Declaring the Law & Society Minor

After declaring a Sociology major in the College of Arts & Sciences, I was considering declaring a minor as well. While browsing through the options, I found a unique minor that caters to students interested in law as undergraduates. As I hope to pursue a career in law, I declared a minor in Law & Society after talking to my academic advisor. With relatively few rigid requirements, this is a popular minor at Cornell; students complete five courses and attend two Law & Society-approved events. I am currently taking two classes for the minor: INFO1200: Information Ethics, Law, and Policy, and PUBPOL2370: Race, Racisms, and Public Policy. These courses are some of my favorite classes; they introduced me to laws, expanded my knowledge of how history shaped policies, and encouraged me to broaden my learning to new topics and events. 

Exploring Law & Society Coursework

INFO1200 is a popular information science class where we learn about laws that regulate the digital market, copyright, information, and privacy. Learning about law in the digital world is novel to me, and I am grateful to have this opportunity and to be taking this course, as I don’t think I would have otherwise selected an information science class. The next class is PUBPOL2370. The topics in this course are relatively familiar to me, as we learn about the historical upbringing of race and racism. We look into current problems in five main domains: Wealth and Housing, Education, Health and Environment, Criminal Legal System, and Employment. We have two lectures and a discussion every week, and I have met amazing groupmates in my discussion session, where we now work on a Racial Equity in Public Policy (REPP) Commission project to propose a new policy within our public policy domain. It has been engaging and truly insightful to discuss, research, and design policies with my peers. Professor Lindsay always provides an engaging environment with small-group and class-wide discussions in almost every class.  

Attending a Law & Society Event

I also attended an approved event, which I would not have known about if I weren’t in the minor. I got to meet and listen to Iván Duque Márquez, the former President of Colombia (2018–2022). His dedication to service, sustainability, and democratic values is motivating. Seeing law and policy through a different lens, he shared his experience as a president, and how he will continue to build his legacy dedicated to serving others. Specifically, the I+D Foundation was inspiring, which empowers young innovators from Colombia’s most remote regions. The Law & Society minor provides countless resources and truly helps you find your interest and passion among various topics.  

Who should consider the Law & Society minor

I strongly recommend this minor if you are interested in law or anything related! There is a diversity of courses and events that expands the way you think and challenges what you know. A minor is a great opportunity to try studying something different. While you can only declare a major in your college or school at Cornell, you can minor in any college or school. Pursuing a minor is highly encouraged, and Cornell offers 122 minors that cater to a variety of interests, so there's truly something for everyone.