Students can complete the online master's in Law, Justice & Culture across four semesters of entirely online coursework.
The courses focus on the theoretical and methodological traditions of law and society studies; law and society perspectives across the disciplines; and training in legal research and writing.
Summer 2023 Online Elective
First Summer Session
POLS 5902 Politics of Reproductive Justice
Taught by Kathleen Sullivan , Associate Professor of Political Science
Summer 2023 Online Elective
Second Summer Session
ANTH 5568 Writing for Social Justice
Writing for Social Justice focuses on using the tools of social science to promote active citizenship and bring about systemic change on issues of vital social concern. Social justice topics considered range from access to education and health care; environmental degradation; poverty and economic power; discrimination based on race, gender, and sexuality; reforming and reimagining criminal justice; immigrant and refugee rights; ableism and disability justice; corporate globalization; settler colonialism; warfare, militarism, and conflict transformation; and community empowerment and transformative organizing, among others. Through a focus on written communication, the course trains students in effective writing for social transformation, with special attention to the emancipatory potential of social science. (4 credits)
Taught by Haley Duschinski , Ph.D., associate professor of anthropology.
ANTH 5620 Human Rights, Law & Justice
This course applies anthropological perspectives to issues relating to human rights, law, and justice with special attention to themes of peacekeeping and peace building, democracy and the rule of law, and the politics of truth, justice, and reconciliation in conflict and post-conflict countries. It examines particular cases from Latin America, South Asia, Africa, and Southeast Asia to consider some of the questions facing countries that are emerging from periods of significant human rights violations, including how to attribute responsibility and guilt, how to deal with perpetrators, and how to provide proper redress to victims.
Taught by Haley Duschinski , Ph.D., associate professor of anthropology.
Spring 2023 Online Course Offerings
LJC 6500: Research Methods in Law, Justice & Culture
This course introduces students to the possible forms of interdisciplinary law and society research and the methodological tools that can be deployed in conducting such research. It considers the sociological, anthropological, historical, and political methodologies applied to law, regulation, justice, and social order. The course focuses primarily on empirical research and qualitative methods, with special attention to issues of interpretation, context, meaning, culture, and narrative. 4 credits. Offered online, asynchronous
Taught by Loren Lybarger , Associate Professor, Classics and Religious Studies
LJC 6800 Research: Capstone in Law, Justice & Culture
This research capstone seminar guides students through the process of independent empirical research in law and society studies. The course culminates in a significant research paper focusing on a topic of interest relating to law, legal actors, legal mobilizations, and/or legal institutions. 4 credits. Offered online, asynchronous
Taught by Kathleen Sullivan , Associate Professor of Political Science
Spring 2023 Online Elective Courses
POLS 5550 International Law
This course studies the contribution of international law to order, power and justice in international politics. It explores historical origins and current problems in the field, with attention to classic debates over the sources, purposes, and interests associated with international law. It places formal aspects of law (centered on United Nations and the International Court of Justice) within the wider context of global governance, including the influence of customary international law and the work of non-governmental organizations. Discussions and readings include critical perspectives on international law as a vehicle of power in a world of inequality. 4 credits. Offered online, asynchronous
Taught by Andrew Ross , Professor and Chair of Political Science
POLS 5270 Theories of American Foreign Policy
This course is an exploration of different theoretical approaches used for the analysis of American foreign policies from past to present. It emphasis on explaining American foreign policy changes with the use of theories from international relations. 4 credits. Offered online, asynchronous
Taught by Maria Fanis , Associate Professor of Political Science
Summer 2022 Online Elective Courses
AAS 5900: Black Men and Masculinities— Black Men and Masculinities explores the history and representations of black manhood in the United States and pays particular attention to the ways in which masculinity has been and continues to be characterized through the paradigms of race, gender, sexuality, and social class. Through a combination of lectures, books, short readings, films, and other sources, students will investigate the complex and dynamic experiences of African American men in the United States from the 17th century to present. Moreover, the course probes how African American men have addressed social, familial, economic, and political issues while seeking to define their own identities. Graduate students enrolled in the course will be assigned additional readings and assignments. (4 credits) – Taught by Bayyinah Jeffries, Ph.D., associate professor of and chair of African American studies .
ANTH 5530: Anthropology of Violence and Peace — Anthropology of Violence and Peace examines prevailing cultural forms and meanings of state violence, repression, and terror in the 20 th and early 21 st centuries. Topics include: colonialism and conquest; complicity and collaboration; totalitarianism; structural violence; transitional justice; memorialization; and truth telling. The Athens Online section of this course is open to graduate students across the university. (4 credits) – Taught by Haley Duschinski , Ph.D., associate professor of anthropology .
ANTH 5568: Writing for Social Justice — Writing for Social Justice focuses on using the tools of social science to promote active citizenship and bring about systemic change on issues of vital social concern. Social justice topics considered range from access to education and health care; environmental degradation; poverty and economic power; discrimination based on race, gender, and sexuality; reforming and reimagining criminal justice; immigrant and refugee rights; ableism and disability justice; corporate globalization; settler colonialism; warfare, militarism, and conflict transformation; and community empowerment and transformative organizing, among others. Through a focus on written communication, the course trains students in effective writing for social transformation, with special attention to the emancipatory potential of social science. The Athens Online section of this course is open to graduate students across the university. (4 credits) – Taught by Haley Duschinski , Ph.D., associate professor of anthropology.
POLS 5751: Critical Race Theory — Critical Race Theory examines, analyzes and theorizes race and racism from a critical and politicized perspective. This rich theoretical perspective points out that racism is still a pervasive part of contemporary societies and seeks out effective ways to challenge racism's existence and impact on various groups and societies. Critical Race Theory critiques perspectives that claim far-reaching progress has been made combating racism. The course examines Critical Race Theory as a theoretical and political alternative for understanding and criticizing racism in contemporary settings. It challenges students to think in new ways about contemporary manifestations of racism, and it explores innovative ways to challenge the widespread prevalence of racism. (4 credits) – Taught by Vince Jungkunz , Ph.D., associate professor of political science .
HIST 5682: Nazi Germany — Nazi Germany examines the historical events surrounding the rise of Hitler to 1933; Hitler's takeover; the totalitarianization of Germany; Nazi foreign policy; WWII; Hitler's war on Jews; Hitler's fall; and the meaning of fascism. (4 credits) – Taught by Mirna Zakić , Ph.D., associate professor of history .