Political Science

Bachelor of Arts

International Relations, BA

International relations leads to careers or graduate study in government, law, international business and finance, communications, and diplomacy. Graduates can also seek employment with nonprofit international institutions, such as the United Nations or the World Bank. Working with their academic advisor, students fashion a concentration in such areas as diplomacy, international business, national security, and the history and culture of a geographic region. Students must also study a foreign language.

Curriculum

Students are encouraged to study abroad for one semester. Credits from pre-approved, overseas programs will be considered for transfer. If students wish to study abroad, they should plan to do so either in the summer or during their junior year.

Required Courses (28 Credits)

ANTH 105 - Cultural Anthropology

3 Credit(s)

This course introduces students to the study of human cultural diversity. By examining different cultural systems from around the world, students learn concepts and methods for investigating why humans think and behave the way they do. This course provides students with the competence to live and work with people from different cultural backgrounds. It also enables students to see the world through a different cultural "lens" and reflect critically on the cultural beliefs and practices that govern their own lives. Topics include race, ethnicity, nationalism, language, gender, sexuality, religion, warfare, political organization, economic systems, migration, healing, kinship, marriage, and the family. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisite. POLS 101 - American Government and Politics

3 Credit(s)

An introduction to basic concepts, functions, and processes of politics and government, using the American system as a model. The course includes topics such as political socialization, constitutional government, legislative process, presidential leadership and bureaucracy, the role of the judiciary, elections, political parties, interest groups, and problems of civil rights. Prerequisite(s): No Prerequisites.

POLS 102 - Foreign Government and Politics

3 Credit(s)

This introductory course provides students with a basic knowledge of how political systems around the world function. By examining a wide range of countries, students learn how and why the "rules of the political game" differ from country to country. It is hoped that, after taking this course, students will better understand political events that take place outside the United States and appreciate the diverse political ideas and aspirations of people around the world. Prerequisite(s): No Prerequisites.

POLS 103 - Political Economy

3 Credit(s)

This course concentrates on the various elements of economics and its relationship to political systems. While we often try to separate politics and economics, there is an inherent interactive and dynamic relationship between the concepts. This course provides a cursory deliberation on the theories presented by classical theorists of economics and politics. Moreover, the course will focus on significant issues in political economy such as market forces, fiscal policy, monetary policy, government and social expenditures, economic growth, governmental regulation, approaches to development, and international trade policy. The overriding theme of the course emphasizes the significant differences between countries on how the state influences elements of its economy through political-economic systems. This course serves as a political science elective and a social science general education elective.

POLS 221 - Introduction to International Relations

3 Credit(s)

An introduction to various approaches and methods of analysis in international relations. The course examines the nature of the international system, the manner in which states and other actors behave, the causes of war and techniques of conflict resolution, economic interactions, and the implications of growing international interdependence. The course also addresses socio-economic imbalances among nations. Sophomore standing required. Prerequisite(s): No Prerequisites.

POLS 306 - Modern Political Theory

3 Credit(s)

An in-depth survey of the major pre-20th-century thinkers who influenced Western political tradition, including Plato and Aristotle; Machiavelli; Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau; Hegel and Marx. A critical reading of the original texts promotes careful discussion of their historical contexts and relevance to contemporary issues. Students also administer the Democracy Project—a campus-wide undergraduate survey—and analyze its results. Required for majors. Prerequisite(s): No Prerequisites.

POLS 307 - Theories of International Relations

3 Credit(s)

As the study of international politics has emerged as a separate discipline, various contending theories have been developed to explain the nature of the international state system. Students in this course examine several of these theories and attempt to evaluate them. This course is intended for advanced students in political science. Prerequisite(s): POLS 221.

POLS 310 - Empirical Political Analysis

4 Credit(s)

The main goal of this course is to provide students with the theoretical background and research skills for behavioral political analysis. Topics include research design, data collection, data analysis, computer techniques, and research applications. Laboratory sessions provide further opportunities for research skills development. Political science and international relations students are required to take this course in the junior year. Prerequisite(s): No Prerequisites.

