Legal Studies Minor
Overview
for the Undergraduate Minor in Legal Studies
The Legal Studies minor, administered by the College of Law, is designed to provide students with a better understanding of how the law operates in a variety of contexts and develop critical thinking skills. The minor requires 18 hours of credit, with nine hours of core courses taught by College of Law professors and affiliated faculty, and an additional nine hours in one of three tracks:
- Law & Politics;
- Law & Cultures; or
- Law & Economics of Food Security
6 credit hours must be in 300- or 400- level courses. Other qualifying 300- or 400- level courses may be approved in consultation with the minor advisor. Students must have completed 30 credit hours prior to application, have Academic Good Standing status, and have a cumulative 3.25 GPA or higher.
Prospective Legal Studies Minors must apply for acceptance into the program. For more information, please contact lawundergrad@illinois.edu for general instructions on how to apply for the minor.
Degree Requirements
for the Undergraduate Minor in Legal Studies
18 credit hours are required to complete the minor.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Course work (at least 9 hours) | 9 | |
| Basic Constitutional Law & Individual Rights | ||
| Introduction to Law | ||
| Transitional Justice | ||
| Living the Law | ||
| Introduction to Legal Research | ||
| Art and Cultural Property Law | ||
| The Operation of the American Criminal Justice System | ||
| Law and Literature | ||
| Race and Cultural Diversity | ||
| Law and Society | ||
Students will select one of the following tracks:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Law & Politics Track | 9 | |
| choose at least 9 hours from the following: | ||
| Water Technology and Policy | ||
| Communicating Public Policy | ||
| Communication and Public Opinion | ||
| Social Media and Politics | ||
| Int Diplomacy and Negotiation | ||
| Statistical Reasoning for Everyday Life | ||
| History of Islamic Middle East | ||
| US Foreign Relations Since 1917 | ||
| Encounters in Native America | ||
| Native American History | ||
| Middle East 1566-1914 | ||
| Egypt Since World War I | ||
| America's Republic, 1780-1880 | ||
| Roman Law and Legal Trad | ||
| Medieval England | ||
| The American Political Divide | ||
| Media Law in Historical Context | ||
| Media Law | ||
| Labor Issues in Sports | ||
| Workers, Unions, and Politics | ||
| Environment, Policy, and Conflict | ||
| Ethics and Social Policy | ||
| Intro to Political Philosophy | ||
| Current Controversies | ||
| Social Philosophy | ||
| Phil of Law and of the State | ||
| American Indian Law & Politics | ||
| Intro to Public Policy | ||
| Politics of the National Parks | ||
| Environmental Politics & Policy | ||
| Intro to Political Theory | ||
| The US Constitution I | ||
| The US Constitution II | ||
| The US Supreme Court | ||
| Judicial Politics | ||
| Public Opinion | ||
| Law and Public Policy | ||
| Justice in the Law | ||
| International Law | ||
| Law & Cultures Track | 9 | |
| choose at least 9 hours from the following: | ||
| Immigration, Law, and Rights | ||
| Race and Revolutions | ||
| Animal Ethics | ||
| Cultures of Law | ||
| Social & Environmental Issues | ||
| Governance | ||
| Global Human Rights | ||
| Race, Gender & Power | ||
| Families in Global Perspective | ||
| Families and the Law | ||
| Statistical Reasoning for Everyday Life | ||
| Inequality, Public Policy, and U.S. Families | ||
| History of Islamic Middle East | ||
| US History to 1877-ACP | ||
| US History to 1877 | ||
| History of Medicine in the United States | ||
| Encounters in Native America | ||
| Native American History | ||
| Middle East Since World War I | ||
| Egypt Since World War I | ||
| Social Aspects Info Tech | ||
| Race, Gender, and Information Technology | ||
| Media Law | ||
| Media Law in Historical Context | ||
| Immigration: A Global Phenomenon with Local Implications | ||
| Criminalization and Punishment | ||
| Immigration, Health & Society | ||
| Environmental and Climate Justice | ||
| Ethics and Social Policy | ||
| Biomedical Ethics | ||
| Current Controversies | ||
| US Racial & Ethnic Politics | ||
| American Indian Law & Politics | ||
| Psych and Law | ||
| Law & Economics of Food Security Track | 9 | |
| choose at least 9 hours from the following: | ||
| Environmental Economics & Policy | ||
| The World Food Economy | ||
| Economics of Food and Environmental Justice | ||
| Food Law | ||
| Natural Resource Economics | ||
| Principles of Public Policy | ||
| Agricultural Law | ||
| Environmental Law | ||
| Energy Economics and Policy | ||
| Environment and Development | ||
| Agricultural and Food Policies | ||
| Animal Ethics | ||
| Water Technology and Policy | ||
| Labor Issues in Sports | ||
| Workers, Unions, and Politics | ||
| Natural Resource Policy Mgmt | ||
| Environmental Politics & Policy | ||
Other Requirements
| 6 credit hours must be in 300- or 400- level courses. Other qualifying 300- or 400- level courses may be approved in consultation with the minor advisor. |
Learning Outcomes
for the Undergraduate Minor in Legal Studies
Upon completion of the Legal Studies Minor, students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of foundational legal principles and the ways in which law shapes institutions, policy, and professional practice. Students will develop the ability to think critically and apply legal reasoning to complex problems, drawing connections between legal frameworks and issues encountered across academic and career contexts.
The minor is designed to equip students with practical skills in analysis, communication, and decision-making that enhance their success at an institution like the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and prepare them for a wide range of professional pathways, including graduate and professional education.
Contact Information
for the Undergraduate Minor in Legal Studies
College of Law
College Dean: Jamelle Sharpe
Director of Undergrad Studies: Jennifer Pahre
Law faculty
244 Law Building, 504 East Pennsylvania Avenue, Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 333-0931
law-undergrad@illinois.edu