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Courses and Class Schedules

The Legal Studies Program offers a Course Menu of anticipated upcoming class offerings to help students plan their studies. You must be logged in with your UCSC email to access this.

In addition, the current schedule of classes shows what we’re teaching this quarter and the upcoming quarter, and the course catalog information provides a full list of our courses. 

If you have questions about academic planning or course requirements, please contact undergraduate advising.

Current schedule of classes

Course catalog
Course #Course TitleCourse LevelUnits
LGST 10Introduction to Legal ProcessLower Division15 Units

Introduction to U.S. and comparative legal institutions and practices. Examines diverse areas of law from torts to civil rights to international human rights. Why is America portrayed as having an activist legal culture; why is law used to decide so many questions from presidential elections to auto accidents; can law resolve disputes that, historically, have led to war and violence; is the legal system fair and/or effective, and, if so, for whom and under what conditions?

LGST 105AAncient Political ThoughtUpper Division25 Units

Explores tensions between reason and revelation, justice and democracy, and freedom and empire through close readings of ancient texts. Emphasis on Athens, with Hebrew, Roman, and Christian departures and interventions. Includes Sophocles, Thucydides, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Stoics, the Bible, and Augustine. (Also offered as Politics 105A. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): satisfaction of the Entry Level Writing and Composition requirements.

LGST 105BEarly Modern Political ThoughtUpper Division25 Units

Studies republican and liberal traditions of political thought and politics. Authors studied include Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. Examination of issues such as authorship, individuality, gender, state, and cultural difference. (Also offered as Politics 105B. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): satisfaction of the Entry Level Writing and Composition requirements.

LGST 105CModern Political ThoughtUpper Division25 Units

Studies in 19th- and early 20th-century theory, centering on the themes of capitalism, labor, alienation, culture, freedom, and morality. Authors studied include J. S. Mill, Marx, Nietzsche, Foucault, Hegel, Fanon, and Weber. (Also offered as Politics 105C. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): satisfaction of the Entry Level Writing and Composition requirements.

LGST 105DContemporary Political Theory: Modernity and its DiscontentsUpper Division25 Units

Examines the condition of modernity as it is understood, dwelled upon, and critiqued by political theorists since the second half of the 20th century. Explores how the modern condition was viewed by Euro-American thinkers, who saw themselves as its originators and heirs, as well as Chinese, Indian, Arab, and African thinkers for whom European modernity was an inescapable, if not an insurmountable, imposition to be engaged, transformed, and critiqued. (Formerly Late-20th Century Political Thought.) . (Also offered as Politics 105D. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): satisfaction of the Entry Level Writing and Composition requirements.

LGST 107Toleration, Speech, and HateUpper Division25 Units

Analyzes arguments concerning speech and toleration in the Western philosophical tradition. Is the freedom to think and speak freely a good thing? Why or why not? To what extent is this true? When does expression constitute harm, to either the community or individuals? What does it mean to tolerate those beliefs or practices you find bigoted? Evil? Dangerous to society? What kinds of disagreements can exist without destroying the political community, and what kinds can we simply not abide? Students will know and understand the very best arguments for free speech, for restricting certain kinds of speech and become empowered to engage with the speech disputes in our own political moment.

LGST 108Gender, Sexuality, and LawUpper Division25 Units

Analysis of legal issues related to gender, sexuality, and sexual orientation. Introduction to the key areas of gender and sexuality regulated by law and critical analysis of how law and policy should and do treat these issues.

LGST 109Legal TheoryUpper Division25 Units

Offers systematic exploration of alternative conceptions of the nature of law, including positivism, natural law, formalism, realism, pragmatism, and theories of justice. Additional focus on the nature of law; relation of law and morality, rights and other legal concepts; and philosophical debates such as critical legal studies and critical race theory.

LGST 110Law and Social IssuesUpper Division25 Units

Examines current problems in law as it intersects with politics and society. Readings are drawn from legal and political philosophy, social science, and judicial opinions. (Also offered as Politics 110. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.)

LGST 111AConstitutional LawUpper Division25 Units

An introduction to constitutional law, emphasizing equal protection and fundamental rights as defined by common law decisions interpreting the 14th Amendment, and also exploring issues of federalism and separation of powers. Readings are primarily court decisions; special attention given to teaching how to interpret, understand, and write about common law. (Also offered as Politics 111A. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): satisfaction of the Entry Level Writing and Composition requirements.

