Child Development and the Law

This seminar will investigate selected questions relating to child development and children in law. One goal of the class is to use principles of child development to study, critique and revise prevailing legal concepts such as rationality, reasonableness, choice and autonomy as they apply to both adults and children. A second aim will be to apply developmental principles to legal doctrines concerning parents and children. Topics that may be covered include parental rights, foster care, federalism and families, education, adolescent decision-making, citizenship and children, and the juvenile justice system. The history of developmental psychology in law, as well as contemporary cognitive models of behavior in law, may also be studied in an effort to put our work in context. Students will be expected to research and write a 25-page paper on a topic relating to children or the application of child development principles to law. These papers will be presented to the class during the final weeks of the semester. Co or Pre-requisite: Family Law or Juvenile Law.

Course Schedule

  • Date: Thursday 09:00-12:00AM
  • Location: KT 205

Course Information

  • Catalog number-Section number: 973-01
  • Course Type: Seminar
  • Prerequisites: None
  • Credits (min/max): 3/3
  • Subjects:

Enrollment

  • Enrollment status: Open
  • Current enrollment/capacity: 16/18
  • Reserve population/capacity: 0/0
  • Waitlist enrollment/capacity: 0/20

Grading

  • Grade basis: Graded
  • Satisifies Writing Requirement: No
  • Exam type: NO EXAM