BA in Constitutional Democracy
Degree Program Description
The Kinder Institute and MU College of Arts and Science now offer a BA in Constitutional Democracy to University of Missouri undergraduates. Students who pursue a degree in Constitutional Democracy will focus in their common curriculum courses on the ideas and events that shaped the political institutions and culture of the U.S. during the revolutionary era and early republic. From here, students will use upper-level coursework in the major to begin to build expertise in one of four concentration areas: "U.S. & the World," "Politics & Policy," "Law & Institutions," or "Social & Political Thought." Students will also complete an experiential course that will allow them to situate their work in the classroom in a new environment. The degree will provide a foundation for thoughtful citizenship, leadership, and civic engagement through careful examination of the complicated issues and questions with which the United States and nations around the globe have long reckoned and struggled, and through which they have endured, from democracy's beginnings to the present day.
Major Program Requirements
The BA in Constitutional Democracy requires 36 credit hours, 15 of which come through the major’s required common curriculum and 15 of which come through coursework in a specific concentration area. Coursework in at least two departments must be represented in students' 15 concentration area credits, and a minimum of nine (9) credit hours of concentration area coursework must be at the 3000-level of above. The major also requires three (3) credit hours of experiential coursework and three (3) credit hours of thesis or capstone coursework. A minimum of 18 credit hours will be taken at the 3000-level or above, and students must receive a grade of C- or higher in all coursework they are applying to the major. All courses in the major must be taken at or through MU.
In addition to University, general education, and College of Arts and Science requirements, students must also meet the following major program requirements. All major requirements in the College of Arts and Science must be completed with grades of C- or higher unless otherwise indicated.
| Major Requirements | 36 | |
| I. Common Curriculum | 15 | |
| CNST_DEM 2100 | The Revolutionary Transformation of Early America | 3 |
| or HIST 2100 | The Revolutionary Transformation of America | |
| or HIST 2100H | The Revolutionary Transformation of America - Honors | |
| or CNST_DEM 2100H | The Revolutionary Transformation of Early America - Honors | |
| or GN_HON 2245H | Revolutions | |
| CNST_DEM 2120 | The Young Republic | 3 |
| or HIST 2120 | The Young Republic | |
| or HIST 2120H | The Young Republic - Honors | |
| or CNST_DEM 2120H | The Young Republic - Honors | |
| CNST_DEM 2450H | The Intellectual World of the American Founders - Honors | 3 |
| or POL_SC 2450H | The Intellectual World of the American Founders - Honors | |
| or POL_SC 2450 | The Intellectual World of the American Founders | |
| or CNST_DEM 2450 | The Intellectual World of the American Founders | |
| CNST_DEM 2455H | Constitutional Debates - Honors | 3 |
| or POL_SC 2455H | Constitutional Debates - Honors | |
| or POL_SC 2455 | Constitutional Debates | |
| or CNST_DEM 2455 | Constitutional Debates | |
| or GN_HON 2246H | Constitutions | |
| CNST_DEM 4400 | History of American Law | 3 |
| or HIST 4400 | History of American Law | |
| or CNST_DEM 4400W | History of American Law - Writing Intensive | |
| or HIST 4400W | History of American Law - Writing Intensive | |
| II. Concentration Area Coursework | 15 | |
| Concentration Area 1: U.S. & the World | ||
| Concentration Area 1 Electives | ||
| BL_STU 2904 | Black Studies in Slavery and Freedom | 3 |
| or HIST 2904 | Black Studies in Slavery and Freedom | |
| BL_STU 3804 | Resistance in the Black Atlantic | 3 |
| BL_STU 4640 | African Politics | 3 |
| or POL_SC 4640 | African Politics | |
| CNST_DEM 4835 | Race and Politics in South Africa | 3 |
| or HIST 4835 | Race and Politics in South Africa | |
| or BL_STU 4835 | Race and Politics in South Africa | |
| or HIST 4835H | Race and Politics in South Africa - Honors | |
| GEOG 4770 | Migration and Immigration | 3 |
| HIST 2150 | The American Civil War: A Global History | 3 |
| HIST 2570 | The First World War and its Aftermath | 3 |
| HIST 2820 | Taiwan: The First Chinese Democracy | 3 |
| HIST 3485 | The United States and the Middle East | 3 |
| HIST 3545 | World War II | 3 |
| HIST 3620 | Britain and the Sea | 3 |
