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): Intro to Legal Humanities (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

 

 

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


 

John Hajda 

Director of Undergraduate Program Development, Undergraduate Education