Political Science (POLS)

POLS 101 American National Government (3 credits)

General Education: American Diversity, Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing

This class will introduce students to the fundamentals of the American political system. Typically Offered: Fall and Spring.

POLS 200 (s) Seminar (1-16 credits)

Credit arranged

POLS 203 (s) Workshop (1-16 credits)

Credit arranged

POLS 204 (s) Special Topics (1-16 credits)

Credit arranged

POLS 205 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 credits)

General Education: International, Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing

Basic structures, patterns, and sociocultural environment of foreign political systems; includes case studies of the government and politics in selected countries. Typically Offered: Spring.

POLS 208 Introduction to Political Philosophy (3 credits)

This course will introduce students to the practice and diverse products of political philosophy or normative political theory. Unlike theories in other areas of Political Science, which are typically focused on attempts to provide explanations and predictions regarding empirical phenomena, political philosophy is focused more on normative questions regarding how we ought to arrange our political affairs and how we ought to understand key morally laden concepts, such as obligation, rights, justice, and equality.

POLS 209 Introduction to American Politics and Policy (3 credits)

This course is an introduction to American politics using public policy as a lens. The basic goals of this course are to explain how American political institutions and the electorate shape public policy and vice versa.

POLS 235 Political Research Methods and Approaches (3 credits)

Introduction to the study of politics, including scope of the discipline, principal fields, research design, and methods of political research and analysis.

POLS 237 Introduction to International Politics (3 credits)

General Education: International, Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing

Survey of approaches used to describe and explain conflict and cooperation among states in the international system; special emphasis on games of strategic interaction. Typically Offered: Fall.

POLS 299 (s) Directed Study (1-16 credits)

Credit arranged Graded P/F.

Prereqs: Permission.

POLS 307 Institutions of the European Union (3 credits)

General Education: International, Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing

Cross-listed with FLEN 307

A cross-cultural examination of the European Union, its history, evolution, and current functioning; social, cultural, and political differences among union partners; economic structure and demographics; business culture.

POLS 331 American Political Parties and Elections (3 credits)

General Education: Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing

Development and present character of American political parties and of electoral system, functions of parties in periods of relative consensus and of critical choice regarding fundamental principles, party reform, and future prospects for party system.

POLS 332 American Congress (3 credits)

General Education: Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing

Roles and functions of Congress in the American political system, theories of representation, recruitment of legislators, Congressional organization and behavior, power structure, relationship to the executive, courts, interest groups, and public.

POLS 333 American Political Culture (3 credits)

General Education: American Diversity, Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing

Relation of public opinion and political action and affiliation to broad economic, social, religious, and intellectual developments.

POLS 336 Political Research Methods and Approaches II (3 credits)

Course covers advanced research design, social science quantitative methods and data collection issues.

Prereqs: POLS 235.

POLS 338 American Foreign Policy (3 credits)

General Education: International, Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing

Analysis of how key decision makers, such as the President and Congress, convert inputs from the international, national, and societal systems into foreign policy outputs. Typically Offered: Fall.

Prereqs: None

POLS 352 Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (3 credits)

Cross-listed with PHIL 352

This course will introduce students to the topics and methods of Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE). The approach will be interdisciplinary, with the aim of investigating and illustrating how and why these three disciplines are indispensable to addressing both the normative and factual issues each poses on its own. The course will cover basic methods in rational choice theory, game theory, social choice theory, and political philosophy to explore problems pertaining to decision-making, coordination, cooperation, and justice. The texts will include both traditional and contemporary writings on these issues.

POLS 364 Politics of the Environment (3 credits)

Cross-listed with NRS 364

Political factors that influence formation, implementation, and impact of public policies aimed at protecting the environment.

POLS 381 European Politics (3 credits)

General Education: International, Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing

Examination of political processes in European parliamentary systems; topics include parties and elections, coalition formation and dissolution, public policy, and the dynamics of the European Union.

POLS 384 African Politics (3 credits)

Cross-listed with IS 384

Exploration of the politics of African countries, beginning with the historical roots of colonialism and decolonization, but concentrating on contemporary issues of state building, war and conflict, development, democratization, and international and regional relations.

POLS 385 Political Psychology (3 credits)

General Education: International

The main goal of this course is to provide students with a general understanding of the cognitive biases that influence the choices and behavior of individuals in the realm of global politics. Topics include but are not limited to: loss aversion, personality and beliefs, group influence, analogical reasoning, and emotion. Substantive examples will be drawn from research in International Relations and Comparative Politics. As such, the course will cover the psychology of international conflict, civil war, voting behavior, and public opinion. Typically Offered: Spring.

Prereqs: None

POLS 400 (s) Seminar (1-16 credits)

Credit arranged

POLS 403 (s) Workshop (1-16 credits)

Credit arranged

POLS 404 (s) Special Topics (1-16 credits)

Credit arranged

POLS 410 Game Theory (3 credits)

Joint-listed with POLS 510

The study of strategic interaction in which an outcome depends upon an individual's own decision and the choices made by others; introduction to the basic tools of game theory used to conceptualize and model political problems as games, including situations involving conflict, cooperation, contracts between agents and principals, coordination, and bargaining. Additional projects/assignments required for graduate credit.

