Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts
Clark Building, Room C - 124
(970) 491-5421
Email: cla_ilamajor@mail.colostate.edu
libartsmajor.colostate.edu
Kevin Foskin, Director
The Legal Studies Interdisciplinary Minor provides a broad-based academic foundation for students interested in legal or law-related fields. This minor is intended and ideally suited for students who plan to attend law school, as well as to those who are interested in a wide range of careers in which some grounding in legal studies is helpful, such as media, business, human resources, communications, government service, human rights, and others.
Students take 21 credits (12 of which must be upper division) in law related courses emphasizing key aspects of contemporary law and legal practice, such as politics, human rights, gender, race, economics, communication, the environment, and media. Equally, students accrue (and practice) essential skills important for the practice of law, such as persuasive argumentation, fact-based analytical reasoning, effective public speaking, thoughtful public deliberation, and efficient communication.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion, students will be able to:
- Identify and demonstrate knowledge of the principles of our existing legal systems and processes within both the American and International contexts.
- Identify the key philosophical, professional and ethical foundations of law and legal systems.
- Identify and address legal/judicial concerns and issues within existing mainstream, minority, ethnic, environmental & cultural communities.
- Identify and examine legal concerns/issues in key disciplines/fields (e.g., Economics, Political Science, Ethnic Studies, International Relations), both a) those unique to individual fields and b) those that overlap within larger interdisciplinary contexts and realities.
- Draft basic legal and business-related correspondence and documents, including legal memoranda, pleadings and contracts.
Effective Fall 2023
Students must satisfactorily complete the total credits required for the minor. Minors and interdisciplinary minors require 12 or more upper-division (300- to 400-level) credits.
Additional coursework may be required due to prerequisites.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| LB 205 | Contemporary Legal Studies | 3 |
| Select one from the following courses: | 3 | |
| Racial Inequality and Discrimination (GT-SS1) | ||
| Ethnicity, Class, and Gender in the U.S. | ||
| Contemporary Chicanx Issues | ||
| Race Formation in the United States | ||
| Sociology of Race and Racism (GT-SS3) | ||
| Gender and Society | ||
| Whiteness, Gender, and Sexuality | ||
| Women of Color in the United States | ||
| Race and Sexuality | ||
| Select one from the following courses: | 3 | |
| Logic and Critical Thinking (GT-AH3) | ||
| Introduction to Formal Logic | ||
| Public Speaking | ||
| Persuasion | ||
| Selected Courses | ||
| Select a minimum of 12 credits from at least two of the following categories: | 12 | |
Constitution: | ||
| Topics in Language, Law, and Justice | ||
| Communications Law | ||
| Mock Trial | ||
| American Constitutional Law | ||
| U.S. Civil Rights and Liberties | ||
| Freedom of Speech | ||
Economics/Business: | ||
| Legal and Ethical Issues in Business | ||
or BUS 260 | Social-Ethical-Regulatory Issues in Business | |
| Law and Economics | ||
| Employment Relations: The Legal Environment | ||
| Real Estate Law | ||
| Sport and the Law | ||
Environment/Natural Resources: | ||
| Agricultural and Food System Ethics | ||
or PHIL 345 | Environmental Ethics | |
| Water Law, Policy, and Institutions | ||
| Agricultural Law | ||
Social/Political/International: | ||
| Comparative Legal Systems | ||
| Asian-Pacific Americans and the Law | ||
| Federal Indian Law and Policy | ||
| Law and Sustainability | ||
| Families in the Legal Environment | ||
| Law and Justice in Medieval Europe | ||
| Study Abroad--Italy: Comparative Legal Studies | ||
| Philosophy of Law | ||
| Judicial Politics | ||
| Study Abroad--London : Comparative UK and US Policy | ||
| International Law | ||
| Sociology of Law | ||
| Program Total Credits: | 21 | |