Rider University - Legal Studies Concentration Requirements

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Legal Studies Concentration Requirements

Students interested in legal careers will benefit from the knowledge and skills they can obtain by an in-depth study of law from various disciplinary perspectives available with the legal studies concentration. Unlike traditional undergraduate pre-law programs that are typically singular in perspective or orientation, the minor offers diverse approaches. As recommended for pre-law study by the Association of American Law Schools, the law and justice minor provides a broad-based curriculum that is designed to develop students' abilities to formulate ideas and effectively communicate them and to understand and critically assess social institutions, behaviors, and values. The law and justice minor has the additional advantage of providing an interdisciplinary legal studies approach that will enhance students' understanding of law and legal issues, institutions and practices. The law and justice minor provides students with opportunities to explore and test their interest and capacities for law-related careers under the direction and supervision of faculty, by working directly with legal professionals in a law-related institution, by doing field work research in a legal setting, by engaging in simulated courtroom trials, by practicing alternative forms of dispute resolution, by examining work settings of legal practitioners, or by conducting research on some specific legal issue, or aspect of legal work.

Law and Justice Minor - Legal Studies Concentration (21 semester hours)
Category I - Multi-disciplinary Approaches to Law	9-15 Credits
Courses in this category offer diverse perspectives on and approaches to law and legal issues. At least three courses from the following: Law and Justice Interdisciplinary Courses LAW 140 Introductory Seminar in Law and Justice LAW 150 Introduction to Forensics LAW 204 Law, Literature and Film in America LAW 210 Criminal Investigation LAW 304 Women and Law LAW 305 Trial Advocacy LAW 306 Law and Justice Experience LAW 307 Criminal Justice Practice LAW 308 Conflict and Conflict Resolution LAW 310 Cyberspace Law and Policy LAW 355 Sports and the Law LAW 365 Rights of the Accused LAW 395 Selected Topics in Law and Justice LAW 401 Hate Crimes in the U.S. LAW 405 Crime and Justice in the Media LAW 490 Independent Research and Study LAW 491 Law and Justice Internship LAW 496 Honors Thesis in Law and Justice Baccalaureate Honors BHP 209 Honors Seminar: Law & the Arts BHP 322 Honors Seminar: The Guilty and the Innocent: Assessing Blame and Determining Punishment in Literature and Law Business Policy BUS 210 Introduction to Law: Contracts BUS 211 Commercial Law BUS 214 Advanced Business Law BUS 300 Social and Legal Environment of Business BUS 315 Healthcare Law, Ethics and Policy BUS 444 Selected Topics in Business Policy and Environment Communication COM 301 Communication Law History HIS 301 Constitutional History of the United States Management and Human Resources MGT 313 Legal Aspects of Human Resource Management Philosophy PHL 303 Philosophy of Law Political Science POL 260 Politics of Law and Order POL 300 U.S. Constitutional Law POL 301 Civil Liberties in the United States Psychology PSY 279 Psychology and Law Sociology SOC 317 Law and the Legal Profession SOC 319 Criminal Justice and Corrections

Category II - Law-Related Courses	0-6 Credits
These courses deal with issues that can help students understand the social, political, economic, and philosophical context of legal issues and institutions. Students can focus their minor course requirements to reflect their specific interests and career goals. A maximum of two courses from the following: Communication COM 251 Interpersonal Communication COM 252 Intercultural Communication COM 302 Communication Ethics COM 322 Argumentation and Debate Management and Human Resources MGT 312 Introduction to Labor Relations Philosophy PHL 115 Ethics PHL 202 Social Philosophy PHL 203 Business Ethics PHL 255 American Ethics PHL 360 Contemporary Ethics Political Science POL 326 Power in American Politics POL 327 Contemporary Issues in American Public Policy POL 361 The Judicial Process Sociology SOC 206 Deviance and Crime SOC 216 Youth and Crime SOC 340 Power and Politics SOC 350 Social Policy

Category III - Theory/Application	3 Credits
These courses enable students to test their interest and capacities for law-related careers. One course from the following: LAW 305 Trial Advocacy LAW 306 Law and Justice Experience LAW 307 Criminal Justice Practice LAW 308 Conflict and Conflict Resolution Electives* LAW 490 Independent Research and Study LAW 491 Law and Justice Internship LAW 496 Honors Thesis in Law and Justice * These courses may count toward Category III only with the permission of the director of the program.

Category IV - Senior Seminar	3 Credits
LAW 450 Law and Justice Senior Seminar	3

Important Notes

No more than three courses from the same department may be counted toward the minor.
Students may take six additional credits from Category I instead of Category II.
No LAW course may be used more than once to fulfill minor requirements.

These requirements are in addition to the Core Curriculum Requirements. Please see the Academic Catalogs for more information, including course descriptions.

Disclaimer: This information is taken from a recent published version of a Rider University academic catalog or manual, though not necessarily the most recent. Please be aware that, while the University makes reasonable efforts to keep website material current and correct, this information is subject to the University's academic policy committees, relevant accreditation organizations, and (in some instances) state and federal laws and regulations. For this and other reasons it may be subject to change at any time without notice and without being immediately reflected on the Web site.