CRIM 2310 — Courts: The Third Branch of Government
4 semester hoursUndergraduateLectureNUpath EXusually offered: falltypical days: TBostonTraditional
Studies the third branch of government—the judiciary: how courts work, how they are structured, what they do, and how they do it. Examines the theoretical underpinnings of our three-branch system of government; explores the U.S. and Massachusetts constitutions; and discusses the concepts of separation of powers and of judicial review. Students visit a number of state and federal courts to observe and interact with court leaders. Explores the interplay of the judiciary with the legislative and executive branches, as well as with external entities such as business and the media. Examines the role of the courts as a critically important component of a democratic society.
Offering history
| Term | Sections | Enrolled | Capacity | Full | Open seats/section |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2023 | 1 | 19 | 19 | 100% | 0.0 |
| Fall 2024 | 1 | 19 | 19 | 100% | 0.0 |
| Spring 2025 | 1 | 21 | 21 | 100% | 0.0 |
| Fall 2025 | 1 | 19 | 19 | 100% | 0.0 |
Snapshots from scheduled scrapes — not live seat availability. "Full" can exceed 100% when sections over-enroll.
Meeting times
Share of recent sections by weekday: M 0% · T 76% · W 24% · Th 0% · F 0%
Common patterns: T (76% of sections), W (24% of sections) — in patterns, R means Thursday
Professors
Fall
- Roderick Ireland (100% of students) · reviews
Spring
- Roderick Ireland (100% of students) · reviews
Percentages are each professor's average share of the season's enrolled students in recent terms.
Links
Official catalog (CRIM course descriptions) · Student reviews on RateMyHusky · All CRIM courses · Plan it at numap.app