Pre-Law Studies Minor - Undergraduate - 2011 University Catalog
You are viewing the 2011 University Catalog. Please see the newest version of the University Catalog for the most current version of this program's requirements.
The Pre-Law Studies Minor at Montclair State University is designed to enhance the preparation of students planning to seek admission to law school by promoting the development of abilities which are considered to be particularly important in the study and practice of law: to reason logically, to analyze complex ideas involving intricate interrelationships, to read with understanding and accuracy, and to write with clarity and precision. Pre-Law Studies is an interdisciplinary program emphasizing critical reasoning, writing and analytical skills. The program offers students a balanced and varied background, enriching the student’s academic major, in the acquisition of skills essential for success in the field of law.
PRE-LAW STUDIES MINOR
Complete 21 semester hours, including the following 3 requirement(s):
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PRE-LAW MINOR REQUIREMENTS
Complete the following 2 requirement(s):
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Complete 1 course from the following:
JURI 210 United States Legal Systems 3 LAWS 200 Introduction to Law 3 -
Complete the following 2 courses:
LAWS 302 Legal Research 3 LAWS 362 Legal Writing 3
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ESSENTIAL SKILLS COURSES
Complete 6 semester hours from the following:
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Complete $H to 3 semester hours from the following:
ENWR 204 Advanced Expository Writing 3 ENWR 205 Creative Nonfiction 3 -
Complete $H to 3 semester hours form the following:
LAWS 290 Language of the Law 3 LNGN 250 Language of Propaganda 3 LNGN 290 Language of the Law 3 -
Complete $H to 3 semester hours from the following:
JURI 324 Legal Reasoning 3 PHIL 324 Legal Reasoning 3 -
Complete $H to 3 semester hours from the following:
INFO 270 Statistics for Business 3 MATH 109 Statistics 3 MATH 270 Statistics for Business 3 -
Complete $H to 3 semester hours from the following:
PHIL 106 Logic 3 PHIL 264 Critical Reasoning and Arguments 3 -
Complete $H to 6 semester hours from the following:
GNHU 182 English Vocabulary: Classical Roots 3 JURI 300 Essentials of Jurisprudence 3 LAWS 388 Advocacy and Persuasion 3 POLS 101 American Government and Politics 3 POLS 320 Law in Society: Civil Law 3
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BACKGROUND COURSES
Complete 6 semester hours from the following:
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Complete $H to 3 semester hours from the following:
ACCT 201 Fundamentals of Financial Accounting 3 ECON 101 Principles of Economics: Macro 3 INFO 101 Contemporary Business 3 -
Complete $H to 3 semester hours from the following:
HIST 110 Introduction to American Civilization 3 HIST 118 History of the United States Since 1876 3 -
Complete $H to 3 semester hours from the following:
JURI 316 Theories of Conflict 3 LAWS 220 Conflict and Its Resolution 3 -
Complete $H to 3 semester hours from the following:
JURI 499 Selected Topics in Jurisprudence 3 LAWS 499 Selected Topics in Law 3 -
Complete $H to 3 semester hours from the following:
LAWS 473 Seminar in Law and Literature 3 -
Complete $H to 3 semester hours from the following:
POLS 322 American Constitutional Law: The Federal System 3 POLS 323 American Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties 3 -
Complete $H to 3 semester hours from the following:
JURI 474 Human Rights Law 3 PHIL 212 Social and Political Philosophy 3 PHIL 310 Knowledge, Belief and Truth 3 -
Complete $H to 3 semester hours from the following:
POLS 307 American Political Thought 3 POLS 317 The American Congress 3 POLS 324 American Public Policy 3 -
Complete $H to 3 semester hours from the following:
JURI 376 Feminist Jurisprudence 3 LAWS 391 Women and the Law 3 PHIL 376 Feminist Jurisprudence 3 WMGS 376 Feminist Jurisprudence 3
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Course Descriptions:
ACCT201: Fundamentals of Financial Accounting
This is an introductory course in financial accounting from a user's perspective. The theoretical foundation and basic accounting terminology are addressed. The basic financial statements consisting of the balance sheet, income statement, statement of stockholder's equity and the statement of cash flows are presented and discussed. Financial statement analysis including ratios analysis will help students to make sound decisions as investors, creditors, and managers. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: ENWR 105 or HONP 100.
ECON101: Principles of Economics: Macro
A study of the American economy, analytically and institutionally; the achievement of an optimal allocation of resources, price stability, full employment level of national income and long term growth. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, Social Science. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
ENWR204: Advanced Expository Writing
A course designed to help general students improve their expository writing beyond the level of skill developed in the freshman composition course. Particular emphasis will be placed on argument and persuasion. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: ENWR 106 or HONP 101.