POLS 410 - Senior Research Seminar

3 Credit(s)

Preparation of a senior research paper and poster presentation in a specific field of political science. Required of all majors in international relations and political science. Prerequisite(s): POLS 310.

Language Requirement (6 Credits)

A minimum of two 3-credit courses (at or above the 200 level) in a single modern language 6 Credit(s)

Electives (12 Credits)

(select four of the following)

International Relations

POLS 204 - Current Issues in World Affairs

3 Credit(s)

This course introduces students to current issues in international relations. The course focuses primarily on such issues as relations between rich and poor nations, the race between food and population, energy, technology, and the threat to the environment. In addition, students may examine other issues in the headlines, such as terrorism, immigration, human rights, international trade, and the proliferation of chemical, nuclear, and biological weapons. The course hews rather closely to recent events. Prerequisite(s): No Prerequisites. POLS 222 - American Foreign Policy

3 Credit(s)

This course begins with a description of American foreign policy from the earliest days of the Republic up to the present time. Students then consider the interacting roles of the leading policy makers, including the president, Congress, State Department, and CIA. The final portion of the course involves the tools of foreign policy, such as covert action, diplomacy, and economic assistance, as well as pressing foreign policy problems of the day. Sophomore standing required.

POLS 225 - Genocide and Political Power

3 Credit(s)

The motivations for committing genocide or acts of genocide can vary; sometimes the desire to remove a particular group completely provides motivation; in other cases, acts of genocide occur in the course of a civil war. In this course, students explore the motivations of governments or groups to commit genocide; whether and how ethnic groups and nations recover from a genocide or ethnic cleansing; and what paths and solutions are open to states trying to rebuild in the wake of such atrocities. The continuing role of national identity and nationalism, and the actions taken or avoided by governments, provide a lens through which students examine the potential for gaining or regaining political power for targeted ethnic groups. Prerequisite(s): No Prerequisites.

POLS 226 - The Developing World

3 Credit(s)

This course provides an overview of the political, economic, and social challenges and problems in the developing world comprised of Latin America, Africa, and Asia. It examines issues of development originating from colonialism and postcolonialism such as ethnicity, democratization, war and conflict, authoritarianism, and other problems facing developing countries in their quest for economic development and political stability.

POLS 228 - Politics of European Integration

3 Credit(s)

This course is an exploration of the process of policymaking and integration in the European Union. Its aim is to increase students' knowledge and understanding of the dynamics of European Union politics. Students examine why countries with historical animosities decide to work together; how economic, monetary, and labor relations are linked; and why average citizens of democratic countries sometimes oppose the institutions to which they belong. Students enrolled in this course are eligible to participate in the model European Union simulation (EuroSim). Prerequisite(s): No Prerequisites.

POLS 235 - Coups, Cartels, and Carnevale: Politics in Latin America

3 Credit(s)

The goal of this course is to provide students with a basic understanding of how the political systems of Latin America function. The course focuses on the evolution of those systems and analyzes how they have dealt with problems of socioeconomic development. Prerequisite(s): No Prerequisites. POLS 247 - Vodka and Capitalism: Russian Politics in the 21st Century

3 Credit(s)

This course examines the various political, economic, and social problems facing Russia and the 14 so-called Newly Independent States (NIS), which together formerly composed the Soviet Union. Topics addressed include the transition and evolution of the Russian political system, the transformation of the Soviet command economy into a capitalist economy, the attendant rise of organized crime, the war in Chechnya, and Russian foreign policy. In addition, students examine the post-Soviet developments in the Central Asian republics (the "Stans"), and their role in the war on terror. Prerequisite(s): No Prerequisites.

