Pre-Law: Understanding the Bill of Rights
Gain a greater understanding of the United States Bill of Rights and how it has shaped the modern world.
About the Course
What do the First, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments really mean in everyday life? In this interactive political science course, you’ll explore the Bill of Rights—the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution—and examine how they continue to influence our society, government, and personal freedoms today.
Through engaging discussions, case studies, and Supreme Court examples, you’ll investigate how constitutional rights have evolved over time and how citizens can use them to protect themselves from government overreach. You’ll strengthen your ability to think critically, analyze complex legal ideas, and engage with issues that define democracy.
Students interested in political science often go on to impactful careers in law, public policy, international affairs, journalism, and advocacy. This course offers an early foundation in those fields—and inspires active citizenship.
Course Details
- Credits: 3
- Location: Adelphi University, Garden City, NY campus
- Dates: July 12–August 1, 2026
- Schedule: Monday–Thursday, 10:00am–2:00pm
Gary Greaves leads a summer pre-college course on law and the Bill of Rights at Adelphi University’s Garden City campus.
What You’ll Learn
By the end of the course, you will:
- Investigate how rights have expanded and contracted over time through practice and Supreme Court decisions
- Study each amendment’s development and reasoning to understand how citizens can protect themselves from government overreach
- Discover pathways for continued study in law through Adelphi’s Pre-Professional Pre-Law Programs
Meet Your Professor
Gary Greaves is an Adjunct Instructor within the Political Science Department here at Adelphi University.
Professor Greaves holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology with a minor in History, and a Master of Arts Degree in Political Science covering American Politics and Political Theory. Professor Greaves is also a former competitive debater and public speaker in high school and undergrad.
He has worked as a Social Studies teacher at Nazareth Regional High School (his alma mater), a Senior Audit Analyst at the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget, a Project Coordinator at the Rockaway Development and Revitalization Corporation (overseeing an economic development and anti-crime program in collaboration with the 101st NYPD precinct, the Queens County District District Attorney Office and the U.S Attorney Office, and a Project Manager at New York City’s Department of Small Business Services, focusing on economic development, business improvement districts, and workforce development.
Some of the institutions where Professor Greaves has taught include Medgar Evers College, CUNY; Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus; Guttman Community College, CUNY, and here at Adelphi. His focus is on civil rights and civil liberties, the United States Constitution, and communications.