LGST 111BCivil LibertiesUpper Division25 Units

Explores the status of American civil liberties as provided by the Bill of Rights. Particular attention will be given to issues of concern relating to the aftermath of 9/11, including issues relating to detainees, freedom of information requests, wiretapping authority, watch lists, profiling, and creation of a domestic intelligence agency. (Also offered as Politics 111B. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.)

LGST 111CThe First AmendmentUpper Division25 Units

Surveys First Amendment jurisprudence using history, case law, and philosophical writings. Class discusses emerging issues in free expression, including defamation, incitement to violence, hate speech, and freedom of the press. (Formerly Issues in Constitutional Law.)

LGST 112California PastsUpper Division25 Units

This course is structured around four critical moments–missionization, Rancho-Era, Gold Rush, and World War II–through the eyes of the ethnic and racial minorities who experienced them. Special attention is given to oral, archival, and archaeological sources which reveal California’s multiethnic pasts. (Also offered as Anthropology 110C. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) (General Education Code(s): ER.)

LGST 113Gay Rights and the LawUpper Division25 Units

Examines relevant court cases as well as local, state, and federal laws that define boundaries for legal recognition of sexual orientation and personal sexuality. Explores legal assumptions behind current and historical cases defining personal sexuality and sexual orientation and considers the social and political impetus in each era that drove the courts and legislatures to make such decisions.

LGST 114Jews, Anti-Semitism, and the American Legal SystemUpper Division25 Units

Explores how Jews have influenced and been impacted by the American legal system. Students explore significant cases, debates, and trends in the law as it relates to Jewish identity, religious freedom, and conceptions of justice.

LGST 115Law and the HolocaustUpper Division25 Units

Examines the Nazi philosophy of law, and how it was used to pervert Germany’s legal system in order to discriminate against, ostracize, dehumanize, and ultimately eliminate certain classes of human beings, and the role of international law in rectifying the damage.

LGST 116Comparative LawUpper Division25 Units

Explores how countries organize their societies through legal rules. Particular attention is given to constitutional design, differences between common and civil law systems, changes brought about by the European Union, and the convergence of legal norms globally. (Also offered as Politics 116. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) (General Education Code(s): CC.)

LGST 117Sports, Law, and PoliticsUpper Division25 Units

Investigates the relationship between sports, law, and politics, focusing on racism, colonialism, post-colonialism, and globalization.

LGST 118Law and LiteratureUpper Division25 Units

Law and literature have been understood as separate fields of social, expressive endeavors. This class thinks about how these two modes of writing represent and reshape each other, and the social worlds in which they circulate. Students read literary texts that narrate and refigure the problems of law, justice, and legal modernity. The class mixes law and literature “classics”—Merchant of Venice, Antigone, Billy Budd—and more contemporary literature. Course also pairs readings of primary literary texts with secondary law and literature criticism.

LGST 120ACongress, President, and the Court in American PoliticsUpper Division25 Units

Study of political development, behavior, performance, and significance of central governmental institutions of the U.S. Emphasizes the historical development of each branch and their relationship to each other, including changes in relative power and constitutional responsibilities. (Also offered as Politics 120A. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): satisfaction of the Entry Level Writing and Composition requirements. Satisfies American History and Institutions Requirement.

LGST 120BSociety and Democracy in American Political DevelopmentUpper Division25 Units

Examines the role of social forces in the development of the American democratic processes and in the changing relationship between citizen and state. Course materials address the ideas, the social tensions, and the economic pressures bearing on social movements, interest groups, and political parties. (Also offered as Politics 120B. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): satisfaction of the Entry Level Writing and Composition requirements. Satisfies American History and Institutions Requirement.

LGST 120CState and Capitalism in American Political DevelopmentUpper Division25 Units

Examines the relationship between state and economy in the U.S. from the 1880s to the present, and provides a theoretical and historical introduction to the study of politics and markets. Focus is on moments of crisis and choice in U.S. political economy, with an emphasis on the rise of regulation, the development of the welfare state, and changes in employment policies. (Also offered as Politics 120C. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): satisfaction of the Entry Level Writing and Composition requirements. Satisfies American History and Institutions Requirement.

