Coursework & Schedule

Graduation Requirements

  • Complete a minimum of 30 credit hours
    21 required courses and 9 elective courses.
  • Maintain a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA to remain in the program.
    Credit for courses with a grade of B- or lower shall not be applied to the master’s degree.
  • Complete graduate coursework within 5 years.

Sample 14-month Graduation Plan

Utah Cohort

The Utah Cohort is geared towards educators from Utah, as well as applicants from around the country who may be interested in the research track. Students of this cohort study for several weeks to prepare for two weeks of in person class, followed by a primarily livestreamed class experience. Students are also able to travel to Pembroke College in Oxford for research trips or study abroad experiences.

All Summer courses require several weeks of advanced reading and assignments before students and instructors meet for the class sessions listed below.

 

Semester 1 | Summer, Condensed 9 Core Credits

Course Number Course Title Credits Class Schedule Duration

CGCL 6100

 Foundations of American Constitutionalism 3

Mid-June
Morning to Afternoon

UVU Orem Campus

 2 Weeks
CGCL 6200 Foundations of American Democracy 2

Early July
Morning to Afternoon

Livestream

 1 Week
CGCL 6300 Foundations of American Liberty 2

Mid-July
Morning to Afternoon

Livestream

 1 Week
CGCL 6400 American Political Development 2

Late July
Morning to Afternoon

Livestream

 1 Week

Semester 2 | Fall 6 Core Credits

Course Number Course Title Credits Class Schedule Duration
CGCL 6110 Constitutional Law I 3

Thursday Evenings

Livestream

 Full Semester
Teaching track:    
EDUC 6320 Contemporary Issues in Teacher Leadership 3 Individually Paced Full Semester
Research track:    
CGCL 697R Master's Thesis Research 3

Tuesday Evenings

Livestream &
Pembroke College,
Oxford*

 Full Semester
*Oxford research trip encouraged but optional for all research track students.

Semester 3 | Spring 6 Core Credits

Course Number Course Title Credits Class Schedule Duration
CGCL 6120 Constitutional Law II 3

Thursday Evenings

Livestream

 Full Semester
Teaching track:    
EDUC 6410 Foundations of Civics Education 3 Individually Paced Full Semester
Research track:    
CGCL 697R Master's Thesis Research 3

Tuesday Evenings

Livestream

 Full Semester

Semester 4 | Summer, Condensed9 Elective Credits

Course Number Course Title Credits Class Schedule Duration
CGCL 6310 Early American Political Thought 3

Late June
Morning to Afternoon

Livestream

 2 Weeks
CGCL 6180 Constitutional Interpretation 2

Early July
Morning to Afternoon

Livestream

 1 Week
Teaching track:    
CGCL 6160

Roots of the American Regime

 2

Mid-July
Morning to Afternoon

Pembroke College, Oxford*

 1 Week
CGCL 6440

Parties in American Political Development

 2

Late July
Morning to Afternoon

Pembroke College, Oxford*

 1 Week
Research track:    
CGCL 6160

Roots of the American Regime

 2

Mid-July
Morning to Afternoon

Livestream

 1 Week
CGCL 6420

The Presidency in American Political Development

 2

Late July
Morning to Afternoon

Livestream

 1 Week
*Oxford study abroad is optional but encouraged for all teaching track students. Those who choose not to go will join the Research Track courses.

National Cohort

The National Cohort is geared towards making our program accessible to educators who may find the travel demands of the Utah cohort difficult to meet. Students of this cohort study for several weeks to prepare for one week of in person class, followed by an exclusively livestreamed class experience. Students also do not travel to Oxford for any portion of their degree. There is no research track for the National Cohort.

All Summer courses require several weeks of advanced reading and assignments before students and instructors meet for the class sessions listed below.

