Political Science

Political Science Courses

Professors Hill, Warshawsky, Rubongoya, Wilson, Peppers

• Political science majors are required to complete a minimum of 12 units including Political Science 101, 201, 231, 340, 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 political science 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
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, 251, 301, 331, 340, 343, 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
Consists of six courses:

Political Science 231; one of 221, 222, 224, or 225; POLI 331; three additional courses from among 232,  251, 252, 333, 340, or 342. At least three courses must be above the 200 level.

With departmental approval, courses from among Political Science 260-262, 395-396,401, 406, and 416 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: Political Science 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: Political Science 101 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 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: Political Science 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: Political Science 101 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 101 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 101 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 101 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 101 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 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: Political Science 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: Political Science 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.

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 101 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 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: Political Science 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: Political Science 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: Political Science 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 since World War II will also be analyzed. (1) Lecture: 3 hrs/wk. Prerequisite: Political Science 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: Political Science 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: Political Science 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: Political Science 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: Political Science 101 or permission.

395, 396 Henry H. Fowler Public Policy Seminar
A seminar taught with a scholar-states person 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 )