POSC 110. Introduction to Politics. (3)
Three Hours lecture.
This course will introduce students to the concepts and methods of political
science by examining enduring questions and concerns of political life using
political philosophy and literature.
POSC 120. Introduction to American Government. (AG) (3)
Three Hours lecture.
Prerequisite: None.
This course will introduce students to the study of American government.
Philosophical foundations, constitutional development, institutions, and
contemporary issues will be examined. There will be an emphasis on the
continuing influence of founding principles.
POSC 130. Introduction to Comparative Government. (CG) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: None.
This course serves to introduce students to the comparative study of political
regimes. The course will consider both the methodological issues and the
principal topics involved in comparative political analysis. It is aimed at
preparing students for upper-division courses in comparative politics and, more
broadly, at integrating the study of comparative politics within the larger
context of liberal education.
POSC 140. Introduction to International Relations. (IR) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: None.
POSC 140 is an examination of major areas of interest in the study of
international relations. These include the study of the relation of power to
justice, the effects of war on the regime and the soul, and the relation of
diplomatic-strategic conduct to the cosmic order.
POSC 290. Seminar in Political Science. (3)
Three Hours seminar.
Prerequisites: POSC 110, limited to political science majors and minors.
This seminar will analyze a contemporary political issue as it relates to the
major subfields of political science and investigate what it means to study
politics within the framework of a liberal arts education. Its focus is on
preparing students for upper-division courses in political science while
integrating work in their major into their overall university experience.
POSC 300. Public Administration. (AG, PA) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 120 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 120 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
Background of administration as a profession, principles which are helpful to
the administrator and effect of political influence.
POSC 320. Congress. (AG) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 120 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 120 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
Constitutional basis for development, organization and role of Congress in the
American political system. Analysis of Congress and formulation of public
policy.
POSC 321. The American Presidency. (AG) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 120 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 120 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
Development of the presidency since the founding of America. Institutional and
political problems associated with the modern chief executive.
POSC 326. American Political Parties and Elections. (AG) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 120 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 120 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
Analysis of the origins, development and current state of American political
parties. Emphasis on the role of parties in the electoral process; voting
behavior and public opinion; presidential and congressional elections.
POSC 327 (MSTD 327; SPCH 327). Politics and the Media. (AG) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 120 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 120 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
Modern mass media as actors in the political arena, with an emphasis on how
elections and policy-making are affected by the mass media.
POSC 330. State and Local Government. (AG) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 120 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 120 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
Governmental institutions and processes, political parties, voting at state and
county levels.
POSC 331. Urban and Metropolitan Politics. (AG) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 120 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 120 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
Development of urban government and impact of its politics; attention to roles
of formal and informal actors on urban and metropolitan scene.
POSC 333. Judicial Process. (AG) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 120 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 120 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
Composition, roles and power of courts in American government. Emphasis on
political nature of judicial decisions.
POSC 335. American Public Policy. (AG, PA) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 120 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 120 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
Examination of policy-making process and approaches to issues in American
government; emphasis on role of informal influences as opposed to function of
elected and appointed officials.
POSC 340. Government and Politics in Asia. (CG) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 130 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 120 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
Comparative study of such major Asian powers as China, Japan and India as well
as selected regional powers.
POSC 341. Western European Government and Politics. (CG) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 130 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 130 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
Political structures and functioning of selected Western European political
systems. Emphasis on such major powers as the United Kingdom, France, and Germany,
and on the European Union and the prospects for continuing political
integration.
POSC 342. Government and Politics of Russia and the Independent States.
(CG) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 130 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 130 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
This course examines the government and politics in the independent states that
were formerly part of the Soviet Union.
POSC 345. Canada: Search for a Nation. (CG) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 130 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 130 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
Political and historical realities of Canada as seen through the evolution of
the French Canadian novel; attention to development of nationalism in Canada and
its relevance to the overall American experience. Approach is interdisciplinary.
POSC 350. U. S. Foreign and Defense Policy. (IR) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 140 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 140 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
Political Science 350 surveys the development of the relationship of American
foreign policy and its corollary, American strategy, from the perspective of
political philosophy. Assuming that strategy is the continuation of politics by
other means, POSC 350 raises questions about the relation of American regime
principles to the diplomacy and strategy which implement these principles in the
international milieu.
POSC 360. International Law and Organization. (IR) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 140 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 140 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
Law and organization in an anarchic milieu of sovereign states. Emphasis on
theoretical foundations and historical evolution.
POSC 370, 371, 372. History of Political Philosophy. (PT) (3,3,3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 110 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 110 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
First Semester: Development of Western political philosophy from ancient Greece
through Medieval period. Second Semester: Machiavelli to modern era.
Third Semester: Marx to present.
POSC 430. Organizational Theory in the Public Sector. (AG, PA) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 300 for majors and minors; permission of the instructor for
other students.
