Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation from Dickinson, Law, Justice, and Society majors will be able to:
- describe significant concepts and theories in both American public law and comparative law/law and society and the difference between law as a professional practice and law as a topic of liberal arts inquiry;
- explain how factors such as ethnicity, class, demography, region, gender, sexuality and religion, etc. impact legal, political, and social life;
- convey complex ideas and arguments in writing using legal texts, court decisions, and/or theoretical writing as evidence;
- apply contemporary legal, critical, and/or interpretive theories in their own analysis of legal, political, or social events or situations.
Major
10 courses, plus a registered experiential learning component
The following five requirements must be completed by all majors:
- POSC 120 American Government
- American public law course - POSC 220, POSC 221, POSC 246, or LWJS/POSC 248
- Comparative or international law course - EASN/LWJS/POSC 259 or LWJS 290: Law and Society
- A senior seminar - LWJS 390
- A registered experiential learning component – Academic Internship & Research Program (INTR 7xx, REXP 7xx) or other pre-approved course designation.
In addition, students will take six courses from the following three concentrations, including at least one course per concentration:
- Concepts
- Institutions
- Practices
Students may count no more than three classes towards both the Law, Justice, and Society major and the Political Science major. Double majors in Political Science and in Law, Justice, and Society must take two separate senior seminars for the two majors.
Suggested curricular flow through the major
Students interested in the Law, Justice, and Society major are advised to start by taking POSC 120 (Introduction to American Government) and then either their required class in American law or their required class in comparative/international law in their first year at the college. Introduction to American Government is a prerequisite for upper-level requirements, while the law classes introduce students to the field and should help them decide whether the major is right for them. In subsequent years, students have a good degree of flexibility in course choice and will progress differently through the major, depending on when they declare it and what other academic goals they are pursuing. Students are encouraged to work closely with their advisors on course planning, since many courses – such as LAWP/POSC 248: The Judiciary – are offered only once per year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete their experiential learning requirement by the fall of their senior year. It is not advisable to wait until the final semester to begin planning this. Finally, prior to their senior year, students should discuss with their advisor how they plan to take the senior seminar, LAJS 400. We plan to offer one senior seminar per semester, so students should know what their options are before deciding when to take the seminar. Additional questions about major requirements should be directed to the program coordinator.
Co-curricular activities/programs
Law, Justice, and Society majors who wish to participate in Dickinson's very successful Mock Trial program should contact mocktrial@dickinson.edu