Analyzes the American jury trial by examining its various phases. Reveals the practical aspects of civil and criminal litigation. A major portion of the syllabus is devoted to pre- and post-trial strategies that may profoundly affect a case's judicial disposition, and to understanding how and why the legal system resolves a surprisingly small percentage of controversies by jury trials. Guest lecturers lend their expertise to the course.

Credits: 3
Semester(s) Typically Offered: Data not available
Grading: Graded (GRD)

Law as it affects daily life through the regulation of the family. Examines such issues as child custody, adoption, state regulation of marriage, divorce, and domestic violence through use of historical, sociological, and anthropological materials, in addition to analyzing case law and statutes.

Credits: 3
Semester(s) Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Grading: Graded (GRD)

Introduces the structure of local governments, theories of local political decision-making, and laws relating to local decision makers. Also examines a few specific areas of local concern as case studies to determine whether the decision-making models conform to reality. These areas include public libraries, property taxes, school boards, sewers, and zoning. When appropriate, local decision-makers are invited to speak.

Credits: 3
Semester(s) Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Grading: Graded (GRD)

Explores modern consumer trends and relevant legal doctrines; the nature of consumer transactions; credit practices, credit repair, debt collection, contract abuses, and statutory remedies.

Credits: 3
Semester(s) Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Grading: Graded (GRD)

Acquaints students with the developmental patterns of cities, gives them a basic understanding of city government forms and how these fit into the state and national governmental systems, and focuses on cities from three perspectives: 1) spatial growth and development, 2) governmental structure and lawmaking authority, and (3) policies that shaped cities or were designed to change them in some way.

Credits: 3
Semester(s) Typically Offered: Spring
Grading: Graded (GRD)

Examines the legal system and the relationships between the judiciary and other parts of our political order, as well as between federal and state governments. Also explores selected issues within the broader social policy areas of individual and civil rights and government regulations.

Credits: 3
Semester(s) Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Grading: Graded (GRD)