Constitutional Studies Minor

Total Credit Hours: 24

An inter-disciplinary program centered on American constitutional principles, and leadership that sustain a free society.

Required Courses (18 credit hours)

• CLT 2000 – The American Constitutional Tradition (3 credits)

• CLT 3000 – The Art of Statesmanship and the Civic Life (3 credits)

• CLT 3010 – The Art of Rhetoric and the Civic Life (3 credits)

• CLT 3020 – Liberalism and Conservatism in America (3 credits)

• CLT 3030 – Model U.S. Senate (3 credits)

• CLT 3040 – Constitutional Democracy and Democratic Citizenship (3 credits)

Electives

Select two of the following (6 credit hours):

• CLT 3030 – Model U.S. Senate (3 credits)*

• CLT 3500 – Civic Discourse (3 credits)

• CLT 3510 – Competing Theories of Justice (3 credits)

• CLT 3750 – The Empire of Modern Science (3 credits)

• CLT 3990 – Special Topics in Civic Thought (3 credits)

• ECON 4410 – American Economic History (3 credits)**

Program Learning Outcomes

Students completing the Constitutional Studies Minor will be able to:

• Explain the principles, ideas, and institutions of a constitutional political order

• Demonstrate knowledge of how American government works, why it is structured as it is, and how that structure shapes society

• Integrate leadership and rhetorical skills with knowledge of American politics, history, democratic theory, and contemporary debates

• Apply excellent written and oral communication skills to complex civic issues

Notes

* CLT 3030 (Model U.S. Senate) may be retaken and counted as an elective.
** ECON 1150 and ECON 1200 are prerequisite courses for ECON 4410.

Science, Technology & Society Minor

Total Credit Hours: 16

Explores the moral, political, and cultural implications of modern science and technology in a free and self-governing society.

Required Courses (15 credit hours)

• CLT 2750 – Complex Leadership Challenges (1 credit)

• CLT 3000 – The Art of Statesmanship and the Civic Life (3 credits)

• CLT 3010 – The Art of Rhetoric and the Civic Life (3 credits)

• CLT 3500 – Civic Discourse (3 credits)

• CLT 3750 – The Empire of Modern Science (3 credits)

Electives

Select one of the following (3 credit hours):

• CLT 2000 – The American Constitutional Tradition (3 credits)

• CLT 3020 – Liberalism and Conservatism in America (3 credits)

• CLT 3030 – Model U.S. Senate (3 credits)

• CLT 3040 – Constitutional Democracy and Democratic Citizenship (3 credits)

• CLT 3510 – Competing Theories of Justice (3 credits)

• CLT 3990 – Special Topics in Civic Thought (3 credits)

• ECON 4410 – American Economic History (3 credits)*

Program Learning Outcomes

Students completing the Science, Technology, and Society Minor will be able to:

• Assess and respond to leadership challenges in applied science using principles and skills drawn from the liberal arts

• Integrate lessons from leaders in engineering, academia, business, and politics into an applied science career

• Practice disciplined written and oral communication and apply these skills in the context of engineering and technical leadership

• Examine the intersection of technical expertise, government, and civic engagement

Notes

* ECON 1150 and ECON 1200 are prerequisite courses for ECON 4410.

COMING SOON! Constitutional Studies Major

An upcoming undergraduate major offering a comprehensive pathway in constitutional thought and civic leadership.

At the University of Toledo, the Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership (IACTL) has a mission that is both simple and urgent:

To restore the civic and intellectual foundations essential for a flourishing republic—by forming educators, equipping citizens, and cultivating a culture of conversation grounded in the American Founding and the liberal arts.

LEARN MORE AND GET INVOLVED:

GO: The Deliberate Republic
Your hub for thoughtful conversations, event videos, and essays that form citizens rather than spectators.

GO: Leadership / Scholarship Opportunities
Apply for fellowships, leadership roles, and scholarships worth up to several thousand dollars each year while developing the judgment and skills essential for responsible citizenship.

GO: Captivating Courses
Explore courses that challenge how you think about justice, leadership, and the constitutional foundations of a free society.

GO: Colloquia
Colloquia are lively evening discussions where students discuss ideas, build community, and cultivate the habits of thoughtful civic leadership.

GO: Oxford Study Abroad
Spend a transformative term studying political philosophy at Oxford and engaging with ideas where they first shaped the modern world.

HOME PAGE

Constitutional democracy is more than ballots and branches of government. It is a fragile moral achievement, balancing power and principle, freedom and responsibility, individual interests and the common good.

This Spring, we invite you to examine the deep foundations of democratic life—where constitutional design, economic incentives, and moral commitments meet. Drawing on political economy and moral philosophy, this course explores not only how democratic institutions function, but why they succeed or fail depending on the character and judgment of the citizens within them.

