Courses

Course Descriptions

100. INTRODUCTION TO GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS (3 credit hours)
Examination of the fundamental political and legal systems of national and international communities.

101. AMERICAN GOVERNMENT (3 credit hours)
The organization and nature of the federal political system, with special emphasis placed on the U.S. Constitution. The role of non-governmental actors (political parties, interest groups, and the media) is also analyzed.

204. STATE AND LOCAL POLITICS (3 credit hours)
Politics and policy at the state and local level in the American political system. Areas for study include constitutional, cultural, and financial constraints on state and local politics; community power structures; state legislatures; governors and other elected executives; and judicial elected institutions.

210. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (3 credit hours)
An introduction to international politics in the late 20th century. The course covers historical developments altering power relationships among nation-states in foreign policy, the interaction of developed/developing nations, and problems confronting international organizations and transnational actors.

302. AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY (3 credit hours)
This course investigates the ideological and institutional setting of American foreign policy through a series of selected case studies. Emphasis is given to concepts and resources that enable students to understand foreign policy issues. Prerequisite: POSC 100 or permission of the instructor.

304. COMPARATIVE POLITICS (3 credit hours)
A comparative analysis of the political culture, ideologies, processes, and institutions of the Russian Federation, Britain, France, Germany, Japan and China. This course should familiarize the student with the predominant influences on these particular political systems, and further develop the student+s ability to assess the significance of the roles played by these major nation-states. Prerequisite: POSC 101.

305. THE AMERICAN CONGRESS (3 credit hours)
An examination of the origin, organizations, operation, and political characteristics of Congress; focusing on problems of representation, leadership, relations with interest groups and other branches of government, and public policy formation. Prerequisite: POSC 100 or 101 or permission of the instructor.

306. THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY (3 credit hours)
An examination of the institution of the presidency, its functions, formal and informal relationships with other branches of government. The course also examines recurrent problems and limitations of the office. Emphasis is on the dynamics of the office: on the influence exerted by certain presidents, and on the impact of public opinion and the media. Prerequisite: POSC 101.

311. METHODOLOGY AND RESEARCH (3 credit hours)
Introduction to the concepts and methods of social science research: the role of theory in research, forming hypotheses and questions, identifying variables, and gathering and analyzing statistical data. Emphasis will be on developing good writing skills and using computers for basic statistical evaluation. This course meets the requirements of SOC 311. Prerequisite: Junior classification and a grade of C in ENGL 102 and PSYC 200.

312. APPLIED METHODOLOGY AND RESEARCH (3 credit hours)
A practical opportunity to apply basic social science research methods. Students will review scientific approaches to social science research, design and execute a research project, and produce a professional quality report on the project. This course meets the requirements of SOC 312. Prerequisite: a grade of C in POSC 311.

319. LAW AND SOCIETY (3 credit hours)
A study of law in a political and social context; the course examines the social functions of law, the political nature of law- making, various approaches to conceptualizing law, and the role of the legal profession in society. Prerequisites: a grade of C in ENGL 102 and POSC 101.

320. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: GOVERNMENT POWERS (3 credit hours)
A survey that begins with an introduction to principles of constitutional interpretation, followed by study of the politics of development in constitutional law concerning the powers and structure of government and the impact of the developments on political, economic, and social life. Prerequisite: a grade of C in POSC 319.

321. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: CIVIL LIBERTIES (3 credit hours)
This study begins with an introduction to principles of constitutional interpretation, then examines the poliotics of both the development and the impact of constitutional law addressing civil rights and civil liberties. Prerequisite: a grade of C in POSC 319.

399. SPECIAL TOPICS (1-3 credit hours)
Independent work on a special topic or problem area with guidance from a member of the political science faculty. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

400. SENIOR REVIEW (3 credit hours)
This course provides a review of political science concepts and methods for seniors graduating with a major in the field. Seniors will be expected to review units covered in POSC 100, read a special set of readings for seniors alongside the course=s regular assignments, teach one class of POSC 100, complete a senior research paper, and take a special final exam designed for seniors. Prerequisite: Senior standing and completion of all major core courses.

401. CLASSICAL POLITICAL THINKERS (3 credit hours)
A critical analysis and tracing of influences of major political theorists from earliest time to the early modern period: from Plato through Hobbes. Cross-listed with Political Science 401. Prerequisites: PHIL 201 and ENGL 102.

402. MODERN POLITICAL THINKERS (3 credit hours)
A critical analysis and tracing of influences of the major political theorists from Hobbes, Locke or Rousseau through Lenin. Cross-listed with Political Science 402. Prerequisites: PHIL 201 and ENGL 102.

403. ELECTORAL POLITICS (3 credit hours)
Organization, functions, and practices of political parties in the United States; electoral problems, practical impact of the media, pressure groups, and current electoral legislation.

405. POLITICS AND PUBLIC POLICY (3 credit hours)
An analysis of the policy making process with emphasis on the various factors influencing the content and consequences of public policy and an examination of specific issues. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

407. THE AMERICAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM (3 credit hours)
This analysis of the political nature of the American judicial system will survey the organization and procedures of the federal and state court systems, the politics of judicial selection, the politics of the legal profession, and the implementation and impact of judicial policy-making. Prerequisite: a grade of C in POSC 319.

410. POLITICS OF THE THIRD WORLD (3 credit hours)
An examination of the political institutions and processes in selected Third World countries, including, at the instructor+s discretion: Latin America, the Middle East or the Far East. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

415. ARAB MIDDLE EAST (3 credit hours)
An analysis of Arab politics and culture in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. Emphasis is given to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its implications for the region. Prerequisite: POSC 210 or permission of instructor.

420. POLITICS OF RACE (3 credit hours)
Analysis of racial politics in the United States, with special attention given to historical shaping of the political culture, the civil rights movement, electoral college and current controversies over racial elements implicit in public policies. Prerequisites: G ED 200 and POSC 101 or permission of instructor.

497. INTERNSHIP (1-3 credit hours)
For political science majors who have been selected to participate in one of the various internship opportunities offered through the college. It may be taken for a maximum of three credit hours, unless it is the Judith Herndon Fellowship for 12 credit hours, or some comparably competitive and demanding fellowship for a maximum of 6 credit hours.