POLITICAL SCIENCE
Professors Hill,Warshawsky; Associate Professors Rubongoya,Wilson;
Assistant Professor Peppers; Part-time Lecturers Clayton, Maddex,
Pearson, Rabin,Whittaker; Adjunct Associate Professor Joyner
Students majoring in political science are required to
complete a minimum of 12 units including Political
Science 102, 201, 231, 245, 345, 401; one of 221, 222, 224, or
225; one of 311 or 312; one of 342 or 343, and 3
elective units within the major. The department recommends
that majors take economics and history courses in
fulfilling General Education requirements and elective
options.
Students planning to undertake graduate study in political
science are advised to take a modern language, statistics, and
computer course(s) to satisfy General Education and elective
requirements.
Minor in American Politics
A minor consists of six units:
Political Science 102 and 201; 311 or 312; three additional
units (with no more than one at the 200 level) from among
202, 204, 205, 211, 213, 214, 245, 251, 301, 331, 343, 345,
or 410.
With departmental permission, courses from among
Political Science 260-262, 395-396, 401, 406, and 416 may be
substituted when they include American political topics.
Minor in Foreign Politics
A minor consists of six units:
Political Science 231 and 331; one of 221, 222, 224, or 225;
three additional units from among 232, 245, 251, 252, 333,
342, or 345. At least three units must be above the 200 level.
With departmental permission, courses from among Political
Science 260-262, 395-396,401, 406, 416 and 495-497
may be substituted when they include international political
topics.
Concentration in Africa and the African Diaspora
Dr. Joshua Rubongoya, Coordinator
The Africa and the African Diaspora Studies concentration
offers an interdisciplinary program for the study of Africa and
African American cultural history. Students from any major
interested in developing a specialization in Africa and the
African Diaspora may earn a concentration in Africa and the
African Diaspora Studies by successfully completing (with a
cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0) at least six
units. Of these, three must be chosen from among "core"
Africa and the African Diaspora courses in History, Political
Science, English, and Sociology.Three additional units must
be taken. One will be taken as an Independent Study,
Internship, or Special Topics course taken on or off campus.
Two others will be selected from among a group of relevant
courses approved by the concentration coordinator.
I. Core Courses
Three units from among the following courses:
HIST 254 Modern Africa
POLI 224 Comparative Political Systems: Africa
SOCI 224 Race and Ethnicity
HIST 350 Issues in African History
ENGL 310 Literatures of the African Diaspora
IL 277 African Faces and Voices
II. Special Topics/Independent Study/Internship
One unit from any of the following (subject to approval of
the concentration coordinator):
A Special Topics unit focused on Africa and/or the African
Diaspora.
An Independent Study focused on Africa and/or the African
Diaspora.
An Internship relevant to Africa and/or the African Diaspora.
III. Electives:
Two units from the following:
ENGL 302 A Southern Literature
FREN 201 Intermediate French
FREN 315 Francophone Societies
HIST 272 Latin America
POLI 252 Human Rights Policy
RELG 130 Living Religions of the World
SPAN 201 Intermediate Spanish
SPAN 312 Civilization and Culture: Spanish America
Elective units may be selected from HIST 350, HIST 254,
POLI 224, ENGL 360, SOCI 224, and IL 277 if not taken to
fulfill requirements of Part I.
One elective unit may be chosen from Special Topics,
Independent Study, or Internship if not taken to fulfill
requirements of Part II (subject to approval by the
concentration coordinator).
102 American National Government
An introduction to constitutional principles, institutions,
functions, and processes of politics and government in the
United States. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
201 State and Local Government
An examination of the politics, structures, and policies of
American state and local governments. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Political Science 102 or permission.
202 American Political Behavior
An analysis of the political process in the United States,
including political parties, interest groups, public opinion,
elections, and voting behavior. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Political Science 102 or permission.
204 Mass Media and American Politics
An examination of the news and entertainment media, both
print and broadcast, and their effects on government, elected
officials, and society. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Political Science 102 or permission.
205 American Political Institutions
An examination of the power, restraints, and politics of the
Presidency, the Congress and the Supreme Court. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Political Science 102 or permission.
211 Criminal Justice
An introductory analysis of the criminal justice system in the
United States, its structure, processes, and problems. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Political Science 102 or permission.
(Cross-listed as Criminal Justice 211)
213 Criminal Law
A study of the criminal justice system at work in the
courtroom setting, emphasizing the relationship between
substantive criminal law, criminal procedure, and the rules of
evidence. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: One course in criminal justice (Political Science 102 or
211 or Sociology 238 or 334).
