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Political Science Course Descriptions

  • PSCI 101. The American Political System
    Credits: 4. An introductory course designed to explain the basic processes and issues of the American political system. A particular emphasis will be placed on citizenship and public participation within a democracy. Fulfills social science requirement.
  • PSCI 103. International Relations
    Credits: 4. An introductory course designed to provide the basic theoretical tools and frameworks of analysis for understanding the behavior of states and other actors in the international system. Topics include the use of force, U.S. foreign policy, the causes of war and peace, the global political economy and resource and environmental issues. Fulfills social science requirement.
  • PSCI 105. Comparative Politics
    Credits: 4. An introductory course designed to introduce students to the methods and approaches to comparative analysis and apply them to the study of ideologies, political behaviors, social movements and revolutions, political economy and political regimes that have played a role in the formation of the contemporary world. Fulfills social science and intercultural requirements.
  • PSCI 106. Classics in Political Thought
    Credits: 4. An introductory course designed to critically analyze great works that reflect the fundamental themes and assumptions of Western political thought. Fulfills social science and social justice/environmental responsibility requirements.
  • PSCI 150. Special Topics
    Credits: 4. A recent topic offered is Global Inequality, an interdisciplinary exploration of the relationship between economic development and income equality. This course examines the various explanations for the gap between rich and poor countries in the international system, as well as income inequality within specific developing countries. May also be offered at 250, 350 and 450 levels.
  • PSCI 204. Public Policy and Administration
    Credits: 4. An examination of the public policy process, including policy formulation, implementation and analysis. Attention will be paid to the issues of leadership, finance and personnel administration in government and nonprofit organizations. Fulfills social science requirement.
  • PSCI 206. Challenges of Global Democratization
    Credits: 4. Examines issues and challenges relating to democracy and democratization in a variety of historical and contemporary settings cross the world. The course uses the basic principles, theories, conceptual tools and comparative methods of political science to understand the underlying drivers of democratization and the various paths that countries go through on the road to democracy. Fulfills intercultural and social science requirements.
  • PSCI 210. East Asian Politics
    Credits: 4. An introduction to the political systems of East Asian countries. While examining a broad background of history and culture in comparative perspective about East Asian countries and its influence on shaping contemporary political systems, this course investigates political culture, political institutions and processes and the impact of modernization, ideology, the role of political elites and social dynamics. Fulfills intercultural requirement.
  • PSCI 222. African Government and Politics
    Credits: 4. This course is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of African governments and their policies and of the relationship of Africa with the rest of the world. Fulfills intercultural requirement.
  • PSCI 225. The American Presidency
    Credits: 4. An examination of the office of the presidency, including its constitutional and political underpinnings; the selection process; presidential policymaking; relationships to other branches of government and the public; and participation in foreign affairs.
  • PSCI 230. Politics of Problem Solving
    Credits: 4. An overview of the politics of problem-solving, from problem-definition to public policy. This course examines the ways that “problems” get defined in the political arena, from political psychology (why do people believe what they believe?) to institutions (what incentives encourage defining problems in certain ways?). Strategies for solving political problems are also examined.
  • PSCI 240. American Political Thought
    Credits: 4. An examination of some classic expositions of the moral foundations of American politics, with the intention of discovering what it means to be an American. Fulfills social science requirement.
  • PSCI 260. Independent Study
    Credits: 1-4. May also be offered at 360 and 460 levels. Reading programs, tutorials or field projects arranged between a student and a faculty member; schedules and nature of the work to be accomplished at the discretion of the instructor. For a complete list of prerequisites, please see the detailed independent study description under major.
  • PSCI 275. Asia and the World
    Credits: 4. An introduction to international relations among Asian countries. This course examines how domestic politics, political culture, history and social changes in these countries shape, and how they are shaped by, international politics in the region. Particular emphasis on the dynamics of great power relations and Cold War and post-Cold Ward competition in Asia. Fulfills intercultural requirement.
  • PSCI 290. Internship
    Credits: 1-4. Recommended for all majors. Details to be arranged between a student and a faculty member; schedules and nature of the work to be accomplished at the discretion of the instructor. May also be offered at the 390 level. For a complete list of prerequisites, please see the detailed internship description under major.
  • PSCI 301. Politics of State and Local Government
    Credits: 4. Examines the relationships between local, state and federal governments and major institutional players, as well as the major issues facing municipal governments. Various state and local government officials will share their perspectives with the class.
  • PSCI 305. Politics of Gender
    Credits: 4. This upper-level, writing-intensive course provides an opportunity to critically examine the role of gender in politics.Many still consider politics to be a gender-divided world. To be discussed are the ways that people use gendered categories to make political decisions, as well as the ways that gender intersects with other major political categories such as race, class and sexuality. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement.
  • PSCI 315. Chinese Politics
    Credits: 4. Examines Chinese political history, political ideology, political institutions, political processes as well as some key issues in Chinese politics, providing a comprehensive introduction to developments since the Communist revolution. Fulfills intercultural requirement.
