Skip to:Main Content

Washington and Lee University

Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University Campus Image

Poverty and Human Capability Courses

The Shepherd Program offers three interdisciplinary courses that are listed in the Poverty and Human Capability Studies section of the Washington and Lee catalog. All of these courses count toward a program concentration, as does Poverty and Human Capability 295 (Law 231). Poverty and Human Capability 101, 423 (or surrogate), and 450 are required for the program concentration.  W&L Academic Catalog Link

  • Interdepartmental 101 "Poverty: An Interdisciplinary Introduction"
    (3 Credits) Fall and Winter annually. Professors Beckley, Lowney and Pickett
    An exploration of the nature, scope, causes, effects and possible remedies for poverty as a religious, moral, political, economic, legal, psychological and biological problem. The course considers poverty both in its domestic and international contexts.
  • Interdepartmental 102 "Field Work in Poverty Studies"
    (1 credit) Fall and Winter annually. Professors Beckley and Pickett
    Sustained critical reflection on pivotal issues in poverty studies based on supervised volunteer work, journals and weekly discussions in relation to the reading in Interdepartmental 101. The course culminates with a paper integrating the readings and field work.
  • Interdepartmental 423/Law 391 "Poverty: A Research Seminar"
    (3 credits) Winter annually. Professor Beckley and Pickett.
    An inquiry into principal factors or agents responsible for the causes, effects and remedies of poverty. This examination is conducted through reading appropriate, in-depth studies from various disciplines and perspectives, and it culminates with an independent research project into specific aspects of poverty, drawing on students' respective areas of study. This seminar includes second- and third-year law students.
  • Poverty and Human Capability 103 "An Interdisciplinary Introduction"
    (4 credits) Spring annually. Professor Beckley
    This course examines poverty as a problem for individuals, families and societies. It focuses on the United States, arguably the most impoverished of any developed nation.
  • Poverty and Human Capability Studies 295/Law 221 "Child Abuse and Neglect Seminar"
    (2 credits) Winter 2012. Professor Shaughnessy
    This seminar will examine the response of the legal system to issues of child abuse and neglect. Attempts by courts and legislators to define abuse and neglect will be reviewed and critiqued. The seminar also will explore the legal framework which governs state intervention to protect children from abuse and neglect. Attention will be paid to both state and federal law, including the federal constitutional issues which arise in many child abuse and neglect proceedings. Issues relating to the professional responsibilities of lawyers involved in abuse and neglect proceedings will be examined.
  • Interdepartmental 450 or 453 "Shepherd Alliance Summer Internship"
    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Interdepartmental 101 and successful application for Shepherd Alliance. Eight-week summer internship working with individuals and communities.