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Bulletin Archive

This archived information is dated to the 2009-10 academic year only and may no longer be current.

For currently applicable policies and information, see the current Stanford Bulletin.

History and Law

The History and Law (HL) interdisciplinary track is for students who wish to explore the intersections between historical and legal studies. The HL curriculum focuses on the role of legal institutions, policies, and structures in various societies. HL track majors enroll in at least four History department courses that focus on issues of law in civil societies and four courses that provide a geographic concentration. In addition, students enroll in four courses outside History that provide disciplinary or interdisciplinary perspectives on the role of law in shaping societies and a Research Seminar for Majors.

Gateway Course—There is no gateway course for this track. Instead, students take an extra course in the Methodological cluster.

Methodological Cluster (four courses)—Students enroll in at least four History department courses, including courses outside History taught by faculty affiliated with the department, that focus on how law, policies, constitutions, and legal structures affect the development of various societies. (Note: The Methodological Cluster for this HIP contains one extra course since there is no Gateway course.) For 2009-10, these courses are:

HISTORY 22N. Crime, Punishment and Rebellion in Early Modern Russia

HISTORY 57. The Constitution: A Short History

HISTORY 134A. European Witch Hunts

HISTORY 135. History of European Law, Medieval to Contemporary

HISTORY 208A. Science and Law in History

HISTORY 208S. Facing the Past: The Politics of Retrospective Justice

HISTORY 237E. Violence, Law, and Order in Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Ireland

HISTORY 245G. Law and Colonialism in Africa

HISTORY 251. Creating the American Republic

HISTORY 253D. Approaches to American Legal History

HISTORY 352B. History of American Law (requires the permission of the Law School instructor)

CLASSHIS 141. Ancient Justice: Trials and Judgment in Ancient Greece

Geographical Cluster (four courses)—Students choose four History courses in one geographic area, such as the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Middle East, or Africa.

Interdisciplinary Cluster (four courses)—Students may select from courses offered in the School of Law, School of Education, and others as appropriate. Note: Courses in the School of Law and School of Education require the permission of the instructor before undergraduate students can enroll, since these are graduate-level courses.

Research Seminar for Majors (HISTORY 209S)—Fulfills the Writing in the Major requirement.

General Requirements—Like all history majors, students in History Interdisciplinary Programs must complete two lecture courses (one Europe or US, one Africa, Asia, Middle East or Latin America), two 200-level courses, a Sources & Methods seminar, and a Research Seminar for Majors.

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