Political Science (PSC)
Psychological and social dimensions of political behavior including political images, culture and socialization, participation, leadership, elites, parties and interest groups, voting behavior, and decision making processes.
The philosophy and implementation of human rights protection in the United States and abroad.
Forms of organization, functions, and operations of governments in Latin America, with emphasis on contemporary conditions, trends, and distinctive types of Latin American institutions and policies.
Nature and origins of international law and the rights, duties, and responsibilities of the states under that law, as well as the problems which have arisen in its interpretation and enforcement.
The dynamic relationships between political and communication institutions; topics include political discourse, news and information, and portrayal of politics in popular entertainment.
Study of fundamental questions of political theory as treated in works of literature. Topics may include authority, law and discretion, the individual and the community, and the nature of freedom, especially as these issues emerge in different political orders. This course may be taken more than once, for a maximum of six credit hours, when content differs.
Constitutional development and political processes in the Mexican federal system. Emphasis will be placed on twentieth-century constitutional and political change, with special attention given to the current scene.
Concepts and principles of political geography. Analysis of dynamics of spatial relations and interactions of states. Comparison of main approaches, including geo-politics. Study of state elements, especially territorial integrity and frontiers. Survey and analysis of world political patterns.
The relationship between a great power's grand strategy and stability in international politics.
Contemporary African American politics, including leading theories and paradigms, important social and political movements, prominent leaders, party politics, and role of the "Black Church.
Nature and the law of the administrative procedure, of separation and delegation of powers, and of the scope of judicial review and other remedies against administrative actions.
A course for upper-level undergraduates and graduate students contemplating careers requiring administrative skills. Topics, which will be chosen to meet the special needs of students, include the study of public personnel techniques and methods, project design and analysis, and program budgeting.
Foundations, processes, and politics of British government. Emphasis will be given to political parties and interest groups, parliament, cabinet and administration, judiciary, and the prime minister. Analysis of current political issues and policies will be undertaken.
Historical and cultural background and structure of the emerging international order in Asia, with particular attention to the role of Japan, Russia and the Soviet successor states, and the People's Republic of China.
Political institutions and processes in metropolitan areas, including social, economic, and governmental problems resulting from increased urbanization.
Political structures and processes of the Middle East nations with an emphasis on elites, political parties, interest groups, and bureaucracies. Inter-regional relations, nationalism, the impact of religion and the Arab-Israeli conflict will be considered. Problems of nation-building, regional cooperation, as well as super- and great-power penetration, will also be explored.
See CSS 4353 for course information.
See CSS 4354 for course information.
The Supreme Court's role in the making of public policy, including its history, its justification, and its limits. Emphasis on court cases and literature covering economic, social and civil rights issues.
Historical and cultural background, the organization and functions of government, and the theory and practice of Russian politics. Emphasis is given to Russia's relationships with associated states.
The impact of intelligence, counterespionage, and covert action policies on national security policy and international relations.
The diverse roles of political parties in representative democracies, with emphasis on the American experience.
See CSS 4351 for course information.
A comparative study of the forms of government organization, political processes, and major developments in Western Europe. Course emphasizes parliamentary forms of democracy.
The influence of moral principles on international politics.
Constitutional law of the United States with basic cases concerning such subjects as separation of powers, federalism, the taxing and spending powers, and interstate and foreign commerce.
Historical development of the Asia-Pacific region, with a focus on the contrasting roles played by China, Japan, and the United States. Discussion of alternative models of economic development and the impact of ASEAN and APEC on regionalism. Survey of the socio-political conditions in and among the region's states, with special attention devoted to Korean unification and cross-strait relations.
The intersection of politics and economics at the domestic and international levels. Political outlooks considered include liberalism, Keynesianism, and Marxism.
The dynamic interaction between religion and politics in the United States and other countries, including the effect of political outcomes in the context of voting, legislative and executive policymaking, and the law.
Government organization and functions, political processes, and major developments in the political systems of Japan, China, and Korea since World War II.
Fundamentals of international politics and international law, advancing to an intensified study of past and, particularly, present international organizations, especially the United Nations.
Examines the evolution of political philosophy and institutions in Muslim culture.
Government in relation to the economy. Public policy with respect to such vital areas as maintenance of competition, public utilities, transportation, labor, agriculture, protection of the investor, and foreign economic policy. (Not to be taken if ECO 4317 has already been taken for credit.)
Continuation of PSC 4361 but may be taken independently of that offering. Deals with those cases relating particularly to personal liberty and civil rights.
Twentieth-century political ideas, with emphasis on contemporary democratic political theory and the challenges posed for traditional democratic ideals by major movements in contemporary psychological, existentialist, ethnic, feminist, socialist, and nationalist thought, and by problems arising from technology, mass society, and the observations of empirical political science.
The development of contemporary states and nations, emphasizing war, geographic location, natural resources, and cultural and religious norms as determinants of different experiences.
How states and other international actors communicate and pursue their foreign policy objectives through the use of diplomatic agents and techniques.
The effectiveness of terrorism as a coercive strategy for states and non-state actors as well as the threat terrorism poses to the interests of the United States.
Examination of special topics in government and politics. May be repeated once under different topic not to exceed six semester hours.
To fulfill requirements for non-thesis master's students who need to complete final degree requirements other than coursework during their last semester. This may include such things as a comprehensive examination, oral examination, or foreign language requirement. Students are required to be registered during the semester they graduate.
