Political Science Major

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science

Required Core Courses

1. 1. PSCI 101 The American Political System

   Not resolved to a course
   4
2. 2. PSCI 103 International Relations

   Not resolved to a course
   4
3. 3. PSCI 105 Comparative Politics

   Not resolved to a course
   4
4. 4. PSCI 106 Political Theory

   Not resolved to a course
   4

Elective Courses

1. 5-7. Any three PSCI courses at 200-level and above in which at least one of them must be 300-level. Internship or independent study may replace one of three PSCI courses.

   Not resolved to a course
   12

Required Capstone Preparation

1. 8. PSCI 455 Designing Political Research

   Not resolved to a course
   4

Required Capstone Experience

Select one of the following:

9. PSCI 465 Senior Independent Study OR

PSCI 470 Senior Thesis OR

PSCI 490 Departmental Honors

American Politics/Public Policy and Administration

1. PSCI 204

   Public Policy and Administration. 4. An examination of the public policy process, including policy formulation, implementation and analysis. Attention will be paid to the issues of leadership, finance and personnel administration in government and nonprofit organizations. Fulfills social science requirement (1998). Social/behavioral science requirement

   As published: “Public Policy and Administration”
   4
2. PSCI 225

   The American Presidency. 4. An examination of the office of the presidency, including its constitutional and political underpinnings; the selection process; presidential policymaking; relationships to other branches of government and the public; and participation in foreign affairs

   As published: “The American Presidency”
   4
3. PSCI 265

   Terrorism in America. 4. Examines terrorism committed by groups within the continental U.S. to include their organization, motivation, tactics and weapons ? including weapons of mass destruction. Also examined are the government?s efforts to combat terrorism to include challenges to Constitutional rights and freedoms. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement (1998). Evaluating systems and environments requirement

   As published: “Terrorism in America”
   4
4. PSCI 305

   Politics of Gender. 4. This upper-level, writing-intensive course provides an opportunity to critically examine the role of gender in politics. Many still consider politics to be a gender-divided world. To be discussed are the ways that people use gendered categories to make political decisions, as well as the ways that gender intersects with other major political categories such as race, class and sexuality. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement (1998). Evaluating systems and environments requirement

   As published: “Politics of Gender”
   4
5. PSCI 317

   The American Founding. 4. Studies the way in which some of the most celebrated features of American government became either settled questions or continue to be debated today. Topics examined include the proper balance between governmental branches, the relationship between citizens and their representatives, the key role of elections in American politics and the contentious role of democracy in American political life. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement (1998). Evaluating systems and environments requirement

   As published: “The American Founding”
   4
6. PSCI 318

   Environmentalism in Early America. 4. This course examines the complex dialogue between nature and politics in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th century. It will focus on the complicated links between material circumstances, ideas and politics, which affected the physical context of the American environment and the changing experience of American life. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement (1998). Evaluating systems and environments requirement

   As published: “Environmentalism in Early America”
   4
7. PSCI 319

   Modern Environmental Problems. 4. Examines the complex emergence of the American environmental movement as a response to the historical, political and socio-economic patterns following World War II. Students will analyze environmental policies in response to specific and varied problems such as pollution, species protection, urban sprawl and management of national parks. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement (1998). Evaluating systems and environments requirement

   As published: “Modern Environmental Problems”
   4
8. PSCI 335

   America and the World. 4. 4. Examines the historical context of U.S. foreign policy since World War II: the Cold War, Korea, Vietnam, collapse of the U.S.S.R., post-9/11; the individuals, institutions and processes involved in making and implementing foreign policy; and contemporary foreign policy issues and challenges ? e.g., Middle East conflict, terrorism, WMD, nuclear proliferation, covert action, peacekeeping, democratization, human rights and globalization

   As published: “America and the World”
   4
9. PSCI 355

   Constitutional Law and Civil Rights. 4. 4. Examines a series of political controversies in which at least one ? and usually more than one ? side makes a claim on the basis of rights. Controversies examined include property rights, First Amendment rights, rights in times of crisis, the rights of the accused and the right to vote as well as rights-based assertions on behalf of the disabled, women and the unborn. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement

   As published: “Constitutional Law and Civil Rights”
   4
10. PSCI 389

    Homeland Security Policy. 4. 4. An examination of the evolution of American homeland security policy especially since the end of the Cold War. Emphasis is on identification of threats and adversaries, major decision-makers and policy formulation, implementers of homeland security (intelligence agencies, Defense Department), policy evaluation, and strategies for the 21st century

    As published: “Homeland Security Policy”
    4

International Relations

1. PSCI 266

   Global Terrorism. 4. Examines political, religious, cultural, criminal and state-sponsored terrorism from a global perspective to include motivations, weapons and tactics as well as the response to terrorist violence by the international community and national governments. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement (1998). Evaluating systems and environments requirement

   As published: “Global Terrorism”
   4
2. PSCI 275

   Asia and the World. 4. An introduction to international relations among Asian countries. This course examines how domestic politics, political culture, history and social changes in these countries shape, and how they are shaped by, international politics in the region. Particular emphasis on the dynamics of great power relations and Cold War and post-Cold War competition in Asia. Fulfills intercultural requirement (1998). Sociocultural engagement requirement

