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Political Science
- Professor:
- Associate Professors:
- Assistant Professor:
Requirements for Major: Students
may complete a major in political science with nine courses, including
Introduction to American
Government, Comparative
Government, International
Relations, Reasearch
Methods in Political Science, Senior
Seminar, and any three other courses in the department.
Requirements for Minor: Students
may elect a minor in political science with five courses, including
Introduction to American
Government, Comparative
Government, and
International Relations,
and any two other courses in the department.
One Core 6 (Social and Behavioral Science)
IDS course may be counted toward the major or the minor in political
science with permission of the chair of the department. In general,
Introduction to American
Government is a prerequisite for all other courses in American
politics, namely PS 2010,
2100, 2120,
2130, 2150,
3140, 3190,
3200, and 3250.
Comparative Government
is a prerequisite for all other courses in comparative politics
and international relations, namely PS
2400, 3300, 3310,
3350, 3400,
3410, 4300,
4400, and 4500.
Exceptions by permission of instructor.
Courses
1000 Introduction to American Government (4 sem. hours).
A systems analysis of the American political environment and decision
making agencies, including study of federalism, state and local
government, political parties, Congress, the Presidency, and the
judiciary.
1300 Comparative Government (4 sem. hours). General
comparative theory applied to developed and developing nations.
2010 American Public Policy (4 sem. hours). Analysis
of civil liberties and civil rights, and fiscal, regulatory, social,
defense, and foreign policies.
2050 Women and the Law (4 sem. hours). This course
examines the development of the legal rights of women in American
jurisprudence. Analyzing current issues affecting women, such as
marriage, family, reproductive rights, employment, and sexual harassment,
the course focuses on federal policy in the second half of the twentieth
century.
2100 The U. S. Congress (4 sem. hours). This
course examines the roles and functions of Congress in American
governance. Recruitment is analyzed, as are formal and informal
structures and processes, interbranch relations, and legislative
reform. Offered in alternate years.
2120 The U.S. Presidency (4 sem. hours). This
course analyzes the institutional nature, roles, and functions of
the American presidency. Questions of selection, the nature of leadership
and executive power, formal and informal duties of office, evolution
of the presidency, and performance evaluation are also explored.
Offered in alternate years.
2130 The U.S. Judiciary (4 sem. hours). The
nature and functioning of the judicial branch of American government
is examined. From jurisprudence to the roles of courts, this course
analyzes judicial recruitment and selection, decision-making, and
court organization and management in courts from the U.S. Supreme
Court to the municipal magistrate. Offered occasionally.
2150 Urban/Metropolitan Politics (4 sem. hours).
The nature of urban, suburban, and metropolitan governance is examined.
Questions of urban policy the future of cities, and quality of urban/metropolitan
management are explored. Policy questions such as community and
economic development, housing, growth management and planning, etc.
are analyzed. Offered occasionally.
2200 Economic Policy Issues (4 sem. hours). The course
investigates various aspects of the public policy regarding economic
issues. Both macro and micro policy issues may be considered. Prerequisites:
Economics 2000 and sophomore
standing. Same as Economics 2200.
2400 International Relations (4 sem. hours). Consideration
of issues, strategies, and theories of international politics including
the concepts of national interest and national defense, imperialism,
balance of power, economics, and international cooperation and law.
2500 Political Theory (4 sem. hours). An inquiry
into the basic principles of social and political organization,
with special emphasis on concepts of government, justice, punishment,
family, property, work, and peace. Same as Philosophy
2010. Offered in alternate years.
2550 Research Methods in Political Science (4 sem. hours).Examination
of the fundamental issues involved in conceiving and executing a
research project in the social sciences. Several research methodologies
are covered: interviews, surveys, archival research, and case studies.
Also includes introduction to statistical analysis of data.
3140 Constitutional Law (4 sem. hours). An analysis,
including historical background and philosophical evolution, of
Supreme Court interpretations of Constitutional provisions relating
to the structure of the federal government and relationships between
the different branches and with the states. Prerequisite: Political
Science 1000 and junior standing.
