This course focuses on the U.S. Supreme Court and its rulings regarding sex and sexuality. We will examine several hot button issues confronted by the Supreme Court, such as reproduction (sterilization/contraception/abortion); marriage (polygamous/interracial/same sex); pornography/obscenity; sodomy; sexual assault on college campuses; and sex education in public schools. Some questions we will consider include: What is the constitutionality of government regulation of sexual behavior, sexual material, reproduction, and sexuality and how and why has this changed over time?

Introduction to humanitarian law. Topics include theory and history of international human rights law, growth and nature of human rights organizations, regional human rights schemes, cross-cultural contexts and meanings for human rights, the politics and law of immigration and refugees, international criminal law and other mechanisms for humanitarian intervention. Prerequisite: course in Legal Studies or international politics. Satisfies the Integrative Experience requirement for BA-Legal major.

This course examines the intersection of law, politics and society in a comparative perspective. The goal of the course is to familiarize you with the workings of the many and varied legal traditions and practices outside the United States. The course focuses on comparing commonalities and differences across legal contexts as well as the positives and negatives of doing law in different ways given those contexts. Satisfies the Integrative Experience requirement for BA-Legal major.

This course will explore the history, purpose, procedure and practice of specialty or problem-solving courts (e.g. drug treatment courts, mental health courts, veteran's treatment courts) in the American criminal justice system in general and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in particular. Students will be required to read and discuss articles, studies, manuals, reports, etc., related to the topic. Students will also be giving opportunity to observe local specialty court sessions (in person or virtually) and then discuss their observations.

The course will focus on civil law and will deal with issues that are unique to each of the respective civil trial courts. Case studies will address the manner in which disputes are resolved by trial or settlement. Some of the issues to be examined are termination of parental rights, sexually dangerous person proceedings and administrative agency appeals. The course will also focus on the equitable jurisdiction of the courts, contract actions and an introduction to real property rights.

This course will explore the role of mental healthcare law and procedure in the criminal justice system and will address how mentally ill clients are processed through the criminal justice system. Students will be introduced to the many mental health resources and treatment programs that are currently available to assist individuals. We will also explore contemporary issues in mental health and criminal justice, such as the treatment of mentally ill juveniles and women within the criminal justice system as well as the accessibility of mental healthcare services for at-risk groups.

Since 2000, Russia has turned from a country reeling from a transition away from Communism to a strong state with a renewed sense of national identity and purpose. Yet there are important questions still to be asked and answered about where Russia is headed. This class will give students the analytical tools and the historical background to understand and intelligently debate and discuss the past, present and future of Russia.

Not available at this time

Fieldwork experience for qualified students. Coordinated through the University's Office of Internships. Prerequisite: LEGAL 250. Generally open only to Legal Studies majors. Individual faculty sponsorship required.