Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work
Social world, legal problems, creative solutions.
The Law, Culture and Justice minor is designed for students of all majors who are interested in learning about how law impacts society, how society shapes legal systems and how to expand access to just outcomes for all people.
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Law
Law is a system of rules that organizes society. Investigate how law operates across various facets of society and social life.
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Culture
Culture shapes law and law also shapes culture. Analyze how law impacts the ways we think and understand the world around us.
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Justice
Justice means fairness and equity. Explore strategies for solving legal problems and creating a more just society.
A high-quality education
Students can choose from a growing list of courses that cover topics such as law, legal systems, human rights, social and human services, healthcare, education, government, advocacy, crime and safety, urban and community issues, environment and sustainability, food access, and more.
The Law, Culture, & Justice minor is designed to help students become critical thinkers and creative problem solvers. Students will learn how to use social scientific inquiry to explore socio-legal problems and propose data-informed solutions. Students will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of experiential learning opportunities.
Courses in this minor will have wide applicability for students training in all disciplines. Students preparing for post-graduate education or careers in law, criminal justice, community activism, healthcare, education, advocacy, research, policy and public administration, and/or government might find this minor particularly relevant, but we encourage students from all majors who have any interest in law to enroll.
More information on Law, Culture & Justice
The Law, Culture & Justice (LCJ) minor focuses on social scientific, interpretive, and interdisciplinary analyses of systems of law, power, and justice across multiple social contexts. Courses will investigate the nature and origin of law, law-making, law-breaking, rights and obligations, freedoms and responsibilities, legal consciousness, social deviance, extremism, social control and social inequalities related to systems of law, power and justice. Special consideration will be given to exploring issues related to access to justice and the question of how to create a more just society. This minor is especially relevant to students preparing for careers in law, justice, nonprofits, community development, and government, but is designed for students of any major as systems of law, power and justice impact all of us.
Required courses
- SOC 319: Theories of Crime & Justice
- SOC 326: Law & Society
Electives (select nine hours)
- ANT 306: Culture & Power
- ANT 325: Anthropology of Human Rights
- SWK 310: Law & Human Services
- SWK 325: Child Abuse
- SWK 370: Advocacy Practice in Social Work
- SOC 310/EDT 322: Perspectives on Education & Social Justice
- SOC 320: Law, Harm, & Injustice
- SOC 321: Sociology of Extremism
- SOC 322: Crime, Film, & Society
- SOC 323: Youth, Law, & Justice
- SOC 324: Communities & Crime
- SOC 325: Deviance, Culture, & Society
- SOC 327: Criminology
- SOC 329: Sex, Crime, & Law
- SOC 337: Political Sociology
- SOC 371: Sociology of Human Rights
- SOC 384: Food Justice
Note: Up to three of the nine elective hours may come from related courses outside of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work with approval of the minor coordinator. Any Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work course with “Inside-Out” Program designation.
For more information or questions about the Law, Culture & Justice (LCJ) minor, please contact Joy Kadowaki.
Joy Kadowaki faculty profile