27 courses with the subject POS, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
Structure and workings of major parts of the United States national government, such as the Constitution, the presidency, Congress, the courts, the electoral process, and others. How these institutions help Americans deal with significant current issues. Offered: Fall, Spring.
How governments interact to further their different political, military, and economic interests; basic factors affecting international cooperation and conflict; topics such as summit meetings, terrorism, arms control, and food and energy resources distribution. Prerequisites: Second semester freshman standing or higher; GES 130 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 149 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Fall, Spring.
An introduction to the subfield of Comparative Politics with special emphasis on the nature, history, and development of political regimes. Systems covered include Western democracies, communist and post-communist states, military dictatorships, and politically developing states. Offered: Fall.
Major problems of politics and international relations, such as the proper goals of political life, the nature of justice, and the role of the state. Methods of inquiry. Development of the student’s personal political stance and its relation to his or her maturing faith. Prerequisites: One political science course. Offered: Spring.
Examination of the origins and development of American constitutional ideas and institutions from the colonial period to the present. Particular attention paid to the historical connections between major constitutional cases and broader social, political, economic, and cultural trends. Prerequisites: GES 130; GES 160 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 149 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Fall. Special Notes: This course carries cross-credit in history.
An examination of the enduring questions of political philosophy: the nature of justice, freedom, and the tensions between individual and community goals. Particular attention paid to the ways that such questions are examined and the presuppositions that undergird political reflection. Prerequisites: GES 130; GES 160 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 149 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Spring.
Theory and process of modernization, with special emphasis on the Anglo-American historical experience; examinations of U.S. efforts to promote democracy internationally in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East since World War II. Prerequisites: GES 130; GES 160 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 149 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Occasionally January. Special Notes: This course carries cross-credit in history.
In consultation with the political science faculty, students select an off-campus program of academic study. Students create a presentation to share their experiences in a colloquium with other international relations, political science, business, and political science majors. Integrates off-campus experiences with curricular learning experiences. Prerequisites: One political science course; Consent of instructor; Major in business and political science, international relations, political science, or minor in political science. Offered: Fall, Spring. Special Notes: This course is graded on an S/U basis.
The history of sports in the modern era, with particular attention paid to sports' connections to international politics and public policy and to sports as a mirror for the history of race, gender, education, business, labor, and religion in the United States. Prerequisites: GES 130 and GES 160 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 149 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Spring, even # years. Special Notes: This course carries cross-credit in history.
The Cold War as an event in international history, studied from the perspective of the United States, the Soviet Union, China, Europe, and the Third World. Introduces students to ongoing historical debates and to the sources historians use in those debates. Prerequisites: [GES 130; GES 160 or GES 149]; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course or World Cultures (U) course. Offered: Fall, even # years. Special Notes: This course carries cross-credit in history.
How public policy is put into effect through the administrative agencies of government and the problems in management of such agencies and their relations with the public. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing. Offered: Spring. Special Notes: This course carries cross-credit in business. POS 100 is a recommended prerequisite.
Development of United States foreign policy since the Nixon administration, with particular attention paid to contemporary issues, long-range historical trends, and the ways in which foreign policy is formulated and carried out. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing with consent of instructor. Offered: Fall, even # years. Special Notes: POS 100 and POS 202U are recommended prerequisites.
Examination of the processes, institutions, relationships, and dynamic trends in the international system. Attention is given to the creation or maintenance of international economic systems and international organizations as they address emerging or enduring problems of world politics. Key international institutions. Prerequisites: [GES 130; GES 160 or GES 149]; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course or World Cultures (U) course. Offered: Spring, odd # years. Special Notes: POS 202U is a recommended prerequisite.
The causes, dynamics, and consequences of human thinking and action in the context of politics. The psychology of decision making, political attitude formation, public opinion, personality and emotions, intergroup relations, ideology, and the role of mass media in politics. Offered: Fall, odd # years. Special Notes: This course carries cross-credit in psychological sciences.