LGST 121Racism & Justice in AmericaUpper Division25 Units

Examines racism as a logic of governance in American politics and traces racial reasoning in transcendent notions of ”justice” in the U.S. from the nation’s founding into the 21st century. (Formerly offered as Race & Justice in America.) (Also offered as Politics 121. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Enrollment limited to 50. (General Education Code(s): ER.)

LGST 122The Sociology of LawUpper Division25 Units

Explores the social forces that shape legal outcomes and the ways law, in turn, influences social life. Traces the history and political economy of American law; the relation between law and social change; how this relation is shaped by capitalism and democracy; and how class, race, and gender are expressed in welfare and regulatory law. (Also offered as Sociology 122. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Enrollment is restricted to legal studies majors and minors.

LGST 124Government SecrecyUpper Division25 Units

Studies the history of America’s regime of government secrecy from a human rights perspective. Focus is the dispiriting history of judicial deference to executive authority that enabled the massive secrecy regime to establish and perpetuate itself. Tracing the origin of the secrecy state to the nuclear program during World War II, students consider how the ”state secrets doctrine” was codified in early Cold War jurisprudence as an all-purpose alibi for government interventions abroad and surveillance at home. The second half of the course turns to the 21st century War on Terror, highlighting the kidnappings, torture, and assassinations perpetrated by the secrecy state, with an eye on the role of the court system as a vehicle for exposure and redress.

LGST 125History of the U.S. Penal CultureUpper Division25 Units

Explores the history and theory of U.S. state punishment from its 17th-century beginnings to the present and notes evolving models of criminal deviance, focusing on how punishment systems legitimate particular models of criminal deviance, crime, and its correction.

LGST 126Law and Politics in Contemporary Japan and East Asian SocietiesUpper Division25 Units

Introduction to contemporary analysis of Japan’s race relations, ethnic conflicts, and a government’s failure to restore remedial justice for war victims in Japan, Asia, and the U.S. Specific issues include comfort women, national or state narratives on Hiroshima, forced labor during World War II, and Haydon legislation that allows war victims to sue the Japanese government and corporations in California. (Also offered as Sociology 128. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Enrollment limited to 30.

LGST 126CContraband: Shadow Economies and the LawUpper Division25 Units

Course takes an interdisciplinary approach to studying contraband and smuggling. Focusing on concepts used to describe illegality we examine how ”shadow economies” are central to the making of states and sovereignty, the legal and illegal being blurred. . (Also offered as Anthropology 126. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Enrollment limited to 50. (General Education Code(s): CC.)

LGST 127Drugs in SocietyUpper Division25 Units

Explores the history of the use and abuse of consciousness-altering substances like alcohol and other drugs. Social-psychological theories of addiction are reviewed in tandem with political-economic analyses to identify the social conditions under which the cultural practices involved in drug use come to be defined as public problems. An introductory sociology course is recommended prior to taking this course. (Also offered as Sociology 127. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Enrollment is restricted to legal studies majors and minors.

LGST 128Poverty and Public PolicyUpper Division25 Units

Studies the causes, consequences, and governmental response to urban poverty in the U.S. Topics include how public policy, the macroeconomy, race, gender, discrimination, marriage, fertility, child support, and crime affect and are affected by urban poverty. Emphasizes class discussion and research. (Also offered as Economics 128. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s):ECON 100A or ECON 100M; and ECON 113. Enrollment is restricted to economics, business management economics, global economics, legal studies, or economics combined majors.

LGST 128AResearch Methods in Legal Studies and Critical CriminologyUpper Division25 Units

Introduces survey research methods including problem formulation, research design, instrument construction, data collection, codification, data processing, computer analyses, and report writing. The greater emphasis is placed on statistical analyses and questionnaire constructions. (Also offered as Sociology 128A. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Enrollment is restricted to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Enrollment limited to 30. (General Education Code(s): SR.)

LGST 128CSocial History of Democracy, Anarchism, and IndigenismUpper Division25 Units

Provided an overview of socio-political theories and thoughts from Athenian Direct Democracy in 500 BC, to Classical Liberalism, Social Contract, Libertarian Socialism, Anarcho-Syndicalism, Neo-Liberalism, Anarcho-Primitism, and lastly Indigenism in relation to the revival of indigenous knowledge, the”Mother Earth” law, and the restoration of the nature’s rights as espoused by many governments in the Third World today. (Also offered as Sociology 128C. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): SOCY 1, 10, or 15. Enrollment is restricted to sophomore, junior, and senior sociology, critical race and ethnic studies, community studies, legal studies, Latin American/sociology combined, and GISES majors, proposed majors, and minors. (General Education Code(s): CC.)

