Course Descriptions

 
POL 105 Making Sense of Politics [  5I  5 ] (3)
Fall: All Years        Spring: All Years       
This course is designed to help the citizens of modern society understand the recurring principles, practices, and patterns of politics. Having learned how politics affects our lives every day, students can become informed participants at the local, national, and global levels.


POL 120 American National Government and Politics [  5I  5 ] (3)
Fall: All Years        Spring: All Years        Summer: All Years
This course examines the United States national government; how and why it works. This course will analyze the role of institutions on decision-making and the consequences for public policy. It will address what political science and other social sciences tell us about factors that influence politics, government and the policies that result from the process.


POL 160 International Relations [  5I  5 ] (3)
Fall: All Years       
Nation-state system: the network of economic, political, cultural and technological interdependence; power, diplomacy, intelligence, war and the arms race.


POL 210 Introduction to Political Science (3)
Fall: All Years       
An introduction to the major questions of political science and the scientific study of politics. Conceptual development is examined as represented in the major fields of political science.


POL 221 State and Local Government (3)
Spring: All Years       
A study of the basic functions, structure, procedures and problems of American state and local government, with an emphasis upon intergovernmental relations.


POL 230 Introduction to the Law (3)
Spring: All Years       
The philosophy of law; its social context; justice and its implications; evolution of legal concepts and systems.


POL 265 International Protection of Human Rights (3)
Fall: All Years       
This course focuses on the contemporary concern with human rights in its political, social, cultural, and legal contexts. It examines the history, philosophy, and legal foundations of the human rights movement, and how the ideas and context of human rights are realized in different societies.


POL 266 International Terrorism (3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand       
This course is devoted to understanding the historical roots of modern terrorism and insurgency and to examining the tactics, structures, and targets of international terrorism. It also examines various aspects of counter-terrorism, further trends and prospects, and the role of the media.


POL 270 Model United Nations (2)
Spring: All Years       
Designed to acquaint students with rules of both multilateral and bilateral diplomacy. The course teaches students how to negotiate across various cultures. Students will learn "hands-on" application of concepts learned in other Political Science courses. May be taken twice for credit.


POL 290 Introduction to Topics in Political Science (3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand       
Examination of an issue at an introductory level. May be repeated as topic varies.


POL 310 Political Science Research Methods (3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand       
Introduction to empirical research in political science; the nature and role of theory, research design, measurement, and the selection and interpretation of inferential statistics.


POL 315 Political Thought (3)
Fall: All Years        Spring: On Demand       
Selected reading and analysis of the major ideas and concepts that have influenced the evolution of modern political ideas.


POL 322 Executive and Legislative Process (3)
Fall: Odd Years       
Legislative and executive decision-making and organization. Relationships between the two branches and with other parts of government, political parties, and the political process.


POL 324 Political Parties and Interest Groups (3)
Fall: Even Years       
This course will examine the role of parties in American politics and the relationship between parties and interest groups which is relatively new to American politics. The course will examine how parties compete with and complement one another. The behavior of parties and interest groups in elections and governance will be examined.


POL 328 The Media and Politics (3)
Spring: All Years       
The media's role in politics, including relations between the media and government.
Prerequisite:  POL 120 

POL 330 The Judicial System (3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand       
The legal institutions, their functions and procedure; the Anglo-American experience; the American judicial system.


POL 332 Constitutional Law I: Institutional Powers and Constraints (3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand       
This course focuses on the topics of judicial review, separation of powers, federalism, and economic regulation, including commerce and taxation, substantive due process, and eminent domain.
Prerequisite:  POL 120 

POL 333 Constitutional Law II: Civil Rights and Liberties (3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand       
This course focuses on the topics of First Amendment freedoms, including speech, press, expression, assembly, and religion; rights under the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments; and questions of race, gender, and ethnicity under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.
Prerequisite:  POL 120 

POL 335 Criminal Law (3)
Fall: All Years       
Substantive criminal law; development of principles, meaning and applications of criminal law; current issues and institutions. Same as CJ 335
Prerequisite:  OR CJ 200  OR POL 230 

POL 337 Criminal Procedure (3)
Spring: All Years       
The course will examine contemporary interpretations of the U.S. Constitution's protections for the criminally accused, which are primarily found in the 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, and 14th Amendments.
Prerequisite:  OR CJ 200  OR POL 230 

POL 340 Public Administration (3)
Spring: Even Years       
The structure, operation, and politics of public bureaucracy, and its relations with other actors and institutions in government.


POL 341 Public Policy (3)
Fall: Odd Years       
An examination of the development, implementation, and evaluation of public policy.


POL 350 Comparative Governments of Western Europe (3)
Fall: On Demand       
Comparative examination of the political systems of Britain, France, Germany, and Italy; trans-national cooperation among them.


POL 352 Political Problems in Developing Countries [  8 ] (3)
Fall: On Demand       
Social and economic conditions affecting political institutions in the developing counties. The Third World in international relations and the political economy of development.


POL 360 American Foreign Policy (3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand       
Analysis of U.S. foreign policy, with an emphasis on decision making and the policy process.


POL 361 International Political Economy (3)
Spring: All Years       
This course will examine the political, economic, and social processes governing international production, trade, and consumption. It includes an examination of the political economy of North-South relations.


POL 363 Public International Law (3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand       
This course covers the history, codification and progressive development of international public law. It examines issues such as the sources of public international law, legal personality, state responsibility for breaches, judicial and non-judicial remedies, territory, the law of the sea, air and outerspace, treaty law, decisions of the ICJ and other international institutions and the role of international law in U.S. courts.
Prerequisite:  POL 120  OR POL 160 

POL 364 International Migration [  8 ] (3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand       
This course is designed to develop a good knowledge of the politics, economics and international law and organizations of international migration. Same as INTL 364.


POL 366 International Conflict Resolution (3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand       
This course is devoted to understanding and examining the phenomenon of international conflict, and to examining the efforts by nation-states, inter-governmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations to resolve international conflict.


POL 369 International Organizations (3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand       
This course explores the nature, dimensions and functions of international organizations as a new and multi-faceted phenomenon. It examines the emergence, growth and proliferation of international organizations and the factors that have contributed to this development. It also explores the nature of the international environment, the constraints and opportunities which flow from this environment, the role of an international secretariat, its scope and limitations. It focuses on both intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.
Prerequisite:  POL 120  OR POL 160 

POL 370 Understanding International Security [  8 ] (3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand       
This course highlights a series of traditional and non-traditional security issues that have emerged on the Security Studies agenda. The course begins with traditional security concerns such as the threat and use of force, and then moves to the non-traditional issues that have emerged as the subject area has expanded. Same as INTL 370.


POL 390 Topics in Political Science (1-3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand       
This is an upper division topical course and may be repeated when the topic varies.


POL 420 Topics in American Politics (1-3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand       
Selected focus on various topics of American political processes and institutions. May be repeated as topic varies.


POL 469 Internship (1-12)
Fall: All Years        Spring: All Years        Summer: All Years
A supervised practical experience in political science. A maximum of four credits may be used as electives to fulfill the "Major Requirements in Political Science", and a maximum of 12 internship credits may be applied to the degree.


POL 490 Topics in Political Science (1-3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand       
This is a Senior level topics course and may be repeated as topic varies.


POL 497 Independent Study in Political Science (1-4)
Fall: All Years        Spring: All Years        Summer: All Years
Readings, research papers, special projects with the close supervision of a member of the department.
Prerequisite:  POL 120  POL 210