Constitutional Law and Civil Rights

Few areas of the law are as pervasive as constitutional law, and Penn State Law students in this field of study explore some of the most important issues facing our nation today. Opportunities to practice take the form of the Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic and Civil Rights Appellate Clinic, externships with federal judges, and the Semester in Washington.

Pilot Concentration Program for the Class of 2020

The Penn State Law faculty has approved this program for current third-year J.D. students and current LL.M. students graduating Spring 2020.  Students may earn Concentration recognition in Constitutional Law and Civil Rights using courses from the Selected Courses section below.  J.D. students must earn a minimum of 12 credits and LL.M. students a minimum of 9 credits.  A minimum grade of ‘C’ is required for each course being used toward this Concentration. Upon verification of completion, students will receive a document of recognition.

Declare your intent to complete this Concentration - Concentration Declaration Application - Deadline for Spring 2020 Application is January 31, 2020.  

Upon completion of the requirements, submit your academic eligibility – Concentration Completion Application 

Constitutional Law and Civil Rights Faculty

Selected Courses

• Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic
• Civil Rights Appellate Clinic
• Constitutional Interpretation Seminar
• Constitutional Law I (LLMs Only)
• Constitutional Law II
• Election Law
• Employment Discrimination
• Federal Courts
• Jurisprudence Seminar
• Law and Sexuality
• National Security Law I (Foundations)
• The Constitutional Law of Religion
• The Government Independent Counsel
• The Supreme Court Seminar

Additional Experiential Opportunities

• American Constitution Society for Law and Policy
• Externships Everywhere (Associate Dean for Academic Affairs approval required)
• Federal Judicial Externship Placements
• Federalist Society
• Second Amendment Law Society
• Semester in Washington