Courses in Political Science

PSC 100. Introduction to Political Science. This course is designed as a broadly-based introduction to the discipline of political science. It will acquaint students with the concepts, structures, trends, and belief systems that form the basis of political activity throughout the world. Those taking the course will leave with an enhanced understanding of - if not appreciation for - the multiple ideologies, institutions, issues, and actors that shape and drive politics.  Fulfills general education requirement: Liberal Studies Area 2 (Social Science). 3 credits.

PSC 110. American National Government. This course provides a survey of key developments, institutions, and issues in American politics. Topics include the ideas that shaped the original American political system, the presidency; Congress and federal courts; the operation of political parties and interest groups; domestic and foreign policy debates; and contemporary issues such as civil rights and affirmative action.  Fulfills general education requirement: Liberal Studies Area 2 (Social Science). 3 credits.

PSC 207. Europe in the 20th Century. An introduction to the main political, social, economic and intellectual developments in twentieth-century Europe. The major themes of the course include the experience of the two world wars; the development of fascist and communist regimes under Lenin and Stalin, Mussolini, and Hitler; the weakness of the western democracies after World War I; the Holocaust; the Cold War; the Communist Bloc; the end to colonialism; the European Union; the development of the welfare state, and the new nationalism.  Fulfills general education requirement: Writing Process. Liberal Studies Area 1 (History). Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or permission of instructor. 3 credits. [This course is cross-listed with HIS 207]

PSC 210. Comparative Politics. This is an introduction to the study of comparative politics: the comparison of political systems in order to understand how and why these systems function differently. The course is built around three fundamental questions: What is comparative politics? What kinds of phenomena do we compare? What are the major theoretical approaches that guide our studies? We also examine distinctions between the "developing" and the "developed" worlds, and between authoritarian and democratic political regimes.  Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.

PSC 211. The Developing Nations. A survey of the developing nations of Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. This class explores why some countries are "developed" and others not. The course examines some of the major explanations for development, both economic and political. Following an overview of each of the developing regions, the class will analyze some of the major issues facing developing nations today. Topics include democratization, religion and politics, ethnic conflict, women and development, and revolution.  Fulfills general education requirement: Writing Process. Intercultural Diversity. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.

PSC 212. Politics of Latin America. The course is designed as an introduction to Latin American politics. We focus on two major trends that have characterized the region throughout its post-independence history: episodic waves of political democratization and democratic breakdown, and a common but changing series of economic systems. We also examine the political role played by the military, the quest for political equality among various groups in society, and the evolving political and economic relationships between Latin America and the U.S.  Fulfills general education requirement: Intercultural Diversity. 3 credits.

PSC 213. Politics of the Middle East. Sometimes called the cradle of civilization, the Middle East is home to approximately 330 million people, vast oil resources, and the world's fastest-growing religion. It also faces formidable political, social, and economic challenges. In fact, it may well be the most contentious region in the world today. This course examines selected domestic and international political developments in the modern Middle East. We discuss Arabism, political Islam, secular-religious tensions within and between Middle East states, and state-society relations (e.g., opposition movements, human rights, gender issues). We also analyze international relations within and without the region, namely the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Iraq-Iran conflict, and U.S. foreign policy toward the region (including the impact of the war on terrorism). We will supplement our readings and discussions with several films and periodic guest speakers (depending upon availability). An underlying theme of the course is the potential for democratization in the Middle East.  Fulfills general education requirement: Intercultural Diversity. 3 credits.

PSC 215. Law and Government. This course uses key cases to study important doctrines established by the Supreme Court with respect to the structure and functions of the constitutional system (judicial, legislative and executive power and federalism). There is a particular emphasis on various forms of textual interpretation used by individual justices to apply the Constitution in deciding cases and writing opinions.  Fulfills general education requirement: Writing Process. Liberal Studies Area 2 (Social Science). Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. PSC 110 recommended. 3 credits. [This course is cross-listed with HIS 215]

PSC 230. Electing the President. This course uses the current presidential election as a case study from which students can analyze the history of American parties and elections. The course will use political science concepts such as realignment and de-alignment to study the rise and fall of the various "party systems" in American history, and will attempt to place the current presidential election within its historical context.  Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.

PSC 245. International Relations. This course is designed to expose students to the study of concepts and theories of international relations. It will provide students with a conceptual approach to understanding the principal actors in the international system and a systematic analysis of advanced international relations theories, namely realism, liberalism, radicalism, constructivism, and feminism. Topics addressed include international relations theory, history of international relations, the global system, the state and the individual, global organizations, non-governmental organizations, international law, war and strife, international political economy, and transnational issues.  Fulfills general education requirement: Writing Process. 3 credits.

