Law and Society

Harry Hirsch, Professor of Politics

The Curricular Committee on Law and Society administers a cross-disciplinary Law and Society major, fosters the general study of issues regarding law and society throughout the college, and encourages public presentations by visiting scholars, jurists, and lawyers. The recommended core introductory and intermediate law and society courses, core research seminars, and law-related courses explore philosophical, political, economic, historical, sociological, ethical, scientific, and religious issues that are central to understanding the role of law and legal institutions in society.

Core introductory courses and intermediate law and society courses and seminars are selected with the following objectives in mind: 1) center on law and legal institutions directly; 2) explore the historical, philosophical, and ethical underpinnings of the development of law, thought, and institutions; and/or 3) provide the analytic skills necessary to understand the logic and bases of legal thinking as a language in legal institutions, the broader society, and the profession of law. Core research seminars and private reading/research courses provide to students forums to undertake research papers which meet the above objectives. Law-related courses have sections within them that meet at least one of the three objectives that are listed above or provide students an opportunity to write a term paper in which the scholarly issues of the course may be applied to legal institutions, thought, and/or the logic of legal inquiry.

Information About Declaration of a Major/Minor and Current Committee Members

Students wishing to discuss the Law and Society major, obtain a list of current curricular committee members, or to gain approval for major or minor, should contact Professor Ronald Kahn, Chair, Law and Society Curricular Committee, Department of Politics, Rice 232. Law and Society Majors must complete the Law and Society Major Registration Form (a copy of which stays in Committee files) as well as the College’s Major Declaration Form which can be picked up at the Registrar’s Office in Carnegie. Prof. Kahn can be reached at: Phone: 440-775-8495. Email: ronald.kahn@oberlin.edu

Special Note: The On-Line Oberlin College Catalog lists courses that are to be taught during the academic year of that catalog. Unlike the On-Line Catalog, we list courses for the Law and Society major that have been offered during the prior three years or may be offered beyond the two-year window of the On-Line Catalog.

Major

The major consists of at least 9 full courses, of which no more than 1 full course may be taken at the introductory level. Requirements include: a minimum of five core introductory and intermediate courses; at least 3 additional core and/or law-related courses; and at least one core research seminar. No more than 5 of the first 9 courses in the major may be taken in one department. Core courses and seminar(s) must be chosen from at least three departments, and no more than 3 full courses may be taken away from campus.

It is recommended that majors take a second core seminar or a private reading/research course which centers on law and society.

Courses in which a student has earned a letter grade lower than a C-/P cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of the major.

Minor

Students may pursue a minor in Law and Society by completing at least 5 full courses. At least 3 core courses (in at least two departments) and 2 additional law-related and/or core courses must be completed as part of the minor. At least 3 full courses must be completed at Oberlin College.