POLS 337 - Politics in the Middle East

3 Credit(s)

An analysis of the Middle East (the Arabic-speaking countries, as well as Israel, Turkey, and Iran) and its role in world politics, focusing on the period since World War II. Attention is given to integrative and disintegrative forces within and among the Middle Eastern countries. Students also examine the Arab-Israeli impasse and the roots of terrorism in the Middle East. American relations with the Middle East are also stressed. Prerequisite(s): POLS 102.

POLS 345 - War and Peace

3 Credit(s)

This course examines various facets of war and peace. Peace is treated here as more than the absence of war. Over the years, humankind has developed various tactics and strategies that sometimes succeed in promoting peace and cooperation among states. The course also explores the causes of war and examines some of the techniques to prevent war and keep the peace, such as deterrence and arms control, Wilsonian collective security, complex multilateralism and integration, negotiation and mediation, peace-keeping, peace enforcement, and peace building. Prerequisite(s): POLS 204, POLS 221, or POLS 222. Sophomore standing required.

POLS 347 - Star Wars, Star Trek or Firefly: Nation-States and Globalization

3 Credit(s)

In the TV series Star Trek, the world is ruled by a political structure called "The Federation." All former nation-states have been merged under one political system. In the universe of Firefly, the United States and China formed one political entity combining politics and languages on "Earth-That-Was." Is this the direction we are headed through globalization? Are nation-states becoming an artifact of the past. This course focuses on the political, economic, and social impacts of globalization on nation states around the world. It builds on and encompasses theories and arguments from international relations, comparative politics, and even American politics. Prerequisite(s): POLS 102 or POLS 204 or permission of instructor.

POLS 385 - Strategic Intelligence

3 Credit(s)

This course is designed to explain the nature of strategic intelligence, review the evolution of American intelligence, study the organizations that engage in American intelligence today, and consider the dangers of secret intelligence in a free society. In addition, the course examines the basic elements of intelligence: collection, analysis and estimates, counterintelligence, and covert action. Prerequisite(s): POLS 221 or POLS 222.

Or from the Following Disciplines

ANTH 241 - East Asian Civilization

3 Credit(s)

From Samurai to Anime, from the Opium Wars to the Vietnam Conflict, East Asian civilization has long been an object of fascination and fear in Europe and the United States. This course introduces students to the cultural diversity of Southeast Asia. Students will survey the religion, politics, economics, and art of the region and reflect critically on the cultural divide said to separate "the East" from "the West". Using the theories and methods of anthropology, students will trace the cultural connections between ancient belief systems, like Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, and modern cultural forms, such as Kung Fu movies, K-Pop, and Communism. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisite.

(SAME AS POLS 241)

ANTH 246 - Rum, Rasta, and Revolution

3 Credit(s)

The Caribbean region is known for its crystal clear waters, white sand beaches, and, most of all, cultural diversity. It is the region that gave birth to Calypso, Reggae, and Santería, where dreadlocked Rastafarians live alongside modern-day witches (brujas) and Voudou priests who claim to have the power to raise the dead. The region's key place in the history of the African slave trade and European colonialism infused it with a mixture of West African, Native American, European, and East Indian cultural traditions. This course introduces students to the tremendous cultural diversity of the Caribbean region and gives them an opportunity to understand the historical processes that made the region what it is today. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites.

ANTH 248 - Rum, Rasta, and Revolution Field Study

3 Credit(s)

This course consists of a semester-long service-learning project that culminates with a trip to the Caribbean during the Spring Break holiday. Students collaborate with local community partners to complete valuable service while gaining firsthand experience exploring the culture and history of the Caribbean. Prerequisite(s): ANTH 246.Corequisite(s): ANTH 246.

ANTH 251 - Progress and Poverty

3 Credit(s)

Did you ever wonder why there are such disparities between rich and poor countries when many of the raw materials used in industry are found in those poor countries? What is the relationship between the richer "developed" (First World) countries and poorer "underdeveloped" (Third World) countries? This course introduces students to the historical roots of the crisis of underdevelopment and looks critically at what development agencies are doing to solve it. Students examine the nature of world-wide economic systems at the root of these disparities and how these disparities have lead to broad trends of unemployment, poverty, disease, and political instability in the developing world and, increasingly, in the developed world as well. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisite.

