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Academic Bulletin Political Science - Course Descriptions - 2010-11

Currently viewing 2010-11 bulletin


The four courses labeled "Survey" assume no prior knowledge of the subject matter. Those marked "advanced" build on the specific introductory course cited as a prerequisite.

PSC 111 Survey of American Government and Politics

An analysis of the powers, functions, and political bases of government in America, including attention to democratic theory, civil liberties, political parties and pressure groups, campaigns and elections, Congress and the Presidency, judicial review, federal-state-local relations, and public policy making in domestic, foreign and budgetary areas. This course is offered both semesters.


Credits: 1

PSC 122 Survey of Comparative Politics

Comparative Politics is a sprawling field of inquiry in which scholars investigate issues ranging from the origins of revolution to the family planning policies of various governments, from democratization to land seizures by peasant communities in different countries. What holds this field together is the notion that we can best understand and explain the political phenomena of different nations (including our own) by comparing them in careful, precise ways. In this course, we will examine some of the questions Comparativists ask, and the ways they go about answering them. We will also familiarize ourselves with the politics and polities of a sampling of nations around the globe, and mull over arguments concerning their differences and similarities. In this course you should become more knowledgeable of other countries, and also see how comparisons enable us to better understand our own nation’s political development. This course is offered both semesters.


Credits: 1

PSC 231 Survey of Political Theory

The survey of political theory will use selected political theorists to examine a series of major issues, concepts, and questions which are central to political theory, e.g., power, authority, justice, and liberty. This course is offered in the fall semester, 2010-2011.


Credits: 1

PSC 242 Survey of International Politics

A study of major contemporary approaches to understanding international politics, including political realism, pluralism, globalism, and feminism. Through this framework, the course will take up concepts such as the evaluation of national power and the balance of power, the interplay of individuals and groups in international politics, the impact of capitalism on the development of the world-system, and the role of gender in world politics. This course is offered in the spring semester, 2010-2011.


Credits: 1

PSC 261 Scope and Methods of Political Science

What do political scientists know and how do they know it? This course focuses on the nature of political science as a discipline, the range and kinds of questions it addresses, and the methods and techniques by which it seeks answers to those questions. We will use examples from U.S., comparative, and international politics to examine the scope of the political science discipline and the different approaches we take to answering important questions about how and why political systems work as they do. We will also survey some of the basic statistical techniques employed in systematic studies of politics and government. This course is strongly recommended for sophomores planning to major in political science. This course is offered in the spring semester, 2010-2011. PSC 261 may require one lab session per week.


One course in political science.
Credits: 1

PSC 287 Independent Study

Independent Study is available to students with the permission of the instructor who will supervise the study and the department chair prior to enrollment.


Credits: 1 or 1/2

PSC 288 Independent Study

Independent Study is available to students with the permission of the instructor who will supervise the study and the department chair prior to enrollment.


Credits: 1 or 1/2

PSC 311 Congress and the Executive

A study of the legislative and executive branches of the United States government. This course will involve analysis of each branch as an institution. Particular attention will be given to the interactions between and the interdependence of Congress and the Executive and the effects of these interactions on the decisions and operations of the two branches of government. Counts as an advanced course in American Politics. This course is offered in the spring semester alternate years and includes an immersion trip to Washington, DC (required). Next offered spring 2012.


Prerequisite: Political Science 111 or consent of the instructor.


Credits: 1

PSC 312 Parties, Elections and Pressure Groups

A systematic look at mechanisms for popular control of American government. This course looks at the nature of public opinion and its translation into political action. Political parties and interest groups are investigated as mechanisms which link the citizen to the policy-making system. Attention will be given to elections and the bases upon which individuals make their decisions at the polls. We will also consider the conflicting arguments about the decline, decomposition, and realignment of parties and the rise of the single-issue interest group in recent years. Counts as an advanced course in American Politics. This course is offered in the fall semester, 2010-2011.


Prerequisite: Political Science 111 or consent of the instructor.


Credits: 1

PSC 313 Constitutional Law

The Supreme Court has accurately been described as a “Storm Center” of political controversy. This course examines the Court’s most potent power—to strike down as unconstitutional the actions of elected officials. We will focus on key Supreme Court decisions, including those dealing with affirmative action, gay rights, abortion, tax money for religious schools, and deciding the 2000 Presidential Election. What role should judges play in deciding such divisive issues? How should the Court apply such broadly worded constitutional guarantees as “equal protection” and “due process of law”? And what impact have the Court’s decisions had—on other branches of government and on American society in general? Counts as an advanced course in American Politics. This course is offered in the fall semester, 2010-2011.


Prerequisite: Political Science 111 or consent of the instructor.


Credits: 1

PSC 314 Topics in Constitutional Law

This course explores the nature of the Constitution and the role of the Court in enforcing it by focusing on a particular controversial topic in constitutional law. What role should the Court play in helping resolve our most difficult and searing conflicts? Is the Constitution adaptable to such challenges? Counts as an advance course in American Politics. This course is offered in the spring semester, 2010- 2011.


Prerequisites: Political Science 111 or 313 or consent of the instructor


Credits: 1

PSC 317 State and Local Politics

A survey of the institutions, actors, and processes involved in the governing of states, cities, and other local jurisdictions. Attention is given to intergovernmental relations as well as to the analysis of individual units. Field work is required. Counts as an advanced course in American Politics. This course is offered in the spring semester, alternate years. This course is offered in the spring semester, 2010-2011.


Prerequisite: Political Science 111 or consent of the instructor.


Credits: 1

PSC 324 Economic and Political Development (ECO 224)

A brief survey of problems facing lesser-developed countries and of measures proposed and used for the advancement of political integration and the improvement of living standards and social welfare. The roles of capital accumulation, private initiative, representative government, and other factors in economic growth and political modernization will be studied. Counts as an advanced course in International Politics or Comparative Politics.


Prerequisite: Political Science 122 or consent of the instructor.


Credits: 1

PSC 325 Latin American Politics

The central purpose of this course is to introduce students to the varied political institutions and practices throughout Latin America. Another purpose is to sharpen our analytical tools so that we can better describe and explain the political differences and similarities among Latin American countries. Finally, this course will increase our understanding of the obstacles Latin Americans have faced in building stable, equitable political systems, and our appreciation of their many accomplishments. Each year brings a new thematic focus. Counts as an advanced course in Comparative Politics.


Prerequisite: Political Science 122 or consent of the instructor.


Credits: 1

PSC 326 Politics of the Middle East

A survey of the politics of the major nations of the region plus attention to several of the leading issues, including the Israeli-Arab conflict, oil and the Persian Gulf, and the broader question of economic and social development. Counts as an advanced course in Comparative Politics.


Prerequisite: Political Science 122 or consent of the instructor.


Credits: 1

PSC 328 Comparative Non-Democratic Politics

An examination of some of the important cases of non-democratic politics with special attention to their historical and ideological bases as well as their structural and operational features. Counts as an advanced course in Comparative Politics. This course is not offered in 2010-2011.


Credits: 1

A series of half- or full-credit courses, each of which will focus a particular political theorist or group


of theorists from classical antiquity, the medieval period, or the Renaissance. Specific offerings will


vary from year to year. Counts as advanced course work in political theory. In fall semester 2010, the


course offered will be:

PSC 330 History of Political Thought

Medieval Polital Theory
(HIS 220)

In this course I want to argue that the medieval period is still vital for politics and political theory, but not necessarily in the same way as classical, Renaissance or early modern political theory. I want to make the case that the romances and histories of the period are just as important as the religious and legal texts. Many of the ideals that reached their fullest expression in the medieval romances and histories like the savior king, courtly love and the knightly warrior exercise a strong grip on the modern imagination and are critical to the formation of deep and (mostly) unexamined political/cultural attitudes. Not only must we examine these attitudes, we must ask ourselves a key question: If we are obsessed, at some level, with these qualities, are we thus doomed to be forever separated from the ‘Enlightened’ or ‘free’ attitudes that are necessary for the success of modern political goals? In this course we will examine medieval authors like Augustine, Al-Farabi, Averroes, Boethius, Dante, Chretien de Troyes and Geoffrey of Monmouth; modern authors like Erich Fromm, Herbert Marcuse and Mark Twain; and modern films like The Seventh Seal, The Virgin Spring, The Lion in Winter, Becket, The Lord of the Rings, X2: X-Men United, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Counts as advanced course in political theory.


Prerequisite: Political Science 231 or consent of the instructor.


Credits: 1

PSC 335 History of Political Thought: Hobbes to the 20th Century

A series of half-courses, each of which will focus on a particular political theorist from the modern period. Specific offerings will vary from year to year. Counts as advanced course work in political theory.


Prerequisite: Political Science 231 or consent of the instructor.


Credits: 1/2

PSC 346 American Foreign Policy

An introduction to the diplomatic-military facets of past, present, and alternative foreign policy strategies. An analysis of the political, ideological, institutional, technological, and strategic factors shaping the United States’ foreign policy. Counts as an advanced course in International Politics or American Politics. This course is offered in the fall semester, 2009.


Prerequisite: Political Science 242 or 111 or consent of the instructor.


Credits: 1

PSC 350 History of Political Thought

American Political Thought
(HIS 340)

A broad survey of American political ideas as expressed in primary sources including classic texts, key public documents, and speeches. The course investigates themes of mission, means and membership as recurrent issues in American political thought. This course offered in the spring semester 2010.


Prerequisite: Political Science 231 or History 241 or 242 or consent of the instructor.


Credits: 1

PSC 371 Special Topics: American Politics

These courses will focus on a particular issue, concept, problem or question at an advanced level with specific prerequisites.


Credits: 1 or 1/2

These courses focus at an advance level on a particular issue, concept, problem or question in comparative politics. The course offered in the fall semester, 2009 will be: 

PSC 372 Topics in Comparative Politics

Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict

This class will provide a general introduction to the study of nationalism and ethnic conflict. In it we will touch upon a wide range of cases of ethnic conflict and genocide, including the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the “troubles” in Northern Ireland, genocide in Rwanda and the Holocaust, and current crises in the Middle East. With such a wide range of cases, the approach will be largely theoretical — focusing on the underlying causes of such conflicts and the general conditions under which they might be remedied. Thus, a reliable foundation in the study of Comparative Politics and a reasonable familiarity with international current events will be expected.


 Prerequisite: Political Science 122 or consent of the instructor.


Credits: 1 or 1/2

These courses will focus on a particular issue, concept, problem or question at an advanced level with specific prerequisites. In 2009-2010, the course offered will be: 

PSC 373 Topics in Political Theory

Just War Theory

This course examines the tradition and principles of just war, focusing on justice with respect to reasons for going to war, justice in the conduct of war, and justice at the conclusion of war. Special attention will be paid to applications of jus war theory in specific cases, including cases arising in the post 9-11 era. This course offered in the spring semester, 2010.


 Prerequisite: Political Science 231 or 242 or consent of the instructor.


Credits: 1/2

These courses focus at an advance level on a particular issue, concept, problem or question in international relations. In the fall semester 2009, the course offered will be: 

PSC 374 Topics: International Relations

Militaries as Political Actors

In this course we examine one of the worlds’ oldest political institutions: militaries. A person would be hard pressed to identify a more powerful and important entity in world politics. Armed forces are created primarily to defend states and their interests against other states and threatening actors. However, they can also play an important role in the domestic political affairs of the states that they are created to defend. In a substantive sense, the purpose of this course is to improve student’s understanding of military actors and the various ways in which they are related to both international and domestic politics. Because an all-encompassing treatment of military affairs is impossible within the context of a single semester, this course will emphasize the role played by people (soldiers, officers and their civilian leaders) rather than machines (tanks, artillery pieces, small arms, etc.). We will study the nature and uses of war, civil-military relations, military actors in interstate relations and domestic politics, and current issues related to military affairs.


Prerequisite: Political Science 242 and consent of the instructor.


Credits: 1

PSC 387 Independent Study

Independent Study is available to students with the permission of the instructor who will supervise the study as well as from the department chair prior to enrollment.


Credits: 1 or 1/2

PSC 388 Independent Study

Independent Study is available to students with the permission of the instructor who will supervise the study as well as from the department chair prior to enrollment.


Credits: 1 or 1/2

PSC 487 Independent Study

Independent Study is available to students with the permission of the instructor who will supervise the study as well as from the department chair prior to enrollment.


Credits: 1 or 1/2

PSC 488 Independent Study

Independent Study is available to students with the permission of the instructor who will supervise the study as well as from the department chair prior to enrollment.


Credits: 1 or 1/2

PSC 497 Senior Seminar

Open only to senior political science majors. This is both a reading and a research seminar, organized around a general concept central to the discipline. Participants discuss common readings on the topic. They also prepare individual research papers which treat the general theme, but from the stance of their chosen emphases within the major. This course is offered in the fall semester, 2009-2010.


Credits: 1

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