ENWR205: Creative Nonfiction
Advanced writing skills with stress on developing a personal writing style, adapting writing style to various subjects and audiences and experimenting with different modes of exposition. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: ENWR 106 or HONP 101.
GNHU182: English Vocabulary: Classical Roots
Systematic development of the student's knowledge of English vocabulary through study of the most important Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, suffixes, and other elements and the ways in which they are used to form words in English. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
HIST110: Introduction to American Civilization
The mainstreams of development in American civilization. Political, intellectual, social, economic and cultural forces and achievements which have made the U.S. distinctive. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, American or European History. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
HIST118: History of the United States Since 1876
American development from an agrarian power after the Civil War into an urban-industrial society with the liberal institutions that accompanied it. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, American or European History. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
INFO101: Contemporary Business
The organization and operation of contemporary business are explored. Students study the operation of the free enterprise system, alternative economic systems, and the various functional areas of business: finance, management, production, and marketing. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: Can not be used for degree credit by Business Administration majors with more than 60 credits completed toward degree.
INFO270: Statistics for Business
This course is a comprehensive introduction to the application of modern statistical methods. Topics covered include: descriptive statistical methods of data analysis; an introduction to probability theory; an introduction to discrete and continuous probability distributions and mathematical expectation; classical statistical inference - sampling distributions, confidence interval estimation, and hypothesis testing for means and proportions; regression and correlation; and an introduction to time series analysis. Spreadsheet software is integrated in all topics. Cross listed with Mathematical Sciences, MATH 270. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: MATH 114. May not be taken for graduation credit by College of Science and Mathematics majors.
JURI210: United States Legal Systems
This course provides the theoretical foundations and practical applications of legislative and judicial areas in United States legal systems. Integrating readings from theorists, scholars and jurists, the course introduces students to methodologies for resolving legal problems within the evolving United States system of law. Students may take LAWS 200 or JURI 210 but not both courses. Students in the Jurisprudence and/or Political Science majors should take JURI 210, not LAWS 200. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
JURI300: Essentials of Jurisprudence
This core course within the Jurisprudence major provides a fundamental understanding of the principles, ideologies, and political movements that have shaped American law and procedure. It explores the evolution of the theory and scholarship of American law from its inception to the present. Through historical and contemporary readings and classroom discussion, students will consider the origin of law, the nature of social and political rights as well as the reciprocal effects of law and social institutions upon one another. Students will analyze legal opinions, statutes, treaties conventions, regulations and essays in the context of issues such as capital punishment, euthanasia, abortion and civil rights. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: JURI 210 or LAWS 200 or departmental approval.
JURI316: Theories of Conflict
This course will provide students with central theories of conflict that have been used to analyze various types of conflict, to evaluate the usefulness of these theories by applying them to specific case studies, and to encourage and assist students to develop their own perspectives and to construct useful theories for conflict analysis from interpersonal to international. The role of environment, culture and group dynamics on conflict will be studied. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: JURI 210 or LAWS 200 or LAWS 220 or departmental approval.
JURI324: Legal Reasoning
Theoretical foundations for developing models and methods of addressing legal problems. Principles of legal reasoning and argument in the Anglo-American common law tradition. Models of legal reasoning and methodology for resolving legal problems as developed within evolving social and philosophical notions of justice and fairness. Cross listed with Philosophy and Religion, PHIL 324. Meets the University Writing Requirement for majors in Jurisprudence. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: JURI 210 or LAWS 200 or PHIL 206 or PHIL 212 or departmental approval.
JURI376: Feminist Jurisprudence
An examination of the philosophical basis of legal doctrines as they apply to women and feminist issues. The course will explore the legal arguments feminists have made for social and political equality. It will also examine whether gender bias is built into traditional jurisprudential theories. Women's rights and women's legal status in politics, employment, education, and the family will be explored. Cross-listed with PHIL 376 and WMGS 376. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: PHIL 102 or WMGS, JURI, or LSLW course at 200-level or above.
JURI474: Human Rights Law
This course will provide an introductory study of the basic principles shaping Human Rights Law. Students will be required to analyze various legal opinions, statutes, treaties, conventions, and regulations in the context of real-world and hypothetical human rights issues. Traditional notions of Human Rights Law will be compared and contrasted with recent developments. In addition to the traditional methods of assessment, students will be responsible for preparing position papers in each phase of the class examining the jurisprudential issues related to this area of law. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: JURI 210 or LAWS 200 or departmental approval.
