Coordinator: Professor of the Practice Glenn Falk (Public Policy and Law)

The legal studies minor introduces students to the complex ways in which law shapes and structures political, social, and economic institutions from the vantage point of several different disciplines. Students will examine how the law affects the distribution of authority, the enforcement of obligations, and the formulation of policy. Students will also learn about the reciprocal interchange between law and broader ideas such as justice, responsibility, and morality.

Students must receive a grade of C+ or higher in PBPL 123, and a grade of C- or higher in the remaining courses fulfilling the requirements of the legal studies minor. Students are expected to enroll in the minor no later than their fourth semester. No more than one course taken outside of Trinity may be counted toward the minor. Courses for the minor cannot be taken on a pass/fail basis. Students may double count one course for their major and for the legal studies minor.

Course requirements:

Students must take a total of six courses. With the exception of the introductory course, requirements may be fulfilled with substitutions approved by the coordinator. Students must take courses from at least four programs or departments.

  • Core course: PBPL 123. Fundamentals of American Law.
  • Electives (disciplinary): Three courses from the approved list are required, one from each of three different disciplines or programs, at least one at the 300 or 400 level. The coordinator distributes an updated list of courses each semester to students enrolled in the minor.
  • Cross-cultural elective: One course from the approved list that deals principally with the law and society of one or more countries other than the United States. The coordinator distributes an updated list of courses each semester to students enrolled in the minor. Students may fulfill this requirement with a course taken while studying away with the approval of the coordinator.
  • Integrating exercise: The integrating exercise consists of one course at the 300 or 400 level. Courses are marked by an asterisk in the approved list of courses that is distributed by the coordinator each semester to students enrolled in the minor. Ordinarily, students should not take this course until they have satisfied the first two requirements listed above.

Students majoring in public policy and law are ineligible for this minor.