Department:    PARLG

 Course #:    100

 Credits:    5

 Variable:     No

 Course Description  

Introduction to study of law, analyzing its origins and development, and its role in society. Covers legal rights and remedies, courts and court procedures, torts, contracts, and criminal law and procedures. Critical thinking skills are developed through writing brief summaries of court opinions. Required to attend court proceedings. Recommended: ENGL 101 with a minimum grade of 2.0 or equivalent.

 Prerequisite  

Prerequisite: PARLG 105.

Contact Hours (based on 11 week quarter)

Lecture: 55

Lab: 0

Other: 0

Systems: 0

Clinical: 0

Intent: Distribution Requirement(s) Status:  

Vocational Preparatory Required for ATA degree, Required for certificate  

Equivalencies At Other Institutions

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

1. Describe structure and function of federal and state court systems.
2. Identify components of court system and basic jurisdiction.
3. Correctly define and properly use basic legal terminology.
4. Describe basic legal principles, e.g., due process, stare decisis, judicial review, jurisdiction, criminal vs. civil law and procedure, and professional ethics of legal workers.
5. Identify and distinguish substantive and procedural areas of law including contracts and torts.
6. Correctly identify and explain the basic elements for formation of a contract and the remedies for breach.
7. Correctly identify and explain the elements to establish tort liability and available damages.

General Education Learning Values & Outcomes

Revised August 2008 and affects outlines for 2008 year 1 and later.

0. Application and Integration

Definition: Applying information from one or more disciplines and/or field experiences in new contexts (Outcome 0.1); developing integrated approaches or responses to personal, academic, professional, and social issues (Outcomes 0.2-0.5).

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
0.2 Identify the strengths and limitations of different fields of study.
0.3 Identify and evaluate the relationships among different perspectives within a field of study and among different fields of study.

1. Information Literacy

Definition: Recognizing when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
1.1 Determine the extent of information needed.
1.2 Access the needed information effectively, efficiently, ethically, and legally.

2. Critical Thinking

Definition: The ability to think critically about the nature of knowledge within a discipline and about the ways in which that knowledge is constructed and validated and to be sensitive to the ways these processes often vary among disciplines.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
2.1 Identify and express concepts, terms, and facts related to a specific discipline.
2.2 Analyze issues and develop questions within a discipline.
2.3 Identify, interpret, and evaluate pertinent data and previous experience to reach conclusions.

3. Communication

Definition: Understanding and producing effective written, spoken, visual, and non-verbal communication.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
3.1 Recognize, read, and comprehend academic and/or professional writing.
3.2 Recognize, produce and demonstrate appropriate interpersonal, group, and public speaking skills.
3.3 Demonstrate effective listening skills.
3.4 Produce academic and/or professional writing and integrate it into written and spoken projects.

Course Contents

1. Role of law in society.
2. American legal system and sources of law.
3. Federal and state courts; tribal courts.
4. Alternative dispute resolution.
5. Civil and criminal procedure.
6. Tort and contract/business law.
7. Real and personal property.
8. Legislation.