  • PSCI 316. China and the World
    Credits: 4. Examines China's contemporary international relations and the major military, political and economic elements of Chinese foreign policy in the context of their development since 1949. Fulfills intercultural requirement.
  • PSCI 317. The American Founding
    Credits: 4. Studies the way in which some of the most celebrated features of American government became either settled questions or continue to be debated today. Topics examined include the proper balance between governmental branches, the relationship between citizens and their representatives, the key role of elections in American politics and the contentious role of democracy in American political life. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement.
  • PSCI 318. Environmentalism in Early America
    Credits: 4. This course examines the complex dialogue between nature and politics in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th century. It will focus on the complicated links between material circumstances, ideas and politics, which affected the physical context of the American environment and the changing experience of American life. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement.
  • PSCI 319. Modern Environmental Problems
    Credits: 4. Examines the complex emergence of the American environmental movement as a response to the historical, political and socio-economic patterns following World War II. Students will analyze environmental policies in response to specific and varied problems such as pollution, species protection, urban sprawl and management of national parks. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement.
  • PSCI 330. Global Power and Wealth
    Credits: 4. An exploration of competing explanations for the changing relationship between political and economic power in international relations. Substantively, the course focuses on trade, finance, investment and debt and development issues. Fulfills social science requirement.
  • PSCI 335. America and the World
    Credits: 4. Examines the historical context of U.S. foreign policy since World War II: the Cold War, Korea, Vietnam, collapse of the U.S.S.R., post-9/11; the individuals, institutions and processes involved in making and implementing foreign policy; and contemporary foreign policy issues and challenges–e.g., Middle East conflict, terrorism, WMD, nuclear proliferation, covert action, peacekeeping, democratization, human rights and globalization.
  • PSCI 345. Avoiding War, Making Peace
    Credits: 4. The aim of this course is to gain a better understanding of the conditions and processes that lead to international war and peace. This will be accomplished through a combination of theoretical and historical analysis.
  • PSCI 355. Constitutional Law and Civil Rights
    Credits: 4. Examines a series of political controversies in which at least one–and usually more than one–side makes a claim on the basis of rights. Controversies examined include property rights, First Amendment rights, rights in times of crisis, the rights of the accused and the right to vote as well as rights-based assertions on behalf of the disabled, women and the unborn. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement.
  • PSCI 364. Race, Ethnicity and Politics
    Credits: 4 Examines several theories about race and ethnicity. Among these theories are ideas about how race and ethnicity shape our political identities. The goal of the course is to use a variety of theories and methodologies in order to develop a critical understanding of the complexities of race and ethnicity, with an emphasis on race and ethnicity in the United States. Fulfills diversity in the U.S. requirement.
  • PSCI 365. Terrorism in America
    Credits: 4. Examines terrorism committed by groups within the continental U.S. to include their organization, motivation, tactics and weapons–including weapons of mass destruction. Also examined are the government’s efforts to combat terrorism to include challenges to Constitutional rights and freedoms. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement.
  • PSCI 366. Global Terrorism
    Credits: 4. Examines political, religious, cultural, criminal and state-sponsored terrorism from a global perspective to include motivations, weapons and tactics as well as the response to terrorist violence by the international community and national governments. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement.
  • PSCI 367. Violence and Politics
    Credits: 4. This writing-intensive, upper-level course is an exploration of the theoretical and actual connections between violence and politics. After a brief foray into political psychology, we will examine and critique the views of several political theorists. We will end the class by analyzing specific violent events in light of these theories. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement.
  • PSCI 389. Homeland Security
    Credits: 4. An examination of the evolution of American national security policy with an emphasis on the post-Cold War period. Emphasis will be on identification of threats and adversaries, strategy, intelligence and policy formulation.
  • PSCI 391. Globalization and Its Discontents
    Credits: 4. Analyzes the impact of trade, financial flows, technology and regional integration on the domestic politics of advanced and emerging countries. Case studies include the European Union and western European states, the United States, Japan and Brazil.
  • PSCI 405. Departmental Seminar
    Credits: 1-4. Reading and discussion of recent contributions to political science.
  • PSCI 460. Independent Study
    Credits: 4. Reading programs, tutorials, or field projects arranged between a student and a faculty member; schedules and nature of the work to be accomplished at the discretion of the instructor. For a complete list of prerequisites, please see the detailed independent study description under major. Also offered at the 260 and 360 levels.
  • PSCI 465. Senior Independent Project
    Credits: 4. Serves as a departmental independent study pass/fail capstone course. Majors must complete a major independent project/research proposal on an agreed upon topic as directed by a faculty member. This course is intended to foster students’ integration and synthesis of the discipline, further develop and assess student competencies and problem-solving skills, and enhance students’ preparation for careers and post graduate education. Prerequisite: PSCI 230.
  • PSCI 490. Departmental Honors
    Credits: 4. For a complete list of prerequisites, please see the detailed departmental honors description under major. Prerequisite: PSCI 230 and a specific PSCI 460 the previous semester.