Catalog 2013-2014

GWA - Government and World Affairs

GWA 100, GWA 200, or GWA 201 is a prerequisite for all other government and world affairs courses.

GWA 100 Introduction to Government and World Affairs

Covers the essential elements of political science from a national and international perspective.

Credit Hours: 4
(IG) (NW)

GWA 200 American Government

Covers the political processes, institutions and policies of the national political system of the United States.

Credit Hours: 4

GWA 201 World Affairs

An exploration of the political, economic and social processes between and among actors in the global community.

Credit Hours: 4
(W) (IG) (NW)

GWA 202 International Political Economy

Introduces the contours of the international economic system, including issues of dependency, aid, trade, multinational corporations and the politics of economic exchange.

Credit Hours: 4
(IG) (NW)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 203 Political Parties and Interest Groups

Studies the organization and functions of political parties and interest groups, primarily in the political system of the United States.

Credit Hours: 4
(W)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 206 Contemporary Latin America

This course analyzes the cultural, economic, social and political dimensions of Latin America. Focuses primarily on how several broad issues shape contemporary Latin America.

Credit Hours: 4
(IG) (NW)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 207 The Urban World

An overview of the courses and consequences of urbanization in the United States, Western Europe and developing countries, integrating economic, geographical, political and sociological perspectives.

Credit Hours: 4
(IG) (NW)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 210 Urban Politics and Policy

Covers political processes, institutions and policies of urban political systems in the United States.

Credit Hours: 4
(W)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 217 Law and Society

What is the relationship and role of law in a society? The rule of law, through constitutions, guarantees that there are realms that are unfettered by politics. Political tolerance ensures equal access to the political process and a fair judicial process. Legitimacy, the voluntary relationship between the citizen and the state, depends on public perceptions of the law, the state and its judicial institutions. These questions will be considered in terms of topics ranging from procedural justice, economics, rights and even social movements.

Credit Hours: 4

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 220 The Congress and the Presidency

Studies legislative and executive roles and interactions in the national government of the United States.

Credit Hours: 4
(W)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 270 Research Methods for Government and World Affairs

Trains students in the methods of research relevant to the field of government and world affairs. Examines the entire research process from initial conception to final production.

Credit Hours: 4

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 280 Introduction to Peace Studies

An introduction to peace studies with a focus on the meanings and nature of peace and non-peace, the origins and causes of conflict and war, and the quest for achieving peace.

Credit Hours: 4
(W)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 290-299 Special Studies

Special courses are offered each year.

Credit Hours: 2-4

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 302 Modern Legal and Political Thought

Studies the major political and legal ideas that have shaped the contemporary world, including democracy, fascism, conservatism, classical and reform liberalism, socialism, communism, feminism and environmentalism.

Credit Hours: 4
(W) (IG)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 303 The Politics and History of Tampa

This course explores the development of political, social and economic structures of the city of Tampa since the 19th century.

Credit Hours: 4
(W)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 304 Public Policy Analysis

Studies the formulation, implementation and evaluation of public policies.

Credit Hours: 4
(W)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 305 Nuclear Proliferation and Nonproliferation

Examines the origins of the drive for nuclear weapons, the history of the nuclear nonproliferation regime, and incentives and disincentives for nuclear proliferation and nonproliferation. Analyzes current nuclear weapons states, "threshold" states, and states that purposefully chose to forgo nuclear weapons development.

Credit Hours: 4
(W) (IG) (NW)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 306 Politics of the Family

This course examines the interplay between politics, policy and family life. The course looks at how family and gender roles impact political involvement, as well as how public policies shape family life, gender roles and support for dependents. The course will look at the politics of family in the United States and a wide variety of countries around the world. Students will have opportunities to develop their analytical writing and research skills.

Credit Hours: 4
(W) (IG)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 314 U.S. National Security Policy

Examines the process and substance of U.S. national security policy, including institutional settings and specific policy problems.

Credit Hours: 4
(W) (IG)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 326 Political Campaigns and Electoral Politics

An exploration of the electoral process, particularly in the United States, with emphasis on the role of communication in political campaigns.

Credit Hours: 4

Prerequisites

COM 224, GWA 100 or GWA 200.

GWA 340 The European Union

This course analyzes the EU in three inter-related parts: historical and theoretical approaches to understanding the EU, institutional design of the EU, and policy making within the EU. The course is also designed to give students practice in different types of writing, including formal and informal writing assignments.

Credit Hours: 4
(W) (IG)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 341 International Relations of East Asia

This course examines patterns of conflict and cooperation in Northeast Asia from the perspective of competing theories of international relations. Topics include the changing regional balance of power, nuclear weapons, territorial disputes, conflicts over historical memory, alliance systems, trade relations, human rights and the role of U.S. foreign policy and military bases in the region.

Credit Hours: 4
(W) (IG) (NW)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 342 The Political Economy of Latin America

Examines political cultures, processes, institutions and policies in selected Latin American political systems.

Credit Hours: 4
(W) (IG) (NW)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 343 Third World Political and Economic Development

Examines the political and economic problems facing developing Third World states.

Credit Hours: 4
(W) (IG) (NW)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 344 The Political Economy of Africa

Examines the political and economic problems and opportunities facing the continent of Africa; the African colonial experience and its impact on modern African development; and how the continent has struggled with political and economic trends over the past 40 years.

Credit Hours: 4
(W) (IG) (NW)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 345 Politics of the Middle East and North Africa

Examines the politics of this diverse region straddling the nexus of Africa, Europe and Asia. Topics explored include Islam and politics, governance, the oil economy, war and peace in a volatile region, and prospects for the future in a globalizing world.

