University Catalog 2023-2024

Law and Justice (Minor)

To see more about what you will learn in this program, visit the Learning Outcomes website!

The Law and Justice Minor is designed for students who have a special interest in the areas of public law, criminal justice and political theory. It provides a broad understanding of the interplay between law and politics, of the administrative dimensions of law enforcement and criminal justice processes and of the legal and theoretical dimensions of political life. This minor is especially suitable for students interested in careers in law, government, criminal justice agencies and judicial administration as well as for students interested in graduate and professional education in law, political science of criminal justice. No courses for the minor may be taken for S/U credit.

The Law and Justice Minor is designed so that students will:

  • Develop an understanding of the role of law and the legal system in the larger political, economic and social contexts in which they function.
  • Learn to analyze writings in the field and to communicate effectively ideas concerning law and justice issues both orally and in writing.
  • Think analytically about ethical issues and societal responsibilities attached to actors within the justice system.
  • Understand the interplay of law and politics in addressing important issues in national as well as international communities
  • Study the role of law and legal institutions from a political system perspective.
  • Develop a thorough familiarity with the workings of the entire justice system, both in theory and in practice.

Admissions and Certification of Minor

The minor will be administered by an advisory committee consisting of four members of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration. Students interested in declaring a minor in Law and Justice should contact the minor coordinator listed below. The minor must be completed no later than the semester in which the student expects to graduate from their degree program.

Contact Person

Casey Champaign
Academic Advisor
919.515.5052
cnhuntin@ncsu.edu

SIS Code:  16LJM

Plan Requirements

To complete the Law and Justice Minor, a student must complete 15 hours of course work with grades of C‐ or better and with a cumulative average of 2.0 in that course work. Course are selected from the program approved elective course list, and one of those four courses must be a 400‐level or above senior seminar. Seminar courses are marked each semester in the Schedule of Courses by a head note.

A maximum of ONE (1) course may be used (double-counted) towards both departmental major requirements and minor requirements.

Elective Courses15
Problems of American Democracy
The Justice System in the American Political Process
Introduction to Criminal Law in the United States
Supreme Court and Public Policy
Equality and Justice in United States Law
Criminal Justice Policy
U.S. Environmental Law and Politics
International Law
Introduction to Political Theory
American Political Thought
Administration of Justice
Gender Law and Policies
Comparative Systems of Law and Justice
Seminar in Political Theory
United States Constitutional Law
Civil Liberties In the United States

Residency requirement: Nine credit hours must be completed at NC State University in order to complete the minor.