Studying Law & Society at Kenyon
Students pursuing the law and society concentration will explore how society influences
law and how law influences society, both domestically and globally. Students will focus
their study on the intersecting fields of law and human behavior, law as a social
institution, and law and government. The exploration begins with an introductory survey
course and concludes with an intensive research project.
Students interested in the concentration should also consider exploring an excellent opportunity for scholarship within the field of law and society: The John W. Adams Summer Scholars Program in Socio-Legal Studies.
Featured Courses
Introduction to Legal Studies
We’ll examine the law, legal profession and legal institutions from various interdisciplinary perspectives. Topics include law as a social institution and social-control mechanism; history of law in the U.S.; criminal justice; philosophy of law; law and psychology; comparative legal cultures; and law and social change.
Crimmigration Law
“Crimmigration law” refers to the intersection between criminal and immigration law. The aim of this course is to promote an accurate, holistic and empathetic understanding of U.S. immigration and immigrants while also understanding how legal systems punish, detain, and deport immigrants based on their legal status.
Psychology and the Law
How can psychological research contribute to a better understanding of the law? Delving into topics such as reliability of eyewitness testimony, factors that affect jury decision-making, interrogation and confessions, and myths associated with “psychological profiling,” this course provides a thorough introduction to the field of psychology and the law.
Sociology of Crime and Deviance
What makes an act “wrong” and the person who perpetrates it “deviant”? Engaging with theoretical, practical and ethical questions concerning the concepts of good and evil, this course provides a substantial introduction to criminology, with consideration of the social characteristics of offenders and victims, crime rates and various justifications of punishment.
Oden Hall
Kenyon College
Gambier, Ohio 43022