Federal Indian law has a long and complex history in the United States, which can be traced back to the first encounters between European colonizers and Indigenous inhabitants. Fundamental to Indian rights is an understanding of who is or who is not a "Native American"? Perhaps more than any other ethnic group in our country, the cultural identity of Native Americans is uniquely central to the federal body of Indian law. This course will focus on ways that Native American group identity has been constructed, subverted, and/or challenged by the application of federal Indian law.

This course is designed to help students improve their ability to analyze and write about complicated legal issues. You should expect to do a lot of writing in this course. You will learn how to read and understand court opinions and how to find your way around a law library. Writing assignments include your own resume and a job application letter, case briefs, memoranda, OP-ED essays, and a research paper. These assignments are written from the perspective of a lay person writing to another lay person.

This course is designed to help students improve their ability to analyze and write about complicated legal issues. You should expect to do a lot of writing in this course. You will learn how to read and understand court opinions and how to find your way around a law library. Writing assignments include your own resume and a job application letter, case briefs, memoranda, OP-ED essays, and a research paper. These assignments are written from the perspective of a lay person writing to another lay person.

This course provides an exploration of the environmental justice (EJ) movement. Central to our study is an examination of environmental degradation, inequality in exposure to pollution in relationship to racism and poverty, and globalization's effect on international environmental injustices. We critically analyze the role of grassroots activism, the law, and alternative dispute resolution methods used to redress environmental injustices. Coursework relies on relevant interdisciplinary scholarship, case studies, and engaged in-class simulations.

This course is part of the Political Science and Legal Studies Undergraduate Research Engagement Program (UREP). When possible, student interests are paired with faculty in need of research assistance. Please visit the Political Science department website for information.

This course is part of the Political Science and Legal Studies Undergraduate Research Engagement Program (UREP). When possible, student interests are paired with faculty in need of research assistance. Please visit the Political Science department website for information.

This course is part of the Political Science and Legal Studies Undergraduate Research Engagement Program (UREP). When possible, student interests are paired with faculty in need of research assistance. Please visit the Political Science department website for information.

Not available at this time

Not available at this time

What if a Constitution drafted in the 18th century is inadequate to the needs of a 21st century nation? How should we amend it? In this hands-on course blending team-based learning and discussion-based classes, students will jointly identify a small number of perceived deficiencies in the US Constitution, research the histories, interpretations, and applications of the operative provisions, explore alternative models from other constitutions, and develop proposed amendments for presentation to and discussion by the entire class.