SOC 5620 - Sociology of the Courts

This course is designed to introduce students to a sociological perspective on the importance and impact of the court system in American society. We will examine the court’s structural and cultural features as well as how court officials create and move cases through to various institutional outcomes.

Requisites:
Credit Hours: 4
Repeat/Retake Information: May not be retaken.
Lecture/Lab Hours: 3.0 lecture
Grades: Eligible Grades: A-F,CR,PR,WP,WF,WN,FN,AU,I
Learning Outcomes:

Students will identify the various roles and responsibilities of key courtroom actors.
Students will define, apply and critique the major courtroom theories as well as the basic procedures for processing criminal cases.
Students will explain the basic methods of inquiry for researching courts in society.