Undergraduates majoring in Sociology may select a program of study emphasizing issues related to Law and Society. In order to provide a focused course of study within this emphasis, the department offers a structured program of courses and practical experience in law, criminology, deviance and their relation to issues of societal order and change. The thrust is on law in action: how legal and criminal systems operate and theories of legal/criminal behavior.

The nucleus of the program includes four courses:

1. SOCIOLOGY OF LAW-examining the general relationship between law and society.
2. CRIMINOLOGY-developing theory and research in criminal law and criminal behavior.
3. DEVIATION AND SOCIETY-studying departures from societal conventions, stigmas, mental disorder, physical handicaps, along with selected criminal behaviors.
4. JUVENILE DELINQUENCY-attending to crime and deviance in young people as well as the institutions that both classroom and administer their delinquency.

One quarter of internship is also offered as an option in addition to the more theoretical materials of the classroom to provide experimental knowledge of legal processes.

Finally, selected courses that touch upon the field of law and society comprise the third aspect of this program. These courses, ranging from Race Relations to Complex Social Organizations, round out the structure of the legal system studied in the program. Students interested in law school, careers in criminal justice occupations, counseling within the criminal justice system, or paralegal work, should consider this program emphasis in Law and Society in their career planning.

Lower Division Required – Preparatory 29 Units

A. Sociology 1 - Introduction to Sociology

B. SOCIOLOGY - Select one course:

• Sociology 3 - Social Problems
• Sociology 11 - Sociology of Labor & Employment

C. Sociology 46A - Introduction to Social Research (or PSC 41 or CMN 102)

D. Sociology 46B - Introduction to Social Research (or STA 13)

E. ANTHROPOLOGY - Select one course:

• Anthropology 2 - Cultural Anthropology
• Anthropology 20 - Comparative Cultures

F. HISTORY - Select one course:

• History 4A, B or C - History of Western Civilization
• History 8 - History of Indian Civilization
• History 9A or 9B - History of East Asian Civilization
• History 10C - World History III
• History 15 - Introduction to African History
• History 17A or B - History of the United States

G. PHILOSOPHY - Select one course:

• Philosophy 5 - Critical Reasoning
• Philosophy 14 - Ethical & Social Problems in Contemporary Society

Upper Division Required – Depth 44 Units

A. Sociology 100 - Classical & Modern Sources of Sociological Theory

B. Sociology 155 - Sociology of Law

C. INDIVIDUAL CULTURE & SOCIETY - Select one course:

• Sociology 125 - Sociology of Culture
• Sociology 126 - Social Interaction
• Sociology 135 - Social Relationships

D. STRATIFICATION & DIFFERENTIATION - Select one course:

• Sociology 130 - Race Relations
• Sociology 132 - The Sociology of Gender
• Sociology 140 - Social Stratification

E. ORGANIZATIONS & INSTITUTIONS - Select one course:

• Sociology 118 - Political Sociology
• Sociology 131 - The Family
• Sociology 146 - Sociology of Religion
• Sociology 160 - Environmental Sociology
• Sociology 180A - Complex Organizations

F. CRIME AND SOCIAL DYNAMICS - Select three (3) course:

• Sociology 120 - Deviance
• Sociology 150 - Criminology
• Sociology 151 - The Criminal Justice System
• Sociology 152 - Juvenile Delinquency
• Sociology 171 - Sociology of Violence & Inequality

G. STRATIFICATIONS & SOCIAL DYNAMICS - Select one course:

• Sociology 118 - Political Sociology
• Sociology 137 - African American Society and Culture, 1790-1990
• Sociology 148 - Collective Behavior
• Sociology 156 - Social Movements
• Sociology 157 - Social Conflict
• AAS 123 - The Black Female Experience in Contemporary Society
• AAS 145A - Black Social and Political Thought
• AAS 145B - Black Intellectuals
• CHI 130 - United States-Mexican Border Relations
• CHI 132 - Political Economy of Chicana/o Communities
• NAS 117 - Native American Governmental Decision Making
• NAS 118 - Native American Politics

H. LEGAL STUDIES - Select one course:

• ASA 155 - Asian American Legal History
• ENL 107 - Freedom of Expression
• ESP 161 - Environmental Law
• ETX 138 - Legal Aspect of Environmental Toxicology
• HYD 150 - Water Law
• PHI 119 - Philosophy of Law
• POL 122 - International Law
• POL 151 - Constitutional Politics of the First Amendment
• POL 152 - The Constitutional Politics of Equality
• POL 154 - Legal Philosophy
• PSC 153 - Psychology and Law
• WMS 140 - Gender and Law

I. METHODOLOGY - Select one course:

• Sociology 190X - Seminar in Sociological Analysis
• Sociology 192/193 - Internship & Research Practicum/Workshop in Field Research
• Sociology 194HA - Special Study for Honors Students
• Sociology 194HB - Special Study for Honors Students
• Sociology 195 - Special Topics in Sociological Analysis

TOTAL UNITS FOR LAW & SOCIETY EMPHASIS: 73 UNITS