Academic Program

The minor in Constitutional Democracy brings together different disciplines to study our Constitutional government and different perspectives related to our law and politics. It is designed to promote the study of the U.S. Constitution, the Supreme Court, the legal application of the Constitution, and U.S. politics and governance.  It is also focused on developing critical thinking skills and learning about subject matter useful in understanding the law.  It includes courses that demonstrate the role of powerful forces in shaping the nature of our constitutional system over a long period of time and highlights the roles of some of America’s greatest leaders in this effort.  In addition, this minor is particularly useful for students considering applying to law school after graduation, as it includes courses from a variety of disciplines that will be useful in the study of law.

The interdisciplinary minor in Constitutional Democracy is a 15-hour minor that requires students to take PSC 104 (American National Government and Politics), plus one of the following courses: PSC 427 (Shapers & Definers), PSC 446 (Politics in History), PSC 484 (Constitutional Law), HST 342 (American Legal History) or PHL 460 (Philosophy of Politics and Power), plus an additional 9 hours selected from the following list:

  • PSC 207: Comparative Politics (CT)
  • PSC 303: American Political Parties
  • PSC 307: Public Opinion and Propaganda
  • PSC 376: Black Politics
  • PSC 417: Homeland Security and Civil Liberties
  • PSC 418: American Political Thought II
  • PSC 419: Women and Political Thought
  • PSC 421: American Political Thought I
  • PSC 427: Shapers and Definers
  • PSC 429: The Politics of Conflict and Revolution
  • PSC 436: The American Judiciary
  • PSC 440: Power in American Society
  • PSC 444: Dictatorship and Democracy
  • PSC 446: Politics in History
  • PSC 460: Civil Rights and Liberties
  • PSC 484: Constitutional Law
  • ENG 220: The Political Novel (English and American)
  • HST 342: American Legal History
  • HST 409: American Revolution
  • HST 414: Civil War and Reconstruction
  • HST 432: America Matures: 1900-1945
  • HST 433: In Our Time: America Since 1945
  • PHL 200: Intro to Philosophy: Ancient Period
  • PHL 201: Introduction to Philosophy: Modern Period
  • PHL 303: Ethics
  • PHL 304: Logic & Interpretation
  • PHL 451: Philosophy of History and Culture
  • PHL 460: Philosophy of Politics and Power
  • SOC 342: American Society
  • SOC 423: Social Class, Power and Conflict
  • SOC 425: Race and Ethnicity
  • SOC 468: National Identity

Full course descriptions for all of these courses can be found alphabetically in the “Courses of Instruction” section of the Marshall University on-line catalog.

Contact

Patricia Proctor, J.D.
Founding Director
Old Main, Room 314
304-696-2801
patricia.proctor@marshall.edu