• Investigate how constitutions manage competing interests without collapsing into faction or tyranny.

• Wrestle with the ethical obligations of democratic citizenship—what citizens owe one another beyond the vote.

• Analyze voting behavior, public choice theory, religious freedom, and civic duty through both formal models and moral arguments.

• Confront a central question of self-government: can a free people sustain the institutions meant to serve them?

This course is designed for students who want to think seriously about democracy—not as an abstraction, but as a lived responsibility.

A constitutional system can channel power.
Only citizens can give it meaning.

Whether you’re a student of politics, literature, ethics, or engineering, this course will challenge how you think about the world we’re building.

Register now or audit as a member of the public.

INTEREST FORM

Contact Dr. Kevin Vallier: Kevin.Vallier@UToledo.Edu

At the University of Toledo, the Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership (IACTL) has a mission that is both simple and urgent:

To restore the civic and intellectual foundations essential for a flourishing republic—by forming educators, equipping citizens, and cultivating a culture of conversation grounded in the American Founding and the liberal arts.

LEARN MORE AND GET INVOLVED:

GO: The Deliberate Republic
Your hub for thoughtful conversations, event videos, and essays that form citizens rather than spectators.

GO: Leadership / Scholarship Opportunities
Apply for fellowships, leadership roles, and scholarships worth up to several thousand dollars each year while developing the judgment and skills essential for responsible citizenship.

GO: Captivating Courses
Explore courses that challenge how you think about justice, leadership, and the constitutional foundations of a free society.

GO: Colloquia
Join lively, faculty-led discussions where students engage big ideas, ask honest questions, and practice the habits of thoughtful civic leadership.

GO: Oxford Study Abroad
Spend a transformative term studying political philosophy at Oxford and engaging with ideas where they first shaped the modern world.

HOME PAGE

CAPTIVATING COURSES are where big questions meet bold conversations—where timeless texts, top-tier professors, and today’s toughest challenges collide to shape tomorrow’s leaders.

Course: Competing Theories of Justice
SPRING 2026, TuTh 12:55-2:15 PM | CLT 3510

Instructor: Christopher Martin, Ph.D.
IACTL at the University of Toledo

Experience the clash of ideas. Confront the claims that shape our politics. Step into the debates that define what justice means today.
This course takes you deep into three competing visions of justice, welfare, freedom, and virtue, and shows how each one drives the fiercest arguments of our age.

You won’t just study the issues. You’ll apply big ideas to real-world controversies: the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the promises and failures of capitalism, the crisis in our prisons, and the moral weight of climate responsibility.

You’ll read and debate voices across the spectrum—Plato and Rawls, MLK and Rand, Coates, Singer, Sowell, Sandel—wrestling with the question at the heart of every society: What do we owe one another?

Whether you’re studying politics, engineering, social work, business, or philosophy, this course will sharpen how you think, argue, and lead in a divided world.

Prepare to be challenged. Prepare to grow. Prepare to rethink justice itself.

Register now or audit as a member of the public.

INTEREST FORM

Contact Dr. Christopher Martins: Christopher.Martin5@UToledo.Edu

A colloquium is a lively academic forum where a scholar addresses a compelling theme, and students engage big ideas, ask honest questions, and cultivate the habits of thoughtful civic leadership.

February 3: “The Civic Life of Sparta” | 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Prof. Michael Gonzalez

Sparta left a lasting mark on the West. When we think of men and women with hardcore dedication to their city, we think of the Spartans. What makes this political community so memorable, and are we right to remember them as we do? What lessons can we learn from their civic virtue? Most importantly, was their life of civic devotion worth living?

February 17: “Helping Hand or ‘Despot’s Heel’? Abraham Lincoln’s Use of Executive Power” | 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Prof. Deborah O’Malley

Abraham Lincoln has been accused of abusing his power during the Civil War, stretching the scope of presidential authority beyond its constitutional bounds and thus setting a dangerous precedent for future executives. This colloquium will explore Lincoln’s most controversial actions: jailing suspected disloyal Americans without trial, stifling freedom of the press, defying an order from the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and unilaterally expanding the army and navy. We will discuss whether Lincoln acted heroically or tyrannically, and, more broadly, whether national emergencies justify violations of liberty.

February 24: “Understanding Christian Politics: A Conversation About Basic Principles” | 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Prof. Jonathan Ashbach

Christianity is the majority religion in the United States, and it is closely tied to much political engagement. So what does faith suggest about politics? Whether you are a Christian who wants to think about the public significance of your faith, or an adherent of some other faith (or none) who wants to understand the basic premises of Christian politics, this colloquium is for you. There is, of course, no one political perspective that all Christians hold, but all focus on broadly accepted principles drawn from the Christian scriptures to understand the groundwork on which most Christian traditions build.

