Course Description

This course on the foundations of U.S. law will provide educators with the knowledge of laws that have historically oppressed marginalized groups. The course will cover critical topics, including ways in which U.S. law has historically facilitated slavery, violence, segregation, and discrimination against different structurally marginalized groups, including African Americans, women, Asian Americans, and Latino/a Americans.

Educators will learn how to teach students to critique the justness of laws and their impact on structurally marginalized social identity groups. They learn culturally responsive strategies for examining the social, political, and economic effects of laws that have oppressed African Americans, women, Asian Americans, and Latino/a Americans.

Throughout the course, educators reflect on their teaching practices and develop a plan for incorporating legal critique in their classrooms. The goal of the course is to empower educators to become confident and competent teachers who promote students’ critical thinking, commitment to equity, and advocacy for civil rights.

Essential Questions

• What laws have historically oppressed people from different social identity groups in the United States?
• What are the lasting social, political, and economic consequences of oppressive laws on people from different social identity groups?
• How have people from structurally marginalized groups responded to oppression?

Danielson Teacher Framework Course Alignment