Most notably, this course will highlight how race fluidly and adeptly adapts across geography, distinct areas of law, and time. Given the breadth of issues and subject matter germane to race and the law, this course is designed to provide students with an intellectual foundation in core areas, including: Critical Race Theory (CRT), the analytical bedrock for the course; citizenship and immigration; policing and law enforcement; the entrenchment and retrenchment of civil rights law; education; and other corollary areas.

As the past several years have lucidly indicated, the intersection between race and the law has been dynamic – and indeed, transformative on social, political and legal dimensions of American and international life. In line with this dynamism, this course will fluidly integrate timely readings, speakers, and discussions into our curriculum – which may invite us to deviate away from the syllabus at times.

In line with its critical legal framework, the reading materials for this class draw from a rich body of interdisciplinary readings. The law itself is interdimensional, which mandates that we examine critical works from the social sciences, humanities, media, and other spheres of knowledge that are salient to race and racial formation. Thus, in addition to reading case-law, statutes, law review articles, and traditional legal sources – our study will be comprised of other sources vital to understanding race and the law.

While organized into a cogent course, “Race and the Law” is immensely broad and layered, encompassing a range of legal areas that can, in truth, be made the subject of two or three separate courses. This course, as a standalone intervention, aims to provide students with a broad survey of Race and the Law and opportunity to delve deep into specialized realms that have significant historic, present-day and future importance.

Additional Information:
Credit Hours: 3
Grading Option: Letter Grade Only
Graduation Writing Requirement: No
Flexible/Upper-Level Writing Requirement: No
Skills Requirement: No
Simulation Course: No
Experiential Learning: No
Seminar: No
Special Withdrawal Course: No
Final Exam Given: No
Attendance Policy: Per Statement Of Student Policies
Teaching Method: In Person

* The law school has a policy that is used to calculate credit hours. Please see the Statement of Student Policies.