POLITICAL
SCIENCE (POLS)
Course
offerings, including introductory courses, are divided into the following major
subfields: American Politics and Public Administration, Comparative Politics
and Area Studies, International Politics, Political Philosophy, Research and
Practice, and Internship and Independent Study.
American Politics and Public Administration
POLS 1110. Introduction to American Politics. (3) (C) Role of the President, Congress, Supreme Court, and
national administrative agencies in the American political system. Relationship
between the American people and their political institutions with emphasis on
political culture, the electoral process, political parties, interest groups,
and political communication. (Fall,
Spring, Summer)
POLS 2120. Introduction to Public Policy. (3) Provides an overview of the policy process in the U.S.
focusing on how public problems arise, how they get on the agenda of
government, how and why the government responds or fails to respond, defining
public policy, explaining how it is made, and who makes it. (Yearly)
POLS 3010. Topics in American Politics or Public
Administration. (1‑4) An intensive
study of a topic in American politics or public administration. The particular
topic investigated may vary from semester to semester, and a student may take
more than one course under this number. (On
demand)
POLS 3102. Federal
Interpretation of the First Amendment. (3)
Prerequisites: at least junior standing or consent of the instructor. In-depth case analysis of tests determining
Constitutional boundaries of expression, including clear and present danger,
prior restraints, fighting words/symbolic speech, strict scrutiny, obscenity,
and indecency. (Cross listed with COMM
4102.) (On demand)
POLS 3103. Public Opinion. (3) A study of attitude and opinion measurement with emphasis
on the techniques of survey research and public opinion polling and
conservative and liberal tendencies in American public opinion and society. (Yearly)
POLS 3104. Mass
Media. (3) An examination of the
relationship of mass media to politics and government. Government regulation of the media and how
the mass media shape political information and behavior. (On demand)
POLS 3105. Voting and Elections. (3) Psychological, sociological, and political variables that
influence voting behavior and that affect electoral stability and change with
emphasis on studies derived from survey research. (Yearly)
POLS 3108. Social Movements and Interest Groups. (3) Analysis of the nature of social movements and interest
groups and their role in the American political system. Emphasis on membership recruitment and
mobilization, campaigns, lobbying, and influence on parties, public opinion,
and public policy. Evaluation of the
extent to which these organizations enhance the voices of ordinary citizens
versus those of corporations and citizens of high social status. (On demand)
POLS 3109. Political Parties. (3) Analysis of the role of political parties in the American political
system. Emphasis on party organizations,
nominations, campaigns, interrelation with interest groups and social
movements, and the role of parties in the executive, legislative, and judicial
arenas. (On demand)
POLS 3110.
POLS 3111. The Congress. (3) Analysis of the role of the Congress in the American
political system and its relationships with the other branches of government.
Recruitment and socialization of congressmen, the committee system, and roll
call analysis. (Yearly)
POLS 3112. The Presidency. (3) Analysis of the role of the Presidency in the American
political system and its relationships with the other branches of government.
Strategies of presidential nomination and election, the sources and indicators
of presidential power, and how those who have held the office have shaped it
and been shaped by it. (Yearly)
POLS 3114. Constitutional Law. (3) Development of American Constitutionalism (especially
federalism and the separation of powers) with a major emphasis on the role of
the U.S. Supreme Court in national policy making. (Yearly)
POLS 3115. Civil Rights and Liberties. (3) (V) Utilizes public policy analysis to illuminate judicial
decisions and opinions relating to contemporary civil rights and liberties. (Yearly)
POLS 3116. Judicial Process. (3) Introduction to the
nature and functions of law; survey of Supreme Court decision making. (Yearly)
POLS 3119. State Politics. (3) The politics of
state governments in the U.S. using a
comparative approach to analyze differences in their formal governmental
structures, political climates, and the processes by which public policies are
adopted. (Yearly)
POLS 3121. Urban Politics. (3) Analysis of the political processes in the nation's
metropolitan areas and the adjustments and responses of the U.S. governmental
system to cope with the urban area. (Yearly)
POLS 3124. U.S. Domestic Policy. (3) Examination of the processes of and influences on policy
making, including goals and objectives of current U.S. domestic policy. Focus
on major policy areas; may include such topics as fiscal and monetary policy,
education, transportation, management of national economy, and agriculture,
among others. (Yearly)
POLS 3125. Health
Care Policy. (3) An overview of the
development and current functioning of U. S. health care system and public
policies regarding the organization, delivery and financing of health care at
the federal, state, and local levels. (Yearly)
POLS 3126. Administrative Behavior. (3) The role of the
administrator and public bureaucracy in modern democratic society, with
emphasis on the interplay of forces created by executives, legislators,
political parties, and interest groups. (Yearly)
POLS 3128. Politics and Film. (3) (A) Examination of the influence and role of film in American
politics. Movies provide important cues about
cultures, values, and society, and affect how people perceive or view their
environment. Explores and analyzes the
images and messages conveyed about American politics, and develops
understanding of the role of film in American politics. Requires viewing films in class, discussion,
and writing about the films. (On demand)
Comparative Politics and Area Studies
POLS 1130. Introduction to Comparative Politics. (3) (X) Political comparison among nations, diverse geographical
emphases, including Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. (Fall, Spring, Summer)
POLS 3030. Topics in Comparative Politics or Area Studies.
