Course History and Objectives
BYU's Board of Trustees created the idea of American
Heritage 100 over 25 years ago, because they believed
that university students needed a better understanding
of the origins of the Constitution and its role in American
life. Though the way we teach the course has changed
in the intervening years, the course's objectives have
not. American Heritage 100 strives to support students
as they:
• Understand the religious, historical, political
and economic origins of the Constitution;
• Learn how the Constitution works;
• Apply their knowledge of the Constitution
to analyze major historical, political and economic
issues; and
• Become better informed, more active citizens.
Every year, more than 6,000 students take American
Heritage. Because the freshman class is so large,
we have had to develop innovative ways to teach the
course. Most students will have two lecture sections
each week, held in the auditorium of the Joseph Smith
Building. These lectures are taught by some of BYU's
best professors. They bring the concepts of the course
to life through examples, role playing, audio and
video clips, small group discussions, and lectures.
Once a week students meet with a teaching assistant
for review, discussion and application work. Should
you need more individualized help, teaching assistants
and faculty are available for one-on-one work.
