The Constitutional Studies minor at the University of Notre Dame may seem tailored primarily for political science majors and students already engaged in political discourse. But, while the program certainly draws political science students (54 out of 156 minors), a closer look reveals a remarkably diverse student body that spans multiple disciplines, enriching classroom discussions and shaping students’ ways of thinking in unexpected ways.
A statistical overview of Constitutional Studies minors highlights the program’s broad reach. Business majors make up a significant portion of minors, with 38 students enrolled in the program, including 9 accounting majors and 21 finance majors. The minor’s interdisciplinary appeal is not limited to business students: 15 theology students, 20 economics students, 8 history students, 5 students from the College of Science, and even 2 School of Architecture students all contribute to the program’s diversity and reflect its capacity to contribute to intellectual engagement across disciplines.
Survey responses from 17 seniors in the minor reveal varied motivations for their decision to enroll. Some students cite a desire to stay informed on current events and immerse themselves in open dialogue, while others were drawn in by specific courses or professors. One student shared, “I took Professor Muñoz’s Civil Liberties course my freshman year—it changed my life!” Another explained that they wanted something to diversify their studies that were mostly STEM-focused.
In addition to the many reasons for choosing the minor that students recorded, these students that I spoke with also had a variety of career goals. Some plan to enter fields directly related to law and policy, such as agriculture and real estate law, state politics, and the federal and state judiciaries. Others envision careers in teaching, whether in high schools or academia. Business-oriented students plan to enter corporate retail, consumer investing, private equity, or CPA roles. The minor also attracts those pursuing unique career paths, including mechanical engineering and pediatric clinical psychology.
Although the students will go on to different careers, they all agreed on one thing: Their Constitutional Studies minor will contribute to achieving their goals. For some, this is because they will interact with the law and the constitution in their day-to-day tasks, but for others, the vocational benefit is less direct but not at all diminished. One student sums it up well saying, “Constitutional Studies has helped to prepare me for any career I choose—it has shaped my mind in a deeper way. I study Constitutional Studies because it aims at what is true, because it reveals human nature, and because it helps me to live as a better citizen.” Another student noted, “It has made me much more comfortable sharing my thoughts and beliefs out loud.”
Ultimately, these students are called to the Constitutional Studies minors for different reasons, they reap different benefits, and they will take those benefits in all different directions—but they all agree that they have been enriched.
Professor Vincent Muñoz, the program director whose courses students frequently name as some of their favorites, attributes the minor’s broad appeal to a particular desire he has seen again and again in students: “I see a deep interest among Notre Dame students in debating fundamental questions about justice and a just political order. Most Notre Dame students are open and interested to hear the views of those with whom they disagree and also the best arguments on any and every side of political, economic, and moral debates.”
Muñoz holds that the Constitutional Studies minor is more than just an academic pursuit—it is an invitation to think deeply, engage in meaningful dialogue, and develop a perspective that transcends any single career path.
Students in the Constitutional Studies minor tended to agree with the program’s director. The advice from students was unequivocal: Do it. One student emphasized, “Whether you are interested in philosophy, history, theology, political science, or something else, Constitutional Studies will offer something to you.” Another highlighted its practical benefits, saying, “It expands how you think and, regardless of if you enjoy it, politics cannot be escaped in our lives. It forms the systems we live in and influences how all industries function.”
Regardless of major or intended career, students describe the minor as a meaningful addition to their education. “It will contribute to whatever you are studying, even if you are not in the humanities,” a student advised. “It will diversify your education and give you a better understanding of many different aspects of any career.”
Students who have completed the minor emphasize its broad enrichment, with one advising other students that “there is no reason not to.”
Visit our webpage to learn more about the Constitutional Studies minor.