(1‑4) An intensive study of a topic
in comparative politics or area studies. The particular topic investigated may
vary from semester to semester, and a student may take more than one course
under this number. (On demand)
POLS 3131. Political Development. (3) Comparative study of how and why political systems change,
with particular emphasis on the politics and political economy of countries in
the Third World. (On demand)
POLS 3132. Comparative Public Policy. (3) Examination of the policy process and policy outcomes in
the United States and other countries.
Analyzes policy areas in depth to determine the role that variations in
policy culture and political institutions play in shaping policy choices.
Examines the possibility and limitations of transferring policy innovation from
one polity to another. (On demand)
POLS 3135. Political Violence. (3) Designed to address four questions: (1) What is political
violence? (2) Why does it occur? (3) What is its relationship to other
political processes? (4) What is its impact on society? Examines manifestations
of violent political behavior such as pathological violence, conspiratorial
violence, collective violence, and government violence. (Yearly)
POLS 3137. Political Corruption. (3) (V) The use of public office for private ends in comparative
and historical perspective. Examples are drawn from the Third World, Western
Europe, socialist systems, and the local, state, and national levels in the
U.S. (Yearly)
POLS 3141. European Politics. (3) Comparative analysis of selected European governments
including Great Britain, France, Germany, and Italy. (Yearly)
POLS 3143. African Politics. (3) A comparative
perspective on politics in sub‑Saharan Africa and on the
performance of post-independence political systems there in terms of national
and international integration, economic challenges, and efforts to create
stable and democratic civilian regimes. (Yearly)
POLS 3144. Latin American Politics (3) Comparative overview of political and socio-economic change
in Latin America from the colonial period to the present. Primary emphasis on Latin American politics
in the twentieth century, competing political ideologies, socio-economic
issues, international political economy, and internal political change. (On demand)
POLS 3148. Chinese Politics. (3) The origins, development, and maintenance of the Chinese
political system. The organization and function of the Chinese Communist Party
(CCP) and other political groups. The impact of tradition on contemporary
Chinese politics. (Yearly)
POLS 3149. Japanese Politics. (3) Political behavior and development of political
institutions in Japan. Emphasis on nature of political change and political
process--political socialization, political culture, party systems, interest
groups and public policy formation. Cross‑national comparison with non‑Asian
democratic systems. (Yearly)
International Politics
POLS 1150. Introduction to International Politics. (3) (X) Analysis of politics among nations: material and
psychological sources of national power; the role of law, force and diplomacy
in world politics; problems of peace and disarmament; and international
organization. (Fall, Spring, Summer)
POLS 3050. Topics in International Politics. (1‑4) An intensive study of a topic in international politics.
The particular topic investigated may vary from semester to semester, and a
student may take more than one course under this number. (On demand)
POLS 3151. International Political Economy. (3) An analysis of the political dynamics of economic
relationships among countries. Attention is focused on the political aspects of
monetary, trade, and investment relationships, and the difficulties involved in
coordinating policy and maintaining effective international management. (Yearly)
POLS 3152.
International Organizations. (3) An
analysis of the development and functions of formal and informal organizations
that govern international politics and markets, including the United Nations
system, economic and non-governmental organizations, and regional institutions.
(Yearly)
POLS 3153. European
Union. (3) An analysis of the European
Union (EU) from historical, political, and economic perspectives. Emphasis on the institution's actors
(especially states and interest groups) and policies of the EU as well as the
changing relationship between the EU and its major trading partners such as the
U.S.. (Yearly)
POLS 3154. Cyberspace and Politics. (3) Examination
of the advent of information technologies and digital communication in the
global community and the impact of these changes on multi-level
politics--international, regional, national, and sub-national. Four major themes are: exploration of the
digital world, cyberspace governance and public policy, electronic government
and virtual citizenship, and cyberspace expansion and global reach. Taught mainly as a web-based course. (Yearly)
POLS 3157. American Foreign Policy. (3) A survey of the key issues affecting the conduct of U.S.
foreign policy with attention to the formulation and implementation of foreign
policy decisions with particular reference to some of the more critical foreign
policy issue areas. (Yearly)
POLS 3161. Defense
and Security Policy. (3) Review of
constitutional provisions for national security and defense policy in the US,
overview of democratic environments as
they relate to defense and national security.
