Capstone Seminar

Catalog description

This seminar, required of all majors in Political Science, Legal Studies, and Criminal Justice and Law, will survey the historical roots of America's contemporary political, legal, and criminal justice systems. The exact focus will vary a bit from year to year, but a common approach will be to study the development of the constitutions of ancient Athens, Rome, and England and to examine the formative era of Chief Justice John Marshall and the founding of the American nation. Attention will be given to how political and legal changes were influenced by and affected major historical events, such as the American and French Revolutions and changes in society and culture. All students will research and write a major paper on a topic relevant to the themes of the course and approved by the instructor.