Conflict is a part of life. Most people do not like conflict because they usually do not resolve their conflicts well and so they develop a distaste for it. There are also ways to constructively engage in conflict that lead to better quality outcomes and relationships. In this course, students learn basic concepts about conflict resolution so that they can develop a deeper and broader understanding of conflict dynamics. There are many types of conflicts and in this course the students focus on learning more about their interpersonal conflicts with others. They learn skills so they will be able to more constructively resolve their interpersonal conflicts toward win-win outcomes.

These goals are achieved by students developing more self-awareness as to the types of conflict styles they tend to use as their “default” approach. They become more aware of their “hot buttons” and the types of behaviors and situations that cause them to become embroiled in a conflict situation. In addition to learning more about their own habits, they apply these concepts and skills to better understand others around them. By developing more empathy and understanding of others, students are able to reduce the number, types, and intensity of their interpersonal conflicts.

The course is primarily experiential and interactive so students learn by doing and reinforce their learning through immediate application. There are role-plays, simulations, discussions, presentations, film analyses, and other activities designed to enhance learning of the identified concepts and skills.

Due to the sensitive nature of possible content and material covered in this course, it is recommended that students should only register if they have the maturity, and willingness to engage thoughtfully with challenging topics.

This is a course designed for students interested in law, government, and politics. It examines a wide range of contemporary issues subject to constitutional interpretation, introducing students to the constitution, the fundamental concepts of constitutional law, the role of the courts, and the legal limitations on governmental policy making.

Students discuss and analyze topics including separation of powers, federalism, freedom of speech, affirmative action, the death penalty, gun control, civil rights, and abortion. They are exposed to current constitutional challenges and are given the opportunity to explore the relationship between law and society.

Students develop skills that enable them to read and interpret Supreme Court decisions, which serve as the basis for class discussion. Debates and Moot Courts call on students to develop persuasive arguments in defense of their positions, thereby sharpening reasoning and analytical skills.

Due to the sensitive nature of possible content and material covered in this course, it is recommended that students should only register if they have the maturity, and willingness to engage thoughtfully with challenging topics.

The legal profession is remarkably vast and wide. Within it, prospective law students have a variety of exciting opportunities to explore. Through this course, students will acquire a realistic understanding of a career in law and become well-versed in the academic steps and important skills needed to be successful. This course will begin by examining what it’s like to be a lawyer, including the preparation involved (college pathways, the LSAT, and attorney licensing requirements). Then, students will practice key skills needed in the profession, including legal writing, secondary research, and public speaking through in-class activities and homework assignments. By the end of the course, students will have a better sense of if a career in law is the right fit for their career goals and have a new-found confidence in their ability to navigate this ever-growing field. 

This course is recommended for students interested in pursuing a legal studies major in college, attending law school and/or a future career in law. 

Due to the sensitive nature of possible content and material covered in this course, it is recommended that students should only register if they have the maturity, and willingness to engage thoughtfully with challenging topics.

Are human rights still relevant in promoting social justice and freedom in the 21st Century? Human rights law and advocacy have been central to international politics since the end of World War II. However, recent rises in authoritarianism and anti-liberal regimes have raised new questions on whether the human rights framework is still capable of addressing injustices in the modern world. This course introduces students to the law and practice of human rights as well as the challenges of enforcing rights in an international environment that has grown increasingly hostile to principles of human dignity and personal freedom.

Students review the philosophical foundations of human rights and then examine human rights from two perspectives. First, the legal perspective introduces them to basic principles and rules of international law and the main international organizations and mechanisms designed for promoting and enforcing human rights. Second, they adopt the role of social scientist. We debate evidence on the effectiveness of human rights law and discuss challenges of enforcing rights in an international system in which states are not accountable to a higher authority.

Students apply their new knowledge to the problems facing human rights today. Topics may include cultural relativist critiques of human rights as a Western, neo-colonialist institution, challenges from new technologies in state surveillance and autonomous weapons, and existential threats to human populations through climate change and environmental damage. The course includes asynchronous work, which students are expected to complete between class sessions.