   As published: “Asia and the World”
   4
3. PSCI 316

   China and the World. 4. Examines China?s contemporary international relations and the major military, political and economic elements of Chinese foreign policy in the context of their development since 1949. Fulfills intercultural requirement (1998). Sociocultural engagement requirement

   As published: “China and the World”
   4
4. PSCI 330

   Global Power and Wealth. 4. An exploration of competing explanations for the changing relationship between political and economic power in international relations. Substantively, the course focuses on trade, finance, investment and debt and development issues. Fulfills social science requirement (1998). Social/behavioral science requirement

   As published: “Global Power and Wealth”
   4
5. PSCI 345

   Avoiding War, Making Peace. 4. 4. The aim of this course is to gain a better understanding of the conditions and processes that lead to international war and peace. This will be accomplished through a combination of theoretical and historical analysis

   As published: “Avoiding War, Making Peace”
   4
6. PSCI 350

   Special Topics. 1-8

   As published: “Special Topics”
   1-8
7. PSCI 391

   Globalization and Its Discontents. 4. 4. Analyzes the impact of trade, financial flows, technology and regional integration on the domestic politics of advanced and emerging countries. Case studies include the European Union and western European states, the United States, Japan and Brazil

   As published: “Globalization and Its Discontents”
   4

Comparative Politics

1. PSCI 201

   Comparing Countries. 4. A 3-week simulation-based introductory-course that emphasizes active engagement, collaborative learning, and public presentation. This course examines the core concepts, theories, and issues in the field of comparative relations among countries. Topics include: comparative analysis of democracies and democratization, revolution, dictatorship, development, cultural and social movements, representation and accountability, institutions of governance, political economy, and ethnicity and ethnic conflict. Particular attention is paid to the thematic similarities and differences among the diverse set of countries around the world. Fulfills social science and intercultural requirements (1998). Social/behavioral science and sociocultural engagement requirements

   As published: “Comparing Countries”
   4
2. PSCI 206

   Challenges of Global Democratization (PECS 206). 4. Examines issues and challenges relating to democracy and democratization in a variety of historical and contemporary settings across the world. The course uses the basic principles, theories, conceptual tools and comparative methods of political science to understand the underlying drivers of democratization and the various paths that countries go through on the road to democracy. Fulfills social science and intercultural requirements (1998). Social/behavioral science and sociocultural engagement requirements

   As published: “Challenges of Global Democratization (PECS 206)”
   4
3. PSCI 210

   East Asian Politics. 4. An introduction to the political systems of East Asian countries. While examining a broad background of history and culture in comparative perspective about East Asian countries and its influence on shaping contemporary political systems, this course investigates political culture, political institutions and processes, and the impact of modernization, ideology, the role of political elites and social dynamics. Fulfills intercultural requirement (1998). Sociocultural engagement requirement

   As published: “East Asian Politics”
   4
4. PSCI 222

   African Government and Politics. 4. This course is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of African governments and their policies and of the relationship of Africa with the rest of the world. Fulfills intercultural requirement (1998). Sociocultural engagement requirement

   As published: “African Government and Politics”
   4
5. PSCI 315

   Chinese Politics. 4. Examines Chinese political history, political ideology, political institutions, political processes as well as some key issues in Chinese politics, providing a comprehensive introduction to developments since the Communist revolution Fulfills intercultural requirement (1998). Sociocultural engagement requirement

   As published: “Chinese Politics”
   4
6. PSCI 350

   Special Topics. 1-8

   As published: “Special Topics”
   1-8

Political Theory/Political Analysis

1. PSCI 240

   American Political Thought. 4. An examination of a range of expositions of the moral foundations of American politics. This course uses these primary texts, along with writings about these texts and the political situations in which they were written, to think about the development of U.S. political cultures. Fulfills social science requirement (1998). Social/behavioral science requirement

   As published: “American Political Thought”
   4
2. PSCI 305

   Politics of Gender. 4. This upper-level, writing-intensive course provides an opportunity to critically examine the role of gender in politics. Many still consider politics to be a gender-divided world. To be discussed are the ways that people use gendered categories to make political decisions, as well as the ways that gender intersects with other major political categories such as race, class and sexuality. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement (1998). Evaluating systems and environments requirement

   As published: “Politics of Gender”
   4
3. PSCI 364

   Race, Ethnicity and Politics. 4. 4 Examines several theories about race and ethnicity. Among these theories are ideas about how race and ethnicity shape our political identities. The goal of the course is to use a variety of theories and methodologies in order to develop a critical understanding of the complexities of race and ethnicity, with an emphasis on race and ethnicity in the United States. Fulfills diversity in the U.S. requirement

   As published: “Race, Ethnicity and Politics”
   4
4. PSCI 367

   Violence and Politics. 4. 4. This writing-intensive, upper-level course is an exploration of the theoretical and actual connections between violence and politics. After a brief foray into political psychology, we will examine and critique the views of several political theorists. We will end the class by analyzing specific violent events in light of these theories. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement

   As published: “Violence and Politics”
   4