JURI499: Selected Topics in Jurisprudence
This course will explore aspects of Jurisprudence not covered in the curriculum or which deserve more in-depth treatment than that in an existing course. The specific topic will be announced each time the course is offered. May be repeated once for a total of 6.0 credits. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: JURI 210 or LAWS 200 or departmental approval.
LAWS200: Introduction to Law
An introduction to the meaning and functions of law, the powers and the jurisdiction of the courts. An exploration of traditional and evolving areas of law. A survey of the different professions and career options within the legal field. An assessment of the roles and importance of law in the lives of students and the public. Students may take LAWS 200 or JURI 210 but not both courses. Students in the Jurisprudence major should take JURI 210. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, Social Science. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
LAWS220: Conflict and Its Resolution
A study of conflict, its management and resolution. Exploration of conflict management skills negotiation and mediation. Considerations of culture, gender, race, and age in resolving conflicts. Current developments and practical applications such as peer mediation, negotiation in the workplace, and dispute resolution in the court system. Students may take LAWS 220 or PALG 308, but not both courses. Students in the Paralegal Minor should take PALG 308. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, Social Science. Meets the World Languages and Cultures Requirement - World Cultures. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
LAWS290: Language of the Law
This course explores the interface between language and our legal system. Students study the history of legal language up to the present day. Topics to be covered include, among others, the impact of (il)literacy on the law, the linguistic ramifications of governing bilingual societies, the functions of written laws and legal language, and the social psychological impact of language use in modern-day litigation. Cross-listed with Linguistics LNGN290. () 3 sh.
LAWS302: Legal Research
Study of principles and methods of research as applied to law and government. Exploration of the sources of law including case law, legislative process and intent, statutory law and public administration. Contrastive applications of law library research and computer-assisted legal research. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: JURI 210 or LAWS 200 or POLS 101 or departmental approval.
LAWS362: Legal Writing
Application of legal research, method, and analysis to legal writing. Students are required to perform various kinds of legal writing assignments and to demonstrate ability to identify legal problems, analyze them based upon the related law and theory, and solve problems with resulting written work product. Utilization of computer-assisted legal research. Meets the University Writing Requirement for majors in Jurisprudence. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: LAWS 302.
LAWS388: Advocacy and Persuasion
The focus of this class involves the study of substantive and procedural legal issues with the added dimension of combining the arts of persuasion and advocacy and their application to trial strategies. Students learn techniques of communicating evidence, both oral and demonstrative, to advocate effectively a client's case and persuade a jury. Students are exposed to the rules of evidence and trial procedure culminating in putting theory into practice by applying classroom study to a legal problem in the format of a mock trial including witness and attorney roles. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: LAWS 200 or JURI 210 or POLS 320.
LAWS391: Women and the Law
Introduction to and evaluation of the changing patterns of gender-based laws in the United States in terms of the preferences they reflect and the rationales used to justify them. Emphasis on issues which impact upon women's rights, relevant case law which impacts upon the roles and rights of women, and legislation. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: JURI 210 or LAWS 200 or WMGS 102.
LAWS473: Seminar in Law and Literature
This course examines the "Law and Literature" movement, an area of study developed within the legal field over the past several decades. The course is devoted to a thematic exploration and examination of the application of the concepts of law and literature and underscores areas of mutual illumination of the two vast bodies of text: legal opinions and works of literature. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: JURI 210 or LAWS 200 or departmental approval.
LAWS499: Selected Topics in Law
Exploration of a timely and significant area of law. The specific topic will be announced each time that the course is offered. May be repeated once for a maximum of 6.0 credits. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: Vary according to the topic offered.
LNGN250: Language of Propaganda
This course is a multidisciplinary approach to the study of the use of language to manipulate and influence opinions via advertising, innuendo, jargon, emotive language, etc. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, Social Science. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
LNGN290: Language of the Law
The course explores the interface between language and our legal system. Students study the legal language up to the present day. Topics to be covered include, among others, the impact of (il)literacy on the law, the linguistic ramifications of governing bilingual societies, the functions of written laws and legal language, and the social psychological impact of language use in modern-day litigation. Cross listed with Political Science and Law, LAWS290. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
MATH109: Statistics
Introduction to the use of statistics in the real world. Topics include: analysis and presentation of data, variability and uncertainty in data, techniques of statistical inference and decision-making. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Mathematics. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: MATH 051 or MATH 061 or placement through the Montclair State University Placement Test (MSUPT). Not for majors in Mathematics (MATH), Mathematics with Applied Math concentration (MAAM) or Mathematics-Teacher Education (MTED).
