First Year Seminar 191SBS17 - FYS - Law in Action
Fall
2025
02
1.00
Santiago Virguez Ruiz
TH 2:30PM 3:20PM
UMass Amherst
70176
Machmer E-32
svirguezruiz@umass.edu
This seminar introduces first-year students to the world of how law operates in daily life by exploring the critical gap between law on paper and law in practice. Students will engage in interesting discussions and hands-on activities examining topics such as judicial activism, police violence, and human rights. The course addresses fundamental questions including why laws often fail to achieve their intended outcomes and how different communities interact with and resist legal institutions. Designed as both an introduction to college life and the field of Legal Studies, the seminar helps students develop essential academic skills including critical thinking, informed discussion, and collaborative teamwork that will serve them throughout their university experience. Students connect with vital campus resources and build relationships with peers, faculty, and staff. By semester's end, participants gain both an understanding of how law operates in society and the confidence to navigate their university environment successfully.
First-year (R1ST)