Constitutional Studies

William M. Curtis, J.D., Ph.D., director

The Constitutional Studies minor is an interdisciplinary liberal arts course of study that introduces students to U.S. constitutional law and its historical, political, and philosophical roots. It provides students who are considering going to law school with a foundational experience in thinking and writing about and discussing the law. It further provides something that all University of Portland students should be interested in: knowledge of the U.S. government’s founding document that will educate them about their rights and enable them to become more effective and engaged democratic citizens.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of how the US Constitution creates, empowers, and structures the relationship between the three primary branches of the federal government and/or the relationship between the federal government and the states.
  2. Students will be able demonstrate an understanding of how the Supreme Court exercises its power of judicial review to interpret the Constitution in its judicial opinions.
  3. Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the historical context of the ongoing US constitutional experiment.
  4. Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the philosophical background and political context of the concepts of the rule of law, and/or legal reasoning and argumentation, and/or individual/human rights.
The Constitutional Studies minor requires 18 credit hours that fall into three categories: (1) American politics and history; (2) constitutional law courses; and (3) political and moral philosophy/theory. POL 423 Jurisprudence and Constitutional Interpretation is the required capstone course for the minor in which students will write a research paper on constitutional law.

Minor Requirements - 18 credit hours

Required Courses - 6 credit hours

POL 200Introduction to United States Politics

3

POL 423Jurisprudence and Constitutional Interpretation

3

Constitutional Law - 3 credit hours

Select one course from the following:
POL 344Constitutional Law I: Federalism and Separation of Powers

3

POL 345Constitutional Law II: Civil Liberties and Rights

3

POL 346Constitutional Criminal Procedure

3

Political and Moral Philosophy & Theory - 3 credit hours

Select one course from the following:
PHL 313Socio-Political Philosophy

3

PHL 321Logic

3

PHL 371Ancient Philosophy

3

PHL 372Medieval Philosophy

3

PHL 373Early Modern Philosophy

3

PHL 374Hegel and 19th Century Philosophy

3

PHL 412Philosophy of Law

3

POL 314American Political Thought

3

American Politics & History - 6 credit hours

3 credit hours must be in HST

Select two courses from the following:

HST 310Colonial North America

3

HST 311The American Revolution

3

HST 313United States: Civil War Era

3

HST 314American Expansion

3

HST 316US in Depression and War, 1920-1945

3

HST 318Cold War America

3

HST 321Modern American Women's History

3

HST 322American Protest and Reform

3

HST 323African American History

3

HST 325American Military History

3

HST 352The United States and the Pacific Rim

3

POL 335American Public Policy

3

POL 347The American Court System

3

POL 350American Foreign Policy

3

POL 351International Law in Theory and Practice

3

POL 465Democratization and Its Challenges

3