Examination of American politics, institutions, and behavior. Topics will vary within the subfield of American politics. May be repeated three times for graduate credit when topics differ.
See PHI 5311 for course information.
See SOC 5312 for course information.
A study of major thinkers on international politics through history, with reference to contemporary international relations thought.
Modern industrial state in Western democracies from a comparative policy perspective, with selected emphasis on such topics as economic management, re-industrialization, social welfare, environmental protection, education, health care, defense, and housing/transportation.
Role(s) of the judiciary in American politics and administration. Areas examined may include American constitutional development, constitutional and legal interpretation, judicial behavior and politics, including the role of interest groups and public opinion, and judicial recruitment. May be repeated three times for graduate credit when topics differ.
Special topics, including organizational theory, administrative behavior, and personnel management, financial management and budgeting, program management and evaluation, and quantitative analysis. May be repeated for credit when topics differ.
Introduction to the discipline of political science, focusing particularly on research methods, research design, and questions relating to the philosophy of science.
Political culture, institutions, processes, and policies from a cross national perspective. Emphasis on role of political, economic, social, and cultural factors relating to political development, stability, and organization. Research topics and primary country analyses may vary.
Theories concerning relations among nations, foreign policy formation and administration, cases of cooperation and conflict within the society of nations. Research topics vary so as to cover a broad range of contemporary issues, problems, and diplomatic practice.
Study of the development and reform of political institutions and practices over the course of American history.
Select topics and issues in contemporary political theory developed and explored with an emphasis on the seminal writings of original thinkers and on the contemporary debates surrounding these writings. Possible themes of this course include postmodern political thought, neo-Kantian and neo-Hegelian political theory, contemporary liberal and communitarian thought, theories of justice, contemporary relevance of ancient political philosophy.
Analysis of the components of national security strategy and those international and domestic factors that shape it. Seminar covers the process, factors, institutions, and issues in national security decision making.
Study of the debates on the proper structure, institutional arrangements, and purposes of government during the Founding period focusing on the creation and ratification of the American constitution.
See PHI 5342 for course information.
Study of selected major texts in classical (Greek and Roman) political thought, with an emphasis on the origin of political philosophy in the thought of Socrates and its development in the works of Plato and Aristotle. This course may be repeated, for a maximum of nine credit hours, when content differs.
Comparative analysis of constitutional theory and development, the link between democracy and constitutionalism, and the role of judicial review. Different constitutional approaches to issues such as executive-legislative relations, federalism, political participation, and civil liberties will be considered.
Course examines the theory and practice of American foreign policy. Emphasis is on major issues in United States diplomacy and basic ideas governing American foreign policy.
Survey of the genres of presidential rhetoric and theories of the rhetorical presidency; critical analysis of presidential discourse in selected eras, with focus on texts in context; methods of evaluating presidential communication.
Study of selected major texts in medieval political thought, with an emphasis on either major thinker(s), or theme(s). Themes may include nature and grace, politics and salvation, theology and practical wisdom. This course may be repeated, for a maximum of nine credit hours, when content differs.
This seminar will examine the ideas of strategic thinkers who lived in a variety of historical periods. Students will read works by major strategists including Thucydides, Sun Tzu, Machiavelli, and Clausewitz.
Study of selected major texts in modern political thought, from Machiavelli to Nietzsche. Course may be repeated, for a maximum of nine credit hours, when content differs.
Study of themes, issues and debates defining the contemporary conversation about democracy among political theorists. Texts will include works of major importance to recent democratic theory.
A tutorial course designed for advanced graduate study in political science to supplement other course requirements. The nature, limits, and requirements will be established in each instance after consultation between professor and student. May be repeated under a different topic for a total of six hours credit.
Satisfies the non-thesis option for the Master of Public policy and Administration degree and the Master of Arts degree in international relations. A problem or topic in either public policy or administration will be selected, and the student will write a substantial paper for submission to the faculty. May not be taken if PSC 5V12 (Internship) is required.
Concentrated study of major thinkers or texts in the history of political philosophy. This course may be taken more than once, for a maximum of eighteen credit hours, when content differs.
Under the direction of a supervising professor, a problem or topic in international relations to be selected and a substantial paper to be written. This is one of the options for the master's degree in international relations.
Directed readings done in conjunction with an undergraduate course for which the student serves as a teaching apprentice. Course requirements include graduate-level research paper and annotated bibliography of undergraduate course materials. May be taken three times for graduate credit, in conjunction with different undergraduate courses.
Internship of a minimum of three months of supervised, full-time employment. The experience combines practical field experience and research. Completion of the course requires a written report on the work done during the internship. Students seeking the MA in International Relations must work in a public or private concern involved in international affairs. Students seeking the MA in Public Policy Administration or the JD/MPPA must work in a public sector agency. All students must secure the permission of the Director of Graduate Studies to take this course.
Research, data analysis, writing, and oral defense of an approved master's thesis. At least six hours of PSC 5V99 are required.
Supervised research for developing and writing a dissertation prospectus that will be the subject of an oral defense that will admit students to candidacy. A student may repeat this course for credit with a maximum of twelve total hours. Registration for this course is the equivalent of full-time status for graduate students.
Supervised research for the doctoral dissertation with a minimum of twelve semester hours required. Three to six of these hours may be taken in a section of 6V99 designed for the purpose of discussion and criticism of dissertation chapters and journal articles. Dissertation writing group will also serve as a forum for research presentations for job interviews when appropriate.