Constitutional Case LawMonth-long Online SeminarAmerica is facing major constitutional crises. War is raging in American hearts and courtrooms over questions such as terrorism and civil liberties, the role of the judiciary, the use of international law in American courts, the role of religion in the public square, the family versus the individual, legislating morality, and the perennial debate over constitutional interpretation. While the outcome of these difficult questions is unknowable at this point, one thing is certain: those trained in the law will have a disproportionate impact on their resolution. During this seminar we will study the Supreme Court decisions that have most shaped our modern constitutional understanding, as well as constitutional writings from the founding era. Some cases will make you lower your head in shame; others will make you proud to be an American. Some will make you feel like we have strayed into a wasteland; others will give you confidence in America’s future. Most importantly, through it all, your views will be challenged, your assumptions will be questioned, and you will learn to think like a lawyer. The interactive software we use will make you feel like you are actually in a classroom with the mentor and all of the other participants—it allows for questioning, colloquia, charts, presentations, graphs, chatting, forums and so much more. Every participant will be able to speak at any time and be heard by all the rest, and the software will identify who is speaking for everyone. All this within the walls of your own home or office. Law school is not for everyone. It is expensive, time consuming, and usually requires graduates to practice law for several years afterward to pay back student loans. This seminar is designed for those who want the constitutional depth and critical thinking skills of a lawyer, but don’t want the loans or time commitments of law school. It is also for pre-law students who want a mental framework of founding-era thinking before they take Con Law, which at most law schools focuses exclusively on Supreme Court cases. Texts
Class Times, Assignments & Credits
Registration
Please direct any questions to our Office of Seminar Registrations at seminars@gw.edu or (435) 586-6570.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the seminar be interactive or in lecture format? The seminar will be interactive. Students are expected to be prepared and ready to engage every class period. I will use Socratic questioning most of the time, but I will also use Powerpoint presentations, charts, diagrams, etc. Will I have a chance to interact with other students? Yes. Every student will be required to open a Facebook account—complete with pictures and background information—and join our group. We all want to know who we are engaging with. Participants will also be required to participate in Facebook discussion forums for a set amount of time each week. Also, the software we are using allows for multiple levels of communication between participants, as well as between participants and the mentor. If I only have a few hours a day to dedicate, will the seminar be worth my time? That depends on you. If you are capable of rigorous study for a few hours a day, you will probably find it worthwhile. Every participant is expected to participate intelligently. Is the software compatible with my computer? Elluminate software requires Windows or Mac. It is not compatible with Linux. Click here for Elluminate software requirements. How can I contact James Ure with any further questions? Mr. Ure can be contacted at jure@gw.edu. |
Ways to Give
Our Accreditation Campaign is officially underway. The remaining financial requirement is now less than $400,000.
|