LGST 128IRace and LawUpper Division25 Units

An introduction to comparative and historical analyses of the relation between race and law in the U.S. Emphasis on examinations of continuous colonial policies and structural mechanisms that help maintain and perpetuate racial inequality in law, criminal justice, and jury trials. (Formerly Race and Justice) (Also offered as Sociology 128I. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Enrollment is restricted to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. (General Education Code(s): ER.)

LGST 128JThe World Jury on TrialUpper Division25 Units

Adoption of the jury and its varied forms in different nations provides ideal opportunities to examine differences between systems of popular legal participation. Course considers reasons why the right to jury trial is currently established in Japan or Asian societies, but abandoned or severely curtailed in others. American jury contrasted with other forms of lay participation in the legal process. (Also offered as Sociology 128J. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Enrollment is restricted to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Enrollment limited to 30.

LGST 128MInternational Law and Global JusticeUpper Division25 Units

Examines war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the evolution and role of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Examines the evolution of the concept of international law, the rationale for its birth and existence, roots of international conflicts and genocides, possible remedies available to victims, mechanisms for the creation and enforcement of international legal order, as well as the role of colonialism, migration, poverty, race/ethnic conflicts, gender, and international corporations in creating and maintaining conflicts and wars. (Also offered as Sociology 128M. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Enrollment is restricted to sophomores, juniors and seniors. Enrollment limited to 30.

LGST 129AWhy Obey?Upper Division25 Units

We are everyday confronted with countless expectations of obedience—at home, work, while studying or at worship; with parents, teachers, the police. Some demands are formal and public, others are informal, unwritten norms, or habitual codes of conduct. Basic observation of the vast range of rules, norms, and codes that demand compliance invites a range of questions, from a diverse set of perspectives. In response to this challenge, this course examines the theory and practice of disobedience across a range of time periods and contexts. Course considers examples of conscientious objection, riots, strikes, direct action and the like, ultimately seeking to answer: why and how do people disobey? (Also offered as History of Consciousness 128. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) (General Education Code(s): TA.)

LGST 130Inequality and LawUpper Division25 Units

Explores the complex relationship between race and the law in American society. Included subjects are critical race theory, civil rights and voting rights law, issues of the criminal justice system, intersections with issues of class and gender, and the social construction of race through law and legal decisions. (Formerly Race and the Law.) .

LGST 130BJustice and Sustainability in AgricultureUpper Division25 Units

Agricultural sustainability is examined as a complex set of interactions between ecological, social, and economic factors. Drawing case studies from U.S. agriculture, course examines the social justice implications of historical and current agri-food system dynamics. (Formerly Principles of Sustainable Agriculture.) (Also offered as Environmental Studies 130B. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): previous or concurrent enrollment in LGST 10 and either LGST 111A or 111B, or by permission of instructor.

LGST 131Wildlife, Wilderness, and the LawUpper Division25 Units

Introduction to wildlife, wilderness, and natural resources law, policy, and management. Examines rules governing resource allocation and use including discussion of fundamental legal concepts. Explores laws and management policies affecting wildlife and wilderness, including their origins and impacts. Examines how conflicts over natural resources are being negotiated today.

LGST 132California Water Law and PolicyUpper Division25 Units

Explores the rich history and fundamental legal concepts surrounding water in California. Students identify, evaluate, and debate some critical water policy questions faced by Californians today and in the future. (Also offered as Politics 132. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.)

LGST 133Law of DemocracyUpper Division25 Units

Explores the role of law in both enabling and constraining the actions of elected politicians in the U.S. Among issues examined are voting rights, redistricting, and campaign finance. Course asks how the law shapes and limits our ability to choose our elected leaders, and in turn, how the law is shaped by political forces. (Also offered as Politics 133. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.)

LGST 134Congress: Representation and LegislationUpper Division25 Units

Examines the United States Congress and the nature of the representative and legislative processes. Topics include: districting and elections; bicameralism; party organization; institutional and behavioral influences on legislative action; and the efficacy of Congress as a legislative body. Focuses on the contemporary Congress with comparisons to other legislative and representative institutions. (Also offered as Politics 134. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.)