Formerly: (FORMERLY ANTH 304)

ANTH 252 - Culture, Power, and the World System

3 Credit(s)

We live in a world that is becoming more connected. Previously uncontacted native tribes find themselves face to face with capitalist entrepreneurs and state bureaucrats. Walmart shelves are filled with products made in other countries that American consumers know little or nothing about. How did this happen? How is it affecting different people around the world? Are local and national cultural differences being erased as we move toward a single global culture? This course exposes students to the critical role of culture in the development of the modern world system. By looking at the ways globalization impacts different cultures around the world, students learn that it has very different meanings and consequences for people in different cultural settings. Topics include modern slavery, NGO-based social movements, trade liberalization, and the U.S.-led War on Terror. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisite.

Formerly: (FORMERLY ANTH 306)

EC 202 - Principles of Microeconomics

3 Credit(s)

This course provides an introduction to product and resource markets; failures of markets to effectively allocate resources; demand and supply decisions by households, businesses, and government; and the impact of international trade. Topics include market systems, consumer behavior, production functions and costs, output pricing under various market structures, and input pricing. Throughout the course, students may work in teams to solve problems. Working in groups, students may interview representatives of businesses, and use the findings from the interviews to apply course content. To further engage students, a game format may be used to review content. This course may be used to satisfy the social science general education distribution requirement. Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing.

EC 300 - Economic Issues in A Global Environment

3 Credit(s)

Based on micro and macro principles of economics, major economic issues facing society are examined and analyzed from a global context. Among the issues studied are the economic role of government, natural resource development and use, labor markets and human resource development, capital markets and investment in productive capacity, impacts of fiscal and monetary policies on economic activity levels, international trade and finance policies, strategies for economic growth and development, and economic systems and economic reform. Prerequisite(s): EC 101 and EC 202 or equivalents.

EC 408 - International Economics

3 Credit(s)

This course is the mixture of the concepts and practice in international economics and offers thorough insight regarding topics in international economics such as theories of absolute advantage and comparative advantage, factor pricing and terms of trade, protectionism including the use of tariffs and non-tariffs protection, balance of payment, and foreign exchange market. Students build a comprehensive understanding in the international trade and finance through working on theories and their applications and will be able to construct the analytical skills to help in reading and understanding issues in international economics. Finally, students apply the analytical skills to construct their own opinion on one of many current issues in international economics as a course paper. Prerequisite(s): EC 101 and EC 202 or equivalent.

FREN 303 - Introduction to Francophone Civilization and Culture

3 Credit(s)

In this course, students explore the diversity of the Francophone world as well as investigate the various Francophone immigrant communities found throughout the United States. Students also study the country of origin of each of these immigrant communities. Students conduct a research project culminating in a written paper in French and an oral presentation on topics related to Francophone culture. Course conducted in French. Prerequisite(s): FREN 202 or by permission of instructor.

HIST 321 - Women in the World Wars

3 Credit(s)

This course examines the experiences of British, French, German, Russian, and American women on both the homefront and battlefront during the First and Second World Wars. Through a comparative study of women's attitudes, their domestic and public activities, and government policies toward them, the course investigates women's traditional and nontraditional wartime roles. It also considers the impact of the World Wars on attitudes toward women and on women's opportunities and status in the immediate post-war years. Memoirs, diaries, and correspondence by women who worked in war industries, served in auxiliary military services, and fought on the front lines are among the primary sources students use to obtain evidence about women's wartime experiences. This course fulfills requirements for the GWS major and minor.

HIST 326 - Sex and Gender in European History

3 Credit(s)

This course examines the political, economic, social, and cultural developments that occurred in Europe since the Renaissance with a focus on gender, family, marriage, sex, and sexuality. The purpose of the course is to familiarize students with gender as an analytical category as distinguished from sex, make students conscious of the variability of gender, and knowledgeable of the forces that have acted upon gender and sexuality in the past. Students explore themes such as gender construction, norms and transgressions; marriage and the family; concepts of masculinity/femininity and respectability; paternity; sex, deviance, and sexual danger; regulation, repression, and liberation; and the relationship between the state and the private lives of individuals. This course fulfills requirements for the GWS major and minor.

HIST 333 - Facism, Nazi Germany, and the Holocaust

3 Credit(s)

An investigation of the origins and consequences of the Nazi regime, with particular attention to the planning and implementation of the Final Solution and the destruction of Europe's Jews.

HIST 334 - Russia in the 18th and 19th Centuries 3 Credit(s)

The political, economic, and social history of Russia from the reign of Peter the Great to the end of the 19th century. Among the topics examined are Russia's territorial expansion, the growth of industrialization, the transformation of the nobility and the peasantry, and the emergence of the revolutionary movement.

HIST 336 - Russia's Holocaust: Life and Death in Stalin's Time

3 Credit(s)

This course provides students with a better understanding of Josef Stalin's dictatorship (1929–1953), a period of unparalleled terror and mass repression in the USSR. It will examine Stalin's personality and policies; the apparatus of terror and repression he employed to gain and maintain power; and the social, economic, political, and cultural consequences of Stalinism for its victims and for the future development of the USSR/Russia.

HIST 337 - Russia Since Communism

3 Credit(s)

This course examines the political, economic, social, and cultural development of post-Soviet Russia, with particular attention to the impact of the communist legacy after 1991. This examination takes place within the framework of two competing analytical perspectives: 1) Westernism, according to which Russia is in the process of assimilating Western values and incorporating Western institutions, and 2) Traditionalism, according to which Russia is fundamentally different from the West due to its authoritarian, communal, and Orthodox heritage, and thus highly unlikely to adopt Western ways. Primary sources—mainly observer and participant accounts—provide the basic reading for this course.

HIST 343 - Allies, Enemies, and World War: European Diplomacy from 1871 to 1945

3 Credit(s)

An examination of European diplomacy in the last quarter of the 19th century and first half of the 20th century, with special attention to the origins and consequences of World War I and World War II. This course focuses on Great Power diplomacy to examine in detail how the development of imperialism, nationalism, and militarism shaped international relations and eventually led the Great Powers into two cataclysmic and catastrophic conflicts. In this examination, attention is given not only to the role of governments, but also to the role of individual diplomats and public opinion in shaping Great Power policy and diplomatic strategies.

HIST 392 - China in the Modern World

3 Credit(s)

This course explores China's often chaotic journey from empire to nation, and China's ongoing work of being a nation in the modern world. The readings begin with the decline of China's last dynasty and arrive at China's hosting of the summer Olympics in 2008. China's historic path into participation in the modern global and international system has been neither obvious nor inevitable. Over the course of the last century, China has undergone enormous changes, not just in terms of political regimes, but also of the cultural and social fabric and the changing values and identities of its citizens. Though the course is structured to follow chronologically through the major political changes China has faced during the 20th century, our emphasis is on the cultural and social changes affecting the lives of Chinese people and the intersection between state and society. HIST 395 - Sex, Gender and Culture in China

3 Credit(s)

This course examines how shifts in Chinese thought, politics, and economics affected the intimate aspects of the lives of ordinary people in China. Topics to be explored include: love and courtship; beauty and power; marriage and family; friendship; sexuality; child bearing; aging; illness and death.

This course fulfills requirements for the GWS major and minor.

HIST 396 - Human Rights in China: A Historical Perspective

3 Credit(s)

Although an international human rights regime has come into being since WWII, debates concerning cultural relativism versus universalism are far from settled. Is there a specifically Chinese approach to human rights? When have human rights been discussed in Chinese history? What has been the historical development of human rights concepts, concerns, and instruments in global history? Where, when, and how have concerns about human rights in China been raised, and with what historical outcomes? This course explores these and other questions by examining the global history of human rights; debates about cultural relativism and non-Western states; Chinese historical concepts and institutions that may or may not have supported human rights; and the historical development of particularly sensitive human rights issues that tend to draw international attention to China.

HUM 211 - French Civilization and Culture

3 Credit(s)

From the Gallo-Roman period to the Space Age, this course will examine particularly how political, philosophical, and social conditions and developments are reflected in achievements in French literature and the arts. Taught in English.

HUM 212 - Contemporary French Civilization

3 Credit(s)

This course concentrates on a study of contemporary French political, economic, and social structures and their development from the end of World War II to the present. Emphasis will be placed upon the evolution of family life, the changing role of women, education, leisure time activities, immigrant workers, and the sphere of French influence in other Francophone regions of the modern world. Current newspapers and magazines will be the sources of many topics.

ITAL 304 - Italian Civilization and Culture

3 Credit(s)

An analysis of Italian civilization from pre-Roman times to the present. This course surveys the political, social, and historical events that have shaped Italian culture. Use of audiovisual materials and Italian films are part of the program. Prerequisite(s): ITAL 202 or permission of instructor.

SPAN 304 - Spanish Civilization and Culture 3 Credit(s)

An examination of Spanish civilization from its pre-historic roots to its present-day status as a modern European country composed of diverse cultural, linguistic, and ethnic communities. The course surveys the political, social, and historical events that have shaped Spanish culture, and provides opportunities to learn about the literature, art, music, and film of Spain. Students continue to refine their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 202 or consent of the instructor.

SPAN 305 - Latin American Civilization and Culture

3 Credit(s)

A survey of the social, historical, and political currents in Latin America from pre-Columbian times to the present. The course deals with the quest for identity and the sense of orfandad and other legacies of colonialism and independence. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 202 or consent of the instructor.

SPAN 309 - Introduction to Hispanic Literature

3 Credit(s)

This course introduces students to the study of Hispanic literature. In addition to reading representative works in the Spanish language, students study literary concepts such as theme, discourse, figurative language, dialogue, and text. Students read works from the four major categories of literary production—narrative, poetry, drama, and essay—with special attention given to the ways in which categories of genre are both constructed and challenged. This course is strongly recommended for students majoring or minoring in Spanish. All coursework and class discussions are done in Spanish. Prerequisite(s): SPAN 302 or consent of the instructor. SPAN 304 or SPAN 305 recommended but not required.

Total Credits: 46

Note: Prerequisites are in parentheses.

Curriculum Sequence

International Relations Curriculum Sequence

Political Science and Criminal Justice, BA

SEE: Criminal Justice and Political Science, BA

Political Science, BA

The political science major focuses on the way the "rules of the game" are established for conflict resolution and the processes by which conflicts in decision making are resolved or lead to forceful confrontation. Various forms of political institutions are examined with respect to making binding rules (legislation), applying them to ongoing activities (executive and administrative action), and settling disputes about the application of rules (adjudication).

Strong preparation in political science can lead to graduate study in political science, law, international affairs, public administration, urban government, city planning, community affairs, and policy analysis. The field can also lead to careers in the administration of business, government, hospitals, and other types of non-profit organizations. The major is good preparation for journalism and for other public service-oriented professions.

Pre-Law Option

Political science is one of the majors traditionally chosen by students interested in going to law school. By special arrangement with Widener's School of Law, political science majors may choose a "3+3" option whereby they use the first year at Widener Law School to complete the last year of their Widener undergraduate degree in political science. Eligibility for participation in the three-three program is based upon high school record and SAT scores. Students considering this option should speak with the pre-law advisor for the College of Arts and Sciences.

Political science students considering the study of law should pursue the legal studies and analysis minor offered by the College of Arts & Sciences. Students seeking further information on these programs and on preparation for law school admissions should contact pre-law advisor Professor Suzanne Mannus (Arts & Sciences) or Anne Cole Servin, Esq. (School of Business Administration).

Credit for Graduate Coursework

Undergraduate political science majors may petition the MPA Advisory Committee of the public administration faculty to take a maximum of two 500-level public administration courses. Students must have senior standing and must file a written petition with the political science faculty. Students will receive undergraduate political science credit as well as credit toward completion of the graduate MPA program for each MPA course they successfully complete.

Curriculum

Introductory Courses (12 Credits)

POLS 101 - American Government and Politics

3 Credit(s)

POLS 102 - Foreign Government and Politics

3 Credit(s)

POLS 103 - Political Economy 3 Credit(s)

POLS 221 - Introduction to International Relations

3 Credit(s)

Core Courses (31 Credits)

POLS 205 - American Public Policy and Politics

3 Credit(s)

This course surveys the formal and informal processes by which public policy is made and implemented at all levels of government in the United States. Topics include how issues get onto the public and governmental agendas, basic policy formulation processes in the executive and legislative branches, budgetary policies and practices, the role of courts in the policy process, implementation and administrative law, and informal factors affecting policy such as the economy, interest groups, the media, and technology. Prerequisite(s): POLS 101.

POLS 306 - Modern Political Theory

3 Credit(s)

POLS 310 - Empirical Political Analysis

4 Credit(s)

American Politics (6 Credits)

(two courses from the "American Politics" series)

POLS 201 - State and Local Government

3 Credit(s)

An examination of political organization at the state and local levels and the effectiveness of governmental action in dealing with problems of community life. Attention is given to rapidly expanding metropolitan areas, conflicts over community participation in the governmental process, and problems of relations between governments at different levels. The political structure and history of Pennsylvania are used for examples. Prerequisite(s): No Prerequisites.

POLS 203 - The (Dis)United States: Conflict and Consensus in American Politics

3 Credit(s)

The contemporary American political system is often paralyzed by partisan and ideological conflict. Scholars disagree as to whether this is caused by a deeply divided citizenry or political elites interested in their own agendas. This course studies the causes of conflict in American politics and explores how they affect specific areas of public policy. It also examines potential ways to achieve consensus on solutions to some of the country's problems. Prerequisite(s): No Prerequisites.

POLS 206 - Ethics, Politics, and Policy

3 Credit(s)

This course examines the intersection between ethics, elections, policymaking, and policy implementation in the American political system. Consideration is given to how ethical standards apply to election campaigns; executive, legislative, and judicial policymaking; and corruption of policy and administrative processes. Prerequisite(s): No Prerequisites.

POLS 207 - Power and Influence: Interest Groups in American Politics

3 Credit(s)

This course evaluates the roles of interest groups in the American political system. Students examine the classic questions of how interest groups organize, develop agendas, and lobby government officials. Special emphasis is placed on exploring the proper role of interest groups in a democratic society. Students also learn how to frame issues and design their own advocacy campaign. Prerequisite(s): POLS 101.

POLS 215 - Environmental Politics and Policy

3 Credit(s)

This course examines the context surrounding the debate, enactment, and implementation of environmental policies in the United States. It will explore the complex interactions between politicians, bureaucrats, pressure groups, and the public on issues of the environment. It will then examine the policies that the political system produces and their effects on American society. The course places a special emphasis on the way in which political actors frame issues related to the environment. Prerequisite(s): No Prerequisites.

POLS 218 - Law and Society

3 Credit(s)

An analysis of the basic concepts related to the role of law in the polity including law as an instrument of dispute resolution, social control, and change. Also examined is the relationship of the individual to the state, and economic foundations of legal precepts and global perspectives. Prerequisite(s): No Prerequisites.

POLS 313 - The American Presidency

3 Credit(s)

Examines the institutional, behavioral, and societal forces that have given rise to the modern presidency, the factors that enhance and constrain the exercise of presidential power, the nature and consequences of the presidential decision- making process, together with the desirability and feasibility of reforming the presidency. Prerequisite(s): POLS 101.

POLS 316 - American Political Parties and Elections

3 Credit(s)

An examination of the characteristics of the American party system and how the individual can organize to use it, or other private groups, to influence elections and public policy. Prerequisite(s): POLS 101.

POLS 317 - The Presidency and Congress

3 Credit(s)

An examination of the presidency, Congress, and the administrative bureaucracy. The course includes an examination of the way in which these institutions are organized, how they jointly develop and carry out governmental programs, and current efforts to assure their responsiveness to the public. Prerequisite(s): POLS 101.

POLS 318 - The Judiciary

3 Credit(s)

This course is a study of judicial processes in the American political system. Topics include judicial decision making, organization of the court system, legal development and justice, and the relationship between law and social change. Prerequisite(s): No Prerequisites.

POLS 319 - Introduction to Constitutional Law 3 Credit(s)

This course introduces the student to the development of constitutions, constitutionalism, and judicial review as a way of granting, limiting, and dividing power within nations; studies briefly the evolution of the Anglo-Saxon common law system as a way of developing constitutional precedents; examines specific cases dealing with judicial review, the scope of powers granted to the federal government, and the division of American governmental authority through federalism. Prerequisite(s): POLS 218 and junior standing or permission of instructor.

POLS 320 - Constitutional Rights and Liberties

3 Credit(s)

This course is a study of the development of constitutional law relating to the rights of individuals and limitations on the power of government. The course examines the way in which precedents develop, focusing on the Bill of Rights and other relevant portions of the Constitution. Prerequisite(s): POLS 218 and junior standing or permission of instructor.

International Relations (6 Credits)

(two courses from the "International Relations" series)

POLS 204 - Current Issues in World Affairs

3 Credit(s)

POLS 222 - American Foreign Policy

3 Credit(s)

POLS 225 - Genocide and Political Power

3 Credit(s)

POLS 226 - The Developing World

3 Credit(s)

POLS 228 - Politics of European Integration

3 Credit(s)

POLS 235 - Coups, Cartels, and Carnevale: Politics in Latin America

3 Credit(s)

POLS 247 - Vodka and Capitalism: Russian Politics in the 21st Century

3 Credit(s)

POLS 307 - Theories of International Relations

3 Credit(s)

POLS 337 - Politics in the Middle East

3 Credit(s)

POLS 345 - War and Peace

3 Credit(s)

POLS 347 - Star Wars, Star Trek or Firefly: Nation-States and Globalization

3 Credit(s)

POLS 385 - Strategic Intelligence

3 Credit(s)

Political Science (9 Credits)

Three electives in political science 9 Credit(s)

Research (3 Credits) POLS 410 - Senior Research Seminar

3 Credit(s)

Total Credits: 46

Curriculum Sequence

Political Science Curriculum Sequence

Minor

International Relations Minor

Curriculum

Required Basic Courses (12 Credits)

POLS 101 - American Government and Politics

3 Credit(s)

POLS 102 - Foreign Government and Politics

3 Credit(s)

POLS 103 - Political Economy

3 Credit(s)

POLS 221 - Introduction to International Relations

3 Credit(s)

Elective or Required Courses (12 Credits)

Four courses at 200 level or above from among the elective or required courses for international relations major

Total Credits: 24

Political Science Minor

Curriculum

Required Courses

POLS 101 - American Government and Politics

3 Credit(s)

POLS 102 - Foreign Government and Politics

3 Credit(s)

POLS 221 - Introduction to International Relations

3 Credit(s)

POLS 306 - Modern Political Theory

3 Credit(s)

Total Credits: 24