First Amendment, Freedom of Speech, and the Ethics of Law

First Amendment, Freedom of Speech, and the Ethics of Law

PLSC S2228 (CRN: 30194) | Syllabus

Instructors: Karen Goodrow
Dates: Session B, June 29 - July 31, 2026
Course Mode: Online
Meeting Times: MW 10.00-11.45
Distributional Requirements: Social Sciences
Eligibility: Open to pre-college and college students

Online Course. This course will address the First Amendment and freedom of speech, focusing on the ethical implications of restrictions on free speech, as well as the exercise of free speech and contemporary issues involving free speech. Course topics and discussions will include the "fighting words" doctrine, hate speech, true threats, content regulated speech, freedom of speech and the internet, and the so-called "right to be forgotten". By the end of the course, students will be able to recognize the role free speech plays in American society as analyzed through competing societal interests. Students will be able to analyze how these competing interests are weighed and measured in the United States as compared with other countries. 1 Credit. Session B: June 29 – July 31. Tuition: $5480. Technology Fee: $85.

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