An advanced study of principle ethical theories and their application to relevant problems concerning the individual and society. Readings in classical and contemporary sources focus on questions such as the nature of justice, the common good, and the moral responsibilities of citizens. Prerequisites: Two philosophy courses or Consent of instructor. Offered: Spring, odd # years. Special Notes: This course carries cross credit in philosophy.
The meaning of democracy in theory and practice throughout history and in the modern political systems of Great Britain, Japan, and Mexico. Independent research on other democratic systems. Offered: Occasionally. Special Notes: POS 100 or POS 211 are recommended prerequisites.
International and comparative exploration of how human rights have been defined, violated, and protected. Historical topics (e.g., abolition of the slave trade, social reform and Christian missions, genocides of the 20th century) as well as contemporary issues. Prerequisites: [GES 130; GES 160 or GES 149]; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course or World Cultures (U) course. Offered: Occasionally. Special Notes: This course carries cross-credit in history.
Analysis of the theoretical background behind political communication from a public speaking and media perspective. Attention to decision-making skills required in political campaigns. Discussion of advanced persuasive campaign theory. Prerequisites: COM 110, POS 100, or Consent of instructor. Offered: Occasionally January. Special Notes: This course carries cross-credit in communication studies.
Consideration of political development in Africa from the pre-colonial era through the present, focusing on changes in political regimes through time, the nature of economic struggles, and sources of violent conflict. Offered: Spring, even # years. Special Notes: This course carries cross-credit in history.
Examination of the U.S. Congress, Supreme Court, and presidency, with attention to the effects of institutions on the democratic and policy processes. Consideration of political science research on political institutions and contemporary issues facing them. Prerequisites: POS 100 or Consent of instructor. Offered: Spring, odd # years.
Examination of public policy – the result of government action – through consideration of the policy process, policy design, and current status of American public policy. Special attention devoted to social policy with student investigation and research in public policy. Prerequisites: POS 100 or Consent of instructor. Offered: Fall, odd # years.
In-depth examination of selected political thinkers such as Locke, Rousseau, Mill, Nietzsche, Kuyper, Rawls, and Taylor. Concentrates on primary sources. Prerequisites: One course in history, philosophy, or political science and Sophomore standing. Offered: Fall, even # years. Special Notes: This course carries cross credit in history and philosophy.
Political, social, religious, economic, and cultural history of the Middle East since 1800. Particular attention is paid to colonialism, globalization, war, gender roles, revolution, and reform. Controversies such as the Arab/Israeli conflict, the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, and the U.S. war on terror are discussed. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing. Offered: Fall. Special Notes: This course carries cross-credit in history.
In-depth examination of selected political thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Marcus Aurelius, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Machiavelli, and Hobbes. Concentrates on primary sources. Prerequisites: One course in history, philosophy, or political science and Sophomore standing. Offered: Fall, odd # years. Special Notes: This course carries cross-credit in philosophy and history.
Intensive study of a specialized topic in political science. The topic to be studied is announced prior to the relevant registration period. Prerequisites: Junior standing and Two courses in political science. Offered: Occasionally. Special Notes: Students may repeat course for credit provided a different topic is covered.
An off-campus working experience in a government agency or political organization under appropriate supervision. Placement is individually arranged with political science faculty. Prerequisites: Consent of department faculty. Offered: Occasionally.
An interdisciplinary, experiential capstone course in which students draw on their studies in history, philosophy, political science, or the digital humanities in order to study a major challenge in contemporary society, analyzing causes, effects, and existing responses, and then work to propose new responses to it. Prerequisites: Senior standing and Major in one of the following programs: business and political science, history, international relations, applied philosophy, political science, or social studies education 5-12. Offered: Fall, Spring. Special Notes: This course carries cross-credit with history and philosophy.
Source: Bethel University's catalog, linked per course · table learning_unit · CourseShelf publish 61