MATH270: Statistics for Business
This course is a comprehensive introduction to the application of modern statistical methods. Topics covered include descriptive statistical methods of data analysis; an introduction to probability theory; an introduction to discrete and continuous probablitlity distributions and mathematical expectation; classical statistical inference - sampling distributions, confidence interval estimation, and hypothesis testing for means and proportions; regression and correlation; and an introduction to time series analysis. Spreadsheet software is integrated in all topics. Cross listed with Information and Decision Sciences, INFO 270. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: MATH 114. May not be taken for graduation credit by College of Science and Mathematics majors.
PHIL106: Logic
The forms of deductive and inductive argument in traditional logic, the fundamentals of modern formal logic. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Humanities, Philosophy or Religion. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
PHIL212: Social and Political Philosophy
The nature of society and the state, their relation to each other and to the individual, and an evaluation of some main political and social ideals. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
PHIL264: Critical Reasoning and Arguments
An intermediary level course concentrating upon argumentation and rhetorical devices as they actually function in everyday conversation, philosophical discussion, forensic debate, etc. Arguments will be examined with an eye to penetrating purely formal structure and discovering the underlying dynamics which contribute to cogency in a given context. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
PHIL310: Knowledge, Belief and Truth
The major issues and theories concerning the relationship between knowledge, experience and reality. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: A PHIL or RELG course; or PHIL or RELS major or minor; or departmental approval.
PHIL324: Legal Reasoning
Theoretical foundations for developing models and methods of addressing legal problems. Principles of legal reasoning and argument in the Anglo-American common law tradition. Models of legal reasoning and methodology for resolving legal problems as developed within evolving social and philosophical notions of justice and fairness. Pre-law Minor. Cross listed with Political Science and Law, JURI 324. Meets the University Writing Requirement for majors in Jurisprudence. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: JURI 210 or LAWS 200 or PHIL 206 or PHIL 212 or departmental approval.
PHIL376: Feminist Jurisprudence
An examination of the philosophical basis of legal doctrines as they apply to women and feminist issues. The course will explore the legal arguments feminists have made for social and political equality. It will also examine whether gender bias is built into traditional jurisprudential theories. Women's rights and women's legal status in politics, employment, education, and the family will be explored. Cross-lsited with JURI 376 and WMGS 376. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: PHIL 102 or WMGS, JURI or LSLW course at 200-level or above.
POLS101: American Government and Politics
This course will introduce students to the basic institutions and processes of American politics, and will do so, in part, through a focus on current policy issues. Meets Gen Ed 2002 - Social Science, Social Science. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
POLS307: American Political Thought
This course will provide an introduction to the main strands of American political thought from the founding of the American colonies to the present day. Our goal will be to come to grips with the major questions that have driven our politics throughout the nation's history. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: POLS 300 or JURI 300.
POLS317: The American Congress
This course will provide a detailed examination of the United States Congress. It will allow students to explore in depth one of the key American political institutions introduced to them in POLS 101, American Government and Politics. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: POLS 101 or departmental approval.
POLS320: Law in Society: Civil Law
This course will examine the American civil legal system as it affects a variety of our social institutions. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: POLS 101 or LAWS 200 or JURI 210 or departmental approval.
POLS322: American Constitutional Law: The Federal System
Interpretation of supreme court decisions in the areas of the distribution of power within the national government and between the national government and the states. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: POLS 101.
POLS323: American Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties
The development of the constitution and the Supreme Court of the United States illustrated through reference to court opinions in civil rights and liberties. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: POLS 101 or LAWS 200 or JURI 210 or departmental approval.
POLS324: American Public Policy
A study of the methods used to analyze public policy and an examination of current public policy issues. Special attention is given to the use of comparative analysis in analyzing American public policies. This course deals with issues such as crime, punishment, social welfare, drug abuse, child abuse, equality, health, education and the environment. It focuses on public policy responses to these issues. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: POLS 101 or departmental approval.
WMGS376: Feminist Jurisprudence
An examination of the philosophical basis of legal doctrines as they apply to women and feminist issues. The course will explore the legal arguments feminists have made for social and political equality. It will also examine whether gender bias is built into traditional jurisprudential theories. Women's rights and women's legal status in politics, employment, education, and the family will be explored. Cross-listed with PHIL 376 and JURI 376. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: PHIL 102 or WMGS, JURI, or LSLW course at 200-level or above.
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