 

Semester 1 | Summer, Condensed 9 Core Credits

Course Number Course Title Credits Class Schedule Duration

CGCL 6100

 Foundations of American Constitutionalism 3

Late June
Morning to Afternoon

Week 1: UVU Orem Campus
Week 2: Livestream 

 2 Weeks
CGCL 6200 Foundations of American Democracy 2

Mid-July
Morning to Afternoon

Livestream

 1 Week
CGCL 6300 Foundations of American Liberty 2

Late July
Morning to Afternoon

Livestream

 1 Week
CGCL 6400 American Political Development 2

Early August
Morning to Afternoon

Livestream

 1 Week

Semester 2 | Fall 6 Core Credits

Course Number Course Title Credits Class Schedule Duration
CGCL 6110 Constitutional Law I 3

Thursday Evenings

Livestream

 Full Semester
EDUC 6320 Contemporary Issues in Teacher Leadership 3 Individually Paced Full Semester

Semester 3 | Spring 6 Core Credits

Course Number Course Title Credits Class Schedule Duration
CGCL 6120 Constitutional Law II 3

Thursday Evenings

Livestream

 Full Semester
EDUC 6410 Foundations of Civics Education 3 Individually Paced Full Semester

Semester 4 | Summer, Condensed9 Elective Credits

Course Number Course Title Credits Class Schedule Duration
CGCL 6310 Early American Political Thought 3

Late June
Morning to Afternoon

Livestream

 2 Weeks
CGCL 6180 Constitutional Interpretation 2

Early July
Morning to Afternoon

Livestream

 1 Week
CGCL 6160

Roots of the American Regime

 2

Mid-July
Morning to Afternoon

Livestream

 1 Week
CGCL 6420

The Presidency in American Political Development

 2

Late July
Morning to Afternoon

Livestream

 1 Week

Required Courses

Each Summer course follows a non-traditional condensed format, which divides it into two periods of study: preparatory reading days and live instruction or "class" dates. Both these periods are displayed on each Summer course in the tables below.

All class times are approximate and in Mountain Time, except when on study abroad.

For more details about Summer Semester's structure, please visit the notes section.

 

Utah Cohort

Course Number & Credits Course Title &
Description		 Availability Reading & Class Schedule Delivery

CGCL 6100

 Foundations of American Constitutionalism Summer

 May 7 -
June 25		 Online

3 Credits

View Syllabus
Surveys the philosophical and historical foundations of constitutionalism in America. Covers ancient, medieval, and modern political theorists' ideas about regimes and constitutions. Focuses on the English constitution, the American state constitutions, and the Articles of Confederation that the framers of the United States Constitution drew upon in creating the 1787 national constitution. Includes discussion of the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers. Analyzes how these foundations continue to shape American constitutional law today.

2 Weeks

June 8 -
June 19

Mon - Fri
9 AM - 3 PM

No class June 15

 

 Face-to-Face
CGCL 6200 Foundations of American Democracy

Summer

 June 8 - July 6 Online

2 Credits

View Syllabus
Surveys the philosophical and historical foundations of American democracy and equal citizenship. Covers key texts about democracy from ancient and modern republican writers, including theorists of democracy in America, like Publius, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, and observers of democracy in America like Alexis de Tocqueville. Focuses on the United States Constitution.
1 Week

June 29 - July 6

Mon-Thur
9 AM - 3 PM

No class July 3

 

 Livestream
CGCL 6300 Foundations of American Liberty

Summer

 June 26 - August 13 Online

2 Credits

View Syllabus
Surveys the philosophical and historical foundations of individual rights, limited government, and liberty in America. Covers key texts from the classical liberal tradition, including Roger Williams, John Locke, Thomas Paine, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Publius, George Washington, and John Taylor. Focuses on the Declaration of Independence.
1 Week

July 13 - 17

Mon - Fri
9 AM - 3 PM

 

 Livestream
CGCL 6400 American Political Development Summer

 June 26 - August 13 Online

2 Credits

View Syllabus
Surveys the development of the American political regime. Focuses on the major political ideas and institutions that have informed the thought and practice of American politics over the course of American history. Includes a study of the development of American constitutionalism, federalism, Congress, the presidency, and the Supreme Court.
1 Week

July 27 - 31

Mon - Fri
9 AM - 3 PM

 

 Livestream
CGCL 6110 Constitutional Law I Fall Full Semester Livestream

3 Credits

View Syllabus
Engages students in an effort to understand the institutional logic that animates the American Constitution. Examines the structure of government established by the Constitution, focusing primarily on the two fundamental institutional features that characterize that structure: separation of powers and federalism.

