Political Science Course Descriptions
POLSC1201 Introduction to American Politics and Government (SA)
This course offers an overview of the American political system. Included are examinations of the American presidency, Congress, political parties, interest groups, the courts and the mass media. Students analyze the way in which American society attempts to realize the goals of a constitutional democracy, as well as the successes and failures of the system.
Fall and spring semesters. 4 credits
POLSC1301 Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics (SA)
This course offers a comparative analysis of the structure and operation of selected European, African, Latin American and Asian governments. Emphasis is placed on the structure, functions and operations of the political systems in each country.
Fall semester. 4 credits
POLSC1401 Introduction to International Relations (SA)
The course introduces students to the dynamics of the interrelationships in the international arena. It examines the interactions of states and international organizations as well as sub-national actors such as guerrilla groups. The course explores the theoretical concepts used to explain the international system and applies them to international politics today in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Fall and spring semesters. 4 credits
POLSC1501 Political Theory and Analysis
Following a survey of traditional and modern political theory, the course focuses on the various forms of analysis and research methods in political science.
Spring semester. 4 credits
POLSC2203 Political Socialization
Political socialization, the “people-oriented” explanation of political events, is concerned with the knowledge, values and beliefs of the average citizen. What do citizens demand of their government? Under what conditions are they willing to support its leaders? What is the relationship between citizens’ attitudes and the way the state operates? How are political standards and beliefs transmitted from generation to generation? By what agents? These questions are addressed throughout the semester.
Fall semester. 4 credits
POLSC2207 Politics and the Media
This course examines the impact the mass media has on the workings of the American political system. The course investigates the continually increasing influence of the media in terms of its interaction with political institutions, its role in campaigning, its use by politicians and office-holders, its effect upon recent trends in the political arena (e.g., its treatment of violence, riots, etc.) and possible future effects.
Spring semester, alternate years, expected spring 2008. 4 credits
POLSC2211 Campaign Strategies, Political Parties and Interest Groups in the United States
How and why do certain candidates win elections while others are failures? Is it superior ability or a more clever campaign strategy? This course will explore effective campaign techniques, the role of political parties and the increasing influence of interest groups in U.S. political campaigns.
Offered as needed. 4 credits
POLSC2223 Politics through Film
A country’s popular culture offers significant and accurate insights into the political values, attitudes and beliefs of its people at a given point in time. One form of popular culture, films, can be a powerful disseminator of political messages. This course will examine a number of different eras and political themes as they have been reflected through films in the United States.
Spring semester, alternate years, expected spring 2009. 4 credits
POLSC2225 The 1960s
The decade of the 1960s represents different things to different generations. The decade was a combination of a peculiar set of events, conflicts and emotions. To those who lived through it, it was a difficult period in time. Yet now there is a nostalgia about it. For those who did not live through it, there is often a sense of “lost moments.” This course shall explore the many events, personalities and movements that constitute the unique period of the 1960s.
Fall semester, alternate years, expected fall 2007. 4 credits
POLSC2228 State and Local Government
The course reviews the position of the states under the Constitution, the relationship of the states to the citizens, and state control over the municipalities and other local units of government.
Spring semester, alternate years, expected spring 2008. 4 credits
POLSC2229 Public Administration
This course is an analysis of the general nature of bureaucracy in public and private organization. Its characteristics as a mechanism for decision-making, with emphasis on American experience, are stressed, with particular attention to problems of goal setting, innovation and accountability.
Spring semester, alternate years, expected spring 2009. 4 credits
POLSC2301 Latin American Politics
Latin America, stretching from the southern border of the United States to the southern tip of the continent, is diverse and complex. In this course, students will examine the politics of Latin America at three levels: regional, sub-regional, and national.
Fall semester, alternate years, expected fall 2007. 4 credits
POLSC2302 European Politics: From Transition to Integration
Comparative study of politics in several Western European countries, with an emphasis on political development, institutions, major issues in contemporary politics, and the impact of European integration. Special attention will be paid to the issue of Europe-making related to the post EU/NATO enlargement and the post 9/11 situation and the European-Atlantic relations.
Fall semester, alternate years, expected fall 2007. 4 credits
Prerequisite: POLSC1301
POLSC2401 American Foreign Policy
This course will examine when and how the United States acts in the world arena. We will analyze the role of domestic politics, the interpretation of the national interest, and the formulation of policy. Examples of the kinds of foreign policy decisions to be explored include the U.S. intervention in Kosovo, our policy towards Cuba, military action in the Gulf War and the containment of Iraq and the contemplation of trade wars in Asia.
Fall semester, alternate years, expected fall 2007. 4 credits
POLSC2409 The Politics of International Economic Relations
This course will explore the interrelationships of economics and politics in international arenas. Students will therefore study the interdependence of economics, questions of economic development, the power of multinational corporations, international trade and trade agreements, oligopolies, oil, environment and arms trade.
Fall semester. 4 credits
Prerequisite: Either one economics or one political science course.
(Cross-referenced with ECON2113)
POLSC2411 The Contemporary Middle East: Challenges and Promise
This course will introduce students to the states, political movements, conflicts and the possibilities for peace in the Middle East. Students will begin by examining the major international dynamics of the region, such as the Palestinian-Israeli dispute, the interactions of the Gulf Region, and the Syrian-Lebanese-Israeli triangle. The discussion will then turn to the domestic political, social, and economic environment challenging the people and governments of the area. Lastly, students will look at the implications for the United States of the complexities of this region-–its challenges and its promise.