This course is concerned with understanding, explaining, and predicting the best
manner to structure/design public organizations to (1) enhance their operating
efficiency and (2) fulfill their legislative, judicial, and/or political
mandate. Specifically, the course is behaviorally oriented and seeks to explore
how individuals and groups behave in varying organizational structures and
environments. The unique dynamics of managing public organizations, as opposed
to private enterprises, is also a major theme of the course.
POSC 431. Leadership in Public Administration. (AG, PA) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 300 for majors and minors; permission of the instructor for
other students.
The issue of leadership as a determinant of organizational effectiveness is an
important one for public organizations. This course will review a number of
leadership theories and the potential impact of leadership on organizational
behavior, culture, and revitalization in the public sector. A dominant theme of
this course will be to clarify the distinction between leaders and managers in
organization life.
POSC 435. Contemporary Problems in Public Administration. (AG, PA) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 300 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 120 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
Developments in public finance, budgeting and personnel; trends in
representative bureaucracy, regulation, regional administration.
POSC 438. Constitutional Law: Governmental Powers. (AG) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 120 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 120 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
Constitutional powers exercised by federal government; emphasis on
intergovernmental relations, separation of powers, role of the Supreme Court in
constitutional process and general theories of constitutional government.
POSC 439. Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties. (AG) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 120 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 120 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
Theoretical bases, popular support, judicial interpretation and role of civil
liberties in the United States.
POSC 445. Government and Politics in the Developing World. (CG) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 130 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 130 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
Analysis of processes, problems and prospects of modernization in underdeveloped
areas of the world. Asian, African and Latin American countries used as
examples.
POSC 458. Force in International Relations. (IR) (3)
Three Hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 140 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 140 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
POSC 458 is an intensive study of the use of force in international relations
and its effect on regimes and the soul. Themes include the classical perspective
on force, just war theory, pacifism, empire maintenance and decay, and force and
world order.
POSC 460. Theories of International Relations. (IR) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 140 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 140 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
Theoretical inquiry into the characteristic aspects of diplomatic-strategic
behavior between political units, from city-states to empires. Emphasis on the
relation of morality and power.
POSC 461. Government and Politics of Latin America. (CG) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 130 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 140 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
An introduction to Latin American politics that focuses on enduring themes and
contemporary politics in selected countries.
POSC 463. International Political Economy. (IR) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisite: POSC 140 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 140 and POSC 290 for
POSC majors/minors
Analysis of the political impact of economic relationships among nation-states
and between nation-states, sub-national organizations and supranational
organizations. Topics covered include international trade, international
monetary relations, imperialism, dependency, multinational corporations and the
politics of natural resources.
POSC 474. American Political Thought AG, PT) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisites: POSC 110 and 120 for non-POSC majors/minors or POSC 110, 120 and
POSC 290 for POSC majors/minors .
Examines the thought of the American founders, the principles of the
constitutional order, and the evolution of American political thought over more
than two centuries. Emphasis on original sources in the thought of
American statesmen, political activists and dissenters, and intellectuals.
POSC 485. Public Administration Internship. (AG) (3-15)
(Up to a 40-hour work week during semester.)
Prerequisites: POSC 290; Junior or Senior standing; 2.5 in political scince; 2.0
cumulative university GPA; departmental approval. Must be POSC major or
minor. oNly three hours may be applied toward requirements for the major
or minor.
Additional Internship
Information
POSC 488H. Final Honors Project. (2-3)
Prerequisites: Enrollment in the Honors Program, completion of all other Honors
Program requirements, a minimum 3.5 GPA in all courses and in political science.
Project and the topic to be explored will be determined by the student, the
faculty member with whom the student works and the department. (Honors project
may be a written or a written and performance-based project.) In order to
receive honors credit, a student must earn a grade of "A" or
"B" for the final project. Course may not be repeated.
POSC 490. Seminar. (AG; CG; IR; PT; as designated) (3)
Three hours lecture and discussion.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of appropriate 100-level course and POSC
290, or
permission of the instructor.
Analysis of a particular problem or issue in political science or contemporary
politics.
POSC 491. Scope and Methods in Political Science.(PT) (3)
Three hours lecture.
Prerequisites: POSC 110, 290 and junior or senior standing.
Introduction to professional study; focus on conceptual approaches to study of
political science, various contemporary schools of thought and methodology.
Primary work in research methods as appropriate to the various subfields of the
discipline.
POSC 498. Independent Study.
(AG; CG; IR; PT: as designated) (1-3)
Prerequisites: 18 hours of political science including POSC 290, and permission of instructor.
Students must obtain approval from department on proposed program in semester
preceding that in which independent study is anticipated. Course may carry one
to three hours credit a semester and may be repeated up to six semester hours.
Offered as required. See "Independent Study" in Academic Policies
File.