| HIST 3855 | Japan and Britain, 1850-1940: The 'Two Island Empires' | 3 |
| HIST 3860 | History of Mexico | 3 |
| HIST 3870 | Social Revolution in Latin America | 3 |
| or PEA_ST 3870 | Social Revolution in Latin America | |
| HIST 4070 | Indians and Europeans in Early America | 3 |
| HIST 4075 | Global History in Oxford | 4 |
| or CNST_DEM 4075 | Global History in Oxford | |
| or HIST 4075H | Global History in Oxford - Honors | |
| HIST 4260 | The Age of Ascendancy: U.S. Foreign Relations, 1945 - Present | 3 |
| HIST 4615 | Empire's Crossroads: Britain and the Middle East | 3 |
| HIST 4650 | Revolutionary France, 1789-1815 | 3 |
| HIST 4680 | From the Rise of the Nazis to the Fall of the Wall: German History in the Twentieth Century | 3 |
| HIST 4800 | Modern China and Japan: War, Imperialism and Memory | 3 |
| HIST 4821 | Constitutionalism in the Americas | 3 |
| or HIST 4821W | Constitutionalism in the Americas - Writing Intensive | |
| HIST 4880 | Chinese Migration: From Yellow Peril to Model Minority | 3 |
| PEA_ST 2016 | Authoritarian Societies, States, and the Prospects for Democracy | 3 |
| or PEA_ST 2016H | Authoritarian Societies, States, and the Prospects for Democracy - Honors | |
| or PEA_ST 2016W | Authoritarian Societies, States, and the Prospects for Democracy - Writing Intensive | |
| POL_SC 2410 | The Politics of International Law | 3 |
| POL_SC 2600 | Canadian Politics and Government | 3 |
| POL_SC 4430 | Global Human Rights | 3 |
| POL_SC 4540 | American Foreign Policies | 3 |
| or POL_SC 4540W | American Foreign Policies - Writing Intensive | |
| POL_SC 4650 | Middle East Politics | 3 |
| POL_SC 4680 | Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy | 3 |
| POL_SC 4690 | Korean Politics: North and South Korea | 3 |
| POL_SC 4750 | Power and Money | 3 |
| Concentration Area 2: Politics & Policy | ||
| Concentration Area 2 Electives | ||
| BL_STU 4303 | Black Studies in Race, Class, Gender, and U.S. Policy | 3 |
| or HIST 4303 | Black Studies in Race, Class, Gender and U.S. Policy | |
| CNST_DEM 2445 | American Constitutional Democracy | 3 |
| or POL_SC 2445 | American Constitutional Democracy | |
| ENV_SC 4400 | Environmental Law, Policy, and Justice | 3 |
| or ENV_SC 4400W | Environmental Law, Policy, and Justice - Writing Intensive | |
| GEOG 2720 | The City | 3 |
| GEOG 4770 | Migration and Immigration | 3 |
| HIST 2210 | Twentieth Century America | 3 |
| HIST 2440 | History of Missouri | 3 |
| HIST 3200 | Black Freedom Movement, 1955-1973 | 3 |
| or BL_STU 3200 | Black Freedom Movement, 1955-1973 | |
| HIST 3210 | History of Religion in Post-Civil War America | 3 |
| HIST 4235 | The Wire: Race, Urban Inequality, and the "Crisis" of the American City | 3 |
| or BL_STU 4335 | The Wire: Race, Urban Inequality, and the "Crisis" of the American City | |
| HIST 4260 | The Age of Ascendancy: U.S. Foreign Relations, 1945 - Present | 3 |
| HIST 4270 | African-Americans in the Twentieth Century | 3 |
| or BL_STU 4270 | African-Americans in the Twentieth Century | |
| HIST 4280 | America in the Reagan Years | 3 |
| PEA_ST 2293 | Globalization, Identity and Citizenship | 3 |
| or PEA_ST 2293W | Globalization, Identity and Citizenship - Writing Intensive | |
| or POL_SC 2293 | Globalization, Identity and Citizenship | |
| or POL_SC 2293W | Globalization, Identity and Citizenship - Writing Intensive | |
| or GEOG 2293 | Globalization, Identity and Citizenship | |
| or GEOG 2293W | Globalization, Identity and Citizenship - Writing Intensive | |
| POL_SC 2250 | Missouri Politics | 3 |
| POL_SC 4131 | Race and Politics | 3 |
| POL_SC 4140 | Congress and Legislative Policy | 3 |
| POL_SC 4150 | The American Presidency | 3 |
| or POL_SC 4150W | The American Presidency - Writing Intensive | |
| POL_SC 4320 | Public Policy | 3 |
| POL_SC 4370 | Law, Policy, and Regulation | 3 |
| POL_SC 4380 | Politics of Criminal Justice | 3 |
| POL_SC 4390 | United States Health Politics and Policy | 3 |
| POL_SC 4420 | Politics of International Economic Relations | 3 |
| POL_SC 4540 | American Foreign Policies | 3 |
| or POL_SC 4540W | American Foreign Policies - Writing Intensive | |
| POL_SC 4550 | Environmental Conflict | 3 |
| POL_SC 4750 | Power and Money | 3 |
| Concentration Area 3: Law & Institutions | ||
| Concentration Area 3 Electives | ||
| AMS 3400 | Murder and Mayhem: Images of Justice in Classical Antiquity | 3 |
| or AMS 3400H | Murder and Mayhem: Images of Justice in Classical Antiquity - Honors | |
| or AMS 3400W | Murder and Mayhem: Images of Justice in Classical Antiquity - Writing Intensive | |
