30 units)
Two courses in each of the following lettered topics. Students will need to fulfill each department’s
individual prerequisites before taking these courses.

A. Accounting
ACCT 201 Principles of Financial Accounting I (3)
LEGL 225 Legal Environment of Business (3)
LEGL 226 Business Law (3)
or
Communication Studies
COMM 304 Persuasion (3)
COMM 420 Communication in the Legal Process (3)
or
Mass Communication
MCOM 350 Media Law (3)

B. English
Strongly recommended are ENGL 221 and ENGL 222 as prerequisites. These two courses will not
fulfill the English requirement. Any two English literature courses at the 300- or 400- level.

C. History
Any two History courses at the 300 or 400 level with a specific geographical focus on American and U.S. history. Students should consult with the LWAC director or their LWAC adviser to ensure that appropriate History courses are selected for the History component. Courses currently approved are as follows:

HIST 331 American Military History, 1898-1945 (3)
HIST 332 American Military History Since 1945 (3)
HIST 345 The American Colonies, 1492-1763 (3)
HIST 346 The American Revolutionary Period, 1763- 1789
HIST 347 The Early National Period (3)
HIST 348 The Jacksonian Era (3)
HIST 349 The Civil War (3)
HIST 351 The U.S. 1865-1901: Age of Enterprise (3)
HIST 352 The U.S. 1892-1920: Age of Reform (3)
HIST 359 The F.D.R. Era (3)
HIST 360 Recent American History: 1945-1975 (3)
HIST 361 Gays and Lesbians in U.S. History (3)
HIST 366 A History of American Business (3)
HIST 367 The Development of the U.S. Constitution: 1787-1941 (3)
HIST 368 The Bill of Rights and the Constitution, 1941 to the Present (3)
HIST 370 Diplomatic History of the United States (3)
HIST 374 The American West (3)
HIST 375 The City in American History (3)
HIST 378 Immigrants and Immigration in the United States (3)
HIST 379 History of Native Americans: The East (3)
HIST 380 History of Native Americans: The West (3)
HIST 381 African American History to the Mid-19th Century (3)
HIST 382 African American History from the Mid-19th Century (3)
HIST 385 Workers and Work in the United States (3)

D. Philosophy
PHIL 204,Race, Class and Gender (3)

And one additional 300- or 400-level Philosophy course or
Any two 300- or 400-level Philosophy courses

E. Political Science
Any two 300- or 400-level Political Science courses with a specific geographical focus on American politics and government. Students should consult with the LWAC director or their LWAC adviser to ensure that appropriate Political Science courses are selected for the Political Science component.

Courses currently approved are as follows:
POSC 304 Metropolitan Growth and Change (3)
POSC 305 Urban Government and Politics (3)
POSC 343 African American Politics (3)
POSC 375 Public Administration (3)
POSC 381 The Presidency (3)
POSC 383 Congress (3)
POSC 417 Political Parties (3)
POSC 418 Constitutional Law and Politics (3)
POSC 419 Civil Rights and Civil Liberties: The First and Fourteenth Amendments (3)
POSC 420 Constitutional Protections: Personal Liberty and Rights of the Accused (3)
POSC 421 Politics and Environmental Policy (3)
POSC 422 The Supreme Court (3)
POSC 425 Legal Theory (3)
POSC 427 Political Theory I (3)
POSC 428 Political Theory II (3)
POSC 430 American Political Thought (3)
POSC 447 International Law and Organization (3)
POSC 467 Politics and the Budgetary Process (3)
POSC 479 Women and the Law (3)

IV. Seminar and/or Capstone Experience (6 units)

Students have four options to fulfill this stage of the Law and American Civilization Program.

Option I
Any one of these Political Science seminars: POSC 481, POSC 484, POSC 485 or POSC 486 (3)
and
LWAC 491 Thesis Seminar in Law and American Civilization (3)

Option II
LWAC 497 Practicum in Law and American Civilization (3)
LWAC 491 Thesis Seminar in Law and American Civilization (3)

Option III
LWAC 497 Practicum in Law and American Civilization (3)
and
Any one of these Political Science seminars: POSC 481, POSC 484, POSC 485 or POSC 486 (3)

Option IV
LWAC 498 Directed Readings in Law and American Civilization (3)
LWAC 499 Honors Thesis in Law and American Civilization (3)