Summer 2022: Center for Law, Justice and Culture offers law-related courses online

The Center for Law, Justice and Culture offers law-related online graduate courses for summer 2022.

These courses are part of the M.A. in Law, Justice & Culture, which can be completed in person on campus or entirely online. The summer courses focus on the theoretical and methodological traditions of law and society studies, law and society perspectives across disciplines, and training in legal research and writing.

This master’s degree is designed for anyone who deals with law academically or professionally - including individuals in careers that deal with law, as well as those considering law school or Ph.D. programs. 

“Law and society is a vibrant interdisciplinary field,” says Haley Duschinski, Ph.D., associate professor of anthropology and graduate director of the M.A. in Law, Justice & Culture. “As a law and society degree, the program draws on the analytic, interpretive and imaginative tools of the liberal arts to shed light on the moral and political elements of law and its meaning and significance in our everyday lives. This is important training for anyone who deals with law academically or professionally—including people who are in careers that deal with law, as well as those who are considering law school or Ph.D. programs.”

The M.A. program includes core courses focusing on the theoretical traditions of law and society scholarship and the deep integration of theory and methods in this interdisciplinary field—as well as elective courses examining law from different disciplinary perspectives.

Summer 2022 online elective courses

These online, asynchronous elective courses are open to all M.A. in Law, Justice & Culture students; some are open to all OHIO students, as indicated.

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 20th and early 21st 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 Duschinski.

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 healthcare; 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 Duschinski.

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; how Germany was totalitarianized; 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.

How to Apply for the M.A. in Law, Justice & Culture

The program is currently accepting applications. Students may complete the program on-campus across two semesters of coursework on the Athens campus or online at their own pace.

• The priority application deadline to apply for the Athens on-campus program in fall 2022 is March 15. After that, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, as space permits.
• The deadline to apply for the eCampus program and start in summer 2022 is April 1. 

Applicants need to have earned a bachelor’s degree, but no GRE is required.

• Apply now at this webpage.
• For more information, contact Duschinski at duschins@ohio.edu.

The master’s degree program emphasizes research-driven teaching and learning. All students must carry out graduate-level independent research by completing either a master’s thesis or a master’s research essay, with the option of a capstone research course.

The program also provides professional training in academic presentation and communication through its curricular and extra-curricular components.

The degree is housed within Ohio University’s Center for Law, Justice and Culture, an interdisciplinary teaching and research center focusing on law in relation to the social and political challenges of the 21st century.