LGST 137International Environmental Law and PolicyUpper Division25 Units

International environmental law (IEL) endeavors to control pollution and depletion of natural resources within a framework of sustainable development and is formally a branch of public international law—a body of law created by nation states for nation states, to govern problems between nation states. Examines landmark developments of IEL since 1972 within a historical continuum to better understand their strengths and weaknesses.

LGST 138Political AnthropologyUpper Division25 Units

The ideas, in selected non-Western societies, about the nature of power, order, social cohesion, and the political organization of these societies. (Also offered as Anthropology 138. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.)

LGST 139War CrimesUpper Division25 Units

Explores complex international human rights/humanitarian law issues surrounding genocide and other mass violence, beginning with the Nuremberg trials following World War II up to recent atrocities in Rwanda, Bosnia, and elsewhere. Covers basic legal framework of human rights law, examines specific situations on a case by case basis, and discusses what options the international community, the nations themselves, and individuals have in the wake of such catastrophes.

LGST 140ENational Environmental PolicyUpper Division25 Units

An overview of all major federal environmental policy domains. Analyzes political, social, economic, and other forces influencing federal (and some state) public policy responses to land use, natural resources, pollution, and conservation dilemmas. (Also offered as Environmental Studies 140. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): LGST 10, and either of LGST 111A or LGST 111B.

LGST 140PHistory of EthicsUpper Division25 Units

A careful study of any one or a number of selected primary texts in the history of moral philosophy, with some emphasis on the relation to contemporary issues. (Also offered as Philosophy 140. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): LGST 10; and one from PHIL 7 or PHIL 9 or PHIL 22 or PHIL 24 or PHIL 27.

LGST 142Anthropology of LawUpper Division25 Units

An ethnographically informed consideration of law, dispute management, and social control in a range of societies including the contemporary U.S. Topics include conflict management processes, theories of justice, legal discourse, and relations among local, national, and transnational legal systems. (Also offered as Anthropology 142. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Enrollment is restricted to anthropology and legal studies majors.

LGST 142AWhat is a Person?Upper Division25 Units

The question ‘what is a person?’ may seem simple, but upon reflection it is revealed to be complex and contentious. Consider: the vast majority of human beings have historically been denied the status of “persons,” including most women and racialized peoples. Conversely, there are many non-human entities that have been granted recognition as persons, including corporations, artificial learning systems, even rivers and mountains. So, if ‘persons’ are not merely synonymous with individual biological humans, what are they? This course examines these questions through the scope and nature of personhood from the medieval world to the present, exploring how they touch upon fields such as philosophy, law, politics, science, and the arts. . (Also offered as History of Consciousness 142. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) (General Education Code(s): TA.)

LGST 143Philosophy of RaceUpper Division25 Units

Topics include conceptual-analytical and political-social issues. Selected topics may include: the ontology of race; race as real or constructed; scientific understandings of race; race and identity; and color-blind versus color-sensitive theories of justice and political policy. (Also offered as Philosophy 153. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): LGST 10, and one of PHIL 7 or PHIL 9 or PHIL 22 or PHIL 24 or PHIL 27.

LGST 144Topics in Social and Political PhilosophyUpper Division25 Units

A study of selected classical and contemporary writings dealing with topics such as the nature and legitimacy of the liberal state, the limits of political obligation, and theories of distributive justice and rights. (Formerly Social and Political Philosophy.) (Also offered as Philosophy 144. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): one course in philosophy. May be repeated for credit.

LGST 146Philosophy of LawUpper Division25 Units

Introduction to topics in the philosophy of law. Begins by discussing some famously difficult legal cases. These motivate students to consider more generally how to theorize about law and legality. Course ends by examining a handful of modern legal issues from a philosophical perspective. Course asks students to formulate and defend their positions on classic and contemporary legal debates and provides them tools from moral and legal philosophy with which to work. .

LGST 147APsychology and LawUpper Division25 Units

Current and future relationships between law and psychology, paying special attention to gaps between legal fictions and psychological realities in the legal system. Topics include an introduction to social science and law, the nature of legal and criminal responsibility, the relationship between the social and legal concepts of discrimination, and the nature of legal punishment. (Also offered as Psychology 147A. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100; and PSYC 40 is highly recommended prior to taking this course. Enrollment is restricted to psychology, pre-psychology, cognitive science, and legal studies majors.