Spring semester, expected spring 2008. 4 credits
POLSC2413 International Law and Institutions
In this course, students will examine the sources and the historical foundations that define the body of international law and identify the organizations that attempt to enforce the norms of international law. Student will discuss specific areas of international law as they relate to states such as humanitarian law, the law of the sea, the use of force, environmental law, etc. The legal foundations of specific arguments will be investigated through the study of a number of cases for each topic.
Fall semester, alternate years, expected fall 2008. 4 credits
Prerequisite: POLSC1401
POLSC2503 Revolution and Nationalism
This course discusses the nature and causes of rebellion and revolution with special regard to the national self-assertion of societies emerging from Imperialism since World War I.
Spring semester, alternate years, expected spring 2009. 4 credits
Prerequisite: POLSC1501
POLSC2602 Introduction to Law and the Judicial System
This course provides a general introduction to the study of law and the judicial process in the U.S. It will explore the different areas of law, giving students an overview of the many different directions in which the study of law may take them.
Fall semester, as needed, offered fall 2007. 4 credits
POLSC2603 Problems of Law and Society
The course evaluates the current ability of legal institutions to deal with a variety of societal problems such as discrimination, child rights, the aged, drug addictions, AIDS, prisoner rights and rehabilitation, and the environment.
Spring semester, as needed, expected spring 2008. 4 credits
POLSC3201 Public Policy, Congress and the Legislative Process
Understanding the basic characteristics and nature of Congress is critical to a fuller appreciation of the development of American government and politics as a whole. With this in mind, the course focuses upon what Congress is and why; the impact political parties have had upon its development and its internal workings; its relationship with the Presidency; and its impact in shaping public policy and representing public opinion.
Fall semester, alternate years, expected fall 2007. 4 credits
Prerequisite: POLSC1201 or permission of instructor
POLSC3202 The American Presidency
This course studies the development and contemporary importance of the Presidency as an institution of national and international leadership.
Fall semester, alternate years, expected fall 2008. 4 credits
Prerequisite: POLSC1201 or permission of instructor
POLSC3209 Public Policy, the Law and Psychology
Public policy and the law affect, and are affected by, many disciplines, with psychology playing an increasingly prominent role in the legal system. One cannot truly understand psychology, the law or public policy in the United States without understanding the interrelationships of these three realms of knowledge and practice. This course will explore the evolving interactions at the theoretical and practical level among psychology, law and public policy. This is a service-learning course, which requires 2-3 hours per week devoted to working at an appropriate site.
Fall semester. 4 credits
Prerequisite: POLSC1201, PSYCH1501 or PSYCH2203
POLSC3301 Comparative Politics of Developing States
This course explores various models of the government of changing societies, such as those evolving out of revolution and military juntas, as well as the politics of economic and religious change. Africa, Asia and Latin America are the areas of concentration.
Spring semester, alternate years, expected spring 2009. 4 credits
Prerequisite: POLSC1301 or permission of the instructor
POLSC3303 Street Democracy
This course focuses on protest movements and their role as interest articulation mechanisms specifically within transitioning and consolidated democracies. The main question that this course raises is: do protest movements work to hinder or enhance the process of democratic consolidation, and to what extent? Comparative methods will be used to identify, compare and contrast protest movements in Latin America and Europe.
Spring semester, alternate years, expected spring 2008. 4 credits
Prerequisite: POLSC1301
POLSC3403 Human Issues in International Relations
Through the use of novels, films, biographies, and special studies, students examine the phenomena which play an increasing role in the world arena. These include: nationalism, terrorism, genocide, refugee movements, arms proliferation, nuclear weapons, the role of multi-national institutions, international intervention and international negotiation.
Spring semester, alternate years, expected spring 2009. 4 credits
Prerequisite: POLSC1401 or permission of instructor
POLSC3405 Strategies of War and Peace
Through this course students will explore the causes and means of war; its emphasis will be on conflict resolution. Thus study will focus on the evolution of various methods of war and analysis of the evolving role and methods of negotiation and international institutions in preventing and ending war. The class will culminate with a month-long negotiation simulation working to resolve a contemporary conflict situation.
Spring semester, alternate years, expected spring 2008. 4 credits
Prerequisite: POLSC1401 or permission of instructor
POLSC3415 Issues of People and Politics in the Middle East
This course will be conducted as a seminar around one theme each time it is offered. The types of themes that may be rotated include: political reform in the Middle East; human rights in the Middle East; women in the Middle East; water in the Middle East; the Peace Process in the Palestinian-Israeli Dispute; U.S. policy in the Middle East; and political Islam in the Middle East. Students will lead and participate in discussions throughout the semester. The seminar will culminate with the presentations of each student’s individual research papers.
Fall semester, alternate years, expected fall 2008. 4 credits
Prerequisite: POLSC2411 or permission of instructor
POLSC3607 Constitutional Law
Through an examination of Supreme Court decisions, the first part of this course explores the constitutional powers of the Presidency, Congress and the judiciary as well as the constitutional relations between states and the federal government. The second part of the course will focus on individual rights and freedoms.
Spring semester, alternate years, expected spring 2009. 4 credits
Prerequisite: POLSC1201 or permission of instructor
POLSC4100 Senior Seminar and Internship in Political Science
This seminar is the senior capstone course which allows students to apply their analytical skills to practical situations. Students will both participate in an internship and meet as a seminar class. As often as possible the internship and required research project should interrelate. Each student presents his/her research in the seminar and writes a senior thesis.
Spring semester. 4 credits
Prerequisite: INT1001
POLSC4178 Directed Study
Prerequisite: INT1001, permission of department chair. 4 credits