Analysis of “security” as it was defined in “Cold War” terms and of
trends and conditions of international conflict and political change. Particular attention to the impact of the demise of
the Soviet Union and the restructuring of Eastern Europe. Impact of global security issues on national
security and defense decisions. (Yearly)
POLS 3162. International Law. (3) Historical and political analysis of the sources and
development of international law. Particular attention is given to the role of
modern international law in the relations of nation‑states and its
application to contemporary global problems. (Yearly)
POLS 3163. Model United Nations. (3) (W,O) Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Preparation for
and participation in the Model United Nations (simulation of the United
Nations). Includes study of the background of country to be represented; the
history, structure and procedures of the United Nations; drafting of
resolutions and position papers; and public speaking and caucusing. May be
repeated for credit. (Spring)
POLS 3164. U.S.-Latin American Relations. (3) Addresses the always-complicated and often-conflictive
relationship between Latin American and the United States. Particular attention
to critical contemporary issues such as the drug trade, immigration,
international trade, humanitarian aid and U.S. policy toward Cuba. (On demand)
POLS 3165. East Asia in World Affairs. (3) Examines the political factors governing diplomatic
relations, national order, economic trade, and national security in East Asia.
Emphasis on China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, the Korean peninsula, and the
Philippines. (Yearly)
POLS 3167. U.S. and Japan. (3) A survey of the key elements affecting the structure and
direction of U.S. relations with Japan. Emphasis on the major issues affecting
the relationship and the efforts to resolve conflicts and maintain patterns of
cooperation. (Yearly)
POLS 3169. Foreign Policy of African States. (3) Prerequisite: any upper-division course on Africa. A
theoretical approach to the study of external and internal factors influencing
the development, implementation, and conduct of foreign policy of African
states. (Cross-listed with AAAS 4105.) (Spring)
Political Philosophy
POLS 1170.
Introduction to Political Philosophy. (3) (V) Survey course that includes an introduction to recognized
major political thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and
Marx. Included are other politically
influential writers such as Confucius, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Martin Luther
King. (Cross-listed with PHIL 2165.) (Fall,
Spring)
POLS 3070. Topics in Political Philosophy. (3) (V) Analysis of a selected problem in contemporary political
philosophy or in the history of political philosophy. Includes moral and
ethical evaluation of political and social practices and institutions. Readings
from classic texts or contemporary works. Topic for consideration changes from
semester to semester. Course may be repeated with permission of instructor. (On demand)
POLS 3171. History of Classical Political Philosophy. (V)
(3) Major concepts and systems of
political philosophy of Ancient Greece and Rome. (Fall)
POLS 3172. African‑American Political Philosophy. (3)
Prerequisite: 3000 level course on Africa
from AAAS, HIST, or POLS. Major competing ideologies in African-American
political philosophy. Cross-listed with AAAS 3179. (On demand)
POLS 3173. History of Modern Political Philosophy. (3) (V) Major concepts and systems of western political philosophy
from the 16th‑19th century. (Spring)
POLS 3174.
Democracy. (3) (V) Study of the
justifications and criticisms of various philosophies about the nature of
democracy and comparison of these ideas to democratic practice based on
historical and contemporary sources. (On
demand)
POLS 3175. Law, Justice, and Morality. (3) (V) Introduction to ethics with a focus on such contemporary
ethical issues as abortion, suicide and euthanasia, capital punishment, and war
and terrorism. (Fall, Spring)
POLS 3177. Social and Political Philosophy. (3) (C) Philosophical concepts involved in understanding and
evaluating the basic structure of societies (e.g., economic, educational,
legal, motivational, and political) including equality, fraternity, freedom,
and rights. Relevance to contemporary social and political issues stressed.
Readings from classical and contemporary sources. Cross-listed with PHIL 3226.
(On demand)
Research and Practice of Political Science
POLS 2000. Oral Political Communication. (1) (O) Prerequisites: POLS 1110, 1130, and 1150, and a course in
Political Philosophy. Development of skill in oral communication of political
concepts by means of giving and evaluating oral presentations of a political
nature for a variety of purposes to a variety of kinds of audiences. All grading based on the student's oral
presentation. (Fall, Spring)
POLS 4220. Research Methods in Political Science. (4) (W) Prerequisites: junior standing; POLS 1110, POLS 1130, POLS
1150, and STAT 1222. An introduction to research methods in political science
to include a brief consideration of the following topics: philosophy of
science; the place of research methods in the discipline of political science;
research design; research strategies and techniques; data interpretation. Three
lecture hours and a one-hour laboratory period per week. (Fall, Spring)
POLS 4990. Senior Thesis. (3) (W) Prerequisite: POLS 4220. The student completes an
article-length research paper under the supervision of a member of the faculty.
The paper must involve quantitative or other methods of modern political
analysis. (Fall, Spring, Summer)
Internship and Independent Study
POLS 4400. Internship in Political Science. (3‑6) Practical experience in politics by working for a party, campaign
organization, political office holder, news medium, government agency, or other
political organization. Minimum of 150 working hours for three hours credit;
minimum of 300 working hours for six hours credit. No more than six credits may
be received through this course. Pass/No
Credit grading only. (Fall, Spring,
Summer)
POLS 4800. Independent Study. (1‑3) Prerequisite: consent of the instructor. Supervised
investigation of a political problem that is (1) of special interest to the
student; (2) within the area of the instructor's special competence; and (3)
normally an extension of previous coursework with the instructor. A student may
take more than one course under this number but not more than three hours a
semester. (Fall, Spring, Summer)