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Undergraduate Courses

American Politics

POLS 3135 – Congressional Behavior (3)

The ability of elected bodies whether they are local, state, regional, or national to represent the preferences of their constituents is linked to the ability of elected officials, their staffs, and the executive agency administrators to manage change in an arena of inadequate information. This course will examine decision making, agenda setting, elections, and institutional arrangements with a particular concern for the mechanisms legislatures have for processing information. Students will become familiar with the three contemporary approaches to the study of legislatures: historical, behavioral, and formal.

POLS 3136 – The Presidency (3)

An analysis of the political, constitutional, behavioral, symbolic and policy roles of the President. Attention is also paid to the linkages between the Presidency and the other government and political institutions.

POLS 3137 – Judicial Politics (3)

Analyzes and evaluates judicial politics by examining the actors, institutions, processes, and procedures that contribute to the formulation, administration, and adjudication of the law. Prerequisite(s): POLS 1101.

POLS 3138 – Constitutional Law: Government Powers (3)

A study of the constitutional development of U.S. government powers through landmark Supreme Court decisions. Topics include: judicial power, separation of powers, federalism, and interstate commerce.

POLS 3139 – Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights (3)

The study of the Bill of Rights through landmark Supreme Court decisions. topics include freedom of speech, press, and religion, the right to privacy, rights of the accused, search and seizure law, and equal protection of the law.

POLS 3233 – Politics and the Media (3)

A comprehensive overview of the institutions and processes of the mass media in American politics. Emphasis is given to the history and role of the mass media in the United States and to the use of the media in covering news events as well as in political campaigns.

POLS 3330 – State and Local Government (3)

Examines the forms of organizations, the functions, and the operations of the 50 state governments. Special attention will be given to the growing problems in the urban areas such as the interplay of politics, pressure groups, and community power structures.

POLS 3331 – Introduction to Bureaucratic Politics (3)

Examines the socio-political impacts of modern bureaucracies, how modern bureaucracy has emerged as a “fourth branch” of federal government (including historical development) and its ability to influence policy making with particular emphasis on implementation.

POLS 3332 – Political Parties (3)

A comprehensive overview of the institutions and processes that connect the public to government institutions. Course emphasis is given to the history and structure of the political parties in the United States and the electoral process and voting at and below the presidential level.

POLS 4131 – Introduction to Public Affairs (3)

The focus of this course is on the process of creating and maintaining political institutions to serve society. This course provides students the opportunity to examine politics at work whether it is at the international, national, state or local level. Basic planning, budgeting, managing, and evaluating principles will be developed. The notion of service to community is stressed within the political context, preparing students for professional employment in public, private, and non-profit organizations. Prerequisites(s): POLS 1101.

Comparative Politics

POLS 3132 – Asian Politics (3)

This course examines the diversities across and within all the major countries in the region including India,Pakistan,Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Philippines,Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar/Burma, Vietnam and Cambodia. It analyzes the following key themes in the context of South and Southeast Asia – nationalism, colonialism, regime change, economic development, civil society and social movements, political conflict, and ethno-religious pluralism.

LAST/POLS 3133 – Latin American Politics (3)

An examination of the major domestic and international factors in comparative Latin American political systems. Special attention and detail is given to the challenges of development and democratization.

POLS 3235 – Gender and Politics (3)

A study of the relationship of women to political life and to political theory-building. Focuses on political socialization, behavior, and institutional impact based on gender, using a comparative cross-national approach.

POLS 3335 – Ethnicity and Nationalism (3)

This course examines ethnicity and nationalism in comparative perspective. It discusses a wide variety of social and political phenomena including identity, language, violence, religion, class, gender and colonialism. Ethnic groups in almost every multi-ethnic country continue to compete with one another over issues of economic equity, political decentralization, power-sharing, language, educational policies and cultural rights. This course explores why and how power and passion of these groups are created by comparing ethnic conflicts across the globe and analyses the following factors – language, religion. race, historical memories, values, territory, customs, symbols, myths and other cultural attributes.

POLS 3431 – African Politics (3)

Examines salient themes and background of contemporary African political systems. The emphasis will be on government and politics of modern Africa bearing on the emergence of post-colonial states and regional and global ramifications.

POLS 3433 – Survey of Comparative Politics (3)

Introduces students to the basic concepts of comparative politics, including those of democratization, regime transition, electoral politics, political parties, ethnic conflict, and economic development. Students will be provided with the necessary concepts, theories, and methods used in the discipline including quantitative and qualitative analysis in order to gain a better understanding of the nature and problems of comparative politics.

POLS 4136 – Politics of the Global North (3)

An examination of the cultural, social, and political factors that contribute to the structure, function, and problems of contemporary nation-states in the Global North.

POLS 4137 – Politics of the Global South (3)

An examination of the cultural, social, historical and political factors which have shaped the poltics and policies of nation-states deemed “underdeveloped” or “developing.” Special emphasis will be given to states that are found in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

International Politics

POLS 3234 – Introduction to European Union (3)

This course will introduce students to the history, institutions, policies, and cultures of the European Union and its member states.

POLS 3236 – International Relations (3)

Introduces students to the basic concepts of international relations, including those of war and peace, power, foreign policy, international organization, markets, demography, ecology, and the impact of information technology. Students will be provided with the necessary concepts, theories, and methods used in the discipline including quantitative analysis in order to gain a better understanding of the nature and problems of international relations.

POLS 3239 – Human Rights in International Relations (3)

This course will explore the vulnerability of various political minorities to human rights abuses at the global level and provide an assessment of the roles of states, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations in human rights issues.

POLS 3730 – Introduction to the United Nations (3)

In this course, students will be introduced to the concepts of international organizations and the part that they play today in international politics. Specifically, we will examine the United Nations, its structure and function, its failures and successes, and what the future holds for this organization.

