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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."  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 Requirements36
I. Common Curriculum15
CNST_DEM 2100The Revolutionary Transformation of Early America3
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 2120The Young Republic3
or HIST 2120 The Young Republic
or HIST 2120H The Young Republic - Honors
or CNST_DEM 2120H The Young Republic - Honors
CNST_DEM 2450HThe Intellectual World of the American Founders - Honors3
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 2455HConstitutional Debates - Honors3
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 4400History of American Law3
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 Coursework15
Concentration Area 1: U.S. & the World
Concentration Area 1 Electives
BL_STU 2604Caribbean History and Culture3
BL_STU 2904Black Studies in Slavery and Freedom3
or HIST 2904 Black Studies in Slavery and Freedom
BL_STU 3804Resistance in the Black Atlantic3
BL_STU 4640African Politics3
or POL_SC 4640 African Politics
CNST_DEM 4835Race and Politics in South Africa3
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
HIST 2150The American Civil War: A Global History3
HIST 2570The First World War and its Aftermath3
HIST 2820Taiwan: The First Chinese Democracy3
HIST 3485The United States and the Middle East3
HIST 3545World War II3
HIST 3620Britain and the Sea3
HIST 3815Africa and the World: Studies in African Histories, Cultures and Politics3
HIST 3855Japan and Britain, 1850-1940: The 'Two Island Empires'3
HIST 3860History of Mexico3
HIST 3870Social Revolution in Latin America3
or PEA_ST 3870 Social Revolution in Latin America
HIST 4070Indians and Europeans in Early America3
HIST 4075Global History in Oxford4
or CNST_DEM 4075 Global History in Oxford
or HIST 4075H Global History in Oxford - Honors
HIST 4260The Age of Ascendancy: U.S. Foreign Relations, 1945 - Present3
HIST 4615Empire's Crossroads: Britain and the Middle East3
HIST 4650Revolutionary France, 1789-18153
HIST 4680From the Rise of the Nazis to the Fall of the Wall: German History in the Twentieth Century3
HIST 4800Modern China and Japan: War, Imperialism and Memory3
HIST 4821Constitutionalism in the Americas3
or HIST 4821W Constitutionalism in the Americas - Writing Intensive
HIST 4880Chinese Migration: From Yellow Peril to Model Minority3
POL_SC 2410The Politics of International Law3
POL_SC 2600Canadian Politics and Government3
POL_SC 4420Politics of International Economic Relations3
POL_SC 4430Global Human Rights3
POL_SC 4540American Foreign Policies3
or POL_SC 4540W American Foreign Policies - Writing Intensive
POL_SC 4680Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy3
POL_SC 4690Korean Politics: North and South Korea3
POL_SC 4750Power and Money3
Concentration Area 2: Politics & Policy
Concentration Area 2 Electives
BL_STU 4303Black Studies in Race, Class, Gender, and U.S. Policy3
CNST_DEM 2445American Constitutional Democracy3
or POL_SC 2445 American Constitutional Democracy
ENV_SC 4400Environmental Law, Policy, and Justice3
or ENV_SC 4400W Environmental Law, Policy, and Justice - Writing Intensive
HIST 2210Twentieth Century America3
HIST 2440History of Missouri3
HIST 3200Black Freedom Movement, 1955-19733
or BL_STU 3200 Black Freedom Movement, 1955-1973
HIST 3210History of Religion in Post-Civil War America3
HIST 4235The Wire: Race, Urban Inequality, and the "Crisis" of the American City3
or BL_STU 4335 The Wire: Race, Urban Inequality, and the "Crisis" of the American City
HIST 4260The Age of Ascendancy: U.S. Foreign Relations, 1945 - Present3
HIST 4270African-Americans in the Twentieth Century3
or BL_STU 4270 African-Americans in the Twentieth Century
HIST 4280America in the Reagan Years3
POL_SC 2250Missouri Politics3
POL_SC 4131Race and Politics3
POL_SC 4140Congress and Legislative Policy3
POL_SC 4150The American Presidency3
or POL_SC 4150W The American Presidency - Writing Intensive
POL_SC 4320Public Policy3
POL_SC 4370Law, Policy, and Regulation3
POL_SC 4390United States Health Politics and Policy3
POL_SC 4420Politics of International Economic Relations3
POL_SC 4540American Foreign Policies3
or POL_SC 4540W American Foreign Policies - Writing Intensive
POL_SC 4550Environmental Conflict3
POL_SC 4750Power and Money3
Concentration Area 3: Law & Institutions
Concentration Area 3 Electives
BL_STU 4415African Americans and American Justice3
or BL_STU 4415W African Americans and American Justice - Writing Intensive
CNST_DEM 2445American Constitutional Democracy3
or POL_SC 2445 American Constitutional Democracy
CNST_DEM 4231Constitutional Litigation3
or POL_SC 4231 Constitutional Litigation
ECONOM 3367Law and Economics3
or ECONOM 3367W Law and Economics - Writing Intensive
ENV_SC 4400Environmental Law, Policy, and Justice3
or ENV_SC 4400W Environmental Law, Policy, and Justice - Writing Intensive
HIST 4821Constitutionalism in the Americas3
or HIST 4821W Constitutionalism in the Americas - Writing Intensive
JOURN 4000Communications Law3
POL_SC 2200The Judicial Process3
POL_SC 2410The Politics of International Law3
POL_SC 4140Congress and Legislative Policy3
POL_SC 4141The History of American Legislatures3
POL_SC 4150The American Presidency3
or POL_SC 4150W The American Presidency - Writing Intensive
POL_SC 4190Elections and Democracy in the United States3
POL_SC 4200The American Constitution3
or POL_SC 4200W The American Constitution - Writing Intensive
POL_SC 4210Constitutional Rights3
or POL_SC 4210W Constitutional Rights - Writing Intensive
POL_SC 4220The United States Supreme Court3
POL_SC 4230Constitution and Civil Liberties3
POL_SC 4370Law, Policy, and Regulation3
POL_SC 4380Politics of Criminal Justice3
POL_SC 4440International Organization3
WGST 3260 Gender, Law and Justice3
Concentration Area 4: Social & Political Thought
Concentration Area 4 Electives
AMS 3100The Age of Pericles3
or AMS 3100H The Age of Pericles - Honors
AMS 4800Political Thought in Classical and Christian Antiquity3
or POL_SC 4800 Classical Political Theory
BL_STU 2804Black Political Thought3
BL_STU 3605The History of Blacks in Germany3
or BL_STU 3605H The History of Blacks in Germany - 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
BL_STU 3670Global History of Black Power3
or HIST 3410 Global History of Black Power
CNST_DEM 2425Race and the American Story3
or BL_STU 2425 Race and the American Story
or POL_SC 2425 Race and the American Story
HIST 3200Black Freedom Movement, 1955-19733
or BL_STU 3200 Black Freedom Movement, 1955-1973
HIST 3560The Scientific Revolution3
HIST 4580The "Making" of Modern Europe: Identity, Culture, Empire3
PHIL 4600Justice, Rights, and the State3
POL_SC 2860American Political Thought3
POL_SC 4430Global Human Rights3
POL_SC 4810Modern Political Theory3
or CNST_DEM 4810 Modern Political Theory
POL_SC 4820Contemporary Political Theory3
WGST 2020Feminist Theory3
WGST 3450WFeminist Methodologies - Writing Intensive3

