Law and Neuroscience

Catalog description

Elective Course Enrollment Limit: 15 Prerequisite: Evidence Course Requirement: paper Satisfies Upper Level Writing requirement Fulfills Current Concentration Elective: Business Law- Health Care Law Track There are two overarching goals of the course: First, to educate students about neuroscience as reflected in basic neuroanatomy and physiology and to teach them the current neuroscience evaluative technologies. Second, to consider the role of various forms of neuroscience in the practice of law. This latter goal will include considering the how neuroscience may be of use in the legal system and will consider the problems such science poses. We will also be including a neuroethics component in the readings and discussion. The goals of the course are to stimulate informed discussion, encourage rigorous and critical thinking, help students with speaking and presentation skills, and teach students to use science and medicine in a deep and more accurate way in their practices The class will be primarily in a discussion format in a seminar setting. In addition to being prepared to discuss the assignment for the week, students will be periodically assigned a neuroscience cases or topic and will serve as the point person for that week?s issues, acting as a catalyst for the class?s discussion. The class will include assignments throughout the semester and the grading will be based on the quality of class participation, short papers, and an individual presentation on a subject of the student?s choosing that relates to the course.