Political Science and Public Administration 1
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Political Science and Public Administration 1 • The political institutions and processes of the governments of the POLITICAL SCIENCE AND United States. • International political issues, significant international organizations, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION and the world political economy. • The field of comparative political institutions and political processes. Department of Political Science • The field of public administration, its processes, and the general Website: www.washburn.edu/polisci (http://www.washburn.edu/polisci/) principles and problems of complex public organizations. • Interpret the meaning and significance of political data. Faculty Professor Bob Beatty, PhD, Chair Departmental Honors Associate Professor Linsey Moddelmog, PhD 3.5 overall GPA and a 3.5 Political Science/Public Administration GPA (All Assistant Professor, Amber Dickinson, PhD Political Science/Public Administration courses taken. Cognates for the Lecturer Grant Armstrong, PhD BPA are not counted in the major GPA calculation, but must be C or better to count towards the degree). Mission Consistent with the missions of the University and the College of Arts Programs and Sciences, the Department of Political Science offers students the • Political Science, BA (https://catalog.washburn.edu/undergraduate/ opportunity to deepen and broaden their knowledge of the theories and college-arts-sciences/political-science-public-administration/political- functions of politics, policy and governance which regulate the civic science-ba/) interactions of both peoples and sovereignties in the United States • Bachelor's Degree (BPA) in Public Administration (https:// of America and internationally. Students enrolled in the offerings of catalog.washburn.edu/undergraduate/college-arts-sciences/ the department will learn to critically examine the laws, organizations, political-science-public-administration/bachelors-degree-bpa-public- political practices and public behaviors/involvements in the workings administration/) of governments both foreign and domestic. Through engaged teaching, • Government and Political Science Secondary Education, BEd (https:// guided practical involvement, and mentored scholarly research, faculty catalog.washburn.edu/undergraduate/college-arts-sciences/ contribute to the intellectual development of students who acquire skills political-science-public-administration/government-political-science- for the examination and understanding of the discipline. In addition secondary-education-bed/) to the academic/classroom experience, opportunities are provided for • Political Science, Minor (https://catalog.washburn.edu/ observation, participation in, and assessment of the political environment undergraduate/college-arts-sciences/political-science-public- through internships, field study, and the opportunity to experience and administration/political-science-minor/) interact with public officials, analysts and policy experts through course offerings and events. • Public Administration, Minor (https://catalog.washburn.edu/ undergraduate/college-arts-sciences/political-science-public- Description of the Discipline administration/public-administration-minor/) • Certificate of Non-Profit Management (https://catalog.washburn.edu/ Political Science is the study of governments, public policies and political undergraduate/college-arts-sciences/political-science-public- behavior using both humanistic and scientific perspectives and skills to administration/non-profit-management-certificate/) examine the countries and regions of the world. See www.apsanet.org (http://www.apsanet.org). Course Offerings The Political Science Department administers the two degrees of political PO 106 The Government of the United States (3) science (BA) and public administration (BPA), and a Certificate of Non- Theory, organization and functioning of our democratic government in Profit Management (see also the Department of Human Services). modern society with special emphasis on the national government and The Bachelor’s degree in Political Science (BA) seeks to prepare well- its relations with the states. The role of government in a democratic rounded students who understand politics and policies domestically, society as a supplier of services, the embodiment of values and the internationally, theoretically, and administratively. The BA in Political arbiter of conflict is stressed. Science is for those who plan to go on to graduate or law school, careers (General Ed Social Science. Global Citizenship Ethics Div.) in public affairs or public employment, or who seek a well-rounded liberal PO 107 Kansas and the U.S., State and Local Government (3) arts education in preparation for any number of life callings. Examines American state and local politics, government, and public policies from the grassroots to the institutional level with a particular The Department offers a Bachelor of Public Administration degree (BPA) emphasis on the similarities and differences that exist in Kansas that emphasizes public and non-profit management. We also offer jointly in comparison to the characteristics found in the rest of the states. with the Department of Human Services in the School of Applied Studies Contrasting the fundamental differences between states and localities the Certificate of Non-Profit Management. and the national government is also an emphasis of the course. Student Learning Outcomes (General Ed Social Science. Global Citizenship Ethics Div.) Political Science students at Washburn University, upon graduation, are expected to have acquired knowledge in four of the following five subfields: 2 Political Science and Public Administration PO 225 Introduction to International Politics (3) PO 309 Kansas Legislative Experience (3) Theory and practice of international politics with special attention Analysis of the Kansas legislature and governor, along with other state- to foreign policy and decision-making process, major issues facing wide offices and the media — how all function within the governmental the international system, the role and functions of international and system of Kansas. Along with an in-depth study of the legislative session, transnational organizations with respect to conflict and cooperation in the student will be required to attend legislative committee meetings, the international community. floor debates, and gubernatorial press conferences. Students will also (General Ed Social Science. Critical and Creative Thinking.) conduct participant observation within a legislative or executive branch PO 235 Governments of the World: Comparative Politics (3) office. No prerequisites. Examines selected governments of the world. Basic concepts, theories PO 325 Advanced International Relations (3) and methods in comparative analysis of political institutions, processes, The course will examine traditional realist approaches to international and policies of nations. Case studies of selected political systems power; alternative perspectives to power politics; American foreign policy; developed and developing, Western and non-western, democratic and and understandings of the roots and resolution of international conflict. non-democratic illustrate the analytical approaches. PO 332 Politics through Film & Literature (3) (General Ed Social Science. Global Citizenship Ethics Div.) Exposes students to the nature and varied dynamics of politics through PO 245 Introduction to Public Administration (3) film and literature. Emphasis will be placed on classical, modern, and Designed to acquaint the student with the organization and functioning post- modern understandings of politics as expressed in film and of the administration of government. Includes introduction to theories literature with the expectation of sharing an informed and inviting view of of administration, policy and administration values, study of the politics in the Western world. No prerequisites. governmental bureaucracy and administrative behavior. PO 335 Advanced Comparative Politics (3) PO 255 Introduction to the American Legal System (3) A study of the governments politics, policies and political cultures of the Designed to acquaint the student with the basic institutions and countries in particular regions of the world e.g. Latin America, Central procedures of the American legal system. Also a very basic introduction and Western Europe, or China, Japan and Eastern Asia. Analysis of the to substantive areas of American law such as: torts, contracts, civil political processes, government institutions, national and multi-national procedure, regulation of business. alliances, public policies, political economies, cultures, interest groups (General Ed Social Science. Critical and Creative Thinking.) and leaders that shape the political landscapes of the particular region PO 300 Special Topics/Political Science (1-3) covered in a given semester constitutes the scope of each semester's Topics will vary from semester to semester and will be announced in class. A specific emphasis on the forces of political and economic advance. change will be central to the course. PO 305 Public Policy (3) PO 337 Religions and Politics (3) Examines the role of government as a supplier of services to its citizens. Describes the many current trends of religions and politics in the U.S. It will cover the following topics: the nature of politics and policy, social focusing on the major religions and their political teachings, considerable problem identification and articulation, interest groups and the formation political power and activism in contemporary American