Due to the sensitive nature of possible content and material covered in this course, it is recommended that students should only register if they have the maturity, and willingness to engage thoughtfully with challenging topics.

This course provides students with a comprehensive introduction to the legal framework that governs the creation, operation, and dissolution of business organizations. We’ll explore the different types of business entities—such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations—and learn how to select the right entity based on specific business needs. Students will also examine the legal issues that arise throughout a business’s lifecycle, from formation to operation to termination, including contracts, liabilities, and disputes.

Throughout the course, we’ll evaluate the legal responsibilities of key stakeholders, including agents, partners, and corporate officers and directors, and how their actions impact a business's success or failure. We’ll also propose legal terms to be included in essential business documents, such as articles of incorporation, partnership agreements, and bylaws, to address common organizational challenges. By the end of the course, students will have a broad understanding of how businesses function from a legal perspective. 

No prior knowledge of law is required, though a general understanding of business concepts will be helpful.

Due to the sensitive nature of possible content and material covered in this course, it is recommended that students should only register if they have the maturity, and willingness to engage thoughtfully with challenging topics.

This course is designed to give students an opportunity to explore substantive criminal law and its attendant legal issues. The course provides students with a foundation to examine the structure, policies, interpretation, and application of criminal law. Students evaluate the fairness and morality of punishments, analyze and apply legal defenses and contemplate basic elements of crimes such as homicide, robbery, and assault, to inchoate crimes like attempt and conspiracy, to crimes against property. Participants also learn to recognize the primary sources of criminal law in the US, and probe the boundaries of statutory law as imposed by state and federal constitutions.

Due to the sensitive nature of possible content and material covered in this course, it is recommended that students should only register if they have the maturity, and willingness to engage thoughtfully with challenging topics.

Knowledge of law and legal process can be used as a tool to address issues of social justice. Whether a lawyer or a layperson, there is opportunity for individuals to engage in advocacy, whether on behalf of a single battered woman or in support of displaced refugees. In this course, which focuses primarily on the legal system in the United States, we:

• Survey the fundamentals of substantive law, such as criminal law, constitutional law, property law, contract law, and torts.
• Explore legal procedure as a means to enhance – or frustrate – justice.
• Look closely at successful litigation and political movements as means of bringing about social change.
• Meet legal practitioners in a variety of advocacy areas who share how they use the law to achieve the ends of justice.
• Visit pertinent sites such as the New York County Criminal Court and District Attorney’s Office (inspiration for Law and Order) and the United Nations Headquarters.

Case studies come from areas such as civil rights, environmental protection, criminal justice, immigration policy, international human rights, family law, and animal rights.

Participants should be willing to dedicate several hours per week on case law readings, drafting of briefs, and related mock trial/moot court preparation. At the conclusion of the course, students, working in groups, produce a strategic advocacy project for addressing an issue of interest to them from among the subjects addressed in the course.

Familiarity with the fundamentals of American government is recommended. Students should have “business casual” outfits for field trips.

Due to the sensitive nature of possible content and material covered in this course, it is recommended that students should only register if they have the maturity, and willingness to engage thoughtfully with challenging topics.

This course focuses on reading case law and interpreting the underlying laws, the research and reasoning that underlie solid legal arguments, and legal writing, while also giving students an inside look at the practice of law today. The course is structured like a traditional introductory first-year law school class.

Students learn first to use the methods and tools of legal reasoning and research, which they marshal to create effective, persuasive, and sophisticated written legal arguments. Once they have a foundation in legal research, reasoning, and writing, they are given an in-depth look at various types of law through interactive sessions with practicing lawyers, via guest speakers and field trips to law firms. They learn how to problem solve using the lawyer’s toolbox and how to analyze legal sources and develop legal arguments based on and supported by the law and cases we research.

