Political Science (PLSC)

Introduction to the field of political science through a survey of major issues in politics from a comparative and international perspective. Not challengeable.

This course explores the history and theory of relations of power with attention to race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and neurodiversity. Letter grade only.

General analytical survey of federal executive, congressional, and judicial processes with emphasis on policy issues. Formerly PLSC 301. Not challengeable.

Introduces basic principles and elements of international politics, the development of international law and organizations, and the conditions in developing areas. Formerly PLSC 331.

Political institutions and processes in selected Western European, communist, and developing nations. Formerly PLSC 361. Not challengeable.

Origins, growth, and development of American ideas of democracy, and impact of recent economic and international forces upon these ideas. Also HIST 311. Not challengeable.

Continuation of PLSC 311. Origins, growth, and development of American ideas of democracy, and impact of recent economic and international forces upon these ideas. Also HIST 312. Not challengeable.

Studies socioeconomic, institutional, cultural, and psychological factors, which influence American political behavior. Emphasizes public opinion and voting. Not challengeable.

Studies the organization and activities of American political parties and interest groups. Not challengeable.

Examines legal, constitutional, and historical foundations of public administration. Explores key themes in current public administration. Also PADM 332.

Organization and procedures of the UN through participation in model UN sessions with other universities. May be repeated up to 3 additional times for credit. Not challengeable.

Basic political institutions, procedures, problems, and developments that have occurred in Third World nations from colonialism to present. Not challengeable.

Relevant works of major political philosophers from Plato to Hegel including Aristotle, Aquinas, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Confucius, and Rousseau. Not challengeable.

Analyzes significant works of modern political theory, by Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, Marx, and Nietzsche Not challengeable.

Introduces American political thought. Analyzes federalism and anti-federalism, constitutionalism, liberty and liberalism, democracy, civic virtue, wage and slave labor, individualism, and minority rights. Also HIST 378. Not challengeable.

Student-designed courses approved by a faculty member. Prior approval of goals, objectives, procedures, and assessment plan as directed in the Independent Study Manual is required. May be taken multiple times with a different topic for credit. Not challengeable.

Examines the institution of monarchies through global history and analyzes how monarchies operate in modern settings. Not challengeable.

This course examines the political, cultural, military and technological context and issues of the Vietnam War from its roots in French colonialism through the U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam and the reunification of the country. Special emphasis is placed on the long term effects this war has had on US foreign and military policy as well as on cultural and social movements. Also HIST 405. May be taken for letter grade only. Not challengeable.

Studies US constitutional system as a counter-majoritarian check, as a historical and political actor and, as a unique institution. Also HIST 407. Not challengeable.

Selected topics in history and/or political science relating to current issues and/or special fields of study. May be repeated once with a different topic. Can be taken for letter grade only. Not challengeable. Also HIST 409.

Powers and processes of US congress and presidency. Emphasizes the struggle for power. Not challengeable.

This course traces the progress of the environmental movement in the United States since the 1970s. Through case studies, films, primary and secondary texts, and discussions, a better understanding of the most critical events and developments in environmental politics will be explored. Focus will be placed specifically on current issues, including climate change, and how the political landscape will drive policies moving forward. Letter grade only. Not challengeable.

Political, social, and cultural analysis of Western film in American culture during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Not challengeable.

A survey of central themes in the political and cultural history of the United States-Mexico borderlands, from the Spanish colonial borderlands to the present. Themes include encounter, violence, community formation and identity, migration, and culture. Formerly PLSC 355. Letter grade only. Not challengeable.

Institutions and processes of state, city, and county government. Emphasizes taxation, public services, campaign and election processes, and city administration. Offered infrequently. Not challengeable.

Examines strategies that influence states with and without the use of force. Covers the broad spectrum of arguments on war, from peace studies to the concept of a just war. Also, looks at non-state forms of political violence, such as terrorism. Not challengeable.

Political and functional agencies of the international community. Non-governmental factors on international economies and politics. Not challengeable.

Studies American foreign policy from colonial times to the present. Not challengeable.

Quantitative modelling of strategic interactions between adversaries, especially between nation-states. Covers mathematical analyses of coercion, persuasion, crises, trade, war, brinkmanship and classic games like chicken and prisoner's dilemma. Letter grade only, Not challengeable.

Examines different forms of political violence such as threats, blockades, war and terrorism, and the ways violence can be used in political contexts. Distinguishes political violence from other forms of violence and from non-violent alternatives. Not challengeable.

Explores histories of resistance and organizing across the globe in the 20th century. Includes discussion of social movement theories. Topics include global anti-apartheid movement, AIDS activism, indigenous rights activism from the Americas to Australia, and radical Black and Latinx movements in the United States. Also HSTY 460. Letter grade only. Not challengeable.

This course provides the student with a thorough comparative introduction to the governmental systems and current political issues in Europe, with a concentration on the European Union. Using the comparative method, we will examine the evolution of democracy in Western Europe, as well as the transitions from authoritarian to democratic politics in the Iberian Peninsual in the 1970's and from Communist regimes in Eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Not challengeable.

This course surveys all major issues and topics of significance to Latin American politics. It covers the historical background of Latin America's colonial legacy and contrasts it with the current state of the region's politics. Current issues of particular salience, such as political and economic development, narco-trafficking, environmental degradation, and international trade will also be detailed. May be taken for letter grade only. Not challengeable.

Theories and practices of state interaction in international politics. Explores domestic and international influences on state behavior and differences and similarities in foreign policy making among different types of states. Not challengeable.

This course covers economic and political developments in China and Japan since the nineteenth century and their influence on the "four tigers": Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea. Also HIST 464. Not challengeable.

Key political issues in the Middle East, including colonialism, independence and state-building, Arab nationalism, Zionism, relations between states, Islamic revivalism, globalization, and non-state actors. Also HIST 469.

Explores key themes, thinkers, and approaches to political theory since 1900. Not challengeable.

Basic skills for political analysis and research. Covers critical analysis, theory building, research design, data collection, measurement, and data analysis. Must be completed by end of Junior year. Not challengeable.

Placements with political campaign organizations, interest groups, and community political action committees. A minimum of 80 total hours per semester required. Requires instructor approval. Not challengeable.

Culminating activity required by majors in all departments. Papers/theses/projects researched, prepared, and written under the guidance of a faculty member. Comprehensive exams or recitals required in some departments. Academically, Students must be in Good Standing to enroll in 499. Not challengeable.