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
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.
- Demonstrate an understanding of how the Supreme Court exercises its power of judicial review to interpret the Constitution in its judicial opinions.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the historical context of the ongoing US constitutional experiment.
- 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 200 | Introduction to United States Politics | 3 |
| POL 423 | Jurisprudence and Constitutional Interpretation | 3 |
Constitutional Law - 3 credit hours
Select one course from the following:
| POL 344 | Constitutional Law I: Federalism and Separation of Powers | 3 |
| POL 345 | Constitutional Law II: Civil Liberties and Rights | 3 |
| POL 346 | Constitutional Criminal Procedure | 3 |
American Politics & History - 6 credit hours
3 credit hours must be in HST
Select two courses from the following:
| HST 310 | Colonial North America | 3 |
| HST 311 | The American Revolution | 3 |
| HST 313 | United States: Civil War Era | 3 |
| HST 314 | American Expansion | 3 |
| HST 316 | US in Depression and War, 1920-1945 | 3 |
| HST 318 | Cold War America | 3 |
| HST 321 | Modern American Women's History | 3 |
| HST 322 | American Protest and Reform | 3 |
| HST 323 | African American History | 3 |
| HST 325 | American Military History | 3 |
| HST 352 | The United States and the Pacific Rim | 3 |
| POL 335 | American Public Policy | 3 |
| POL 347 | The American Court System | 3 |
| POL 350 | American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| POL 351 | International Law and Governance | 3 |
| POL 465 | Democrat vs Dictator: Governance in an Authoritarian Age | 3 |
Political and Moral Philosophy & Theory - 3 credit hours
Select one course from the following: