Political Science (POLS)

POLS 240. Contemporary Problems and Policy Responses. 3 Credit Hours.

This course places students in a dynamic learning environment within which they learn by wrestling, individually and collectively, with a series of complex, real-world problems. Different problems are selected each semester. The common thread is that these are all intractable problems created or aggravated by human intervention. The problems affect people around the world, but not always in the same ways. Students undertake repeated work cycles to analyze complex problems and evaluate appropriate policy responses. With an emphasis on the “process” of tackling social problems rather than the “end product” of that process, the course engages students in an exploratory learning process to strengthen their problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and ethical reasoning.

POLS 241. Introduction to International Politics. 3 Credit Hours.

This course is an introduction to the field of international politics, also known as international relations. It focuses on a variety of interconnected topics, including the development of the nation-state system and political interactions among countries over issues of war and peace, human rights, and economic and environmental policies. We also explore the evolution and work of international institutions such as the United Nations and the World Bank, and non-governmental international organizations such as environmental and human rights groups.
Session Cycle: Fall, Spring
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

POLS 256. Introduction to U.S. Politics. 3 Credit Hours.

This is an introductory course about the role of U.S. government and politics in American society. After tracing the development of the U.S. Constitution, the course surveys a range of topics including Congress, the presidency, the Supreme Court, federalism, political parties and elections, interest groups, civil liberties, and civil rights. Contemporary domestic policy debates are also covered.
Session Cycle: Fall, Spring
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

POLS 290. Honors Politics of the International System. 3 Credit Hours.

This honors course explores the current international political system. It examines major historical developments that shaped the actors and power distribution of the current system. Next, it explores competing international relations theories that attempt to explain the main motivations and realities guiding the behavior of actors in the system. Then, it focuses on contemporary issues with global implications. Subsequently, it examines recent and future challenges faced by particular key actors in the system as they attempt to shape the global system of the future. It concludes by returning to the system level to consider the prospects for global cultural clashes or peace through globalization. Students receiving credit for POLS 241/GLOB 241, Introduction to Global Politics, cannot receive credit for this class.
Prerequisites: Honors Program
Session Cycle: Fall
Yearly Cycle: Alternate Years.

POLS 291. Honors Contemporary U.S. Politics. 3 Credit Hours.

This honors course covers the ideas and historical factors that shaped the formation and evolution of the U.S. political system. This course surveys a range of topics including Congress, the presidency, the Supreme Court, federalism, political parties, elections, interest groups, civil liberties, and civil rights. It also focuses on the governmental and non-governmental players in the policy making system and goes beyond book knowledge to examine contemporary U.S. politics. Students receiving credit for POLS 256, Introduction to U.S. Politics, cannot receive credit for this course.
Prerequisites: Honors program
Session Cycle: Fall
Yearly Cycle: Alternate Years.

POLS 351. United States Foreign Policy. 3 Credit Hours.

Students in this course survey the instruments, implementation and issues of U.S. foreign policy. Students will learn about America's rise to power and its current role in the world with a focus both on how foreign policy is made and Post WWII U.S. involvements overseas.
Prerequisites: GLOB 241/POLS 241 or POLS 256 or GLOB 290/POLS 290 or POLS 291
Session Cycle: Varies
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

POLS 352. American Political Economy. 3 Credit Hours.

What is the nature of the relationships that exist between government and business, politics and economy, power and money in the United States? And why do these relationships matter? In this course, we will use these questions as a starting-point from which to undertake a critical examination of these relationships as they exist today and to consider where they might be heading in the future, and to generate conclusions about their potential implications - political, economic, and social.
Prerequisites: GLOB 241/POLS 241 or POLS 256 or GLOB 290/POLS 290 or POLS 291
Session Cycle: Fall
Yearly Cycle: Alternate Years.

POLS 353. Political Parties and Elections. 3 Credit Hours.

This course covers the history of party politics, party organization, nominations and elections, voting, and the role of pressure groups, public opinion, and the media in the national electoral process. The course is offered in the fall semester of even numbered years when congressional and/or presidential elections take place.
Prerequisites: GLOB 241/POLS 241 or POLS 256 or GLOB 290/POLS 290 or POLS 291
Session Cycle: Fall
Yearly Cycle: Alternate Years.

POLS 354. The U.S. Congress. 3 Credit Hours.

