POLS 3220X: Legal Reasoning and Jurisprudence
(Cross-listed with PHIL 3220X).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: One course in PHIL (PHIL 2060 recommended)
This course examines how courts interpret and apply the law through close reading of judicial opinions. Students analyze how judges reason, justify legal conclusions, and interpret statutes and common law. The course focuses on two core areas: criminal law and tort law, including topics such as criminal responsibility, homicide, and causation. The final section explores how legal reasoning addresses broader social issues, such as medicine, sexuality, the workplace, or the environment.
(Typically Offered: Spring)