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JURISPRUDENCE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

LEGALST 407
Course Description

Examines fundamental questions about the nature and content of law, addressing both analytic and normative jurisprudence. Questions in analytic jurisprudence include: What does it mean for something to be the law? Why are some things a matter of law, while others are not? What is the relationship between law and morality? Is the law exhausted by the meaning of words in constitutions and statutes? Questions of normative jurisprudence concern the proper content of law, such as, what should the law permit, prohibit, and promote? These questions are examined by looking at a number of topics that are at issue in U.S. (and other nations') laws. These will include interpreting criminal law statutes, policies promoting public welfare, and the justifications for property, especially intellectual property rights.

Prerequisites

LEGALST/SOC 131 , LEGALST/POLISCI 217 , or graduate/professional standing

Satisfies

This course does not satisfy any prerequisites.

Credits

Not Reported

Offered

Not Reported

Grade Point Average
3.61

-2.5% from Historical

Completion Rate
95.74%

-1.74% from Historical

A Rate
61.7%

-12.5% from Historical

Class Size
47

20.51% from Historical

Cumulative Grade Distribution

Instructors (2026 Summr)

Sorted by ratings from Rate My Professors

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