Thursday
6:30 PM
CGCL 6120 Constitutional Law II Spring Full Semester Livestream

3 Credits

View Syllabus
Focuses on the content and enforcement of constitutionally protected civil rights and civil liberties in the United States. Begins with the foundational ideas that formed the content of the American tradition of civil liberties in the early republic and gave rise to reliance on judicial review as a guarantor of constitutional rights. Examines the constitutional disputes over equal protection, property rights, criminal due process, freedoms of speech, press, and association, religious liberty and other judicially created rights concerning privacy, marriage, and parental rights. Explores primary sources, both in the form of judicial opinions and non-judicial documents.
Thursday
6:30 PM
For Teaching track:
EDUC 6320 21st Century Instruction and Assessment Fall Individually Paced Online

3 Credits

View Syllabus
Focuses on instructional design and delivery incorporating 21st century learning design and assessment. Introduces a range of instructional models and assessment tools. Requires planning and implementing instruction and assessment using several selected models
EDUC 6400 Foundations of Civics Education Spring Individually Paced Online

3 Credits

View Syllabus
Introduces students to the fundamental concepts in civic education. Examines philosophical foundations of civic education in American schools as well as current social and cultural conditions as they affect constitutional government, ordered liberty, and rule of law. Explores curriculum materials and methods of civic education, designing for the development of civic knowledge, skills, dispositions, and virtues. Examines the underpinnings of individual commitment to civic life, developing a personal civic philosophy and considering how those influence decisions in the classroom. Provides opportunities for students to strengthen their ability to read carefully, think critically, and engage in civil discourse through speech and writing.
For Research track:
CGCL 6970R* Master's Thesis Research Fall, Spring Full Semester Livestream

3 Credits

View Syllabus
Supervises M.A. students on the research track writing a thesis at Oxford University.
Tuesday
6:30 PM

* Course must be taken twice. Students may receive thesis supervision at the University of Oxford during Fall semester.

National Cohort

Course Number & Credits Course Title &
Description		 Availability Reading & Course Schedule Delivery

CGCL 6100

 Foundations of American Constitutionalism Summer

 June 1 -
July 6		 Online

3 Credits

View Syllabus
Surveys the philosophical and historical foundations of constitutionalism in America. Covers ancient, medieval, and modern political theorists' ideas about regimes and constitutions. Focuses on the English constitution, the American state constitutions, and the Articles of Confederation that the framers of the United States Constitution drew upon in creating the 1787 national constitution. Includes discussion of the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers. Analyzes how these foundations continue to shape American constitutional law today.

2 Weeks

June 22 - 26,
July June 29 - 6

Mon - Fri
9 AM - 3 PM

No class July 3

 

Face-to-Face &
Livestream
CGCL 6200 Foundations of American Democracy

Summer

 June 15 - July 17 Online

2 Credits

View Syllabus
Surveys the philosophical and historical foundations of American democracy and equal citizenship. Covers key texts about democracy from ancient and modern republican writers, including theorists of democracy in America, like Publius, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, and observers of democracy in America like Alexis de Tocqueville. Focuses on the United States Constitution.
1 Week

July 13 - 17

Mon-Thur
9 AM - 3 PM

No class July 3

 

 Livestream
CGCL 6300 Foundations of American Liberty

Summer

 June 26 - July 31 Online

2 Credits

View Syllabus
Surveys the philosophical and historical foundations of individual rights, limited government, and liberty in America. Covers key texts from the classical liberal tradition, including Roger Williams, John Locke, Thomas Paine, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Publius, George Washington, and John Taylor. Focuses on the Declaration of Independence.
1 Week

July 27 - 31

Mon - Fri
9 AM - 3 PM

 