Credit Hours: 4
(W) (IG) (NW)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 346 International Organization

This course examines the role of international organizations in facilitating cooperation between states to achieve commonly held goals such as peace and prosperity. The course introduces competing theories of international organization and their applications to international organizations spanning fields such as security, trade, the environment and human rights. The course also is designed to help students develop analytical writing skills and research methods for the study of international organization.

Credit Hours: 4
(W) (NW) (IG)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 350 Politics of Identity

Examines the roles identities like nationality, gender, ethnicity, race, religion, class, culture and species have played historically and contemporaneously in domestic and international politics. The course addresses these topics both through canonical theories and through case studies that span the globe. We explore various understandings of these identities ranging from those that assume them to be fixed and primordial to those that view them as socially constructed and contestable.

Credit Hours: 4
(IG) (NW)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 355 NGOs and Global Civil Society

This course offers an overview of how nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other non-state actors in the international arena communicate, organize and advocate on behalf of individuals and interests that are overlooked by states, or run counter to national interests. The course will focus on how issues are framed and campaigns are waged by NGOs and advocacy networks in order to compel states or intergovernmental institutions to change behavior or policies.

Credit Hours: 4
(IG)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 365 Politics of East Asia

Examines post-1950 politics of China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, focusing on common themes of democratization, economic development, elite politics, political culture, foreign policy and human rights. Analytical writing is the primary form of course evaluation.

Credit Hours: 4
(W) (IG) (NW)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 370 American Judicial Politics

The purpose of this course is to familiarize the student with the organization of American courts, both state and federal, their role in society, the processes in practice through which judges act, and their impact on politics.  We will also compare the reality of how judges behave to society’s myths and expectations about how they should function as well as the limits of what can and should be expected of courts and judges.  A central theme will be to analyze judges as political players who have a profound impact on the development and implementation of public policy.

Credit Hours: 4

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 375 Constitutional Law I: Institutional Powers

The purpose of this course is to familiarize the student with the laws and jurisprudence of the United States government and Constitution.  We will study the development of constitutional jurisprudence in a variety of areas within institutional powers (such as judicial power, legislative power, executive power, federalism, regulatory power, property rights and economic liberties) with an eye towards legal and political explanations for changes in and development of the case law.

Credit Hours: 4

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 376 Constitutional Law II: Civil Rights and Liberties

The purpose of this course is to familiarize the student with the laws and jurisprudence of the United States government and Constitution.  We will study the development of constitutional jurisprudence in a variety of areas within civil rights and liberties (such as due process, obtaining evidence, right of privacy, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and equal protection) with an eye towards legal and political explanations for changes in and development of the case law.

Credit Hours: 4

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 380 Political Psychology

An analysis of psychological perspectives of personality, information processing, and decision making as it applies to mass and elite political behavior.

Credit Hours: 4

Prerequisites

GWA 100 and GWA 200

GWA 402 Constitutional Law and the Supreme Court

A study of the federal judiciary system and federal courts, their roles in relation to the executive and legislative branches of government, and the constitutional aspects of discrimination, privacy and procedural due process.

Credit Hours: 4
(W)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 409 Comparative Legal Systems: Western Europe

A comparative examination of the institutions, structure and sources of law in the Continental and Anglo-American legal systems, as well as in the European Union.

Credit Hours: 4
(W) (IG)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 410 International Law

Concentrates on public international law, examining the legal and political framework by which international legal instruments are created, litigated and enforced across national boundaries. Makes limited reference to private international law.

Credit Hours: 4
(W) (IG)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 412 Comparative Judicial Politics

This course examines courts from a comparative perspective and the variations in role, autonomy, power and accountability of courts and judges in both democratic and authoritarian regimes. Theories of judicial behavior and the impact of institutional arrangements contribute to the growing power of courts and the judicialization of politics that has occurred around the world. The course will give particular attention to the fundamental role of courts across societies including those of common, civil, Chinese and Islamic law.

Credit Hours: 4
(NW) (IG)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 413-425 Topics in Government and World Affairs

Involves selected topics in political science. Content varies; may be repeated for credit if subject matter is not repeated.

Credit Hours: 2-4

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 426 Public Opinion, the Media and Power

Examines public opinion from a variety of perspectives, providing students with the ability to be intelligent consumers of public opinion research and effective users of public opinion research tools. Explores the interaction between the media and public opinion, as well as public opinion's effects on contemporary society and politics.

Credit Hours: 4

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201. Junior or senior standing, or consent of instructor.

GWA 440 Field Work Intern Program

Involves practical experience in government or politics at the local, state or national level. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

Credit Hours: 2-16

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201

GWA 450 Independent Study

Involves guided readings, research and criticism.  Independent studies must be under the direction of a full-time GWA professor.  Subject matter must be determined through student-faculty consultation.

Credit Hours: 1-4

Prerequisites

12 hours of government and world affairs and a minimum 3.0 GPA.

GWA 451 Senior Thesis

Involves a major research paper planned and written with possible publication in mind.  A senior thesis must be written under the direction of any full-time GWA professor.  Subject matter must be determined through student-faculty consultation.

Credit Hours: 4

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201. Senior standing and a minimum 3.25 GPA or membership in the Honors Program.

GWA 492 Development Strategies and Projects in Africa: A Travel Course to Ghana

Through class readings, films, discussions and a travel component, this course focuses on development as part of an academic discourse and as an underlying assumption behind applied service projects. Students begin by questioning what development is and who defines it, and they explore who benefits from it. They then read about a wide range of development projects and evaluate them for effectiveness. Finally, students and residents of the poor and rural villages of Nabdam, Ghana, put together developmentally oriented service projects and implement them during a trip to Ghana.

Credit Hours: 4
(W) (IG) (NW)

Prerequisites

GWA 100, GWA 200 or GWA 201