The Legal Humanities minor explores law through the lens of the humanities, equipping students with critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills. Through courses spanning multiple departments, students examine justice, rights, and legal institutions—gaining the tools to question and challenge systems of power and inequality.

What You'll Gain

Critical Thinking. Learn to question, evaluate, and reframe systems.

Communication Skills. Strengthen oral and written expression.

Analytical Tools. Practice close reading, historical analysis, and creative approaches.

Social Insight. Understand rights, protections, exclusions, violence, and oppression.

Advocacy Skills. Gain the ability to challenge and alter unjust practices.

What You'll Study

Courses with a strong focus on law, justice, and legal institutions, such as:

  • History

  • Philosophy

  • Ethnic Studies

  • Gender Studies

  • Religion

  • Literature

  • Politics & Culture

 

Legal Humanities Minor Requirements

Review the minor requirements and download the official Legal Humanities Minor Sheet from the UCSB General Catalog using the link below.


Legal Humanities Minor Sheet
 

One course from the following (5 units):

  • English 37 (or Religious Studies 37): Introduction to Legal Humanities or Law in Everyday Life (satisfies GE Area E)
  • History 28 (or Religious Studies 28): Gandhi: Nonviolence, Resistance, Truth  (satisfies GE Area E)
  • Philosophy 4: Intro to Ethics (satisfies GE Area E)
  • Religious Studies 14: Introduction to Native American Religious Studies (satisfies GE Area D, WRIT, ETH, AMI)

 

20 UD units from at least two different departments, chosen from the list below:

  • Asian American Studies 130, 154, 155, 156
  • Classics 140, 145
  • English 103LL
  • History 142AL,142R, 148B, 164C, 168A (or CH ST 168A)
  • Philosophy 128, 143, 144, 145
  • Religious Studies 102A, 112A, 119A, 133C, 141D, 141E, 152, 156CC, 156CI

Note: Up to one course from the following list may be applied to the minor: German 177A; Latin 100; Spanish 117B; Writing 105PS, 107L

 

 

 Winter 2027 Approved Courses for Legal Humanities


 

Registration Considerations:

  • See LH Minor Sheet for more details including restrictions on courses.
  • Review individual course descriptions in the UCSB General Catalog for prerequisites needed to enroll.
  • The " * " Indicates course approved for this term only; additions and changes may or may not be made to future minor sheets, however, courses taken during the quarter listed below will count toward the minor requirements.
  • PDF version of Approved Course List
  • PHIL 4        INTRO ETHICS
  • *HIST 46MI    IRAN & GLOB POL
     
  • AS AM 130     COLONIALISM 
  • HIST 142AL     AM LEGAL CONSTIT HISTORY
  • PHIL 143    PHIL OF LAW
  • PHIL 144    ADV PHIL OF LAW
  • RG ST 112A    LGL FEMINISM & REL
  • RG ST 119A     INTRO TO ISLAMIC LAW
  • RG ST 133C     JEWISH LAW
  • WRIT 107L    LEGAL WRITING
  • WRIT 105PS    WRIT PUB SPEAKING
  • *ANTH 132     ANTH OF LAW
  • *BL ST 174     PLANTATIONS TO PRISONS
  • *HIST/ CH  ST 168B HISTORY OF THE CHICANOS
     

Start your journey to understanding and analyzing rights, protections, exclusions, violence, and oppression.

 

Contact us for advising questions or to declare the Legal Humanities Minor.

Legalhumanities@ucsb.edu

 

Program Leadership

Kathleen Moore

Professor of Religious Studies
Director, Legal Humanities Initiative
 

Kari Robinson

Associate Director, Legal Humanities Initiative