POLS 420 Introduction to Asian Politics (3 credits)

General Education: International

Joint-listed with POLS 520

This course will offer both a country-based and thematic survey of political systems and issues in Asia. Countries to be covered will include (but not be limited to) China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Pakistan. The course will also cover topics such as democratization, economic development, and the changing Asian security environment. Additional projects and/or assignments required for graduate credit. Recommended Preparation: POLS 205. (Spring only)

POLS 423 Politics, Policy and Gender (3 credits)

Joint-listed with POLS 523

Examination of the gendered social construction of political processes, outputs, and public policy formation on the national and international level. Study of the historical evolution of women’s participation in American politics as well as other countries. Analysis of the politics of gendered representation and political leadership in American politics and elsewhere. Additional projects/assignments required for graduate credit. Typically Offered: Fall (Even Years).

POLS 427 Modern Political Philosophy (3 credits)

Cross-listed with PHIL 427

This course will study theories in political philosophy starting from the Early Modern Period (Hobbes) and running through the present day. Typically Offered: Fall (Odd Years).

POLS 428 American Political Thought (3 credits)

Joint-listed with POLS 528

Major themes and debates in the American search for political self-understanding; topics include representative democracy, religion and politics, the frontier and its legacy, and individualism vs. communitarian claims; study of original sources (Founding Fathers, Thoreau, Lincoln, Populists) and contemporary implications. Additional projects/assignments required for graduate credit.

POLS 430 Political Participation Internship (1-9 credits, max 9)

Directed student internship as a participant-observer in the political process, work during a campaign with a candidate, party, or interest group. Graded P/F.

Prereqs: Permission.

POLS 437 American Presidency (3 credits)

Roles, power, and functions of the presidency; relationships with other structures and institutions in the U. S. political system. Additional projects/assignments required for graduate credit.

Prereqs: Senior standing or Permission.

POLS 439 Public Policy (3 credits)

Joint-listed with POLS 539

Processes by which domestic policies are formulated and administered; analysis of intentional and unintentional impact of these policies on society. Additional projects/assignments required for graduate credit.

POLS 440 (s) International Organizations and International Law (3 credits)

Cross-listed with IS 440

League of Nations, United Nations, and role of international law in international relations; the UN's contribution to international security and economic and social development.

POLS 449 World Politics and War (3 credits)

General Education: International

A critical analysis of several competing theories that explain why wars occur; some focus on the attempts to control and eliminate warfare as a tool of international diplomacy.

POLS 451 Public Administration (3 credits)

Environment of public administration, politics of organizations, public decision-making, public relations, leadership, personnel administration, financial administration, administration ethics; related topics.

POLS 458 Management Internship (1-9 credits, max 9)

Directed internship in an agency of federal, state, or local government or special projects involving federal, state, or local government. One credit for each week of internship work. Graded P/F.

Prereqs: Permission

POLS 459 Legislative Internship (1-9 credits, max 9)

Directed internship in a national, state, municipal, or corporate legislative body. Supervised work experience. Report required. Graded P/F.

Prereqs: Permission

POLS 462 Natural Resource Policy (3 credits)

Cross-listed with NRS 462

Political and institutional context for making natural resource policy; emphasis on interaction between private and public sectors and the federal, state, and tribal governments, including an examination of topical issues in natural resource politics.

POLS 467 Constitutional Law (3 credits)

Joint-listed with POLS 567

The Supreme Court as a constitutional policymaker; federal jurisdiction; constitutional principles concerning judicial review, federalism, implied powers, separation of powers, and due process. Additional projects/assignments required for graduate credit.

POLS 468 Civil Liberties (3 credits)

General Education: American Diversity

Joint-Listed: POLS 568. The Supreme Court and its role in protecting civil liberties; freedom of speech, press, and religion; due process, the Bill of Rights, and its application to the states; criminal justice. Additional projects/assignments required for graduate credit. Typically Offered: Spring.

POLS 471 Federalism in Practice (3 credits)

Joint-listed with POLS 571

Analysis of fiscal and administrative interdependencies among governmental units in the U. S. , with an emphasis on public policies. Additional projects/assignments required for graduate credit.

POLS 474 Public Opinion and Political Behavior (3 credits)

From this course, you will understand the measurement, structure, and dynamics of public opinion, both what influences it, as well as how it shapes other aspects of politics and public life, including: the character of political attitudes, party identification, turnout and participation, and the vote decision. You will also understand different modes of political participation including conventional and non-conventional and their correlates.

POLS 480 Politics of Development (3 credits)

General Education: International

Joint-listed with POLS 580

Role of the state in development, political economy of change, transition to democracy in the Third World, problems of ethnic conflict, overpopulation, and poverty. Additional projects/assignments required for graduate credit.

POLS 487 Political Violence and Revolution (3 credits)

General Education: International

Joint-listed with POLS 587

Survey of the dominant theories attempting to understand the conditions under which humans rebel against their government; from political demonstrations and riots to terrorism to revolution; special emphasis given to the revolutions in Iran and Vietnam. Additional projects/assignments required for graduate credit.