In-class drafting and public speaking exercises strengthen participants’ reasoning, argumentation, and writing skills while introducing them to various types of legal work, including written memoranda and arguments for oral delivery.

Students with strong writing skills will be most prepared for this course. Debate experience is helpful but not required.

Due to the sensitive nature of possible content and material covered in this course, it is recommended that students should only register if they have the maturity, and willingness to engage thoughtfully with challenging topics.

Neuroscience and the law are inextricably linked. Every day, new learning behavior and decision-making discoveries are impacting how lawyers do their jobs. Through this highly discussion-based course, students will explore how understanding the science of human mental processing is imperative to being able to prosecute - or defend - a person’s actions. Specifically, students will work through challenging case studies, medical journals, and court decisions that illustrate the challenges and complexities in trying to assign culpability. Additionally, students will practice critical thinking and argumentation skills on a variety of relevant topics through in-class debates and activities. By the end of the course, students will acquire a comprehensive skill set for further inquiry, and a new-found appreciation for how assessing human behavior is imperative to a successful career in law. 

This course is recommended for students with a strong interest in the social sciences and/or law. No prior knowledge of psychology, neuroscience, or law is required. 

Due to the sensitive nature of possible content and material covered in this course, it is recommended that students should only register if they have the maturity, and willingness to engage thoughtfully with challenging topics.

This course examines the United States Supreme Court and several of the major social and legal issues over which it has jurisdiction. Beginning with a brief introduction on how cases are heard by the Supreme Court, we proceed to a wide-ranging look inside America's most hotly debated cases and the issues that shape them. Covering both the substantive and the procedural law, students learn how to identify legitimate arguments for and against each topic and gain an understanding of constitutional challenges and limitations.

Topics under consideration may include privacy rights, freedom of speech, LGBTQ rights and the determination of sex and gender, the death penalty, legalization of marijuana, voting rights, gun control, and coronavirus-related issues. The course includes asynchronous work, which students are expected to complete between class sessions.

Due to the sensitive nature of possible content and material covered in this course, it is recommended that students should only register if they have the maturity, and willingness to engage thoughtfully with challenging topics.

Preparing for trial is one of the most important jobs of a lawyer. And, it’s not easy: Success in the courtroom requires a deep understanding of the trial process, as well as sophisticated skills in evidence analysis, argumentation, and relationship management with all involved parties (law enforcement, witnesses, experts, the judge, their client, other attorneys, etc.). Performing well in the courtroom takes both study and practice and through this course, students will gain hands-on experience in both preparing for - and simulating - a trial. Students will begin by learning about the particulars of the United States Legal System and trial logistics, including how to navigate different parts of the proceedings. After learning the fundamentals, students will practice analyzing and validating evidence, developing strategy and arguments, and preparing clients and witnesses. The course will conclude with students practicing their new-found skills by preparing for a mock trial. 

This course is recommended for students with a high interest in pursuing a major in legal studies and/or going to law school. Please note that this course is highly participatory. By signing up, students should be prepared to engage in regular debates, presentations, and to be called on by the instructor to share thoughts and opinions regularly. Prior coursework in debate, argumentation, or intro to law is helpful, but not required. 

Due to the sensitive nature of possible content and material covered in this course, it is recommended that students should only register if they have the maturity, and willingness to engage thoughtfully with challenging topics.

The fascinating field of forensic psychology is at the intersection between criminal justice and science. Working as a forensic psychologist takes advanced training in understanding the criminal mind and the motivations behind behavior. Through this introductory course, students will explore the psychological principles, research methods, legal decision making, and behaviorism behind criminal investigations. Throughout the session, students will work through case studies and news stories illuminating key concepts and will become well versed in key vocabulary, theories, and frameworks that practitioners use every day in their roles. With a focus on foundational concepts, this course will be a strong entry point into psychology, legal studies, social work, or criminal justice majors and professions.

Due to the sensitive nature of possible content and material covered in this course, it is recommended that students should only register if they have the maturity, and willingness to engage thoughtfully with challenging topics.