New Honors Thesis Seminar Explores the Intersection of Supreme Court Decisions, Race, and Family

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Martha Yoder

Martha Yoder is a senior lecturer within the Commonwealth Honors College and is offering a thesis seminar titled The Supreme Court, Race, and Family 499CR. This honors seminar is divided into two courses (four credits each). The fall semester focuses on studying landmark Supreme Court cases related to racial segregation, interracial and same-sex marriage, reproductive rights, and child welfare. Paired with these studies, Yoder will share stories of people who have been affected by these rulings. The spring semester focuses on research related to the students’ thesis and the writing portion of their project. Students will collaborate in working groups, where they will develop outlines and drafts and review each other’s work. At the tail end of the spring semester, students will have completed an archivable manuscript on a topic of their choosing and should expect to present at the Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference. 

Yoder noted that six of the Supreme Court cases will focus on race in the US, and seven of the cases will be related to families. Each week will be devoted to a specific case. Students can expect to study cases dating back to the 1830s — such as the Cherokee Nation cases — through the 2023 case of Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard College.

Yoder shared that the seminar was inspired by her course "The American Family," an interdisciplinary US-diversity honors seminar. In this class, she focuses on Loving v. Virginia (1967), which legalized interracial marriage, and Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), which legalized same-sex marriage. These two cases were foundational to the course, and she decided that a deep dive into Supreme Court cases throughout US history would provide students with the opportunity to develop their thesis ideas in a structured setting. Yoder noted that students are welcome to explore any aspect of the course’s teachings and have plenty of freedom in choosing their topics.

“Students interested in legal studies could focus on the nitty-gritty of the system, whereas another student could explore the social constructs that led to a case in the first place.”

Yoder also emphasized that this seminar is open to all students, regardless of discipline. She explained that even STEM students could find a parallel. One case being discussed, Buck v. Bell (1927), focuses on eugenics and forced sterilization, while another, Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), addresses contraception and marital privacy.

Yoder intends for the seminar to be flexible, allowing each student to tailor their experience based on personal interests. She expressed excitement for the semester ahead:

“In years past, I found it very rewarding to shepherd students through the thesis process. It is also really beneficial for other students to work in a group setting and have accountability with each other.”  

Students interested in registering for this year-long thesis seminar must complete a questionnaire about their interest in the course, preparedness, and willingness to collaborate. marthay [at] history [dot] umass [dot] edu (To learn more, contact Martha Yoder).