How long does it take to complete the specialization?

The Specialization involves about 24 hours of material across four courses. At roughly 6 hours a week, most learners complete it in about a month.

Is this course really 100% online? Do I need to attend any classes in person?

This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.

Can I just enroll in a single course?

Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.

Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

Can I take the course for free?

No, you cannot take this course for free. When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for financial aid.

Spécialisation "Foundations of American Law"

Ce spécialisation n'est pas disponible en Français (France)

Nous sommes actuellement en train de le traduire dans plus de langues.

Spécialisation "Foundations of American Law"

Learn about the Foundations of American Law.

This specialization offers an overview of the foundations of American law.

Instructeur : Jennie Pahre

Inclus avec En savoir plus

Série de 4 cours

Approfondissez votre connaissance d’un sujet

niveau Débutant

Aucune connaissance prérequise

4 semaines à compléter

à 6 heures par semaine

Planning flexible

Apprenez à votre propre rythme

Série de 4 cours

Approfondissez votre connaissance d’un sujet

niveau Débutant

Aucune connaissance prérequise

4 semaines à compléter

à 6 heures par semaine

Planning flexible

Apprenez à votre propre rythme

Ce que vous apprendrez

Understand core areas of law and how laws evolve in response to societal and technological change.
Understand the history and operations of the U.S. legal system, including its key actors.
Apply basic legal concepts to identify potential legal issues when reviewing policies, procedures, contracts, & business strategies in the workplace.
Apply basic legal concepts to recognize the legal risks of business and tech decisions, including when a situation calls for consulting counsel.

Détails à connaître

Certificat partageable

Ajouter à votre profil LinkedIn

Enseigné en Anglais

Récemment mis à jour !

octobre 2026

Découvrez comment les employés des entreprises prestigieuses maîtrisent des compétences recherchées

En savoir plus sur Coursera pour les affaires

logos de Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G et L'Oreal

Améliorez votre expertise en la matière

Acquérez des compétences recherchées auprès d’universités et d’experts du secteur
Maîtrisez un sujet ou un outil avec des projets pratiques
Développez une compréhension approfondie de concepts clés
Obtenez un certificat professionnel auprès de University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Spécialisation - série de 4 cours

This specialization is intended to familiarize students with the history and development of the American legal system and provide an overview of some of the major topics within the American legal system. Topics covered include the development of American law from English common law, key institutions in the American legal system, the legal relationships between the three branches of government, various aspects of civil rights, exploration of different types of crimes such as personal injuries, property crime, and white collar crime, tort law, intellectual property law, real property law, trusts and wills, estate law, contracts, family law, and trial procedures.

Projet d'apprentissage appliqué

Foundations of American Law: History and Constitution

COURS 1, 15 heures

Ce que vous apprendrez

Trace the historical development of American law from early legal codes and English common law through the drafting of the U.S. Constitution
Explain how Congress, the President, and the courts share power, including federalism, judicial review, and the administrative state
Apply legal reasoning, including ex ante and ex post analysis and constitutional interpretation, to business, regulatory, and policy questions

Rights, Liberties, & Criminal Law

COURS 2, 15 heures

Ce que vous apprendrez

Explain constitutional protections for religion, speech, assembly, privacy, and the accused, and how civil rights law secures equal treatment
Identify the elements of criminal liability, including inchoate offenses, and how crimes against persons, property, and public order are defined
Evaluate criminal defenses, limits on prosecution, and theories of punishment, and assess how criminal law creates risk for businesses

Regulation and Private Law: Torts, Property, Contracts

COURS 3, 19 heures

Ce que vous apprendrez

Explain how administrative agencies make rules, enforce, and adjudicate, and how courts and transparency laws hold them accountable
Analyze tort claims, including negligence, intentional torts, strict and products liability, and immunities, and assess business risk
Apply property, trust, estate, contract, and business law concepts, including IP, real property, and antitrust, to business and planning decisions

Legal Processes: Family Law, Procedure, and Evidence

COURS 4, 17 heures

Ce que vous apprendrez

Explain how family law governs marriage, divorce, custody, adoption, and reproductive and end-of-life decisions
Follow a civil case from pleadings and discovery through trial, and apply the rules of evidence, including relevance, hearsay, and privilege
Trace a criminal case from investigation through trial, sentencing, and appeal, including the constitutional rights of the accused

Obtenez un certificat professionnel

Ajoutez ce titre à votre profil LinkedIn, à votre curriculum vitae ou à votre CV. Partagez-le sur les médias sociaux et dans votre évaluation des performances.

Instructeur

Jennie Pahre

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

0 Cours0 apprenants

Offert par

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Pour quelles raisons les étudiants sur Coursera nous choisissent-ils pour leur carrière ?

Felipe M.

Étudiant(e) depuis 2018

’Pouvoir suivre des cours à mon rythme à été une expérience extraordinaire. Je peux apprendre chaque fois que mon emploi du temps me le permet et en fonction de mon humeur.’

Jennifer J.

Étudiant(e) depuis 2020

’J'ai directement appliqué les concepts et les compétences que j'ai appris de mes cours à un nouveau projet passionnant au travail.’

Larry W.

Étudiant(e) depuis 2021

’Lorsque j'ai besoin de cours sur des sujets que mon université ne propose pas, Coursera est l'un des meilleurs endroits où se rendre.’

Chaitanya A.

’Apprendre, ce n'est pas seulement s'améliorer dans son travail : c'est bien plus que cela. Coursera me permet d'apprendre sans limites.’

Débloquez l'accès à plus de 10 000 cours grâce à un abonnement
Faites progresser votre carrière avec un diplôme en ligne
Obtenez un diplôme auprès d’universités de renommée mondiale - 100 % en ligne
Rejoignez les 4 700 entreprises internationales qui ont choisi Coursera for Business.

Foire Aux Questions

some basic knowledge of the law and legal system will benefit the student

No. You can start with whichever course best matches your interests — each course is designed to stand on its own, so there's no required or recommended sequence.

No. This Specialization does not carry University of Illinois academic credit. The video content overlaps, however, with courses offered through the University of Illinois College of Law's for-credit Certificate and Master of Science in Law (MSL) programs, where students complete additional graded coursework and assignments to earn credit. Learn more about the Certificate or MSL program.