Law & Social Justice
Facilitators: Jane Curry, Political Science; Deborah Moss-West, Law
The Law and Social Justice Pathway offers students a cross-disciplinary opportunity to learn about and focus on issues related to social justice particularly from a legal perspective. Students who are considering going to law school or pursuing a career in legal services will be able to study the principles behind the justice system and have practical experiences that expose them to social justice issues in the community. This Pathway is also beneficial to students considering a career in government, social services, or public service as students will learn about community needs and deepen their understanding of how underrepresented, marginalized, and subordinated client populations and causes can be served through social justice law.
Associated Courses
Foundations Courses
(Please note that only the specific Foundation course topics qualify for the Pathway requirements, and only one Foundations course may be applied to a Pathway)
PHIL 12A Philosophy of Law (effective 3/25/13)
American Politics
GOVT 410-001T American Govt & Politics Seminar I (American University Washington Semester Program)
Anthropology
ANTH 151 Law and Society (effective 9/1/09)
ANTH 155 Conflict Resolution (effective 9/1/09)
Arts and Sciences
ASCI 50 Law & Social Justice (cross-listed with ELSJ 50; effective 9/1/09)
Classics
CLAS 188 Classical Origins of Justice (effective 9/1/09)
Communication
*COMM 120 Group Communication (effective 9/1/09)
*COMM 145B Legal Journalism (effective 9/1/09)
Economics
*ECON 126 Economics and Law (effective 3/25/18)
English
*ENGL 115 Argumentation (effective 9/1/09)
*ENGL 115H Argumentation: Honors (effective 9/1/11)
Ethnic Studies
ETHN 141 Asian American Women (cross-listed with WGST 111; effective 9/1/2009)
Experiential Learning for Social Justice
ELSJ 50 Law & Social Justice (cross-listed with ASCI 50; effective 9/1/09)
ELSJ 51 Legal Pathways to Equity: Navigating the Intersection of Law and Social Justice (effective 3/25/24)
History
HIST 84 United States Women's History (cross-listed with WGST 57; effective 9/1/09)
HIST 158 Turmoil and Reform: U.S. 1877-1920 (effective 3/25/15)
HIST 177 Gays and Lesbians in United States History (cross-listed with WGST 138; effective 9/1/09)
HIST 188S The Making of Modern America: The Progressive Era (formerly HIST 188; effective 9/1/09)
Intl Law & Organizations
SIS 450-900T Intl Law & Organizations Seminar I (American University Washington Semester Program)
Justice & Law
JLS 492-001T Justice Semester Seminar I (American University Washington Semester Program)
Peace & Conflict Resolution
SIS 486-900T Peace & Conflict Resolution Seminar (American University Washington Semester Program)
Philosophy
PHIL 25 Ethics in Society (effective 9/1/09; formerly PHIL 5)
PHIL 25H Ethics in Society: Honors (effective 11/25/2015; formerly PHIL 5H)
PHIL 30 Ethics and the Law (effective 9/1/09; formerly PHIL 10)
PHIL 30H Ethics and the Environment: Honors (effective 11/25/2015; formerly PHIL 10H)
PHIL 117 Bioethics and the Law (effective 9/1/09; formerly PHIL 111)
PHIL 118 Ethics and Constitutional Law (effective 9/1/09; formerly PHIL 113)
PHIL 119 Ethics and Criminal Law (effective 9/1/09; formerly PHIL 114)
*PHIL 122 Political Philosophy and Ethics (effective 9/1/09)
PHIL 123 Philosophy of Law (effective 3/25/16; formerly PHIL 154)
Political Science
POLI 30 Introduction to Political Philosophy (effective 9/1/09)
POLI 45 Criminal Justice System (effective 9/1/09)
*POLI 124 Law, Security and Force (effective 9/1/09)
*POLI 125 International Law (effective 9/1/09)
*POLI 127 Global Perspectives in Women and Law Special Topics in International Relations
*POLI 134 Race & Ethnicity in Politics of Developed States (effective 9/1/09)
*POLI 143 Democracy & Democracy Building (effective 9/1/09)
*POLI 156 Politics and Mass Media (effective 9/1/09)
*POLI 160 The Constitution and Equality (effective 9/1/09)
*POLI 161 Law & Politics in the United States (effective 9/1/09)
*POLI 167 Making Public Policy (effective 9/1/09)
POLI 169 Special Topics in US Politics (topic Women & Law only; cross-listed with WGST 118, POLI 171; effective 9/1/09)
POLI 171 Women & Law (cross-listed with POLI 169 topic Women & Law only; WGST 118; effective 9/1/09)
*POLI 195L ​Constitutional Theory, Constitutional Politics (formerly 195P; effective 9/1/15)
Religious Studies
*RSOC 136 Religion in Latin America (effective 9/1/09)
*TESP 64 Environmental Justice in Catholic Imagination (effective 9/1/09)
Sociology
SOCI 33 Social Problems in the United States (effective 9/1/09)
*SOCI 159 Sociology of Crime (effective 9/1/09)
SOCI 160 Sociology of Law (effective 9/1/09)
*SOCI 161 Sociology of the Criminal Justice System (effective 9/1/09)
Transforming Communities
GOVT 417-001T Transforming Communities Seminar I (American University Washington Semester Program)
Women's and Gender Studies
WGST 57 Women in American Society (cross-listed with HIST 84; effective 9/1/09)
WGST 111 Asian American Women (cross-listed with ETHN 141; effective 2/9/2010)
WGST 118 Women & Law (cross-listed with POLI 171, POLI 169 (topic Women and Law only; effective 9/1/11)
WGST 138 Gays and Lesbians in United States History (cross-listed with HIST 177; effective 9/1/09)
WGST 189 Sex, Law and Social Justice: The Politics of Advocacy (effective 9/10/15)
* Indicates Course Has Prerequisites