| CNST_DEM 2445 | American Constitutional Democracy | 3 |
| or POL_SC 2445 | American Constitutional Democracy | |
| CNST_DEM 4231 | Constitutional Litigation | 3 |
| or POL_SC 4231 | Constitutional Litigation | |
| ECONOM 3367 | Law and Economics | 3 |
| or ECONOM 3367W | Law and Economics - Writing Intensive | |
| ENV_SC 4400 | Environmental Law, Policy, and Justice | 3 |
| or ENV_SC 4400W | Environmental Law, Policy, and Justice - Writing Intensive | |
| HIST 4821 | Constitutionalism in the Americas | 3 |
| or HIST 4821W | Constitutionalism in the Americas - Writing Intensive | |
| JOURN 4000 | Communications Law | 3 |
| PHIL 4610 | Law, Liberty, and Justice: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Law | 3 |
| POL_SC 2200 | The Judicial Process | 3 |
| POL_SC 2410 | The Politics of International Law | 3 |
| POL_SC 4140 | Congress and Legislative Policy | 3 |
| POL_SC 4141 | The History of American Legislatures | 3 |
| POL_SC 4150 | The American Presidency | 3 |
| or POL_SC 4150W | The American Presidency - Writing Intensive | |
| POL_SC 4190 | Elections and Democracy in the United States | 3 |
| POL_SC 4200 | The American Constitution | 3 |
| or POL_SC 4200W | The American Constitution - Writing Intensive | |
| POL_SC 4210 | Constitutional Rights | 3 |
| or POL_SC 4210W | Constitutional Rights - Writing Intensive | |
| POL_SC 4220 | The United States Supreme Court | 3 |
| POL_SC 4230 | Constitution and Civil Liberties | 3 |
| POL_SC 4370 | Law, Policy, and Regulation | 3 |
| POL_SC 4380 | Politics of Criminal Justice | 3 |
| WGST 3260 | Gender, Law and Justice | 3 |
| Concentration Area 4: Social & Political Thought | ||
| Concentration Area 4 Electives | ||
| AMS 3400 | Murder and Mayhem: Images of Justice in Classical Antiquity | 3 |
| or AMS 3400H | Murder and Mayhem: Images of Justice in Classical Antiquity - Honors | |
| or AMS 3400W | Murder and Mayhem: Images of Justice in Classical Antiquity - Writing Intensive | |
| AMS 3100 | The Age of Pericles | 3 |
| or AMS 3100H | The Age of Pericles - Honors | |
| AMS 4800 | Political Thought in Classical and Christian Antiquity | 3 |
| or POL_SC 4800 | Classical Political Theory | |
| BL_STU 2804 | Black Political Thought | 3 |
| BL_STU 3605 | African-European Histories: The African Diaspora in Germany and Beyond | 3 |
| or BL_STU 3605H | African-European Histories: The African Diaspora in Germany and Beyond - Honors | |
| or GERMAN 3605 | African-European Histories: The African Diaspora in Germany and Beyond | |
| or GERMAN 3605H | African-European Histories: The African Diaspora in Germany and Beyond - Honors | |
| CNST_DEM 2425 | Race and the American Story | 3 |
| or BL_STU 2425 | Race and the American Story | |
| or POL_SC 2425 | Race and the American Story | |
| GERMAN 4840 | Totalitarianism and Culture | 3 |
| or GERMAN 4840W | Totalitarianism and Culture - Writing Intensive | |
| or GERMAN 4840H | Totalitarianism and Culture - Honors | |
| or GERMAN 4840HW | Totalitarianism and Culture - Honors/Writing Intensive | |
| or RUSS 4840 | Totalitarianism and Culture | |
| or RUSS 4840W | Totalitarianism and Culture - Writing Intensive | |
| or RUSS 4840H | Totalitarianism and Culture - Honors | |
| or RUSS 4840HW | Totalitarianism and Culture - Honors/Writing Intensive | |
| HIST 3200 | Black Freedom Movement, 1955-1973 | 3 |
| or BL_STU 3200 | Black Freedom Movement, 1955-1973 | |
| HIST 3560 | The Scientific Revolution | 3 |
| HIST 4580 | The "Making" of Modern Europe: Identity, Culture, Empire | 3 |
| PEA_ST 2016 | Authoritarian Societies, States, and the Prospects for Democracy | 3 |
| or PEA_ST 2016H | Authoritarian Societies, States, and the Prospects for Democracy - Honors | |
| or PEA_ST 2016W | Authoritarian Societies, States, and the Prospects for Democracy - Writing Intensive | |
| PHIL 4600 | Justice, Rights, and the State: An Introduction to Political Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 4610 | Law, Liberty, and Justice: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Law | 3 |
| POL_SC 2860 | American Political Thought | 3 |
| POL_SC 4430 | Global Human Rights | 3 |
| POL_SC 4810 | Modern Political Theory | 3 |
| or CNST_DEM 4810 | Modern Political Theory | |
| POL_SC 4820 | Contemporary Political Theory | 3 |
| WGST 2020 | Feminist Theory | 3 |
| WGST 3450W | Feminist Methodologies - Writing Intensive | 3 |
Note: Students can petition the B.A. Director to have up to three-credit hours of coursework not listed as an approved class for their particular concentration area count toward fulfilling that requirement.