This course examines the U.S. Congress as a central institution in American government, exploring its structure, organization, and functions. Students will analyze congressional elections, including who runs for office, how campaigns unfold, and the factors influencing electoral success. The course will also cover the internal workings of Congress, including the differences between the House and Senate, the role of political parties, congressional committees, and the legislative process. Additionally, students will explore legislative behavior, the relationship between Congress and the executive and judicial branches, and how institutional norms and rules shape decision-making. The course will also examine its role in shaping public policy, including how legislative priorities are set and the factors that influence which issues gain traction. Core themes of democracy and representation will be emphasized throughout the course.
Prerequisites: POLS 256 or POLS 291 or POLS GLOB 241 or POLS GLOB 290
Session Cycle: Spring
Yearly Cycle: Alternate Year.

POLS 356. The Presidency in Modern American Politics. 3 Credit Hours.

The image of the presidency today as the centerpiece of the American political system is very different than the one originally outlined in the U.S. Constitution. What has brought about this change? How has this transformation impacted the separation of powers and the respective roles of Congress and the Supreme Court? What does the popular image of the president as "chief decider" signify for a democratic system of government? These questions and more guide this course's exploration of the presidency in modern American politics.
Prerequisites: GLOB 241/POLS 241 or POLS 256 or GLOB 290/POLS 290 or POLS 291.

POLS 361. Comparative Politics. 3 Credit Hours.

This course examines the key concepts, issues, and trends in comparative politics. Comparative politics focuses on the study of political organization and behavior using the method of comparison across time and between country cases. The course covers topics such as various types of political systems, political participation, economic development, and nationalist movements/identities. Types of countries covered include: established democracies, authoritarian regimes, communist, and developing countries.
Prerequisites: GLOB 241/POLS 241 or POLS 256 or GLOB 290/POLS 290 or POLS 291
Session Cycle: Varies
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

POLS 366. Politics of Asia. 3 Credit Hours.

This course uses comparative methodology to analyze the government and domestic politics of India, China, and Japan. Students will be introduced to the political institutions and processes of the three countries, and explore the impact of history, cultural dynamics specific to Asia and South Asia, government structures and economic change on political processes. State-society relations are examined within the context of democratization, development, and citizen movements. Issues regarding cultural and scholarly lenses will be addressed through critical examination of relevant materials and theories discussed in class.
Prerequisites: GLOB 241/POLS 241 or POLS 256 or GLOB 290/POLS 290, or POLS 291
Session Cycle: Spring
Yearly Cycle: Varies.

POLS 367. Global Environmental Sustainability and Policy. 3 Credit Hours.

This course examines the intersection of global environmental sustainability issues, political policy, and the world economic issues. It focuses on different trajectories of environmental and ecological politics and thought, and on foundations for policy, with particular focus on climate change. The central premise is that deciding how to respond to climate change is a highly political process involving conflicts over competing values and interests, the growth of international institutions, and the link between climate change and the global economy.
Prerequisites: GLOB 241/POLS 241 or POLS 256 or GLOB 290/POLS 290 or POLS 291
Session Cycle: Fall
Yearly Cycle: Varies.

POLS 391. Political Science Internship. 3 Credit Hours.

Students engage in individually supervised work-study arrangements and learn to apply political science theory and principles in their work environment. Students must work at least ten hours per week on the job, meet periodically with supervising a faculty member, research literature related to the field of the internship, and prepare a substantive report on their internship experience and the studies involved.
Prerequisites: POLS 256 or POLS 291 or GLOB 241/POLS 241 or GLOB 290/POLS 290 and junior standing or approval of a supervising faculty member and the department chair.

POLS 440. Interest Groups and Lobbying. 3 Credit Hours.

Are lobbyists skilled advocates or manipulative influencers? To explore answers to this question, we will examine the role of interest groups and their lobbyists in American politics, analyzing their organization, prominence, and influence. The course will cover campaign finance and the strategies interest groups use to shape policy by influencing those in office. Despite public criticism of special interests, these groups remain deeply embedded in the policy making process, particularly through lobbying efforts in Congress, the executive branch, and the judiciary. We will also examine social movements, exploring the conditions that lead to their emergence, the factors that shape their success or failure, and how they differ from organized interest groups in influencing public policy. By the end of the course, students will have developed a deeper understanding of advocacy, influence, and political representation in the United States.
Prerequisites: POLS 256 or POLS 291 or POLS GLOB 241 or POLS GLOB 290 or Permission of Instructor
Session Cycle: Alternate Fall Semesters.

POLS 462. International Security. 3 Credit Hours.

In this course, students analyze the nature of the modern international system, and the resultant struggle for power, including power politics, balance of power, and war and peace. This course covers the bases and limitations of national power as well as international law, international organization and diplomacy. It applies enduring principles to modern issues and cases.
Prerequisites: GLOB 241/POLS 241 or POLS 256 or GLOB 290/POLS 290 or POLS 291
Session Cycle: Varies
Yearly Cycle: Alternate Years.

POLS 463. Ethics in International Affairs. 3 Credit Hours.

