Political Science Courses

American Government and Politics

101 Politics of American Democracy (1) Fall, Spring
An overview of the dynamics and structure of the American political system: the Constitution, civil liberties, Congress, the Presidency, bureaucracy, interest groups, political parties, and voting behavior. Contrasts the principles of democratic action with a behind-the-scenes examination of how public policy is actually made.

214 Congress and the Presidency (1)
An examination of the changing roles and responsibilities of Congress and the presidency with a focus on the changing political environment and the potential for leadership.

216 Public Policy Analysis (1) Spring
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.
An examination as to how government decides to address problems. The stages of the policy-making process. Special attention is paid to the methods of program evaluation. Substantive policy areas are discussed, with an emphasis on social welfare, health, education, urban, and environmental protection policies. First-year students are not allowed to enroll in this course.

220 Interest Groups and Political Action (1)
An examination of the increasing power of interest groups in the governmental process, including case studies of successful and unsuccessful efforts by business, labor, women's groups, ideological groups and various citizens' groups to influence public opinion and public policy. Offered in alternate years.

223 Interpretations of American Politics (1)
An exploration of frameworks for comprehending the distinctive features of the American political system and culture. Approaches which draw upon Lockean liberalism, American exceptionalism, pluralism, class analysis, and the role of race and gender in American politics are compared.

225 American Citizenship in Theory and Practice (1)
Focuses on the ways in which the concept of American citizenship has changed over time in response to various historical events such as the founding of the American republic, the abolition of slavery, the expansion of suffrage rights, the waves of immigration from Europe and Asia, and other circumstances.

229 Film Images of World War II (1) Spring
The history of the Second World War and world films made about the war from 1939 to the present. ($25.00 film fee.) Offered in alternate years.

308 Urban Politics and Policy (1) Spring
The growth and development of urban areas and the problems that result. Special attention is given to such problems and policy areas as suburban development, race relations, local economic development and citizen action. The place of cities in the national economy and the future of Snowbelt and Sunbelt communities are also discussed. A field trip to Chicago and/or Detroit will likely be arranged.

312 American Political Development (1)
Considers rotating topics: war, public policy and history, political reform and state expansion, elections and power, and race. Seminar themes include: the periodization of American history, the South in the American nation, national state formation, the political economy of industrialization and urbanization, and the social dynamics of continuity and change in the American political system.

315 Presidential Campaigns and Elections (1)
The continuing evolution of both the presidential nominating process and the fall general election campaign. A look at the role played by political parties, candidate-centered organizations, money, issues, images and the mass media in the presidential selection process. Offered in those years when the presidential election campaign is at its peak!

319 Political and Social Movements (1) Fall
Examines theoretical perspectives, patterns of emancipation (comparing and contrasting such movements as the French revolution and the American civil war), and contemporary American movements (such as the civil rights movement). Students write a major research paper.

323 Introduction to Constitutional Law (1) Fall
Methods of legal reasoning and analysis are taught through the study of the United States Supreme Court and basic cases in constitutional law. The writing and arguing of case briefs are required.

324 Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (1) Spring
The same approach is employed as an Introduction to Constitutional Law, but the cases covered are the leading ones in the development of American civil liberties.

342 Political Leadership (1) Spring
      Prerequisites: Two courses in political science and/or history.
A survey and evaluation of alternative leadership approaches, from grassroots organizations and the civil rights movement to the presidency, including, where possible, leadership approaches found in other countries. What forms of leadership are appropriate to a democracy? Are "heroic" conceptualizations of leadership compatible with democracy?

 

Special Studies

288, 289 Selected Topics (1/2, 1) Fall, Spring
An in-depth examination of a current issue in politics. Examples are: the Media and Politics; Presidential Campaigns and Elections; Women and Politics; Latin American Politics; Post-Soviet Politics; and Political Change in Eastern Europe.

391, 392 Internship (1/2, 1)
Prerequisite: Permission of department.
Offered on a credit/no credit basis

International Relations and Comparative Politics

202 Political Systems of Europe (1) Fall, Spring
Comparative study of government and politics in European nations with major focus on Britain, France, Russia and the European Union.

235 American Foreign Policy (1) Fall
Contemporary issues in the formulation at home and the application abroad of American foreign policy.

320 International Organization (1) Fall
Examines both the theory and practice of international cooperation. Focuses on the international relations theory that explains international cooperation and analyses of major international organizations such as the United Nations and the European Union.

336 International Relations (1) Spring
A study of the behavior of nations, including topics such as: national power, balance of power, deterrence, diplomacy, collective security, international law, international organization and disarmament.

338 International Political Economy (1) Spring
An introduction to the study of political economy, i.e., the reciprocal relationship between political and economic activities and institutions, through an examination of the pursuit of wealth and power in the international system. Considers the strengths and weaknesses of different theoretical, analytical and ideological approaches to understanding the international political economy in both historical and contemporary settings. Specific issues include trade, international finance, foreign investment, economic development, structural adjustments and globalization.

350 Russian Politics (1) Spring
An introduction to the political system of the Soviet Union and to the politics of post-communist Russia.

352 The Comparative Politics of Developing Nations (1) Fall
Examines the political systems of developing countries. Focuses on the process of capitalist development, the prospects for democratization, the effects of globalization, the problems of economic development in the world capitalist system and the political repercussions of poverty.

Political Theory

105 Introduction to Political Philosophy (1)
An introduction to fundamental concepts and theories of politics, with emphasis on the concepts of justice, liberty, equality and democracy. The works of theorists such as Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Rousseau, Madison, Tocqueville, Marx, Schumpeter are explored.

106 Contemporary Approaches to Politics (1)
Examines twentieth century approaches to political phenomena, including the works of thinkers such as Weber, pluralists, critical pluralists, rational choice theorists, contemporary feminists, poststructuralists and other contemporary theorists of power, class analysts and others. Specific topics, such as the relative role of market and state or the exceptional quality of American liberalism, will be examined. Introduces students to a variety of modes of analysis and methods of approaching political questions.

351 Contemporary Political Ideologies (1)
Deconstructs and critically examines the great "-isms" and ideologies of modern/postmodern politics. The seminar focus rotates annually among the following topics: Feminism, republicanism, individualism and Marxism.

355 Classics of Political Philosophy (1) Spring
The political philosophy of selected great classics from Plato to the present.

367 American Political Thought (1) Fall, Spring
Explores the history of American political ideas, and how those ideas continue to inform contemporary political thinking. Focuses on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, with principal attention given to the Transcendental Movement and the emergence and development of pragmatism. Examines this dominant thread of American thought against the backdrop of liberalism and within the context of four related themes: individualism, equality, community and democracy.

Political Research

201 Scope and Methods of Political Science (1)
A methods seminar focusing on the interplay between problems and sources and the process of defining researchable historical problems. Involves study of descriptive statistical methods, their uses and abuses, and qualitative issues concerning sources, interpretation and narrative, with a concentration on examining primary sources. Considers the rise of choice theory in the social sciences--its roots in neo-classical economics—and the rise in the early 1970s of quantitative historical analyses.

401, 402 Seminar (1/2, 1) Fall, Spring
Individual research within context of small group discussion and analysis of a common topic of politics.

411, 412 Directed Study (1/2, 1) Fall, Spring
Individual research on a senior thesis of politics under tutorial direction of the faculty. (Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 to take a directed study in political science.)