March 17: “George Orwell’s Animal Farm” | 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Prof. Jonathan Culp

This barnyard fable about freedom, equality, revolution, and the dangers of power remains as relevant today as when it appeared 80 years ago. Join IACTL Director Dr. Jonathan Culp for an evening colloquium, including refreshments, and a guided conversation on the enduring lessons of Orwell’s classic.

March 24: “Do I Own Myself?” A Debate | 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Prof. Jonathan Ashbach

Americans typically agree with the principle “My Body, My Choice.” The Left applies it to abortion and the Right applies it to vaccines, but both tend to agree that I own myself and have a right to do as I please so long as I don’t directly harm anyone else. But is it true? We will explore that question by contrasting the approaches of Murray Rothbard (yes) and Mary Ann Glendon (no).

March 31: “Is Political History a Story of Progress?” | 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Prof. Oliver Traldi

Various thinkers have held that history is providential or teleological, drawing us and our societies closer to an important goal or desirable end state. Yet others see in history a story of decline, a cyclical pattern of rises and falls, or a near-random series of events that can’t fit neatly into any overall pattern. Philosophical questions about progress bear on issues like how we interact with our traditions, how we interpret our laws, and how we treat proposals for reform and revolution.

April 7: “Has American Politics Become ‘Tribal’?” | 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Prof. Oliver Traldi

What would that mean, and would it be a bad thing? Some writers suggest that tribalism makes politics irrational, violent, and unproductive. For others, tribalism is a convenient target for those who are unwilling to take sides in a nation under threat of real moral and political decay. Worries about “faction” were common in early American politics; we might wonder whether tribalism is the modern form of factionalism, what they share, and how they differ.

April 21: Xenophon, “On Tyranny” | 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Prof. Michael Gonzalez

If we could have whatever we wanted and never suffer the consequences (in this life or the next), would that be the best life? Many of us tell ourselves that the world would be a better place if we called the shots, but would that make us fulfilled? We will explore these questions through discussing Xenophon’s Hiero, a short dialogue between a tyrant and a poet about how happy it would be to tyrannize others.

REGISTER

At the University of Toledo, the Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership (IACTL) has a mission that is both simple and urgent:

To restore the civic and intellectual foundations essential for a flourishing republic—by forming educators, equipping citizens, and cultivating a culture of conversation grounded in the American Founding and the liberal arts.

LEARN MORE AND GET INVOLVED:

GO: The Deliberate Republic
Your hub for thoughtful conversations, event videos, and essays that form citizens rather than spectators.

GO: Leadership / Scholarship Opportunities
Apply for fellowships, leadership roles, and scholarships worth up to several thousand dollars each year while developing the judgment and skills essential for responsible citizenship.

GO: Captivating Courses
Explore courses that challenge how you think about justice, leadership, and the constitutional foundations of a free society.

GO: Colloquia
Join lively, faculty-led discussions where students engage big ideas, ask honest questions, and practice the habits of thoughtful civic leadership.

GO: Oxford Study Abroad
Spend a transformative term studying political philosophy at Oxford and engaging with ideas where they first shaped the modern world.

HOME PAGE

CAPTIVATING COURSES are where big questions meet bold conversations—where timeless texts, top-tier professors, and today’s toughest challenges collide to shape tomorrow’s leaders.

Course: Model U.S. Senate
SPRING 2026, MW 2:30-3:50 PM | CLT 3030

Instructor: Deborah O’Malley, Ph.D.
IACTL at the University of Toledo

Experience debate. Engage in real policy-making. Encounter the foundational ideas that shaped America.

This course is a dynamic, role-based simulation designed to feed your hunger for truth, purpose, and civic impact. Whether you’re a student of politics, literature, ethics, or engineering—this course will challenge how you think about the world we’re building.

Register now or audit as a member of the public.

INTEREST FORM

Contact Dr. Deborah O’Malley: Deborah.OMalley@UToledo.Edu

At the University of Toledo, the Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership (IACTL) has a mission that is both simple and urgent:

To restore the civic and intellectual foundations essential for a flourishing republic—by forming educators, equipping citizens, and cultivating a culture of conversation grounded in the American Founding and the liberal arts.

LEARN MORE AND GET INVOLVED:

GO: The Deliberate Republic
Your hub for thoughtful conversations, event videos, and essays that form citizens rather than spectators.

GO: Leadership / Scholarship Opportunities
Apply for fellowships, leadership roles, and scholarships worth up to several thousand dollars each year while developing the judgment and skills essential for responsible citizenship.

GO: Captivating Courses
Explore courses that challenge how you think about justice, leadership, and the constitutional foundations of a free society.

GO: Colloquia
Join lively, faculty-led discussions where students engage big ideas, ask honest questions, and practice the habits of thoughtful civic leadership.

GO: Oxford Study Abroad
Spend a transformative term studying political philosophy at Oxford and engaging with ideas where they first shaped the modern world.