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 Coursework3
CNST_DEM 4231Constitutional Litigation3
or POL_SC 4231 Constitutional Litigation
CNST_DEM 4835Race and Politics in South Africa3
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 4900Beltway History and Politics: American Constitutional Democracy in Theory and Practice3
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 4940Internship in Constitutional Democracy3-6
CNST_DEM 4975Journal on Constitutional Democracy1-3
or CNST_DEM 4975H Journal on Constitutional Democracy - Honors
HIST 4075Global History in Oxford4
or HIST 4075H Global History in Oxford - Honors
or CNST_DEM 4075 Global History in Oxford
HIST 4910WHistory in the Public An Introduction to the Theory & Practice of Public History - Writing Intensive3
HIST 4940Internship in History **3
POL_SC 4940Political Science Internship **3-6
SRV_LRN 3028Civic Leaders Internship **3-6

Note: a Course cannot be used to fulfill both an experiential and a concentration area requirement.
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.

IV. Thesis/Capstone Requirement3
CNST_DEM 4996Thesis in Constitutional Democracy3-6
CNST_DEM 4971WUndergraduate Seminar in Constitutional Democracy - Writing Intensive3
Or an additional three-credit hour, 4000-level or higher course in students' concentration area (by approval of BA Director)
Electives30

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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
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGLSH 10003MATH 1050, 1100, or STAT 12003
Behavioral Science Course3Biological/Physical/Math Science Course with Lab5
Social Science Course3CNST_DEM Concentration Elective3
Humanities Course3CNST_DEM Common Curriculum Course3
CNST_DEM Common Curriculum Course3 
 15 14
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Second Language I5Second Language II5
Behavioral Science Course3Minor3
Humanities Course3Humanities Course3
CNST_DEM Common Curriculum Course3CNST_DEM Common Curriculum Course3
CNST_DEM Concentration Elective3 
 17 14
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Second Language III3Biological/Physical/Math Science Course4
Social Science Course3Social Science Course3
Humanities Course3CNST_DEM Concentration Elective3
CNST_DEM Common Curriculum Course3CNST_DEM Experiential Requirement3
CNST_DEM Concentration Elective3Minor3
 15 16
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CNST_DEM Thesis2CNST_DEM Thesis1
CNST_DEM Concentration Elective3Minor3
Minor3Minor3
Elective Course3Elective Course3
Elective Course3Elective Course3
 Elective Course3
 14 16
Total Credits: 121

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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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.

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