PSC - Political Science

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

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

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

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

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

Trains students in the methods of quantitative analysis used for political science.

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.

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.

Politics is about who gets what, when, and how.  This course explores the ways in which environmental policies benefit some while harming others, with a predominant emphasis on the developing world or "Global South." Through hands on data collection techniques (interviews, surveys and observation) students explore the ways particular policies designed to promote environmental protections impact individuals. We also explore how a lack of environmental protections has consequences not just for flora and fauna but for humans. Students will learn to perform a cost/benefit analysis of environmental policies that takes into account residents of the impacted area and the world. 

Special courses that are not part of the regular PSC program are offered occasionally.

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.

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.

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.

An exploration of the electoral process, particularly in the United States, with focus on political behavior of elites and masses.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Involves practical experience for careers related to political science and international studies. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Minimum 3.0 GPA and junior or senior standing.

Studies the formulation, implementation and evaluation of public policies.

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

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.

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.

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

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. This course explores public opinion's effects on contemporary society and politics.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 PSC professor.  Subject matter must be determined through student-faculty consultation.

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.

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