JD Concentration in Critical Race & Gender Studies
The JD Concentration in Critical Race & Gender Studies provides degree candidates seeking to study the intersection of race, class, and gender in the law and related disciplines with the concrete tools to navigate issues of privilege and power in law school and in practice. Graduates who complete the concentration will be prepared for career opportunities that focus on improving diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the legal workplace, and as drafters of policy and legislation, lobbyists, politicians, and staff attorneys at public service agencies and organizations.
Faculty Director Heading link
Teri A. McMurtry-Chubb
Phone:
Email:
Declaration to Pursue the Concentration Heading link
Students who intend to pursue this concentration are strongly encouraged to consult the faculty director at the end of the semester in which they complete 30 credit hours, in order to ensure that they will be able to complete the concentration and to discuss pathways for completion that track the student’s interests.
Requirements Heading link
JD students may earn only one concentration. Degree candidates pursuing the JD Concentration in Critical Race & Gender Studies must complete a minimum of 16 credits, including 10 required credits, and must graduate with a cumulative overall GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.25 in coursework taken to fulfill the concentration.
Students who enter the Law School with an interest in critical race and gender studies are encouraged to take specific sections of Lawyering Skills I and II that focus on civil rights, although these courses would not count toward the concentration.
Independent Research Component
The concentration includes an independent research requirement. Candidates must complete a substantial research paper on a topic related to the concentration. The paper may build upon a paper completed in another course or for a law journal project or advocacy competition, if disclosed and approved in advance by the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and the faculty director of the concentration.
Curriculum Heading link
Required Courses
- Human Rights, Race & Mass Incarceration (LAW 474, 3 Credits)
- Independent Study in Law (LAW 596, 1-2 Credits)*
- Special Topics in Law: Critical Race & Feminism (LAW 594, 3 Credits)
- Special Topics in Law: Social Justice Lawyering (LAW 594, 3 Credits)
*Topic, placement, or course must be approved in advance by the faculty director.
Elective Courses
- American Constitutional History (LAW 595, 2 Credits)
- Clinic: Community Enterprise & Solidarity Economy Class (TADR 491, 2 Credits)†
- Clinic: Community Enterprise & Solidarity Economy Clinic (TADR 492, 3 Credits)†
- Clinic: Fair Housing Class (JD 539, 2 Credits)†
- Clinic: Fair Housing Clinic (JD 541, 3 Credits)†
- Clinic: International Human Rights Class (TADR 481, 2 Credits)†
- Clinic: International Human Rights Clinic (TADR 482, 3 Credits)†
- Comparative Human Rights (LAW 515, 2-4 Credits)
- Constitutional Civil Rights (LAW 591, 2 Credits)
- Criminal Procedure: Adjudication (TADR 445, 2 Credits)
- Criminal Procedure: Police Investigation (LAW 536, 3 Credits)
- Employment Discrimination (LAW 503, 3 Credits)
- Externship: Criminal Law Fieldwork (TADR 473, 2-3 Credits)
- Externship: Local Government or Non-Profit Fieldwork (TADR 472, 2-3 Credits)
- Externship: Restorative Justice Class (TADR 476, 2 Credits)†
- Externship: Restorative Justice Placement (TADR 477, 1 Credit)†
- Immigration Law & Procedure (LAW 485, 2 Credits)
- Special Topics in Law (LAW 594, 2-3 Credits)
If approved in advance by the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and the faculty director and, if necessary, the appropriate person in the UIC college offering the course, a student may take up to 4 credits from a related graduate program at UIC.
†Concentration candidates who take an experiential course must take both the class and clinic/placement components.