(Cross-listed as Criminal Justice 213)
214 The Judicial Process
An exploration of the politics of the American judicial
system. This includes such topics as the structure of
courts, selection of judges, actors who participate in the
judiciary, judicial behavior, and the civil and criminal
varieties of courts. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Political Science 102 or permission.
(Cross-listed as Criminal Justice 214)
221 Comparative Political Systems: Europe
The government and politics of Great Britain, France, Germany,
Russia, and the operations of the European Union. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Political Science 102 or permission.
222 Comparative Political Systems: Asia
The government and politics of Japan, China, and Southeast
Asia. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Political Science 102 or permission.
224 Comparative Political Systems: Africa
An introduction to African politics south of the Sahara (Sub-
Saharan Africa). (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Political Science 102 or permission.
225 Comparative Political Systems: Latin America
The government and politics of Latin America, including
Central America and the Caribbean. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Political Science 102 or permission.
231 International Politics
An examination of the nature of the international political
system, the perspectives and behaviors of nation-states, and
the role and influence of both intergovernmental
organizations and non-governmental actors. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Political Science 102 or permission.
232 International Organizations
An examination of global, regional, and functional
organizations. The nature and functions of both
governmental and non-governmental institutions will be
discussed. A model United Nations Security Council
simulation exercise is an integral course component. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Permission.
245 Public Affairs Inquiry
An examination of the research techniques used in the study
of politics. Both qualitative and quantitative methods will be
explored. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisites: Political Science 102 and at least one other major
course or permission.
(Cross-listed as Criminal Justice 245 and International Relations
245)
251 Environmental Public Policy
An examination of environmental policy-making and
environmental issues at local, national, and international levels. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Political Science 102 or Environmental Science 200 or
permission.
252 Human Rights Policy
An introduction to the principles of human rights from a
comparative policy-making perspective. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Political Science 102 or permission.
260, 261, 262 Selected Topics in Political Science
Student research, reports, and discussion on selected problems
and themes. ( 1 / 2 ,1, 1 / 2 )
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
301 Public Administration
A survey of the role of public administration in the modern
state, with emphasis on the development of bureaucracy,
organizational theory, and management functions. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Political Science 102 or permission.
311 American Constitutional Law
An introduction to decision-making in the Supreme Court
and its past and present roles in American government. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisites: Political Science 102 and one additional course in
American politics or permission.
312 Civil Liberties
An examination of Supreme Court decisions dealing with the
Bill of Rights with emphasis on the First Amendment.
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisites: Political Science 102 and one additional course in
American politics or permission.
331 The Making of U.S. Foreign Policy
An introduction to the foreign policy process of the United
States. Selected issues in United States foreign policy since
World War II will also be analyzed. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Political Science 102 or permission.
333 Global Political Economy
A introduction to the relationship between politics and
economics at the theoretical and policy levels. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Political Science 231.
342 Western Political Theory
A study of western political theory from Plato to Rawls,
emphasizing the modern period. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisites: Political Science 102 or permission.
343 American Political Theory
A survey of American political theory from colonial
precursors to the present. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Political Science 102 or permission.
345 Public Affairs Data Analysis
A review of the data analysis techniques currently in use in
political science and the philosophic assumptions of
scientific research. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Political Science 245 or permission.
(Cross-listed as Criminal Justice 345 and International Relations
345)
395, 396 Henry H. Fowler Public Policy Seminar
A seminar taught with a scholar-statesperson that deals with a
policy issue of public significance. (Made possible by the
Henry H. Fowler Endowment. Open to selected students with
department permission.) (1, 1 / 2 )
401 Seminar in Public Policy
An in-depth investigation of topical issues in political science
utilizing a public policy perspective. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and senior status.
406 Independent Study
Supervised reading and research which results in a
monograph on a particular aspect of political science. (1)
Prerequisite: Departmental permission.
410 Community Research Practicum
Supervised participation in a large scale survey research
project. Course includes interviewing, data analysis, and report
writing. (1)
Prerequisite: Permission.
416 Public Internship
Practical experience in working with a public agency or
organization as a participant-observer, leading to the
preparation of an experience report which describes and
evaluates that agency's activities. (1)
Prerequisites: Departmental permission; prerequisite courses depend on
the placement. Normally limited to sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
495, 496, 497 Honors Project
A program of independent study culminating in a paper,
artistic creation, or performance. Prerequisites:To qualify for
consideration to receive honors in the major, a student in his/her
senior year or in the Summer prior to the senior year, must work
under the guidance of his/her committee.A written proposal and
application must be approved by the committee and department.A
minimum GPA of 3.4 in the major is required. 495 Honors Project
is prerequisite for 497 Honors Project. ( 1 / 2 , 1, 1 / 2 )