Certificate Requirements

The Drake Constitutional Law Center is one of only four constitutional law programs established by the U.S. Congress. This certificate program builds on Drake Law School longstanding commitment to research and symposia in these areas through the Drake Constitutional Law Center. Students take 21 credits of coursework. For more information, contact Professor Kende.

Students must take 21 hours from the courses below.

Required Courses:

• Required Con Law I and II –  Law 112 and Law 115, Three Credits each
• Required Electives – Nine credits (three credits must come from the “practice” group, three credits must come from a “core” group, and the remaining credits must come from either group)

Practice Group Courses

• Constitutional Litigation - Law 243  (Sec. 1983), Three Credits
• Criminal Motions Practicum - Law 319, Three Credits
• Employment Discrimination Litigation - Law 302, Three Credits
• Remedies - Law 201, Three Credits
• Federal Jurisdiction - Law 235, Three Credits

Core Group Courses

• Civil Rights- Law 240, Three Credits
• Comparative Constitutional Law - Law 324, Three Credits  
• Constitutional Theory - Law 321, Two Credits
• First Amendment Seminar - Law 307, Three Credits
• Sexuality and the Law - Law 313, Three Credits
• Women and the Law (with one credit Independent. Study attached) - Law 304, Two Credits

Student must fulfill their Advanced Writing Requirement in this area either through one of the Optional Electives, one of the Required Courses, or by doing an Independent Study.

Optional Electives – 6 credits

 Electives regularly offered at least every other academic year (3 credits)

• Administrative Law  -  (2-3 Credits)
• Children and the Law  
• Civil Rights - (alternate years)*
• Comparative Constitutional Law*
• Constitutional Litigation (Sec. 1983)(alternate years)*
• Constitutional Theory - Law 258*
• Criminal Motions Practicum*
• Criminal Procedure I
• Death Penalty (alternate years)*
• Education Law (alternate years)
• Election Law (alternate years)
• Employment Discrimination Litigation*
• Federal Jurisdiction
• First Amendment Seminar*  
• International Human Rights*
• Mass Media Law
• Remedies
• Sexuality and the Law (alternate years)*
• State and Local Government
• Women and the Law (2 credits)*

* indicates advanced writing is available in this course

Summer Institute courses

4 credits total, before 1st year

• Elements of the Law (no credits towards certificate)  
• Supreme Court Seminar (2 credits)

Other Relevant Offerings

These may count when there is significant constitutional work involved as determined by the Consitutional Law Center Director.

• Internship (2 credits usually)
• National Moot Court (2 credits -- usually a constitutional issue)
• Children’s Rights Clinic (8 credits over 2 semesters)
• IOLTA Poverty Law Clinic (3 credits)(summer)
• Criminal Defense Practice Clinic (3 credits)