300

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

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.

This course is designed to provide a broad overview of state politics and government across the 50 states. Using a comparative lens, we will examine how state governments operate and why they function the way they do. Students should leave this course with a deeper understanding of state politics and be able to apply the theories and concepts to Florida's government.

When governments make budgets, they set priorities and make plans for future public policy. This course examines the politics surrounding the use of budgets to make public policy in the United States, at both the federal level and in Florida. As a Writing Intensive course, students will track an issue of their choosing and write a research paper on how budgets are used to make policy.

This course investigates two related questions. First, how do policymakers keep pace with scientific advancements and rapidly-changing technologies? Second, how do technological and scientific advancements shape public policy more broadly?

This course examines the scope and meaning of executive power at the national and state level of government.

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.

This course is designed for students who wish to participate in the research experience working directly with a faculty member. This course does not count towards the major or minor requirements.

This travel course will introduce students to the developments, past and present, that define Cuba-U.S. relations. The course will have a strong emphasis on the historical importance of José Martí, Cuba’s most prominent political and literary writer. Students will learn about the conditions that lead to Castro’s revolutionary movement and the deterioration of the relationship between the two countries that culminated with the U.S. embargo. Students will also study how the animosity intensified during the Cold War and post-Cold War periods, and consider how the relationship will evolve when the Castro years come to an end.

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.

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

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. May be repeated once for a total of 4 credits toward the major.