| III. Experiential Coursework | 3 | |
| CNST_DEM 4231 | Constitutional Litigation | 3 |
| or POL_SC 4231 | Constitutional Litigation | |
| CNST_DEM 4835 | Race and Politics in South Africa | 3 |
| or BL_STU 4835 | Race and Politics in South Africa | |
| or HIST 4835 | Race and Politics in South Africa | |
| or HIST 4835H | Race and Politics in South Africa - Honors | |
| CNST_DEM 4900 | Beltway History and Politics: American Constitutional Democracy in Theory and Practice | 3 |
| or HIST 4900 | Beltway History: American Constitutional Democracy in Theory and Practice | |
| or POL_SC 4900 | Beltway History and Politics: American Constitutional Democracy in Theory and Practice | |
| CNST_DEM 4940 | Internship in Constitutional Democracy | 3-6 |
| CNST_DEM 4975 | Journal on Constitutional Democracy | 1-3 |
| or CNST_DEM 4975H | Journal on Constitutional Democracy - Honors | |
| HIST 4075 | Global History in Oxford | 4 |
| or HIST 4075H | Global History in Oxford - Honors | |
| or CNST_DEM 4075 | Global History in Oxford | |
| HIST 4910W | History in the Public An Introduction to the Theory & Practice of Public History - Writing Intensive | 3 |
| HIST 4940 | Internship in History ** | 3 |
| POL_SC 4940 | Political Science Internship ** | 3-6 |
| SRV_LRN 3028 | Civic Leaders Internship ** | 3-6 |
- **
Any Experiential Course marked ** must be approved by the Constitutional Democracy degree's academic advisor in order for students' to receive major credit for it.
Note: a Course cannot be used to fulfill both an experiential and a concentration area requirement.
| IV. Thesis/Capstone Requirement | 3 | |
| CNST_DEM 4996 | Thesis in Constitutional Democracy | 3-6 |
| CNST_DEM 4971W | Undergraduate Seminar in Constitutional Democracy - Writing Intensive | 3 |
| Or an additional three-credit hour, 4000-level or higher course in students' concentration area (by approval of BA Director) | ||
| Electives | 30 | |
Semester Plan
Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student's actual plan will vary based on course choices where options are available.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CNST_DEM Common Curriculum Course | 3 | CNST_DEM Common Curriculum Course | 3 |
| Social Science from Arts and Science, 2000+ | 3 | ENGLSH 1000 | 3 |
| Second Language Requirement | 4 | Second Language Requirement | 4 |
| Biological or Physical lab | 4 | POL_SC 1100 (Missouri State Law Requirement) | 3 |
| Humanities | 3 | ||
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CNST_DEM Common Curriculum Course | 3 | CNST_DEM Common Curriculum Course | 3 |
| Second Language Requirement | 4 | CNST_DEM Common Curriculum Course | 3 |
| Biological or Physical lab | 5 | Humanities | 3 |
| Math and Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | Social Science | 3 |
| Behavioral Science from Arts and Science | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CNST_DEM Concentration 3000+ Elective | 3 | CNST_DEM Experiential Requirement | 3 |
| Arts and Science Diversity Requirement | 3 | CNST_DEM Concentration Elective | 3 |
| Humanities from Arts and Science | 3 | Behavioral Science, 2000+ Level | 3 |
| Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 | Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 |
| Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 | Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CNST_DEM 4971W | 3 | CNST_DEM Concentration 3000+ | 3 |
| CNST_DEM Concentration | 3 | CNST_DEM Concentration 3000+ | 3 |
| Humanities 2000+ level | 3 | Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 |
| Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 | Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 |
| Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 | Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
Contacts
For general questions about the BA in Constitutional Democracy, contact:
Dr. Thomas Kane
(573) 882-3330
kanetc@missouri.edu
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
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If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.
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If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major.
- If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit:
- the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog,
- the MU Majors website.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.