The great challenges of our generation are yet unknown, but two things are as certain as history: the society of the 21st Century will do no better than its leaders, and its leaders are being prepared today.

George Wythe College invites you to become one of them, to pay the price to know what Joan of Arc, Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Lincoln, Churchill and Gandhi knew — by meeting them firsthand, along with other statesmen of equal stature, studying what they studied, and learning what they learned.

The Jefferson Degree™ is designed to introduce current and future leaders — business CEOs, senior executives, attorneys, professionals, government officials, graduate students, scholars and others — to the greatest ideas in history concerning forms of government, economics, law, culture, and society.

It is a foregone conclusion that the challenges of the future will require new ideas and new actions, but the leaders who forge the society of the future will do better carrying the best of the past firmly in their minds and hearts. Welcome to the Thomas Jefferson Degree™.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW COURSES

Forms Courses

CL900: Western Political Philosophy. 2 hours.
Students are introduced to the foundations of the legal and political philosophy of the Western Tradition from Plato to Freud

CL902: Western Political History. 2 hours.
Students are introduced to the major contributors and events of political history from ancient tribal government through the present.

CL904: Constitutional Law. 2 hours.
An intensive line-by-line analysis of the Preamble, the Constitution and Amendments I-XII. Emphasis on memorization and knowledge of background detail.

CL906: Blackstone. 2 hours.
Intensive study of Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England as a core foundation of the United States Constitution, with St. George Tucker’s American update and footnotes.

CL908: Montesquieu. 2 hours.
Intensive study of Montesquieu's The Spirit of the Laws as a core foundation of the United States Constitution.

CL910: Colonial Culture. 2 hours.
A study of the language and culture of America during the founding era (c.1760-1820), with emphasis on word meanings, phrase significance and cultural references at the time the Constitution was written.

CL912: The Founders Constitution. 4 hours.
An intense study of founding era writers and their specific commentary on the U.S. Constitution.

CL914: Writings I. 3 hours.
This course focuses on a study of some of the most influential speeches, pamphlets, letters, documents and other original writings of the founding era.

CL916: Jefferson . 9 hours.
Reading and research from the entire collected writings of Thomas Jefferson.  Students read all 20 volumes of Jefferson ’s works.  Research emphasizes letters and their insight into original intent and clarification of Constitutional principles.

CL918: Adams . 2 hours.
Reading and research of the collected writings of John Adams, with emphasis on letters and his insight into original intent and clarification of Constitutional principles.

CL920: Washington . 2 hours.
Reading and research of the collected writings of George Washington, with emphasis on letters and his insight into original intent and clarification of Constitutional principles.

CL922: Madison . 2 hours.
Reading and research of the collected writings of James Madison, with emphasis on letters and his insight into original intent and clarification of Constitutional principles.

CL924: The Federalist.  2 hours.
An intense study of the 85 Federalist Papers.

CL926: Writings II. 2 hours.
A study of specific Constitutional topics found through The Anti-Federalist Papers and other readings of select founders including Mason, Hamilton, Paine, and others.

CL928: Tocqueville. 2 hours.
An in-depth analysis of the writings of Democracy in America with emphasis on Constitutional issues and modern application.

CL930: Bryce. 2 hours.
An in-depth analysis of the writings of James Bryce with emphasis on Constitutional issues and modern application.  Bryce did the same study for 20^th Century America as Tocqueville did in the 19^th Century.

Statesmanship Courses

CL950: Township & State Constitutions. 2 hours.
Study of the township and state constitutions which preceded and prepared for the U.S. Constitution, as well as state constitutions since 1789.

CL952: International Constitutions. 2 hours.
The influence of the U.S. Constitution on state and foreign constitutions as well as legal systems.  Study and development of corrective measures for constitutional weaknesses.

CL954: Amendments. 2 credits.
Study of the U.S. Amendments, including proposed amendments that failed.

CL956: Critical Constitutional Cases 1801-1900. 3 hours.
A thorough analysis of 50 key Supreme Court decisions, the legal reasoning and political atmosphere of each, and their legal and societal impact.

CL958: Critical Constitutional Cases 1901-present. 3 hours.
A thorough analysis of 50 more key Supreme Court decisions, the legal reasoning and political atmosphere of each, and their legal and societal impact.

CL960: Presidents & the Constitution. 3 hours.
Trace presidential attitudes toward the Constitution through two centuries of inaugural, farewell and other key addresses in comparison of words and actions as well as Executive Branch evolution.

CL962R: International Statesmanship. 2 hours.
Study of current world events, trends and international politics, economics, and diplomacy.

R-CL990: Elective. Variable Hours.
Electives may replace other courses if approved by the Graduation Committee.  Various Elective Courses may be offered from time to time. See Current Semester Registration.

R-CL992: Directed Readings. Variable Hours.
Directed readings must be pre-approved.  Check current class schedule.

Dissertation Courses

CL993: Prospectus. 3 hours.
Student submits a detailed prospectus including proposed thesis, outline, bibliography, and research plan.  Graduation Committee may approve a Project in place of a written dissertation. The dissertation and project must include original research and be a meaningful and relevant contribution to the field of constitutional studies and/or Statesmanship.

CL995: Dissertation. 12 hours.
Student completes research plan and writes dissertation, then perfects it until it is accepted by the Graduation Committee.  All students must defend dissertation orally.

Some classes in the Jefferson Degree™ program that cover classical readings may be retaken for additional credit.   Courses offer variable credit  depending on student work.