 Livestream
CGCL 6400 American Political Development Summer June 26 - August 7 Online

2 Credits

View Syllabus
Surveys the development of the American political regime. Focuses on the major political ideas and institutions that have informed the thought and practice of American politics over the course of American history. Includes a study of the development of American constitutionalism, federalism, Congress, the presidency, and the Supreme Court.
1 Week

August 3 - 7

Mon - Fri
9 AM - 3 PM

 

 Livestream
CGCL 6110 Constitutional Law I Fall Full Semester Livestream

3 Credits

View Syllabus
Engages students in an effort to understand the institutional logic that animates the American Constitution. Examines the structure of government established by the Constitution, focusing primarily on the two fundamental institutional features that characterize that structure: separation of powers and federalism.

Thursday
6:30 PM
CGCL 6120 Constitutional Law II Spring Full Semester Livestream

3 Credits

View Syllabus
Focuses on the content and enforcement of constitutionally protected civil rights and civil liberties in the United States. Begins with the foundational ideas that formed the content of the American tradition of civil liberties in the early republic and gave rise to reliance on judicial review as a guarantor of constitutional rights. Examines the constitutional disputes over equal protection, property rights, criminal due process, freedoms of speech, press, and association, religious liberty and other judicially created rights concerning privacy, marriage, and parental rights. Explores primary sources, both in the form of judicial opinions and non-judicial documents.
Thursday
6:30 PM
EDUC 6320 21st Century Instruction and Assessment Fall Individually Paced Online

3 Credits

View Syllabus
Focuses on instructional design and delivery incorporating 21st century learning design and assessment. Introduces a range of instructional models and assessment tools. Requires planning and implementing instruction and assessment using several selected models
EDUC 6400 Foundations of Civics Education Spring Individually Paced Online

3 Credits

View Syllabus
Introduces students to the fundamental concepts in civic education. Examines philosophical foundations of civic education in American schools as well as current social and cultural conditions as they affect constitutional government, ordered liberty, and rule of law. Explores curriculum materials and methods of civic education, designing for the development of civic knowledge, skills, dispositions, and virtues. Examines the underpinnings of individual commitment to civic life, developing a personal civic philosophy and considering how those influence decisions in the classroom. Provides opportunities for students to strengthen their ability to read carefully, think critically, and engage in civil discourse through speech and writing.

Elective Courses

Electives are currently offered on a rotating basis in the summer semester. Which courses are available each year are subject to change. Electives follow the same non-traditional, condensed format, where several weeks of preparatory reading and homework proceed an intensive week or two of daily live class sessions.

 

Utah Cohort

Course Number &
Credits		 Course Title &
Description		 Semester & Class Meetings

Reading &
Class Dates

 Delivery
Format
CGCL 6310 Early American Political Thought Summer TBD Online
3 Credits
Surveys the major figures and ideas in the development of early American political thought. Begins with the foundational underpinnings of the American regime and examines the ideas that divided the Union during the Civil War. Focuses on the ideas of major political actors and thinkers: both the historical context in which they wrote and the texts that they produced.

2 Weeks

TBD

Mon - Fri
9 AM - 4 PM

 Livestream
CGCL 6320 Modern American Political Thought Summer May 7 - June 26 Online

3 Credits

View Syllabus
Surveys the major figures and ideas in the development of American political thought. Begins with the ideas that divided the Union during the Civil War, studies the political thought of the Gilded Age, continues through the Progressive Era and the New Deal, examines the influential political ideas of the postwar period, and finishes up at the present-day. Focuses on the ideas of major political actors and thinkers: both the historical context in which they wrote and the texts that they produced.

2 Weeks

June 16 - 26

Mon - Fri
9 AM - 3 PM

 Livestream

CGCL 6160

 Roots of the American Regime Summer June 26 - July 31 Online

2 Credits

View Syllabus - Online

View Syllabus - Oxford
Explores core ancient and modern texts in political philosophy and theology that are foundational to the political thought of the American Founding. Helps students understand the American form of government in comparison with other regimes. Surveys American ideas within the history of political philosophy.

