Academic Catalog

Legal Studies (LSTU)

LSTU 115  Law and Human Behavior  3.00  
Provides a general framework of knowledge, ideas and thought -- mainstream and critical -- regarding the assumptions, structures, actors, operation, intentions and outcomes of the American legal system. Interdisciplinary liberal arts course exploring the effect of law on and in our society from past, present and future perspectives. Law now pervades most of what we think, do and believe in the United States. This course will help illuminate how and why that happens.
University Studies Requirements:
  • Social Science
  
LSTU 117  Paralegalism and Ethics  3.00  
Explores the field of paralegalism, introduction to the law, legal procedures and paralegal skills and legal ethics.
LSTU 189  Legal Studies Elective  99.00  
Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-Superior course.
LSTU 210  Criminal Procedure  3.00  
LSTU 210 provides a comprehensive and contemporary view of criminal procedure within our justice system. Issues examined include fundamental rights and principles as citizens, our current criminal justice process, law enforcement responsibilities, court procedures, search and seizure legalities, Constitutional rights issues, legal liabilities of law enforcement officers and due process.
LSTU 211  Criminal Law  3.00  
LSTU 211 is an introduction to our current criminal law process and will cover elements of a crime, anticipatory offenses, classification of crime types, due process, defending/prosecuting criminal cases, sentencing guidelines and punishment issues. Will also examine State and Federal court cases along with interpretation of the rule of law in our system of justice.
LSTU 220  Civil Procedure  3.00  
Survey of the civil litigation process in state and federal courts, including form and content of documents used in instituting, prosecuting and defending lawsuits.
LSTU 221  Administrative Law  2.00  
Review of federal, state and local administrative agencies.
LSTU 223  Family Law  2.00  
The law of family relation, including marriage, annulment, dissolution, judicial separation, alimony, legitimacy of children, custody and adoption, community property and non-marital relationships.
LSTU 224  Litigation  2.00  
Comprehensive exploration of litigation procedure, pleadings, evidence, motions, damages, appeals and more.
LSTU 228  Contract Law  2.00  
Consideration of the principles of the law of contracts and restitution; contract formation; enforceability; performance and breach; plaintiffs' remedies and third-party interests.
LSTU 233  Law, Citizenship and Civic Engagement  3.00  
Investigates the legal rights and responsibilities of citizens in the United States, both individual and corporate. Topics include the meaning, practical and ethical dimensions of citizenship, constitutional foundations of democratic rights and responsibilities, and public law methods and tools for practicing effective civic engagement on the local, state and federal levels. The course involves the students in academic service-learning in the local community.
LSTU 261  Contemporary Issues in Law and Society  3.00  
Explores contemporary American legal controversies through research, class discussion, classical and Rogerian debate. Students work to recognize and critique various forms of fallacious and non-fallacious argumentation. Students then research, discuss and debate pressing issues of contemporary significance in U.S. law, examining how arguments on all sides of each debate are presented. Students consider the disparate impact of legal controversy on historically disempowered groups in American society. Fulfills University Studies Social Science-Contemporary Society category
University Studies Requirements:
  • Social Science
  
LSTU 268  Alternative Dispute Resolution  3.00  
Compares and contrasts the adversary system of American law, the settlement/negotiation model advanced within the Alternative Dispute Resolution movement. Discussion of comparative institutions, processes, costs, theoretical approaches and justifications. Treatment of theories and practice and skill/training development of alternatives to litigation including mediation, arbitration, mini-trials, etc.
LSTU 289  Legal Studies Elective  99.00  
Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-Superior course.
LSTU 289DV  Legal Studies Elective Diversity  1.00-12.00  
Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-S course.
LSTU 289NW  Legal Studies Elective Non-Western  1.00-12.00  
Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-S course.
LSTU 289SS  Legal Studies Elective Social Sciences  1.00-12.00  
Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-S course.
LSTU 301  Study Abroad  6.00  
Field trips designed by department faculty to give students direct experiences in foreign countries. Each program includes preparatory reading, orientation meetings, a faculty-supervised study tour, and a detailed written evaluation of learning situations associated with the course. With consent of the relevant program and content adaptation, programs provided by other agencies can be considered for credit. Students must obtain approval for taking these courses prior to participation. Otherwise the course may not count. For specific degree requirements, consult your advisor. Course can be repeated only if content is different.
LSTU 303  Environmental Law and Regulation  3.00  
Explores the ethics of and relationships between environmental issues and governmental action, as well as conservation, preservation and management of natural resources through public policy relation to government and the role of morality and legislation in matters of individual choice.
LSTU 305  Methods of Legal Research and Writing  3.00  
Introduction to legal research, including legal resources and computerized legal data research; practice briefing cases and use of treatises, texts, digests, reporter systems, citation resources, encyclopedias, legal periodicals and government documents; introduction to basic principles of legal analysis and writing.
LSTU 306  Methods of Legal Writing and Argumentation  3.00  
Advanced course in legal research, writing and argumentation skills.
Prerequisites:
    Having completed LSTU 305 is prerequisite for taking this course.
  
