Pre-Law Minor

This course introduces the fundamentals of the American legal system. Primary topics include the sources of law; constitutional interpretation; the roles of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government; federal and state judicial systems; civil and criminal law; legal ethics; and questions of power, authority, justice, inequality, individualism, and the community. Students also learn the fundamentals of legal research, such as locating the texts of statutes, regulations, and court decisions on specific subjects; reading and analyzing statutes and case law; and developing techniques for legal writing and oral presentations.

Critical thinking through informal logical identification, analysis, and evaluation of arguments, including identification of fallacious arguments, through engagement with rhetoric and public discourse.

Survey of the legal theories and issues and the philosophical bases of key legal and related political concepts.

This course provides a philosophical approach to issues of race and gender as expressed in legislation, judicial interpretation, enforcement, and public policy.

A critical analysis of key US Supreme Court decisions addressing the horizontal allocation of power among federal government branches and institutions, and the vertical allocation of power between federal and state governments. Attention is also given to unresolved constitutional issues between the legislative and executive branches, the Massachusetts state constitution, and the theoretical foundations of the United States Constitution (such as Locke, Montesquieu, and the Federalist Papers).

This class introduces students to the ideas and concepts found in the works of ancient and classical political theorists. Students read major works by theorists like Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Locke, Mill, Hobbes, the Federalists, and Rousseau. Emphasis is placed on how theorists justify the existence of government and how its conception has evolved over time. They then trace fundamental principles such as democracy, liberty, and justice and show how these ideas are encapsulated in the US Constitution.

The nature and function of the United States Congress, including the complexities of the lawmaking process, congressional elections, the relationship between individual members of Congress and their constituencies, major issues of public policy, and institutional relations between Congress, the presidency, and the judiciary.

This course provides students with an analysis of law pertaining to civil liberties and civil rights in the Unites States, with attention also given to Massachusetts. Following the historical development of constitutional law in the United States, the course begins with pre-Civil War law to see how fundamental civil liberties and civil rights have been applied to the states.

An examination of international law through the lens of international relations. This course focuses on international humanitarian law (the law of war), international human rights law, and territorial law (border disputes). Students examine contemporary and historical cases, such as genocide in Myanmar, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the expansion of human rights to women and Indigenous peoples, and China’s claims to the South China Sea. Students also learn about the courts and legal instruments involved in enforcing each area of international law.

Investigates major social and political theories and their applications to selected problems of justice.

Internships with courts, law firms, the district attorney’s office, the public defender’s office, legal aid societies, and other institutions involved in the practice of law. Students perform a variety of tasks in a professional legal setting, combining the academic study of pre-law with practical work experience.

An examination of the development of law and the American legal system. The problems related to the meaning and uses of law, the organizational hierarchy of the courts, and the role of the courts in the criminal justice systems.

Introduction to legal concepts as applied to the study of contracts, personal property, sales, and the Uniform Commercial Code.