1 Week

July 27 - 31

Mon - Fri
9 AM - 3 PM

 Livestream
or
Study Abroad*
CGCL 6180 Constitutional Interpretation

Summer 

 June 26 - July 31 Online

2 Credits

View Syllabus
Engages students in an effort to understand the ideas and logic that animate constitutional interpretation in the American political system. Explores the major theories of jurisprudence in American law and their criticisms.

1 Week

July 27 - 31

Mon - Fri
9 AM - 3 PM

 Livestream
CGCL 6190 Constitutional Law in Education Summer TBD Online

2 Credits

 
Examines the application of constitutional law to education, with special attention to the United States. Includes the scope and exercise of constitutional rights enjoyed by students, parents, teachers, and educational institutions as well as the constraints imposed by federalism, due process, disestablishment of religion, and other structural constitutional principles on education policy.

1 Week

TBD

Mon - Fri
9 AM - 3 PM

 Livestream
CGCL 6420 The Presidency in American Political Development

Summer

 June 8 - July 10 Online

2 Credits

View Syllabus - Online
Examines the origins and development of the institution known as the United States presidency. Begins by studying the creation of the presidency at the time of the American Founding, and then examines how the institution has evolved up to the present day.

1 Week

July 6 -10

Mon - Fri
9 AM - 3 PM

 Livestream
or
Study Abroad*
CGCL 6430 The Supreme Court in American Political Development Summer  June - August Online

2 Credits

View Syllabus - Oxford
Examines the origins and development of the United States Supreme Court. Begins by studying the creation of the Supreme Court at the time of the American Founding, and then examines how the institution has evolved up to the present day.

1 Week

Late July

Mon - Fri
9 AM - 3 PM

 Livestream
or
Study Abroad*
CGCL 6440 Parties in American Political Development Summer June 26 - July 24 Online
2 Credits
Examines the origins and development of political parties in the United States. Begins by studying the creation of parties at the time of the American Founding, and then examines how the party system has evolved up to the present day.

1 Week

July 20 - 24

M - F
9 AM - 3 PM

 Livestream
or
Study Abroad*
CGCL 6970R Federalism

Summer

June 15 - July 17

 Online
2 Credits
This graduate seminar examines the theoretical foundations, historical evolution, and contemporary challenges of federalism within the American constitutional framework. Drawing on foundational texts from the Framers, court cases, and current studies, students will explore the dynamic interplay between national and subnational authority, including doctrines of enumerated powers, preemption, intergovernmental relations, and the Tenth Amendment. Key questions include: How does federalism reconcile unity with diversity in a pluralistic republic? What role has the Supreme Court played in reshaping federal-state relations amid economic, social, and technological transformations? How do the states interact with the national government to shape policy?

1 Week

July 13 - July 17

M - F
9 AM - 3 PM

 Livestream
* Two courses each year will be pre-determined as the courses offered in Oxford.

National Cohort

Course Number &
Credits		 Course Title &
Description		 Semester & Class Meetings

Reading &
Class Dates

 Delivery
Format
CGCL 6310 Early American Political Thought Summer May - June Online
3 Credits
Surveys the major figures and ideas in the development of early American political thought. Begins with the foundational underpinnings of the American regime and examines the ideas that divided the Union during the Civil War. Focuses on the ideas of major political actors and thinkers: both the historical context in which they wrote and the texts that they produced.

2 Weeks

Late June

Mon - Fri
9 AM - 4 PM

 Livestream
CGCL 6320 Modern American Political Thought Summer May - June Online

3 Credits

View Syllabus
Surveys the major figures and ideas in the development of American political thought. Begins with the ideas that divided the Union during the Civil War, studies the political thought of the Gilded Age, continues through the Progressive Era and the New Deal, examines the influential political ideas of the postwar period, and finishes up at the present-day. Focuses on the ideas of major political actors and thinkers: both the historical context in which they wrote and the texts that they produced.

