Pre-Law Minor Requirements (24 Credit Hours)
24 semester hours including:
PLSC 101 American National Government (3 Credit Hours)
A survey of the principal characteristics of the American National Government; examination of constitutional principles, federalism, political participation, institutions of government, and the politics of public policy. Please see the Department of History, Religious Studies & Languages section of the catalogue for information on the History and Political Science Major.
CRJU 209
American Courts & Judicial Process (3 Credit Hours)
This course presents an overview of the development of federal and state court systems examining structure, administration, case flow, and interaction with other portions of the criminal justice and governmental systems. Cross-listed with PLSC 209.
PLSC 382 / CRJU 382
Legal Political Thought-Classical (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines ancient understandings of law, statesmanship, and the good society. Problems relating to these interwoven components of the political arena are considered on both theoretical and practical levels, the first concerning what the relationship of citizen and state should be, the latter involving review of practices as seen through the lives of actual rulers from ancient Greece and Rome. Cross-listed with CRJU 382.
PLSC 383 / CRJU 383
Legal Political Thought-Modern (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines the way in which seminal questions with relation to the proper foundations and structures of society have been approached in the modern era. Analysis includes examination of founders, religion, and the military, especially in connection to the concepts of fortune and necessity. Cross-listed with CRJU 383.
CRJU 201
Criminal Procedure (3 Credit Hours)
Substantive law course examining prevailing legal standards for arrest, search and seizure, self-incrimination and confessions, the exclusionary rule, and other matters pertaining to suspect rights and governmental prerogatives in the context of criminal proceedings. (Alternates [F] / [S] with CRJU 205.)
CRJU 205
Criminal Law (3 Credit Hours)
Substantive law course providing an introduction to criminal law including the origins and principles of criminal law, criminal liability, criminal defenses, and crimes against persons and property. (Alternates [F] / [S] with CRJU 201.)
PLSC 486 / CRJU 486
Constitutional Law I: Civil Liberties (3 Credit Hours)
The development and interpretation of the Constitution examined through analysis of the decisions of the Supreme Court and secondary sources, focusing on the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment. The course serves as an introduction to how our national heritage of civil liberties has been articulated by the Court to form law and legal doctrine over the course of two centuries, including consideration of the areas of privacy, public morality, defendant’s rights, and the death penalty. This dual registration course is also available for upper-division elective credit in Criminal Justice. Prerequisites: CRJU 201 and CRJU 205, or permission from instructor. Odd years only. Cross-listed with CRJU 486.
PLSC 483 / CRJU 483
Constitutional Law II: National Powers (3 Credit Hours)
An overview of the United States Supreme Court’s interpretation of Articles I, II, and III of the federal constitution. These articles divide the powers of the federal government between three ostensibly co-equal branches. The respective branches may only exercise those powers granted to them by the respective Articles. Powers not delegated to one of the branches are reserved to the states. These two constitutional principles - separation of powers and federalism - invariably generate conflicts among the three branches and between the branches and the various states. The Supreme Court’s efforts to arbitrate such conflicts are examined through analysis of its decisions and its efforts to interpret the “plain meaning” of the Constitution’s language, and to discern the “intent of the founders.” Even years only. Cross-listed with CRJU 483.