HOME PAGE

CAPTIVATING COURSES are where big questions meet bold conversations—where timeless texts, top-tier professors, and today’s toughest challenges collide to shape tomorrow’s leaders.

Course: The Art of Rhetoric
SPRING 2026, MW 9:35-10:55 AM | CLT 3010 / CRN 16163

Instructor: Michael Gonzalez, Ph.D.
IACTL at the University of Toledo

What gives words their power? Why do some speeches echo through history while others fade into noise?

In The Art of Rhetoric, Dr. Michael Gonzalez invites you to uncover the timeless craft of persuasion that has shaped civilizations and stirred revolutions.

From Aristotle to Churchill, Lincoln to King, you’ll study the great speeches that moved nations—not as museum pieces, but as living models for civic and personal leadership.

Discover how to:

• Harness language to move hearts and minds.

• Strengthen your public speaking and storytelling.

• Understand the moral purpose of free speech in a democratic republic.

“Of all the talents bestowed upon men, none is so precious as the gift of oratory.”
—Winston Churchill

Whether you’re preparing for public life, law, leadership, or simply wish to communicate with greater clarity and conviction, this course will refine not only how you speak—but how you think.

Register now or audit as a member of the public.

INTEREST FORM

Contact Dr. Michael Gonzalez: michael.gonzalez6@utoledo.edu

At the University of Toledo, the Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership (IACTL) has a mission that is both simple and urgent:

To restore the civic and intellectual foundations essential for a flourishing republic—by forming educators, equipping citizens, and cultivating a culture of conversation grounded in the American Founding and the liberal arts.

LEARN MORE AND GET INVOLVED:

GO: The Deliberate Republic
Your hub for thoughtful conversations, event videos, and essays that form citizens rather than spectators.

GO: Leadership / Scholarship Opportunities
Apply for fellowships, leadership roles, and scholarships worth up to several thousand dollars each year while developing the judgment and skills essential for responsible citizenship.

GO: Captivating Courses
Explore courses that challenge how you think about justice, leadership, and the constitutional foundations of a free society.

GO: Colloquia
Join lively, faculty-led discussions where students engage big ideas, ask honest questions, and practice the habits of thoughtful civic leadership.

GO: Oxford Study Abroad
Spend a transformative term studying political philosophy at Oxford and engaging with ideas where they first shaped the modern world.

HOME PAGE

CAPTIVATING COURSES are where big questions meet bold conversations—where timeless texts, top-tier professors, and today’s toughest challenges collide to shape tomorrow’s leaders.

Course: The Empire of Modern Science
Spring 2026, MW 12:55–2:15 PM | CLT 3750 / CRN 16694

Instructor: Michael Gonzalez, Ph.D.
IACTL at the University of Toledo

Is science a tool for progress—or a project of control?

From the dreams of New Atlantis to the warnings of Frankenstein, science has always been more than formulas and facts. It’s a cultural revolution—reshaping how we see the world, ourselves, and each other.

This Spring, Dr. Michael Gonzalez invites you on a provocative journey through the philosophical, political, and moral foundations of modern science. We’ll study how humanity’s drive to master nature has shaped the modern age—and ask whether our tools are beginning to master us.

• Explore essential texts by thinkers like Francis Bacon, Mary Shelley, and Jacques Ellul.

• Examine today’s biggest tech questions—from AI and genetic engineering to social media and surveillance.

• Engage in meaningful discussion

  about the role of science in a free and democratic society.

“You are my creator, but I am your master; obey!” — Mary Shelley, Frankenstein

Whether you’re a student of politics, literature, ethics, or engineering—this course will challenge how you think about the world we’re building.

Register now or audit as a member of the public.

INTEREST FORM

Contact Dr. Michael Gonzalez: michael.gonzalez6@utoledo.edu

At the University of Toledo, the Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership (IACTL) has a mission that is both simple and urgent:

To restore the civic and intellectual foundations essential for a flourishing republic—by forming educators, equipping citizens, and cultivating a culture of conversation grounded in the American Founding and the liberal arts.

LEARN MORE AND GET INVOLVED:

GO: The Deliberate Republic
Your hub for thoughtful conversations, event videos, and essays that form citizens rather than spectators.

GO: Leadership / Scholarship Opportunities
Apply for fellowships, leadership roles, and scholarships worth up to several thousand dollars each year while developing the judgment and skills essential for responsible citizenship.

GO: Captivating Courses
Explore courses that challenge how you think about justice, leadership, and the constitutional foundations of a free society.

GO: Colloquia
Join lively, faculty-led discussions where students engage big ideas, ask honest questions, and practice the habits of thoughtful civic leadership.

GO: Oxford Study Abroad
Spend a transformative term studying political philosophy at Oxford and engaging with ideas where they first shaped the modern world.

HOME PAGE