3150 Civil Liberties (4 sem. hours). This course
examines individual constitutional rights of expression, religion,
"fundamental rights" (such as privacy and travel) and equal protection
as developed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Constitutional rights of
the accused in the U.S. judicial system especially as developed
through Supreme Court cases. The role of the Supreme Court in American
government.
3200 Political Parties and Interest Groups (4 sem. hours).
Examination of history and current structure and functions of American
political parties and interest groups in American politics. Offered
occasionally.
3210 Mass Media and Political Communication (4 sem. hours).
This course examines the legal environment, history, and content
of the press in America. The course covers several aspects of media
law including patterns of media ownership and antitrust policy,
prior restraint, libel, privacy, and hate speech. Media coverage
of various topics such as U.S. elections, crime, foreign affairs,
crises, and state and local issues are analyzed.
3220 Public Opinion, and Voting Behavior (4 sem. hours).
Examines approaches to the study of and the content of American
public opinion on politics and selected issues; and examination
of American voters- why they vote (or do not vote) the way they
do.Offered occasionally.
3250 Public Administration (4 sem. hours). Theory
and application of planning, organizing, staffing, directing, coordinating,
reporting, and budgeting in public agencies. Offered
occasionally.
3300 Western European Government and Politics (4 sem. hours).
Examination of politics and government in Western Europe by means
of country studies and comparisons. Sections of the course will
be devoted to the general topic of European integration and related
concepts like "regionalism," "functionalism," and "integration theory."
Offered in alternate years.
3310 African Government and Politics (4 sem. hours).
Examination of politics and government in Africa by means of country
studies and comparisons. Sections of the course will be devoted
to the examination of issues of development and underdevelopment.
Offered in alternate years.
3350 The Politics of Race and Ethnicity: A Comparative Perspective
(4 sem. hours). Examination of issues of race and
ethnicity in selected countries. Sections of the course are devoted
to the comparative study of the causes and consequences of ethnic
and racial strife as well as the examination of race- and ethnic-
specific policies in selected countries. Offered occasionally.
3400 U.S. Foreign Policy (4 sem. hours). Diplomatic,
military, and economic aspects of foreign policy considered within
the context of current issues. Offered in alternate
years.
3410 International Organizations/Model United Nations (2 to 4 sem.
hours). Examination of recent trends in the "globalization"
and "regionalization" of political, social, and economic issues.
A substantial part of the course will focus on the United Nations
system. Through research and role-play (including participation
in Model UN situations) the course will examine several different
areas of the UN's work.
3700-02 Directed Readings in Political Science (2 - 4
sem. hours). Directed readings in political science
(no more than one directed reading course may be included in the
list of courses for the major.)
3800-02 Political Science Internship (1, 2 and 4 sem. hours).
4300 Developing Nations (4 sem. hours). Comparative
theory applied to developing nations. Prerequisite: Political
Science 1300. Offered in alternate years.
4400 Peace, Conflict Resolution and International Security (4 sem.
hours). This course will focus on issues of peace
and international security. The course will seek to stimulate a
wider awareness and appreciation of the search for peaceful resolution
to strife in all its forms. Offered in alternate years.
4500 Political Sociology (4 sem. hours). This course
will employ the political-economy perspective to examine the various
political ideologies and the diverse economic systems in the contemporary
world. The course will also include an overview of theories of development
and underdevelopment, and a discussion of social change within both
specific societies and the world system. Offered occasionally.
4600-02 Special Topics in Political Science (1, 2, 4 sem. hours).
Areas of interest not covered in regular courses; unusual opportunities
to study subjects of special interest.
4900 Senior Seminar (4 sem. hours). Survey of historical
development of the discipline; examination of contemporary issues
in major sub-fields of the discipline; and examination of some examples
of current uses of political science knowledge.
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