LGST 147BPsychology and LawUpper Division25 Units

Continuing discussion of current and future relationships between law and psychology and to contrasting psychological realities with legal fictions. Special attention is given to the criminal justice system including crime causation, the psychology of policing and interrogation, plea bargaining, jury selection and decision making, eyewitness identification, and the psychology of imprisonment. (Also offered as Psychology 147B. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): LGST 147A.

LGST 148Cites, Urban Planning, and the LawUpper Division25 Units

Explores how local land use and planning objectives are defined and determined by federal, state, and (most importantly) local law. Focuses on California, and on California municipal law issues. Housing, transportation, water supply, regional government, environmental protection, natural resource protection, urban sprawl, and growth management issues are addressed as students learn how federal, state, and local laws relate to city urban planning problems. . (Also offered as Environmental Studies 148. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.)

LGST 149Environmental Law and PolicyUpper Division25 Units

Surveys a wide range of topics in environmental law, including state and federal jurisdiction, administrative law, separation of powers, state and local land use regulation, public land and resource management, pollution control, and private rights and remedies. Students read a large number of judicial cases and other legal documents. (Also offered as Environmental Studies 149. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Enrollment is restricted to junior and senior legal studies majors.

LGST 150Children and the LawUpper Division25 Units

Explores the legal rights of children. Topics may include juvenile justice, gang offenses, free speech and Internet censorship, religious rights, child custody and support, adoption, foster care, abuse and sexual harassment, special needs, public benefits, and medical care.

LGST 150ACoastal and Marine PolicyUpper Division25 Units

Examines key legal, policy, and institutional frameworks that govern the use and stewardship of coastal and marine areas and resources. Primary focus is on the U.S., although attention is also devoted to international laws and institutions. . (Also offered as Environmental Studies 150. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): previous or concurrent enrollment in LGST 10 and either LGST 111A or 111B, or by permission of instructor.

LGST 151Politics of LawUpper Division25 Units

Uncovers the important debates in politics and law around the functions of courts, litigation, and rights–and the political nature of law itself. Course is interdisciplinary, and draws from literature in political science, law, and sociology. (Also offered as Politics 151. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.)

LGST 151AEnvironmental AssessmentUpper Division25 Units

Introduction to California land use planning law and practice, and the theory, practice, and public policy aspects of environmental assessment, using the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as a model. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental and planning legislation also considered. Covers elements of State law and regulations, environmental impact assessment requirements, and practical procedures for preparing and evaluating CEQA documents, with case studies that exemplify legal, regulatory and public policy and practice aspects of the assessment process. (Also offered as Environmental Studies 151. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): previous or concurrent enrollment in LGST 10 and either LGST 111A or 111B, or by permission of instructor.

LGST 152Courts and LitigationUpper Division25 Units

A study of the role of courts in society and the uses of litigation to address and deflect social problems. Focus is on recent developments in American litigation, but comparative materials may be considered.

LGST 153Immigration, Citizenship, and LawUpper Division25 Units

Explores U.S. laws and policies regarding immigration and citizenship from historical and contemporary perspectives. Includes studying landmark court cases, key statues and regulations governing immigration and citizenship, and scholarly treatments in order to critically examine historical developments and contemporary debates.

LGST 154The Legal ProfessionUpper Division25 Units

Lawyers stand between the legal system and those who are affected by it. Examines this relationship descriptively and normatively, and from the point of view of sociological theory. Concentrates on the U.S. profession, with some comparative material.

LGST 155Topics in American Legal History: Making of American ConstitutionalismUpper Division25 Units

Explores some aspects of early American constitutional thought, particularly immediately preceding the American Revolution, situating early colonial constitutional thought within some of the larger themes and controversies of the 17th-century English constitutionalism, then considering some aspects of American constitutional thought in the founding period against the background of the colonial experience. Enrollment limited to 20.

LGST 156Administrative Law and Challenges of RegulationUpper Division25 Units

The rise of the regulatory state brings with it a host of questions regarding the exercise of state power and separation of powers. Takes up some of these questions; in particular, questions about administrative agencies and their relationship to the judiciary, the legislature and private individuals and groups. (Formerly Administrative Jurisprudence.)

LGST 157Political JurisprudenceUpper Division25 Units

Explores some themes in legal and political theory, especially on the relationship of theories of justice, law, and ethics. Enrollment is restricted to legal studies majors during first and second pass enrollment.

