Professors Rubongoya, Warshawsky, Wilson; Associate Professor Peppers; Assistant Professors Leeb, Mihalache-O’Keef; Visiting Instructor Kirby; Teaching Associate Scott; Adjunct Associate Professor Joyner
The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in political science is awarded to students who successfully complete 12 units from the program of study outlined below:
I. Core Requirements (students must complete each of the following):
A. 101 (American National Government)
B. 231 (International Politics)
C. 250 (Public Policy)
D. 340 (Public Affairs Research Methods)
E. 401 (Senior Seminar)
II. Institutions (at least 1 from category):
A. 201 (State and Local Government)
B. 202 (American Political Behavior)
C. 204 (Mass Media)
D. 205 (American Political Institutions)
E. 214 (Judicial Process)
F. 232 (International Organizations)
G. 301 (Public Administration)
III. Comparative Politics (at least 1 from category)
A. 221 (Comparative Political Systems: Europe)
B. 222 (Comparative Political Systems: Asia)
C. 224 (Comparative Political Systems: Africa)
D. 225 (Comparative Political Systems: Latin America)
IV. Applied Policy (at least 1 from category)
A. 240 (Public Opinion Polling)
B. 251 (Environmental Public Policy)
C. 252 (Human Rights Policy)
D. 331 (U.S. Foreign Policy)
E. 333 (Global Political Economy)
V. Political Theory (at least 1 from category)
A. 342 (Western Political Theory)
B. 343 (American Political Theory)
VI. Public Law (at least 1 from category)
A. 211 (Criminal Justice)
B. 213 (Criminal Law)
C. 311 (American Constitutional Law)
D. 312 (Civil Liberties)
At least four courses at the 300 or above level are required to complete the major.
Minor in American Politics
A minor consists of six units:
Political Science 101 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, 240, 250, 251, 301, 331, 340, 343. 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, 251, 252, 333, 340, 342.
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.
101 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: POLI 101 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: POLI 101 or permission.
204 Mass Media and American Politics
An examination of the news and entertainment media, print,
web, and broadcast, and their effects on government, elected
officials, and society. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: POLI 101 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: POLI 101 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: POLI 101 or permission. (Cross-listed as CJUS 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 CJUS (POLI 101 or 211 or SOCI 238
or 334).
(Cross-listed as CJUS 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: POLI 101 or permission.
(Cross-listed as CJUS 214)
221 Comparative Political Systems: Europe
The government and politics of Great Britain, France, Germany,
Russia, and selected other European states as well as the
operations of the European Union. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: POLI 101 or permission.
222 Comparative Political Systems: Asia
The government and politics of Japan, China, and Indonesia
and ASEAN. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: POLI 101 or permission.
224 Comparative Political Systems: Africa
The government and politics of Sub-Saharan African politics. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: POLI 101 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: POLI 101 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: POLI 101 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.
240 Public Opinion Polling
Supervised participation in a large scale survey research project.
Course includes interviewing, data analysis, and report writing.
(1) (Cross-listed as COMR-240)
Prerequisite: Permission.
247 Theory in International Relations
In-depth examination of the theoretical lenses in the field of
International Relations, complemented by the application of
the theories to contemporary global issues. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: POLI 231 or permission.
250 Public Policy
An examination of the scope, nature and outcomes of the
American public policy decision-making process. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: POLI 101.
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: POLI 101 or ENVI 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: POLI 101 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: POLI 101 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: POLI 101 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: POLI 101 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 in The
Cold War and post – Cold War eras will also be analyzed. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: POLI 101 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: POLI 231.
340 Research Methods in Public Affairs
An examination of the research methodologies and techniques
used in the study of public policy and politics. The course
emphasizes both qualitative and quantitative methods. The lab
focuses on statistical applications. (1) (Cross-listed as CJUS and
I.R. 340).
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk; Laboratory: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: POLI 101 and at least two other courses in the major or
permission.
342 Western Political Theory
A study of western political theory from Plato to Rawls,
emphasizing the modern period. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisites: POLI 101 or permission.
343 American Political Theory
A survey of American political theory from colonial precursors
to the present. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: POLI 101 or permission.
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
Supervised review of a literature and research project in the
discipline of political science. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor; senior major status; POLI
250 and POLI 340.
406 Independent Study
Supervised reading and research which results in a monograph
on a particular aspect of political science. (1)
Prerequisite: A minimum of 3.0 major GPA and both Departmental
and instructor permission.
416 Public Internship
Practical experience in working with a public agency or nongovernmental
organization as a participant-observer, leading to
the preparation of an experience report which describes and
evaluates that agency’s activities. (1)
Prerequisites: A minimum of 2.5 major GPA and Departmental and
instructor permission.
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)