| "Law touches nearly every facet of our daily lives. . .. Yet, are
the laws that govern our society value-free? How do social, political, philosophical, and
economic considerations influence the law? How do the cultural and behavioral patterns in
society affect the development of law? Questions such as these urge us to look at the
complexity of law within our society and its institutions. The appeal to law in the
United States as a source of authority and conflict resolution is characteristic of our
highly legalistic society. . .. The study of law in law schools serves a particular and
important professional purpose, namely the advocacy and representation of private and
public interests in numerous legal settings. An undergraduate degree program in Legal
Studies, however, views law as an important dynamic in a larger context within society. As
a liberal arts education in the study of law, Legal Studies goes beyond what constitutes
law. Legal Studies encourages students to clarify the mutual impacts of law and society
and to examine the political influences, historical patterns, and the moral and ethical
foundations of law. . .. Legal Studies synthesizes the study of both the substance and the
process of law.
The objectives of the Legal Studies Program include the development of knowledge
through: familiarization with legal research, legal concepts and language, and analytical
reasoning; an appreciation of the purposes, availability, and utility of legal processes
and services; an understanding of ethical and philosophical issues in the law; an
awareness of other legal systems through the study of American and foreign legal
traditions; and practical experiences in a professional environment through the internship
program." |