LGST 158Law and Politics of MemoryUpper Division25 Units

Examines why we choose to memorialize some aspects of our history, but not others. What impact do those choices have on our contemporary politics and society? How may memorials help create a stronger democracy? (Also offered as Politics 158. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Enrollment limited to 20. (General Education Code(s): CC.)

LGST 159Property and the LawUpper Division25 Units

Begins with an examination of the concept of property, then covers how different cultures characterize property and determine ownership and the laws and policies that define property in modern society. Topics include theories of property law, common property, property and natural resources, zoning, regulatory takings, and intellectual and cultural property.

LGST 160AIndustrial OrganizationUpper Division25 Units

The structure and conduct of American industry with strong emphasis on the role of government, regulation, anti-trust, etc. The evolution of present-day industrial structure. The problems of overall concentration of industry and of monopoly power of firms. Pricing, output decisions, profits, and waste. Approaches include case study, theory, and statistics. (Also offered as Economics 160A. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): ECON 100A or ECON 100M.

LGST 160BInternational LawUpper Division25 Units

Origins and development of international law: international law is examined both as a reflection of the present world order and as a basis for transformation. Topics include state and non-state actors and sovereignty, treaties, the use of force, and human rights. (Also offered as Politics 160B. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): satisfaction of the Entry Level Writing and Composition requirements.

LGST 161Intellectual PropertyUpper Division25 Units

Advanced study of the concepts, practices, and history of intellectual property. Topically, it is a study of how, when, and why you can own something like an idea, a story, a mathematical algorithm, a business process, or an arrangement of cells. Course is organized around different kinds of things one might own: artistic creation and representation (copyright), scientific discovery and invention (patents), and business processes and secrets (trademark and trade secrets). Studies different intellectual property regimes and the philosophical and moral issues underlying claims to intellectual property. .

LGST 162Legal Environment of BusinessUpper Division25 Units

A study of law and the legal process, emphasizing the nature and function of law within the U.S. federal system. Attention is given to the legal problems pertaining to contracts and related topics, business association, and the impact of law on business enterprise. (Also offered as Economics 162. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): ECON 100A.

LGST 165ASustainable Water SystemsUpper Division25 Units

Concepts, vocabulary, and skills necessary to the analysis of freshwater issues are introduced from hydrology, ecology, law, economics, engineering, and other disciplines. The skills are then applied to case studies involving local, state, and international freshwater conflicts and crises. (Formerly Freshwater Issues and Policy.) (Also offered as Environmental Studies 165. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): previous or concurrent enrollment in LGST 10 and either LGST 111A or 111B, or by permission of instructor.

LGST 166Global OrganizationUpper Division25 Units

Addresses whether and how global organizations are changing the international system. Examines multilateral institutions, regional organizations, and nonstate actors. Overriding aim is to discern whether these global organizations are affecting the purported primacy of the state. (Also offered as Politics 165. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.)

LGST 167Politics of International TradeUpper Division25 Units

Examines key issues in international trade, including the distribution of gains, fair trading practices, and preferential trade agreements. Focuses on the political dimensions of trade, the rules of the international trade system, and conflicts within countries that international trade generates. (Also offered as Politics 167. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.)

LGST 169Economic Analysis of the LawUpper Division25 Units

The application of the theories and methods of neoclassical economics to the central institutions of the legal system, including the common law doctrines of negligence, contract, and property; bankruptcy and corporate law; and civil, criminal, and administrative procedure. (Also offered as Economics 169. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): ECON 100A or ECON 100M or permission of instructor.

LGST 173Disability, Law, & PoliticsUpper Division25 Units

Introduction to how individuals, societies, and states answer fundamental questions about disability, including what is or is not a disability, what causes disability, and what the proper responses to the existence of disabilities are. (Also offered as Politics 173. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) (General Education Code(s): PE-H.)

LGST 175Human RightsUpper Division25 Units

Embraces an interdisciplinary approach to the study of human rights. Captures the malleable nature of human rights and the contours of its dual role as both law and discourse. Prior coursework in International Law (POLI 160B /LGST 160B) is recommended. (Also offered as Politics 175. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.)