POLS 490 Senior Experience (3 credits)

General Education: Senior Experience

Required of all political science majors; capstone course devoted to mastery of inquiry in political science research; topics will vary.

Prereqs: Senior standing and 24 credits in political science.

POLS 498 (s) Internship (1-16 credits)

Credit arranged

POLS 499 (s) Directed Study (1-16 credits, max arranged)

Credit arranged. Graded Pass/Fail.

Prereqs: Permission

POLS 500 Master's Research and Thesis (1-16 credits)

Credit arranged. Graded P/F.

POLS 501 (s) Seminar (1-16 credits)

Credit arranged. Areas normally offered include U. S. politics, U. S. foreign policy, African and Asian politics, community power and politics, U. S. political thought, public law, public administration, and political development. One 2-day field trip is authorized for the seminar in public administration.

POLS 502 (s) Directed Study (1-16 credits)

Credit arranged

POLS 503 (s) Workshop (1-16 credits)

Credit arranged

POLS 504 (s) Special Topics (1-16 credits)

Credit arranged

POLS 520 Introduction to Asian Politics (3 credits)

General Education: International

Joint-listed with POLS 420

POLS 523 Politics, Policy and Gender (3 credits)

Joint-listed with POLS 423

POLS 535 Advanced Political Science and Research Methods (3 credits)

Course covers advanced research design, social science quantitative methods and data collection issues.

POLS 539 Public Policy (3 credits)

Joint-listed with POLS 439

POLS 552 Administrative Law and Regulation (3 credits)

Legal and judicial constraints on administration action, rule-making, adjudication, and other modes of administrative action. Additional projects/assignments required for graduate credit.

POLS 555 Public Administration Theory (3 credits)

Major writers in public administration theory and concepts such as leadership, supervision, authority, decision-making, and human relations.

POLS 556 Governmental Policy and Program Analysis (3 credits)

Techniques used to analyze policy alternatives and to evaluate program; developing program objectives, management by objectives, productivity analysis, program evaluation, and policy analysis.

POLS 557 Governmental Budgeting (3 credits)

Theory and practice of budgeting in a political environment; focus on potentials and limitations of various budgeting systems, particular viz the federal experience.

POLS 558 Research Methods for Local Government and Community Administration (3 credits)

This course will provide research tools to students interested in local and community administration. Topics will include research design, inferential statistics, regression analysis, binary dependent variable modeling with application to policy analysis and performance measurement, and program evaluation.

Prereqs: STAT 251

POLS 559 Field Based Research (3 credits)

This course gives in-service MPA graduate students the opportunity to conduct applied research under faculty supervision. Research projects will be selected according to the needs of the agency, student interest, and with faculty approval.

POLS 565 Local Government Law (3 credits)

The course examines the major legal issues involving local government, including tax and spending, public employment contracts, delivery of services and tort liability. Also covered are the relationship problems such as inter-local conflicts and the manner in which state governments and the federal government impact local government. This course also will provide practical instruction on the functions and procedures of municipal governing bodies, municipal courts, and planning and zoning boards.

POLS 566 Local Economic Development (3 credits)

Local economic development (LED) is an essential dimension of communities’ wellbeing. This course focuses on local economic development theories, analytical tools, and strategies and their application including analysis of local economy and formulation of local economic development plan. It prepares students interested in a career position in local economic development or in local government and nonprofit fields in general.

Prereqs: Graduate standing

POLS 567 Constitutional Law (3 credits)

Joint-listed with POLS 467

POLS 568 Civil Liberties (3 credits)

General Education: American Diversity

Joint-listed with POLS 468

The Supreme Court and its role in protecting civil liberties; freedom of speech, press, and religion; due process, the Bill of Rights, and its application to the states; criminal justice. Additional projects/assignments required for graduate credit. Typically Offered: Spring.

POLS 570 Public Sector Contract Management (3 credits)

This course introduces students to the practices that are employed to solicit and manage government contracts, the importance of successfully managing contractual relationships with vendors, and about contract dispute resolution. It also contains a general introduction to contract law.

POLS 572 Local Government Politics and Administration (3 credits)

Joint-listed with POLS 472

Politics, structure, and problems of American cities and other local governments; focus on the urban political economy, the fiscal and social challenges, and the links between public and private sectors; changing social and political functions of American cities and metropolitan fragmentation. Additional projects/assignments required for graduate credit.

POLS 575 Public Personnel Administration (3 credits)

Personnel administration in public agencies; history of the personnel and merit systems; recruitment; selection, training, and evaluation of administrators; collective bargaining and political activity in public service; personnel administration and democracy.

POLS 580 Politics of Development (3 credits)

General Education: International

Joint-listed with POLS 480

POLS 587 Political Violence and Revolution (3 credits)

Joint-listed with POLS 487

POLS 598 (s) Internship (1-16 credits)

Credit arranged

POLS 599 (s) Research (1-16 credits)

Credit arranged

POLS 600 Doctoral Research and Dissertation (1-45 credits)

Credit arranged. Graded P/F.

2023-2024 Catalog

Political Science (POLS)

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