Law in Society and Law on the Ground
This two week course will introduce students to the academic field of Legal Studies. Legal Studies is an interdisciplinary, liberal arts based examination of how law operates on the ground and in practice, beyond the words of legislation or court decisions. We look at how law shapes the interactions between people, at how people understand the rules that shape their lives, how people resist, defy, and evade powerful structures, and how people make claims on government when injustices have occurred. We think about how crime is defined, how order is enforced, and how bias is reproduced. Students will reflect on their experiences with and perceptions of the law via small group activities, interactive discussions, and field trips to see the law in practice in Western Massachusetts.
Course Objectives: This course is meant to deepen our understanding of the law and how it impacts our lives. This may take many forms, from understanding how the American legal system operates to understanding how law affects us every day. After completing this course, students should have a meaningful understanding of complex topics including:
- Debates over whether law and morality are the same thing
- How unique the American legal system is compared to others around the world
- How the law has alleviated and created broader societal inequalities
- How the law is portrayed in media, and what effect that has on people’s perspectives on the law
This course is offered at the UMass Amherst campus with commuter and residential options available.
- Participate in pair and small group conversations
- Engage in structured debates
- Take field trips and engage with expert guest speakers
- Watch, analyze and discuss movies and short videos
- Broaden our understanding through brief curated readings
Because the topics covered in the course touch on many sensitive issues, trust and care between the group will be absolutely essential. Course days will begin with a reflection on the material covered thus far. In addition to ensuring that material is being understood, these reflective conversations will stimulate meaningful relationship building between students. After reflections, we will dive into the new material for the day.
Pre-Requisites
There are no pre-requisites for this program.
Materials
Students should bring a laptop (Chromebook or iPad acceptable). Readings, videos, and interactive tools will be provided throughout the course.
By the end of the course, students will have gained important academic skills, such as:
- Increased knowledge of the role of law in society
- Improved critical thinking about the law
- Enhanced public speaking and debate skills
Class time is Monday-Friday from 9 am - 4 pm.
|
Time |
Activity |
|
9:00–10:30 am |
Morning check in: any concepts or material from the prior day that need review or further Introduce the topic of the day |
|
10:30–11:00 am |
Lecture |
| 11:00 am–12:30 pm |
Group reflection / group discussion |
|
12:30–1:30 pm |
Lunch Break |
|
1:30–2:30 pm |
Activity / reading time |
| 2:30–3:30 pm |
Discussion of the activity / material covered |
|
3:30-4:00 pm |
Reflection time: what are we taking "home" with us, what will you remember? |
In the evenings and on weekends resident counselors will run a series of social activities. Students are encouraged to join in, relax and have fun with new friends! With social events on campus and in the surrounding Amherst area, and access to the UMass Recreation & Wellness Center, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Learn more about student life at UMass Amherst Summer Pre-College
Meet the Faculty
Tim Komatsu, Graduate Instructor, Department of Legal Studies
Tim Komatsu is a PhD student in the department of Political Science at UMass. His research focuses on public perceptions of democratic legitimacy, and the ways in these perceptions are affected by inequality and polarization. He is also interested in the way that public opinion shapes and is shaped by political institutions and the law. Prior to joining UMass in 2023, Komatsu got a Master’s degree from the New School for Social Research, and before that he worked in the arts, leading discussions and community building programs for a theatre in Minneapolis.
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