Political Science (POLS)

The practice of political science. The construction of research designs; major research tools; methods of political analysis; political science writing. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Math, and Writing

This course explores American political thought from the American Revolution to the contemporary era. We will focus upon a collection of American thinkers who worked at the fringes of mainstream political theory, and expanded the boundaries of thought and practice.

This course serves as an introduction to law and public speaking, focusing on the use of legal reasoning and argument within the context of a trial court setting. This course begins with a discussion of legal and court procedure in the United States. Throughout the course of the semester, we will discuss the use and importance of logic and reasoning as well as how to speak effectively to an audience. The class will conclude with a practical application of these concepts and skills in the way of a mock trial scrimmage.

This course explores the potential for self-creation through punk music, the role that punk plays as a politically charged subculture, and the ways that the punk scene communicates protest through fashion, music, and social engagement.

This course will look at the role of truth in politics and interrogates the conflict between truth and political power, specifically highlighting the individual that functions as both truth-knower and truth-teller.

Explores the structure and major issues and controversies in the study of American political institutions; topics include executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.

An examination of the Congress, from formal organization, member recruitment, and theories of representation, to Congressional reform, policy-making, and interbranch relationships. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Math, and Writing

This course will cover the presidency, its constitutional basis, structure, powers, functions, and responsibilities. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Math, and Writing

This course will focus on the judicial system of the United States in terms of structure, function, and process. Both the federal and state levels of the judiciary will be studied, both in terms of how the operate individually and how they interact. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Math, and Writing

This course provides an introduction to local, state, and federal rules and regulations relevant to water as a resource. Laws, rules, and policies governing water as a resource will be reviewed and evaluated, including the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Environmental Policy Act. Students will examine federal, state and local approaches to water allocation, pollution control, and resource management on private and public lands, and for diverse water sources, Students will explore the challenges of water management, and discuss alternative strategies for achieving sustainability, including the roles of science, sanctions, economic incentives, opinion, and other influences. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Math, and Writing

The theories of the major thinkers of the periods and of their development. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Math, and Writing

Theories of the major thinkers and the related intellectual and political movements. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Math, and Writing

Examining genocide as a consequence and a cause of major national and international conflict.

This module will explore the evolution of counterinsurgency through the lens of Britsih military deployments during the post WWII period, a sequence of conflicts that is known as "Britain's Small Wars". This course will focus on the political dimension of conflict, tracing British military history from the role of the British Army in Mandatory Palestine through to withdrawal from Camp Bastin in Afghanistan in August 2013.

This course covers issues, developments, and international relationships between state and nonstate actors as well as post-conflict resolution processes and efforts made to pursue peace. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Writing, Math

This course provides students with a basic understanding of the normative foundations of human rights, the international law of human rights, and the politics of creating and enforcing human rights standards both domestically and internationally. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Writing, Math

The underlying principles governing political relations among sovereign states and the application of these principles to contemporary international problems. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Math, and Writing

The structures, functions and processes of selected political systems. May be repeated once for credit. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Math, and Writing

This course focuses on the major orthodox and critical theoretical approaches within international relations to examine and assess the sociopolitical structures that shape interactions between states, international organizations, and non-state actors on the global stage. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Writing, Math

In this course students will learn model building, ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, and prediction analysis using a statistical analysis program. Course is suitable for those interested in performing advanced data analysis. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Math, and Writing

The relation of public opinion and voting behavior to democratic government; techniques employed in analyzing political attitudes and voting behavior. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Math, and Writing

Formation, structure and functions of interest groups and political parties within the political system. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Math, and Writing

Structure and functions of governmental institutions; administrative practices of state and local governments. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Math, and Writing

A study of urban political processes and major public problems confronting urban areas. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, and Writing

An introduction to core theories and controversies about American mass political behavior; topics include electoral and non-electoral political participation, political socialization, and party identification. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Math, and Writing

Causes of and U.S. responses to, nuclear proliferation in Third World regions, focusing on “problem countries.” Topics include the non-proliferation regime, the “nuclear repentants,” nuclear arms control and the threat of nuclear terrorism. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Math, and Writing

Covers the relevant analytical frameworks, theories, and cases concerning terrorism, insurgency, and related forms of political violence. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Math, and Writing

A study of technology and society from the perspective of social values, ethics, sociology, social environment, politics and economics. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Math, and Writing

This course focuses on institutional power and constraints. A survey of American constitutional law, using leading cases, both historic and contemporary, of the Supreme Court of the United States. Establishment of the federal political system for which the Constitution provided and the judicial allocations of political and economic power within that system. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Math, and Writing

This course focuses on civil rights and civil liberties. A survey of American constitutional law using leading cases, both historic and contemporary, of the Supreme Court of the United States. Matters of rights and liberties, their recognition and definition, policies of rights developed by the Supreme Court of the United States. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Math, and Writing

The federal judicial system in terms of structure, function and process with stress on court interaction at both intracourt and intersystem levels. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Math, and Writing

An examination of the key concepts and methodological approaches related to the study of the nation, of nationalisms, and the emergence of the modern state. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Writing, Math

Basic features, functions and problems of international organizations through the League of Nations, the United Nations and its specialized agencies and other important regional organizations in the context of the world situation. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Math, and Writing

An introduction to the study of international law. This course examines the definition, object and sources of international law as well as its relationship to domestic law and to the study of international relations. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, and Writing

The structures, functions and processes of the political systems of the nations of Central America, the Caribbean and South America. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, and Writing

The structures, functions and processes of the political system of Mexico. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, and Writing

The place of public administration in government; the relations of the bureaucracy to other government institutions and the public. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, and Writing

Public policy and its formation through the interaction of political groups and governmental institutions in selected areas of public policy; relevant comparisons to other national systems. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, and Writing

Description, analysis and assessment of women's place in a democracy through a focus on women's capacity to relate to and use political power. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, and Writing

An intensive examination of special topics of study in political science. Course may be repeated once for credit when the topic of study changes. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, and Writing

This course provides students the opportunity to integrate traditional learning exercises with practical experience in one of the following areas: a political campaign, an elected official’s office, a state or city bureaucracy/agency, or a professional environment. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, and Writing