POLS 4132 – U.S. Foreign Policy (3)

Provides basic information and understanding of the key elements and actions involved in the formulation and execution of U.S. foreign policy. Special attention is given to the impact of U.S. foreign policy on the international system.

POLS 4133 – International Political Economy (3)

Examines the interplay between international politics and international economics or business or the process of international wealth acquisition and transfer. Emphasis will be on the dynamics that give rise to asymmetric distributions: who gets what, when and how among different players in the global economy.

POLS 4134 – International Law and Diplomacy (3)

Examines the body of literature, concepts, and historical perspectives of international law and diplomacy as related to the critical problems of the Post-Cold War era. Focuses on the legal, oral, and strategic dimensions of several past, present, and proposed means of conflict resolution.

POLS 4135 – International Organizations (3)

An analytical study of the organization, powers, and problems of global and regional international agencies with particular emphasis upon the European Union.

POLS 4138 – International Terrorism (3)

Designed to explore the political, religious, economic, and social issues which pervade the global environment. Key issues to be addressed include different forms of terrorism, conflict resolution, and at the state level reunification issues. Emphasizes the critical, and perhaps, decisive and controlling impact which terrorist groups level on policy changes.

Political Theory

POLS 3230 – Modern Political Thought (3)

The course in modern political thought is concerned with the differentiation of politics as an activity distinct from, and independent of, religion. Political thinkers in the modern period are distinguished by their turn to scientific and other modern modes of rationality as foundations for the analysis of politics. Central concerns include delineating the rights of powers of the individual and establishing a secular basis for a just society.

POLS 3336 – Classical Political Thought (3)

Classical Political Thought examines political themes and thinkers from the Ancient Greeks to the Renaissance.

POLS 4130 – American Political Thought (3)

Examines political themes and thinkers from the Colonial to the Contemporary period.

POLS 4139 – Contemporary Political Thought (3)

Theorists since the onset of the twentieth century have questioned the scientific foundations of modern political ideas and institutions. Issues to be discussed may include the nature and limits liberalism, the rise of mass politics, the benefits and dangers of modern technology, and the emergence of multiculturalism and feminism.

POLS 4734 – Feminist Political Thought (3)

This course examines how conceptions of gender have informed notions of political agency, community, and identity. This course foregrounds the role of gender relations in redefining the nature and significance of politics.

Legal Studies

POLS 3137 – Judicial Process (3)

Analyzes and evaluates the judicial process by addressing the actors, institutions, processes and procedures that affect the administration of justice.

POLS 3138 – Constitutional Law: Government Powers (3)

POLS 3139 – Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights (3)

PHIL/POLS 3232 – Philosophy of Law (3)

A study of major topics in the philosophy of law, all of which concern the relationship of law to morality and justice-including the nature of law in general; the importance of the rule of law and of limiting the rule of law; and some theory and practice of criminal law.

POLS 3239 – Human Rights in International Relations (3)

POLS 3338 – Language and the Law (3)

A critical examination of language as a problem-solving device and tool for understanding argument and legal contestation. Delineation of individual rights, institutional authority and legal jurisdiction with emphasis on language and legal power. Analysis of the sociology of language and law within the concepts of human rights and socio-political entitlements.

POLS 3730 – Introduction to the United Nations (3)

POLS 4134 – International Law and Diplomacy (3)

POLS 4135 – International Organizations (3)

An analytical study of the organization, powers, and problems of global and regional international agencies with particular emphasis upon the European Union.

CRJU/POLS 4733 – Theories of Justice (3)

A consideration of the primary theories of justice formulated through history. Examines and evaluates the theoretical foundations of conceptions of justice from a variety of perspectives. Prerequisite(s): POLS 1101 or a minimum grade of “C” in CRJU 1100.

Political Science Electives

POLS 3130 – Qualitative Research Methods (3)

An introduction to the major theoretical models currently used in political science and to qualitative research techniques and methodologies. Students will have direct experience in data collection, analysis, and research reporting.

POLS 3231 – Environmental Politics (3)

Examines important topics in United States environmental protection policy-making. It does so within the institutional context of American politics, including the congressional, presidential, administrative, judicial, intergovernmental, and constituency components of decisions relating to environmental protection. These decisions will be examined using the focus of the regionally important aspects of environmental quality such as water, air, and land resources.

POLS 3237 – African American Politics (3)

A basic appreciation of the nature, processes, structures, and functions of African American politics in the domestic and international arena and how they differ from dominant assumptions, theories, approaches, and models of American politics. Focus is on how to seek and maintain empowerment.

POLS 3238 – Southern Politics (3)

Examines the changing political conditions and trends within the eleven states of the American south since WWII. Students will examine the events which led to the unique political environment one encounters in the south. The primary focus will be on the political environment, but also on social, cultural, and economic variables as they relate to the political system.

POLS 3334 – Film and Politics (3)

Considers how the art of film has contributed to an understanding of major twentieth-century political events and thoughts. Topics include war, nationalism, authoritarianism, the Cold War, presidential politics and campaigning, populism and the ethos of democracy in classic and contemporary film.

POLS 3338 – Language and Law (3)

POLS 4031 – Selected Topics in Political Science (3)

Ethnicity and Nationalism
Politics of Southeast Asia
Political Representation of America

POLS 4791 – Field Internship in Political Science (3)

Designed to give practical experience in a government qualified agency. Internship credit must be earned in addition to the 24 hours required for the major in political science. No more than 3 semester field internship hours can be used towards a minor in political science. Prerequisite(s): POLS 1101, POLS 2101, and permission of the department chair. This course may be repeated.

POLS 4890 – Independent Study in Political Science (3)

Independent Study in Political Science.

Last updated: 10/9/2017