"All's fair in love and war" used to effectively summarize global politics, but in recent years, moral considerations have become major, but still controversial, components of many policy discussions. This course will examine issues such as the ethical constraints on the use of force, human rights norms, issues created by global inequality and by development programs, and ethical implications of the global economy and multinational corporations.
Prerequisites: GLOB 241/POLS 241 or POLS 256 or GLOB 290/POLS 290 or POLS 291
Session Cycle: Varies
Yearly Cycle: Alternate Years.

POLS 464. Political Ideologies - Old and New. 3 Credit Hours.

This course examines first the conflicting political philosophies of liberalism, conservatism, and Marxism which shaped the development of Western democracies and the former Communist countries, and then considers modern ideological debates over third world nationalism, environmentalism, and feminism.
Prerequisites: GLOB/POLS 241 or POLS 256 or GLOB 290/POLS 290 or POLS 291
Session Cycle: Spring
Yearly Cycle: Alternate Years.

POLS 481. Politics of Development. 3 Credit Hours.

This course examines the political, economic, and social structures of the broad array of countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East that make up the developing world. The major challenges faced by these countries and strategies adopted to address them will be identified and analyzed. A historical overview of the evolution of the developing world will explore the impact of colonialism and issues of post-colonialism. Issues of gender, race, ethnicity, sustainable development and the environment will also be explored.
Prerequisites: GLOB 241/POLS 241 or POLS 256 or GLOB 290/POLS 290 or POLS 291
Session Cycle: Varies
Yearly Cycle: Alternate Years.

POLS 483. Politics of International Economic Relations. 3 Credit Hours.

This course focuses on the role of individual country governments, official international economic organizations, and globally-oriented non-governmental organizations (NGO's) in the international economic system. It examines conflict and cooperation among nations, as well as interactions between countries and international institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization, as they engage in the management of trade, investment flows, exchange rates, debt, and the global environment. It also considers politics within individual countries as they affect that country's international economic policies, looking at governmental relations with business, labor associations and other non-governmental organizations as these impact on trade policies, exchange rates, and the regulation of multinational corporations' overseas operations.
Prerequisites: GLOB 241/POLS 241 or POLS 256 or GLOB 290/POLS 290 or POLS 291
Session Cycle: Fall
Yearly Cycle: Varies.

POLS 490. Seminar in Politics and Law. 3 Credit Hours.

This seminar is designed as an interdisciplinary capstone course for students in the Politics and Law major. It will include an in-depth examination of a selected theme in politics and law. Each student will work intensively with the instructor to complete a major research project on a topic of their choice, which will be presented to the entire seminar. This course is cross-listed with LGLS 490.
Prerequisites: Politics and Law major and senior standing
Session Cycle: Fall
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

POLS 497. Directed Study in Politics. 3 Credit Hours.

This course is an opportunity for students to do independent, in-depth study or research for academic credit. The student works on an individual basis under the direction of a member of the political science faculty. The main requirement of the course is the development of a substantial paper or project.
Prerequisites: varies by topic.

POLS ST302. Saving the World with Data. 3 Credit Hours.

This course introduces the scope and methods of contemporary political science research, emphasizing a range of techniques to address complex policy issues at the national and global levels. Political scientists employ a diverse set of tools to collect, analyze, and visualize data. We will hone the skills necessary to conduct research through fieldwork, interviews, surveys, and statistical analysis. To accomplish this, you will engage innovative techniques utilizing statistical software and artificial intelligence (AI). Throughout the course, you will also cultivate an understanding of the ethics involved in research. The practical skills learned in this course are highly transferable and can be applied to various careers after college.
Prerequisites: POLS 256 or POLS 291 or POLS GLOB 241 or POLS GLOB 290 or Permission of Instructor, MATH 201 or Permission of Instructor and Sophomore Standing
Corequisites: Prerequisites may be taken as corequisites only with permission of instructor
Session Cycle: Alternate Spring Semesters.

POLS ST400. Politics and Society of Modern Japan Confucian Culture to Animation Generation. 3 Credit Hours.

This course is designed for upper level Politics and Law majors and minors and Global Studies majors as well as those interested in the dynamic political and social challenges being faced by Japan, the most important ally of the United States in the region. This course uses a comparative perspective to examine the history and present day manifestation of Confucian thought which are key in understanding the way that the Japanese government structures relationships with its citizens. Moreover, the course examines Japanese society and the many changes working to shift and sometimes undo ancient traditions in order to manage such problems as: Japan’s shrinking population, economic stagnation, environmental catastrophe security threats from Japan’s neighbors and the country’s changing relationship with the United States.
Prerequisites: POLS 256 or POLS 291 or POLS/GLOB 241 or POLS/GLOB 290.