PSC 250. Public Policy Analysis. This course describes the public policy process and analyzes various areas of substantive domestic policy at the national level. Topics covered include budgeting and taxation, education, health, welfare, and the environment.  Fulfills general education requirement: Writing Process. Liberal Studies Area 2 (Social Science). Prerequisites: sophomore standing and PSC 110 or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.

PSC 255. Public Administration. Probably no aspect of the U.S. political system has been more vilified than governmental bureaucracy. Yet public administrators are the main touchstones with government for most citizens. Whether it is cops on the beat, firefighters responding to a five-alarm fire, or a host of other jobs in the public sector, the fact is that we depend on the skills and dedication of government employees for the delivery of services in our everyday lives. Given its centrality to the understanding of the political process, this course is of value to all citizens in a democracy, and will be particularly useful for students who are interested in going into government work. We explore the relationship between the political environment and the bureaucrat, study the chief functions of the working bureaucracy, and give students a better feel for the dilemmas facing administrators in a public environment through the use of case studies and simulations.  3 credits.

PSC 261. Congress and the Presidency. The aim of this course is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the political operations of the U.S. Congress and the presidency and the extent to which they cooperate and compete with each other for influence in the political system.  Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor 3 credits.

PSC 312. American Foreign Policy. This course examines key theories and contexts that shape American foreign policy strategy and important questions of foreign policy politics. It exposes students to foreign policy strategy as the means by which U.S. national interests and policies are formulated and to foreign policy politics as the roles played by institutions and actors within the foreign policymaking process.  Fulfills general education requirement: Writing Process. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.

PSC 313. Contemporary Global Security. This course will examine contemporary conflict and the use of force in world politics. It introduces two schools of thought (security studies and strategic studies) and examines theories and concepts used to understand contemporary global security.  Fulfills general education requirement: Writing Process. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.

PSC 316. Civil Liberties and Civil Rights. This course uses key cases to study important doctrines established by the Supreme Court with regard to civil rights and civil liberties. Students will examine the Court's rulings concerning the establishment and free exercise of religion, protection of freedom of speech and of the press, privacy rights (abortion and sexual freedom), the rights of the accused in the criminal justice system, and the law governing racial or sexual discrimination. The course places particular emphasis on various forms of textual interpretation used by individual justices to apply the Constitution in deciding cases and writing opinions.  Fulfills general education requirement: Writing Process. American Social Diversity. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. PSC 215 recommended. 3 credits.

PSC 330. State and Local Government. Governmental institutions, characteristics of state and local political systems and the major inter-governmental problems in state and local relations with federal government.  Fulfills general education requirement: Writing Process. Liberal Studies Area 2 (Social Science). Prerequisites: Sophomore standing and PSC 110 or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.

PSC 345. Political Philosophy. Students in this course study the development of Western political thought from Classical Greece to modern times, examining the conceptual evolution of citizenship, civic obligation, and the nature of justice and exploring the connection between moral and positive law in the western tradition.  Fulfills general education requirement: Writing Process. Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of the instructor. 3 credits. [This course is cross-listed with PHL 345]

PSC 370. Research Methods in Political Science. This is an introduction to the design and evaluation of political research: formulating clear hypotheses, developing appropriate measures, and analyzing data using simple statistical methods and qualitative techniques; emphasizes clear exposition of arguments, interpretation, and findings.  Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.

PSC 400. Internship. Field experience in a political science environment.  May be repeated for credit (up to 12 credits of internship may be counted toward the degree). Prerequisite: GPA of 2.50 in major and permission of department chair. Students taking more than six internship credits in political science please note: PSC 400 may count for no more than two elective courses in the PSC major. 1-12 credits.

PSC 417. Seminar in Law. This capstone seminar examines the historical and philosophical development of constitutional law in the United States; the seminar emphasizes the dynamic relationship between the law and moral and political philosophy.  Fulfills general education requirement: Writing Process. Prerequisites: Junior or Senior standing. PSC/PHL 345, DSP 352, DSP 356 or BUS 450. 3 credits. [This course is cross-listed with PHL 417]

PSC 460. Undergraduate Research. This course is designed to provide students in political science, history, and international studies opportunities to obtain credit for engaging in undergraduate research projects under the faculty supervision. Students engage in research projects with faculty on a range of topics, subject to approval of the individual faculty member.  Course may be repeated up to a limit of 12 credits; but only up to 6 credits can be applied to the major. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing, 2.5 GPA, and permission of the instructor/chair. 1-6 credits. [This course is cross-listed with HIS/INT 460]

PSC 498. Seminar in Politics. This seminar allows junior and senior political science majors to pursue a research interest within a broad topic area prescribed for each semester the seminar is given. Students will present their work at an undergraduate research conference hosted by a regional university.  Fulfills general education requirement: Writing Process. Prerequisites: Major in political science and junior or senior standing or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.