LSTU 321  Judicial Process  3.00  
Study of state, federal, tribal and administrative courts, legal and regulatory process, and adjudication of conflict within both our civil and criminal justice systems. Consideration of overlapping sovereignty and jurisdiction within America's federalist legal system. Latter half of course involves student preparation, role-play and simulation of final civil or criminal jury trial, with students performing roles of all witnesses and attorneys.
LSTU 333  Great Legal Trials: Stories That Changed Law  3.00  
Explores the great legal trials that informed and transformed our understanding of the law and the society that we live within. Students will also deepen their understanding of theories and practices of argument construction and defense. Offers numerous hands-on practice experiences.
LSTU 354  Jurisprudence  3.00  
Foundational analysis of competing definitions, objectives and philosophies of law. Study, critique and discussion of historical and contemporary debates concerning the meaning, function and objectives of law, such as conflicting theories of punishment, conflicting theories of justice, the natural law/positive-law debate, individual rights and liberties in relation to centralized governmental power, and the role of morality in creating and enforcing law in matters of individual liberty or choice. Offers critical review of how judges and legal practitioners apply completing theories of law and justice in the practical resolution of complex legal disputes.
LSTU 363  Comparative Law and Courts  3.00  
This course examines global judicial systems, including common law, civil law, and tribal law systems built on differing social and political ideologies. Attention is given to multiple countries globally and comparing justice systems, including functions, procedures, strategies and principles of law. Additional study will include international justice traditions, global perspectives on policing, courts, corrections, juvenile justice and an in-depth comparison of our own criminal justice system.
LSTU 365  Race, Ethnicity, and Justice  3.00  
Explores how racial minorities experience the American legal system utilizing theoretical and empirical tools from social and legal research; investigates the political and socioeconomic causes of judicial inequities; addresses major social movements and legal cases impacting racial issues in the justice system. Fulfills University Studies Diversity requirement.
University Studies Requirements:
  • Diversity
  
LSTU 389  Legal Studies Elective  99.00  
Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-Superior course.
LSTU 450  U.S.Constitutional Law, Part I  3.00  
Using the "IRAC" (Issue/Rule/Analysis/Conclusion) method of Supreme Court case analysis and critique, examines the historical tension and evolution of constitutional power shared and allocated between the three coordinate federal branches of government (the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches) and the several States.
LSTU 451  U.S. Constitutional Law, Part II-Civil Liberties and Civil Rights  3.00  
Using the "IRAC" (Issues/Rule/Analysis/Conclusion) method of Supreme Court case analysis and critique, students examine the constitutional foundations governing the relationship between individual liberties and rights and governmental authority exercised on both the local and federal level. Close examination of the Bill of Rights, including boundaries of speech rights, constitutional safeguards against unreasonable and seizures, protections for criminal defendants, and in the scope of constitutional due process and equal protection rights safeguarding against discriminatory conduct on both the state and federal level.
LSTU 485  Internship  3.00  
A structured and focused field experience in a placement closely related to law or social justice. Students perform duties assigned by their placement supervisor, keep a log/journal of activities and prepare a reflective portfolio highlighting specific ways their placement complemented and added perspective to coursework, as well as documenting pre-professional activities such as job application material development. Students using LSTU 485 as a capstone must take LSTU 498 in order to graduate. instructor consent is required to enroll in this course.
LSTU 489  Legal Studies Elective  55.00  
Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-Superior course.
LSTU 489DV  Legal Studies Elective Diversity  1.00-12.00  
Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-S course.
LSTU 489NW  Legal Studies Elective Non-Western  1.00-12.00  
Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-S course.
LSTU 489SS  Legal Studies Elective Social Sciences  1.00-12.00  
Transfer credits ONLY from another accredited institution not equivalent to a UW-S course.
LSTU 497  Special and Student-Initiated Seminars  1.00-3.00  
This is a specially designed seminar or student-initiated seminar when there is sufficient interest or a special topic to examine. For further information, contact LSTU program faculty.
LSTU 498  Senior Capstone Presentation  0.00  
Required culminating senior-year public presentation, based on LSTU 485 (Internship), LSTU 499-1 (Mock Trial or Mock Mediation) or LSTU 499-2 (Independent Research/Applied Skills). See UW-Superior catalogue for Legal Studies capstone curse descriptions. The presentation must be given at an arranged time in the semester of the student's expected graduation. It may be made in one of several media, including a poster, theatrical or other performance, digital video, film, etc. This course is taken on a pass-fail basis. Failure to complete LSTU 498 may block graduation. Arranged. Advisor permission required.
LSTU 499  Independent Research/Applied Skills  1.00-3.00  
Applied skills course experience for those participating in competitive Mock Trial. Course can be repeated for up to six credits toward graduation although only three credits count toward major/minor requirements. LSTU 499 is a capstone requiring students to give a public presentation of their work. Students taking LSTU 499 as a capstone must take LSTU 498 in order to graduate. See Legal Studies faculty for more information.