SLSPA CURRICULUM

2009 Summer Law School Preparation Academy

Coursework Descriptions and Requirements for a Certificate of Legal Reasoning

SLSPA students must complete 12 hours of coursework across one or two summers to earn the UTSA Certificate of Legal Reasoning.
Phase I of the 2009 SLSPA runs from June 01 through July 03; Phase II from July 06 through August 08.
The cost of the SLSPA for students is the normal UTSA charge per course for tuition, fees and books during the Summer of 2009. Check UTSA Tuition and Fees for Summer 2009 at: http://www.utsa.edu/fiscalservices/tuition.htm
When accepted into SLSPA, staff will enroll you in courses. Instructions are in acceptance document.

Category I (Students should take one course from Cat I)

ENG 4953 Special Studies in English: Legal Technical Writing (Session I, two sections @ 9:15 & 11)
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Professor D. Abdo
Organized course offering the opportunity for specialized study not normally or not often available as part of the regular course offerings. Special Studies may be repeated for credit when the topics vary, but not more than 6 semester credit hours, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor’s degree.

LGS 3013 Legal Research and Writing (Session I, @ 7:30 a.m.)
(3-0) 3 hours credit.. Professor J. Oliva
Provides students with the opportunity to explore the modes and sources of legal research, both traditional and electronic. Credit cannot be earned for both LGS 3013 and CRJ 3613.)

Category II (Students should take two courses from Cat II)

POL 3023 Civil Liberties in American Law and Practice (Session I, @ 9:15)
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: POL 1013. Professor R. Gambitta
An analytical, normative, and empirical examination of civil liberties and rights in the United States. Topics may include freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, equal protection of the laws, due process, and privacy.

POL 3323 Constitutional Law (Session I, @ 12:45)
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: POL 1013. Professor R. Gambitta
An examination of major constitutional issues, past and present, through the intensive study of leading cases. Recommended for pre-law students.

LGS 4223 Torts (crosslisted as BLW 4953, below) (Session II, two sections @ 9:15 & 11)
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Professor M. Laracey
This course provides students with the opportunity to analyze American tort law. Topics may include negligence, intentional torts, affirmative defenses, and legal damages as well as, vicarious products and strict liability. Students should be prepared to read, brief, and discuss case law.

CROSSLISTED AS (i.e. same course; students may register for either one or the other, whichever assists their major or minor)

BLW 4953 Special Studies in Business Law: Torts (crosslisted as LGS 4223, above) (Session II, two sections @ 9:15 & 11)
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisites: MGT 3003 and consent of instructor. Professor M. Laracey
An organized course offering the opportunity for specialized study not normally or not often available as part of the regular course offerings. Special Studies may be repeated for credit when the topics vary, but not more than 6 semester credit hours, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor’s degree.

Category III (Students should take one course from Cat III)

LGS 4013 Issues in Law & Society: Analytical reasoning, Logic, & LSAT (Session II, three sections @ 11, 12:45 & 12:45)
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Professors Johnson, Boyd, Johnson for the three sections, respectively
Provides students with the opportunity to conduct research on selected issues associated with the law and society. May be repeated for credit when topics vary, with permission of the Director of the Institute for Law and Public Affairs

POL 4123 OR LGS 4123 Legal and Philosophical Reasoning (Session I, @ 11)
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Professor D. Engster
An intensive analysis of selected philosophical texts focusing on law and justice. Students are challenged to develop critical reading and thinking skills by studying the texts of philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Dworkin, Hart, and/ or others who outline difficult arguments and unfamiliar ideas. Emphasis is placed on drawing reasoned conclusions, advocating positions, and expressing oneself in oral and written forms. (Credit cannot be earned for LGS 4123 and POL 4123.)

Summer Law School Preparation Academy

Offered Coursework Summer 2009