American Politics and Law, Minor

The Minor in American Politics and Law

Audrey Kurth Cronin, Director, Trustees Professor of Security and Technology
acronin@andrew.cmu.edu, Posner Hall 385A

Emily Half, Deputy Director for Academic Affairs
ehalf@andrew.cmu.edu, Posner Hall 391, 412-268-7082

http://www.cmu.edu/cmist

Overview

Sponsored by the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST), the minor in American Politics and Law is designed to equip students with comprehensive insights into the political and legal landscape of the United States. Our curriculum emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach, blending theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Students have the opportunity to engage with a variety of courses that cover key aspects of American civics, policy development, and legal principles. A core objective of this program is to nurture critical and analytical thinking skills through engagement with primary source materials, real world examples of policy and legal conflicts, and current events and matters of national policy debate. Students are challenged to dissect and debate major policy issues facing the nation, fostering their ability to develop, draft, and articulate informed political analyses and recommendations on complex matters.

Through this minor, students will develop a robust understanding of both the historical and contemporary dynamics of American politics and law. This approach ensures that they not only grasp the fundamentals but also learn to apply this knowledge in real-world scenarios. It provides a gateway to understanding the intricate workings of American governance and law, and a platform for building a career that makes a meaningful impact in society. The skills and objectives learned in the minor provide students from any discipline with core and foundational knowledge that is particularly useful for students entering law school, as well as other potential future careers in policymaking, politics, non-governmental organizations, political analysis, and legislative affairs, at all levels of government. In addition to those aspiring to careers in the public sector or law, the program is also uniquely tailored for students from diverse academic backgrounds seeking to integrate an understanding of American politics, domestic and international law into other disciplines.

Curriculum

Students may double count a maximum of two courses with another major or minor. Unlimited double counting is permitted with general education requirements.

Minor in American Politics and Law60-63 units

Foundational18 units

Students must complete all of the following courses:

		Units
84-104	Decision Processes in American Political Institutions	9
84-120	Introduction to US Constitutional Law	9

Communication6-9 units

Students must complete one of the following courses:

84-250	Writing for Political Science and Policy	9
84-252	Briefing in the Policy World	6

American Politics18 units

Students must complete 18 units from the following list of courses:

84-280	Popcorn and Politics: American Foreign Policy at the Movies	12
84-301	Policy & Persuasion	6
84-304	Analysis of Current US National Security Priorities	6
84-309	American Political Divides and Great Debates	9
84-319	Civil-Military Relations	9
84-324	The Future of Democracy	9
84-325	Contemporary American Foreign Policy	9
84-327	Who Really Runs America?: Subnational Governance and Policymaking	9
84-328	Military Strategy and Doctrine	9
84-338	Analysis of US Presidential Powers ^*	6
84-347	Congress & National Security	9
84-352	Representation and Voting Rights	9
84-353	US-China Strategic Stability	6
84-355	Democracy's Data: Analytics and Insights into American Elections	9
84-358	Money, Connections, and Power: Interests and Influence in the US	9
84-365	The Politics of Fake News and Misinformation	9
84-366	The 21st-Century Presidency: Expanding Powers, New Challenges	9
84-367	The Politics of Antisemitism	9
84-380	US Grand Strategy	9
84-393	The US Congress: Legislative Progress or Paralysis?	9
84-402	Judicial Politics and Behavior	9
79-248	U.S. Constitution & the Presidency	9
79-250	Voting Rights: An Introduction	9

Law18 units