LGST 181Art, Power & PoliticsUpper Division25 Units

Explores strategies artists use to engage political subject matter in the 21st century. Students create their own projects, research and test approaches, techniques and strategies learning from the ways national and international artists encode and convey information in creating political work. Methods range from community collaboration; to tactical culture jamming, participatory collaborative projects, activism and intervention, symbolic and gestural work, artist-led projects, performances and community projects. (Also offered as Art 181. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): LGST 10. Enrollment is restricted to legal studies majors. May be repeated for credit. (General Education Code(s): PR-C.)

LGST 182The Power to PunishUpper Division25 Units

Interrogates the presuppositions of punishment as legitimate state power. Decentering crime as punishment’s conceptual predicate, wider analysis of the penal state’s social-scientific, jurisprudential, and philosophical foundations force us to ask: What is punishment? Why punish? How, and whom, to punish? (Also offered as Politics 182. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) (General Education Code(s): PE-H.)

LGST 183Women in the EconomyUpper Division25 Units

Study of gender roles in economic life, past and present. Topics include occupational structure, human capital acquisition, income distribution, poverty, and wage differentials. The role of government in addressing economic gender differentials is examined. (Also offered as Economics 183. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): ECON 100A or ECON 100M; and ECON 113 is strongly recommended.

LGST 184Shariah and Political Thinking: Law and Politics in Modern Islamic ThoughtUpper Division25 Units

What defines just political rule in Islam? How do modern Muslim thinkers conceive the role of Islamic normative guidelines (Shariah) in the context of secular modern nation-states? Course surveys how major trends in modern Islamic thought try to answer this question. (Also offered as Politics 184. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.)

LGST 185Internship/Field Seminar: Experiences in Law, Politics, and PolicyUpper Division25 Units

A practicum seminar for students seeking field experience in politics, law- and/or policy-making settings. Designed to be combined with an internship; provides structured class meetings, readings, and work, including weekly field notes and a final paper. NOTE: Prior to enrolling, students must have secured an internship of at least 8 hours per week for the duration of the quarter. (Formerly Legal Studies Internship/Field Seminar: Experiences in Law, Policy, and Society.) (Also offered as Politics 180. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Enrollment is restricted to politics and legal studies majors. Enrollment limited to 20. May be repeated for credit. (General Education Code(s): PR-S.)

LGST 188AIntroduction to the Legal Profession and Legal Aid WorkUpper Division22 Units

Introduces key aspects of the legal profession and legal aid for under-served communities. Offers practical information and training on topics such as professional responsibility, ethics, confidentiality, interviewing skills, record keeping, communication, and working with diverse clients. Designed as a preparation or companion course for law-related internships and field student through courses such as OAKS 188B/LGST 188B (3 credits), OAKS 199, or LGST 185 Internship (5 credits). (Also offered as Oakes College 188A. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Enrollment limited to 30.

LGST 188BLegal Field Practice: Professional Skills and EthicsUpper Division23 Units

Offers placement, standards, and support during on-site experiential training in professional skills and ethics for students working in the legal field or with legal information to empower under-served communities. (Also offered as Oakes College 188B. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): previous or concurrent enrollment in LGST 188A or OAKS 188A. Enrollment limited to 30. May be repeated for credit. (General Education Code(s): PR-S.)

LGST 190RComparative Law and SocietyUpper Division25 Units

Interdisciplinary investigation into functions of law across political, historical, and cultural contexts. Examines the international and comparative turn in public law scholarship and the role of law-based strategies in state building. Reviews literature in law, political science and legal anthropology. (Also offered as Politics 190R. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.) Prerequisite(s): LGST 160B. Enrollment is restricted to senior legal studies majors. Enrollment limited to 20.

LGST 193Field StudyUpper Division25 Units

Field research performed off-campus, under the supervision of a member of the legal studies faculty. May be repeated for credit.

LGST 194Group TutorialUpper Division25 Units

Provides a means for a small group of students to study a particular topic in consultation with a faculty sponsor. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency. May be repeated for credit.

LGST 196Senior CapstoneUpper Division25 Units

Examines related legal topics from an interdisciplinary perspective. Each focuses broadly on the relationship between law as a distinct system and law as an attempt to achieve justice, which requires that law remain open to claims of political morality generally. To what extent are legal norms internal to a separate system called “law” and to what extent are claims of political right in general relevant to question of what law is? Prerequisite(s): satisfaction of the Entry Level Writing and Composition requirements. Enrollment is restricted to senior legal studies majors.

Last modified: Oct 29, 2024