Student Resources

The Gateway Course

LST 2010: Law and Social Thought

LST 2010, Law and Social Thought, is designed to provoke interdisciplinary thought and dialogue concerning the function and force of law in society. We read texts from philosophy, literature, psychology, sociology, anthropology and opinions of the court in order to examine the complex production of the law, subjects of law, and the many ways in which we govern ourselves. Students are encouraged to examine the consequences of disciplinary, political, and social boundaries that structure many approaches to the law, and to ask questions that challenge these boundaries. Not only will students learn about the law in society, but the course will also help to develop the critical capacities in thought, reading, research, and writing that are the foundation of success in a liberal arts education.

The course is the “gateway” course for any student interested in pursuing a major or minor in Law and Social Thought. Students planning to concentrate in Women's and Gender Studies or in Disability Studies are also required to take the gateway course and are encouraged to tailor the requirements of the course to their areas of interest.

Enrollment is not limited to students interested in LST. Students interested in the law, in social issues, in philosophy or in diverse intellectual approaches to the law are encouraged to take the course.

The LST Gateway Course is taught in the fall and spring semesters. Students who are in their first year at UT are encouraged to take the fall offering in conjunction with the LST/Pre-Law "FYI" (ARS 1000). Students with at least one year of college-level coursework are encouraged to take the spring offering of LST 2010.

Field Experience

We regard field experience-consisting of community activism and outreach, cross-cultural dialogue, study abroad, or internship—as fundamental to a university education. Majors in Law and Social Thought (LST) are required to engage in field experience conducted in collaboration with an LST faculty member.

Students are encouraged to think of field experience as an opportunity to study and advance their areas of specialization. Examples of field work opportunities include:

Participation in community based social services or outreach programs
Creation of programs designed to complement or supplement legal and social institutions in the community.
Study of an aspect of the relation between legal, cultural, and institutional formations
Comparative study of legal and social formations involving international travel and cooperation
Co-operative experience consisting of employment in and study of a legal profession under the guidance of a practitioner of that field

The director of LST's field experience program works with individual students to identify existing opportunities for travel or outreach at the University as well as available opportunities that are easily adapted to LST’s purposes. Most importantly, students will be actively encouraged to devise and propose field experiences that are best suited to their program and interests.

Reading List

Students in LST, whether beginning, advanced, or graduating, often ask us for a reading list for the summer. We thought we would give you a few ideas to start with. Look up these titles and read the ones that interest you. We do not expect you to have read and studied these books prior to becoming a major in LST or in order to do well in our classes! This list is JUST FOR FUN, for those who find reading to be a pleasure. We have attempted not to include books we routinely teach in our courses. However, some of these will appear on our syllabi from time to time.

If you have a suggestion of a book you would like to see added to the list, please send it along to Renee Heberle.