University Catalog 2026-2027

Philosophy of Law (Minor)

The minor in Philosophy of Law is designed to expose students to the most important elements of legal philosophy while ensuring they have a substantive background in law and related areas of ethics and social/political philosophy. It is a highly desirable minor because it demonstrates to employers, graduate schools, and professional schools a willingness to engage in theoretical and practical reasoning in relation to the law.

Students can shape their minor in ways that complement their major fields of study. For example, History students might include HI 324: History of Common Law and Constitution or HI: 444 U.S. Constitutional History Since 1870 among their minor courses. Both Criminology or Sociology majors might include SOC 427. No courses for the minor may be taken for S/U credit.

Contact

Dr. Nevin Johnson
Assistant Professor
Withers Hall, 343
nejohns9@ncsu.edu

Plan Requirements

  • The minor consists of 15 hours of credit (5 courses) including 9 hours of required courses, one course from three core areas (Legal Philosophy, Law, and Ethics/Political/Social Philosophy), and 6 hours of elective courses.
  • A grade of C- or better will be required for all courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements.
  • A maximum of 2 courses may be used (double-counted) towards major departmental requirements and/or requirements for any additional minor(s).
  • Three (3) of the courses taken at NC State University must be at the 300-level or higher.
    The department will determine whether courses which have been transferred from other institutions qualify for the minor. No more than two courses from other institutions may count toward the minor.
  • The minor advisor has the discretion to approve up to 6 credits of relevant law courses, not on the approved list, at the 300-level or higher taken at NC State as a minor elective. 

Required Courses

(1) Legal Philosophy3
Ethical Problems in the Law
Philosophy of Law
(2) Law Course3
History of the Civil Rights Movement
History of the Civil Rights Movement
History of Common Law and Constitution
Law and Society in European History
Law in the American Story
U.S. Constitutional History to 1883
U.S. Constitutional History Since 1870
History of the Civil Rights Movement
Topics in Legal History
U.S. Constitutional History to 1883
US Constitutional History Since 1870
History of the Civil Rights Movement
Gender Law and Policies
Sociology of Law
Gender Law and Policies
(3) Ethics/Political/Social Philosophy3
History of Social and Political Philosophy
Political Philosophy
Black Political Philosophy
Ethics
History of Ethics
Global Justice
Global Justice
(4) Additional Philosophy/Logic Course. Choose one course not taken from (1) or (3) above, or one of the following:3
Logic
Symbolic Logic
Symbolic Logic
Issues in Business Ethics
Contemporary Moral Issues
Thinking Logically
Data Ethics
Bio-Medical Ethics
Bio-Medical Ethics
(5) Philosophy and Law Elective. Choose one course not yet taken from (1), (2), (3), or (4) above.3
Total Hours15