Course Descriptions

Academic Calendar | Course Schedule | Course Descriptions | Degree Requirements

 
POL 105 Making Sense of Politics [  5  5I ] (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. MnTC Goal 5.


POL 120 American National Government and Politics [  5  5I  9 ] (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. MnTC Goal 5 and 9.


POL 140 Political Statecraft [  2 ] (3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand        Summer: On Demand
Statecraft is the art of crafting governmental affairs. This class will explore the use of problem solving simulations to expose students to how democracies, constitutional monarchies, dictatorships, and governments in a state of revolution work to approach and solve public problems such as funding social programs, confronting natural disasters, and addressing military crises. MnTC Goal 2.


POL 150 Comparative Political Traditions [  5  5I  5M  8 ] (3)
Fall: All Years       
Comparative survey of the ways in which human societies organize themselves into political systems as influenced by their geography, religions, resources and context. MnTC Goals 5 and 8.


POL 151 Contemporary Comparative Politics [  5  5I  5M  8 ] (3)
Spring: All Years       
Comparative survey of modern global institutions and their operations, independently and as part of a wider international system. MnTC Goals 5 and 8.


POL 160 International Relations [  5  5I  8 ] (3)
Fall: All Years       
Nation-state system: the network of economic, political, cultural and technological interdependence; power, diplomacy, intelligence, war and the arms race. MnTC Goal 5 and 8.


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 Minnesota State and Local Government [  5  5M  9 ] (3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand        Summer: On Demand
A study of the basic functions, structure, procedures and problems of American state and local government, with an emphasis upon intergovernmental relations. MnTC Goal 5 and 9.


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: On Demand        Spring: On Demand       
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)
Spring: All Years       
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 314 War and the Modern World [  8 ] (3)
Spring: All Years       
This course examines world military affairs and patterns of warfare from mid-eighteenth century to the present day. Particular attention will be given to the interplay of cultural, political, and technological factors in the formation of military institutions and in the experience of warfare by diverse constituencies in the participating groups. MnTC Goal 8.


POL 315 Political Thought [  9 ] (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. MnTC Goal 9.


POL 316 War and the Environment [  10 ] (3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand        Summer: On Demand
Study of the relationship between human armed conflict and the physical environment, including climate change and resource demand as drivers for conflict, the international security issues arising from environmental disasters, contested borders, contamination resulting from wars and prospects for environmental humanitarianism and peacemaking. MnTC Goal 10.


POL 317 Strategic Games and Game Theory (3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand       
This course gives students an introductory but solid exposure to the main topics in cooperative and noncooperative game theory. Game theory has two branches: cooperative and noncooperative. Cooperative game theory is used to study strategic decision making when the actors are allowed to make binding agreements to take certain actions; noncooperative game theory is used to study situations where the actors cannot, and the actors choose their actions according to their preferences. Students will participate in representative simulation activities as well as learn the tools to design their own.


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 327 Campaigns & Elections [  9 ] (3)
Fall: All Years       
This course examines the politics of campaigns and elections in the United States. Topics include campaigns in democratic theory, candidate selection, campaign finance, campaign strategy and organization, the role of parties and interest groups, public opinion polling, and campaign communication. MnTC Goal 9.


POL 328 The Media and Politics (3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand       
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: All Years       
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 [  7  7I  7M ] (3)
Spring: All Years       
This course focuses on the First Amendment freedoms -- speech, press, expression, assembly and religion and questions of race, gender and ethnicity, due process, equal protection, voting rights and the right to privacy under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. MnTC Goal 7.


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)
Fall: 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 343 Web Politics (3)
Fall: On Demand       
This course examines the ever-changing role of the Internet in politics. We will explore the role of the web in dispersing political ideas/information, encouraging participation, reaching voters, candidates and elected officials and what government rules and international agreements affect how the web works and in whose favor. Since this is a new area, the class will be exploring many questions ourselves and what are the views of political scientists, political activists, parties, interest groups and elected officials about the role of the web and how it has or might change politics. We will examine both theoretical and practical aspects of these topics.


POL 345 Environmental Politics [  10 ] (3)
Spring: On Demand       
The course examines how national and international politics affects the success (and failure) of environmental policies. Since environmental policy is shaped in political arenas by a myriad of social and economic forces combined with observations of the natural world, the course content examine environmental issues with more of an inter-disciplinary approach. Students will gain an intellectually more mature understanding of how environmental policy is made, modified and implemented (or not) in response to political demands that often ignore the scientific realities of the environment. MnTC Goal 10.


POL 349 Great Power Politics [  W ] (3)
Fall: All Years       
International survey of major wars, the development of states' military and financial capacity, the course of imperial expansion and retreat, diplomatic alignments and alliances, arrangements for international trade and investment, as well as efforts to create international institutions by major national powers in the modern world.


POL 350 Comparative Governments of Western Europe [  W ] (3)
Spring: All Years       
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)
Spring: All Years       
Social and economic conditions affecting political institutions in the developing counties. The Third World in international relations and the political economy of development. MnTC Goal 8.


POL 354 U.S. Defense Policy (3)
Fall: All Years       
Introduction to the concepts and issues in the analysis of U.S. defense policy. Topcis include development of contemporary defense policy, analysis of the external environment, strategic considerations, the use of force, and defense decision making.


POL 356 Soviet Russia and the Global Cold War [  8 ] (3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand        Summer: On Demand
This course examines the events of the creation of the Soviet Union and its participation in global cold war ranging from the first World War through its collapse in 1989. It will discuss the relationship between the USSR and its satellite states in Eastern Europe and its client states throughout the world, focusing on case studies of conflicts both within the alliance as well as with outside forces including those of NATO. Discussion of the causes of the eventual collapse of the Warsaw Pact and the emergence of a post-Soviet state under Vladimir Putin will also follow. MnTC Goal 8.


POL 360 American Foreign Policy (3)
Spring: All Years       
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. MnTC Goal 8.


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. MnTC Goal 8.


POL 372 International Justice [  9 ] (3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand       
This course explores the multitude of international courts, tribunals and special courts, which have been established since the Nuremberg and Tokyo Tribunals after World War II to address protection of human rights and violations of international criminal law. It is intended to take a critical look at such course and explore the role and value of such courts in promoting and protecting human right issues. MnTC Goal 9.


POL 380 Politics of Great Britain (3)
Fall: On Demand        Spring: On Demand       
The development and workings of the British constitutional monarchy, the empire and commonwealth as political actors, the functions of the parliament and devolved parliaments of Great Britain and the attendant judiciary and bureaucracy.


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