Departments of African American Studies and Ethnic Studies
Race and the Law Summer Minor
The summer minor in Race and the Law is created to develop students’ understanding of the fundamental interconnections between race and the law within and beyond the U.S. Historically, law has been instrumental in codifying racial difference and establishing racial hierarchies. Contemporary conflicts over migration, citizenship, indigenous claims to land, and environmental justice are part of a broader history that demands attention to the role of the law in creating and contesting social power. Course offerings will address these issues to demonstrate why law is an essential component of racialization, and conversely, why it is impossible to understand U.S. legal history without addressing race.
For U.C. Berkeley Students
Race and the Law Summer Minor
The minor consists of two required core courses and three elective courses taught in two consecutive summer sessions. Students declaring a minor must do so in writing to racelawminor@berkeley.edu The minor can be completed in one summer or more.
For non-UC Berkeley Students
Race and the Law Certificate
The certificate consists of two required core courses and three elective courses taught in two consecutive summer sessions. The certificate can be completed in one summer or more.
Required Core Courses:
ETHSTD 144AC: “Racism and the U.S. Law: Historical Treatment of Peoples of Color” (4 Units)
Intensive historical-legal survey of racism in the United States, exploring the legal antecedents of the country’s contemporary stratified society, and emphasizing the role of law as a social policy instrument. Readings and lectures will investigate the prevailing legal currency of racism in the United States through an examination of the country’s formative legal documents and the consequent effects of a myriad of judicial decisions on peoples of color.
AFRICAM 136L: “Criminal Justice and Surveillance in America” (3 units)
What is the relationship between the criminal justice system and surveillance in America? What role does power play in this relationship? How does this complicated relationship inform, reproduce, and engender understandings about race, class and sexuality? How has this relationship changed over time? How has technological change impacted this relationship? In this course, we will examine the relationship between the criminal justice system and the surveillance of vulnerable communities. We will examine social and historical trends, but our main focus will be on the evolution of this relationship since the mid-20th century, especially how this relationship developed in distressed urban neighborhoods in the post-Civil Rights era.
FOR U.C. BERKELEY STUDENTS
Race and the Law Minor
1 – Choose your courses and enroll for summer 2025 through CalCentral. Enrollment typically opens in Early February.
2 – In Session A, fill out the Intent to Minor form.
◦ Email the form to racelawminor@berkeley.edu, or bring the form to an advisor in the Department of African American Studies or Department of Ethnic Studies.
3 – At the start of Session D, fill out the Completion of L&S Minor form.
◦ Email the form to racelawminor@berkeley.edu, or bring the form to an advisor in the Department of African American Studies or Department of Ethnic Studies. The minor will be added to your Cal Central academic profile.
FOR NON-U.C. BERKELEY STUDENTS
Race and the Law Certificate
1 – Choose your courses and enroll for summer 2025. Enrollment typically opens in Early February.
2 – At the start of Session D, fill out the Completion of Certificate form.
◦ Email the form to racelawminor@berkeley.edu, or bring the form to an advisor in the Department of African American Studies or Department of Ethnic Studies.
3 – You will receive a Certificate of Completion signed by the chairs of the Department of African American Studies and Department of Ethnic Studies.
U.C. Berkeley students who enroll in the Race and the Law in Summer Sessions 2025 and complete it by the end of summer 2025 or by the end of summer 2026 are eligible for a $1,500 scholarship.
To be awarded the scholarship you must:
– Be currently enrolled as a U.C. Berkeley student.
– Complete the academic requirements for the minor by the end of Summer Sessions 2025 or Summer Sessions 2026.
– Earn a minimum 2.0 GPA or higher in all courses for the minor and complete all courses before graduation.
– Print out or complete the online Completion of L&S Minor form and submit it to the Department of African American Studies or Department of Ethnic Studies within two weeks of the start of your final course.
– This will trigger the process of awarding your scholarship. You will receive an acknowledgment that you have successfully completed the Minor. Your $2,000 scholarship will be posted as “Scholarship” to your student account by December of that year. Please note that certificate candidates and students not enrolled at U.C. Berkeley are not eligible for the scholarship.