2 Weeks

Late June

Mon - Fri
9 AM - 3 PM

 Livestream

CGCL 6160

 Roots of the American Regime Summer June - July Online

2 Credits

View Syllabus - Online

 
Explores core ancient and modern texts in political philosophy and theology that are foundational to the political thought of the American Founding. Helps students understand the American form of government in comparison with other regimes. Surveys American ideas within the history of political philosophy.

1 Week

Late July

Mon - Fri
9 AM - 3 PM

 Livestream 
CGCL 6180 Constitutional Interpretation

Summer 

 July Online

2 Credits

View Syllabus
Engages students in an effort to understand the ideas and logic that animate constitutional interpretation in the American political system. Explores the major theories of jurisprudence in American law and their criticisms.

1 Week

Late July

Mon - Fri
9 AM - 3 PM

 Livestream
CGCL 6190 Constitutional Law in Education Summer June - July Online

2 Credits

 
Examines the application of constitutional law to education, with special attention to the United States. Includes the scope and exercise of constitutional rights enjoyed by students, parents, teachers, and educational institutions as well as the constraints imposed by federalism, due process, disestablishment of religion, and other structural constitutional principles on education policy.

1 Week

Early July

Mon - Fri
9 AM - 3 PM

 Livestream
CGCL 6420 The Presidency in American Political Development

Summer

 June - July Online

2 Credits

View Syllabus - Online
Examines the origins and development of the institution known as the United States presidency. Begins by studying the creation of the presidency at the time of the American Founding, and then examines how the institution has evolved up to the present day.

1 Week

Mid-July

Mon - Fri
9 AM - 3 PM

 Livestream 
CGCL 6430 The Supreme Court in American Political Development Summer  June - August Online

2 Credits

 
Examines the origins and development of the United States Supreme Court. Begins by studying the creation of the Supreme Court at the time of the American Founding, and then examines how the institution has evolved up to the present day.

1 Week

Late July

Mon - Fri
9 AM - 3 PM

 Livestream 
CGCL 6440 Parties in American Political Development Summer July - August Online
2 Credits
Examines the origins and development of political parties in the United States. Begins by studying the creation of parties at the time of the American Founding, and then examines how the party system has evolved up to the present day.

1 Week

Early August

M - F
9 AM - 3 PM

 Livestream 

Course Notes & descriptions

  • All courses have an online component for submission of readings and assignments through Canvas
  • The required face-to-face classes will be held at UVU's main campus.
  • Livestream courses are synchronous and listed in Mountain Time
  • Online courses are asynchronous.
  • Expect a minimum of 2 hours of reading and assignments for every 1 hour spent in class.
    • 3-credit courses offer about 37.5 hours of class time.
    • 2-credit courses offer about 24.5 hours of class time.
  • Summer Semester
    • Courses do not follow a traditional schedule. Instead, they are scheduled to be condensed and accelerated, to take advantage of most school districts' summer breaks. This results in summer courses being divided into two main "sessions": preparation and instruction.
    • Each course's preparation will begin several weeks before their class sessions meet for live instruction. In Summer, doing advanced readings and assignments during this period is crucial to students' success, once classes finally meet for demanding daily morning-to-afternoon sessions. Please do not wait for the live class sessions to do your reading--you will not have time to keep up and participate adequately in class. 
    • Classes meet for instruction towards the end of the course, in a condensed, intensive format held from morning to afternoon.
      • A mid-day break is taken for lunch.
      • All summer courses are livestream format, except for CGCL 6100 and study abroad courses
    • All 3-credit summer classes meet for 2 weeks
    • All 2-credit summer classes meet for 1 week
  • Spring & Fall Semesters
    • Livestream courses are streamed for approximately 2.5 hours after 6 PM Mountain Time
    • Expect a minimum of 5 class hours a week
    • Expect a minimum of 10 hours of reading and assignments per week

Refer to the UVU Catalog for the CGCL and EDUC course descriptions, schedules, and prerequisites.

Course Descriptions

Part-Time Enrollment

Students may enroll part-time. Those who wish to do so may enlist help from the program advisor and/or director to plan their coursework timeline to complete the program within 5 years.

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