Legal Studies Minor

Melinda Adams, Coordinator
Phone: (540) 568-3377
Email: adams2mj@jmu.edu

An understanding of law is vital to an understanding of political, social and economic life and is an important element in becoming an “educated and enlightened citizen.” The minor in legal studies offers an interdisciplinary program of study that will give students the opportunity to examine law from a variety of perspectives. The minor in legal studies is not a program in pre-professional legal training; it is designed to serve pre-law students at JMU as well as students who are interested in careers in government, health, technology, business or the non-profit sector. The minor focuses broadly on the skills needed to study the law (logical and ethical reasoning, critical thinking, strong writing, and close reading) as well as the philosophy, praxis and applications of the law writ large. As such, it can serve as a strong complement to many major fields of study or as an area of interest to those who think they may want to pursue law school or a legal career.

Program Goals:

To develop students’ critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills
To introduce students to an interdisciplinary study of law from a variety of perspectives
To expand and enrich students’ understanding of law and the multiple functions it plays in our national (and global) society

Required Core Course: 3 Credit Hours

Take one of the following logic courses:

PHIL 250. Introduction to Symbolic Logic Credits: 3.00
PHIL 315. Logic and Legal Reasoning Credits: 3.00

Electives: 15 Credit Hours

Choose five (5) elective courses beyond those used to fulfill the Logic requirement:

No more than nine credit hours (three courses) may be taken from a single discipline. Students should check with their major advisers regarding the ability to double count courses between the Legal Studies Minor and their major(s).

Other courses outside of this list may be counted towards the minor with the approval of the minor coordinator(s). A maximum of two courses (six credit hours) can count in this way. Courses must be approved before the student enrolls.

CRJU 337. Courts and the Judiciary Credits: 3.00
ENG 221. Literature/Culture/Ideas [C2L] Credits: 3.00 (when topic is Law and Vengeance)
ENG 302. Special Topics in Literature and Language Credits: 3.00 (when topic is Literature and Law)
FL 430. Forensic Linguistics: Language and the Law Credits: 3.00
HIST 339. Selected Themes in U.S. History Credits: 3.00 (when topic appropriate)
HIST 341. Selected Themes in World History Credits: 3.00 (when topic appropriate)
JUST 300. Perspectives On Comparative Justice Credits: 3.00
JUST 301. Advanced Level Special Topics in Justice Studies Credits: 3.00 (when topic is Law and Society)
JUST 323. Comparative Criminal Justice Credits: 3.00
JUST 327. Criminal Law Credits: 3.00
JUST 329. Perspectives on Law Credits: 3.00
JUST 386. Sexual Orientation, Law and Justice Credits: 3.00
JUST 397. Legal Research and Information Literacy Credits: 3.00
PHIL 250. Introduction to Symbolic Logic Credits: 3.00
PHIL 262. Problems in Applied Ethics Credits: 3.00
PHIL 267. Philosophy of Law Credits: 3.00
PHIL 300. Knowledge and Belief Credits: 3.00
PHIL 310. Symbolic Logic Credits: 3.00
PHIL 315. Logic and Legal Reasoning Credits: 3.00
PHIL 330. Moral Theory Credits: 3.00
PHIL 335. The Individual, the State, and Justice Credits: 3.00
POSC 325. Constitutional Law Credits: 3.00
POSC 326. Civil Rights Credits: 3.00
POSC 386. The U.S. Judiciary Credits: 3.00
POSC 387. The Appellate Process and Practice Credits: 3.00
REL 350. Islamic Law and Society Credits: 3.00
REL 383. The Global Refugee Crisis and Religion Credits: 3.00
SCOM 342. Argument and Advocacy Credits: 3.00
SCOM 346. Free Speech in America Credits: 3.00
SMAD 330. New Media Law Credits: 3.00 ¹ (limited seat availability for minors)
SMAD 370. Mass Communication Law Credits: 3.00 ¹ (limited seat availability for minors)
SMAD 450. Law of Media Arts and Design Credits: 3.00 ¹ (limited seat availability for minors)
WRTC 301. Language, Law and Ethics Credits: 3.00
WRTC 460. Legal Writing Credits: 3.00

Minor Total: 18 Credit Hours

Footnote

¹ SMAD 330 and SMAD 370 can count toward the Legal Studies minor with minor coordinator permission.