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Political Science 300-Level Courses (POLS)

311 Classics of Political Theory. (4)

Study of several especially interesting and important works of political theory from the ancient, modern and contemporary periods. The course examines historicist, feminist and postmodern interpretations of the works assigned. Since the course assumes some background in political theory, students will be able to consider more carefully and in greater detail the insights these works provide for the study of politics. Prerequisite: 221, equivalent, or consent of instructor. Alternate years.

312 American Political Thought. (4)

What is America? How have Americans thought about democracy, equality, power and justice through the last two centuries? This course focuses on the central questions that have shaped American politics by examining the primary texts written by men and women who have contributed to the continuing debates. Every year.

313 20th-Century Political Thought. (4)

This course examines the political thought of the turbulent 20th century, with special attention to writers who theorize about justice and the struggle to achieve it. Topics covered may include: just and unjust wars, imperialism, economic justice, justice in relations between men and women and between members of different racial and ethnic groups. A careful study of the ideas of the 20th century will prepare students to face the new challenges of the 21st century. Every alternate year.

314 Feminist Political Theory. (4)

If there is one common theme in feminist thought, it is a claim to equality that cannot be ignored. This course examines the many varieties of feminist political theory including liberal feminism, radical feminism and socialist feminism. Students will look at how feminism has dealt with gender, ethnicity, sexual preference and examine where feminist theory is going into the future. Prerequisite: 221 or consent of instructor; 311 is strongly recommended. Every alternate year.

323 Constitutional Law: Structure and Power. (4)

Examination of constitutional interpretation and development in the United States with an emphasis on the role of the Supreme Court in the U.S. system of government. The course uses a combination of case, historical and political analysis to acquaint students with the power of the Supreme Court as an institution of government. Themes studied include the development of constitutional doctrines regarding the power relationship among the president, Congress, and the judiciary and between the federal and state governments. Every year.

324 Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties. (4)

A focus on the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution with an emphasis on noteworthy Supreme Court cases from the past 35 years. Subjects studied include the guarantees of equal protection and due process, the right to privacy, the doctrines of free expression, and the separation of church and state. Every year.

326 Topics in Law. (4)

A focus on the relationship between law, considered broadly as a socializing force, and society. Court topics will vary and may include the use of alternatives to courts for the resolution of disputes, challenges of legal authority, and the relationship between cultural pluralism and legal order. Every alternate year.

331 U.S. Political Parties and Elections. (4)

Analysis of the party system of U.S. elections. Students evaluate how populations are connected to governance; specifically, major parties, minor parties, interest groups, media, movements, and campaign organizations. Students investigate the idea of a 'two-party' system to one-party and multi-party systems as organizers of government power. Alternate years.

332 U.S. Congress. (4)

Study of the legislative branch with emphasis on the concept of representation, internal organization, committees, party leaders and constituency influences on the Congressional process. Every year.

333 U.S. Presidency. (4)

Analysis of the president, organizational aspects of the executive office and relationship with Congress, the bureaucracy, the media and public opinion. Every year.

334 U.S. Bureaucracy and Regulatory Law. (4)

Analysis of public policy organizations. Students examine values and processes that influence the regulations generated by federal agencies, as well as the merit system of public service, and the interconnections among public bureaucracies at the state and national levels and with institutions in other sectors. Alternate years.

336 Subnational Politics. (4)

An inclusive and comparative examination of governments and politics at the subnational level. In the federal structure of the United States, states and tribal nations share sovereignty with the national government. The course examines subnational policies, processes, and political structures and their potential for success in addressing issues such education, public assistance, pollution, health care, transportation, etc. Prerequisite: 111, or instructor’s permission. Every alternate year.

337 Theory of Public Policy. (4)

An explicit examination of the normative nature of public policy making. The principles of public policy analysis are examined. Course focuses on the place of equality, efficiency, justice, authority, community, and other principles in the practice of policy making. Policy examples are taken from education, health care, poverty, housing, crime, employment and other areas. Every year.

338 Public Sector. (4)

Examines the effect of classical delivery systems on the quality of public goods and services. Traditional governmental agencies, not-for-profit organizations, and privatization alternatives are analyzed. Course takes a broad view of the public sector, including philanthropy, taxation, and fees as funding sources and contracting, grants and direct expenditures as outlays. Every year.

339 Gender and Public Policy. (4)

Analyzes public policy processes and decisions as they influence and are influenced by men and women differently. Students investigate criteria for gender-neutral policies, and evaluate the likelihood and usefulness of such policy approaches. Alternate years.

340 Comparative Government and Politics of the Caribbean. (4)

Analysis of domestic and international environments within which the trade, finance and development policies of selected Caribbean states are implemented. Focus on the relationships between economic ideology, development strategy and national development experience. Taught in the Bahamas Extension Program, Nassau.

341 European Politics. (4)

Examines comparatively the political systems of Europe with particular emphasis on the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden and Spain. In light of events at the end of the Cold War, the course includes the study of Eastern Europe including the Balkans. European integration through the European Union will be a major focus of the course. Issues of political and social change will be explored including a study of violence in Northern Ireland and the former Yugoslavia. Offered only on Spanish and Austrian international education programs.

343 Revolutions. (4)

Analysis of revolutions as a political, economic and sociological phenomenon. Focuses on writing by both political actors and social scientists. Case studies include Iran, Nicaragua, South Africa, Ireland and the Black Power Movement in the United States. Alternate years.

344 Middle East Politics. (4)

A study of the current political conflicts in the Middle East region with particular emphasis on the Arab-Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Also emphasized will be the role of Islam and the political economy of oil. Alternate years.

345 Developing Nations. (4)

A broad understanding of important aspects of politics, economics, relevant historical experiences and the culture of developing nations of Asia, Latin America and Africa. The course explores how these nations have sought to solve their major problems of using different theories and approaches to political, economic and social development. Each student will be expected to assess the achievements and/or shortcomings of a project in a research paper on a developing country of their choice. Alternate years.

346 Asian Politics. (4)

This course examines the politics and economics of three Asian countries, namely India, China and Japan. Contemporary politics is examined through a broad understanding of history, cultural and social traditions, and economic conditions. The U.S. relationships with each of these nations are also studied in light of distinct foreign policy approaches. Alternate years.

347 Latin American Politics. (4)

Comparative analysis of Latin American politics focusing on the themes of the military in politics, economic dependency, reform and revolution, and agrarian reform. Case studies include Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Nicaragua and Cuba. Alternate years.

348 African Politics. (4)

This course examines politics and economics in sub-Saharan Africa. Topics will include different kinds of governments in the region, the relationship between economic development and political change, and social patterns that shape the political process. Alternate years.

349 South African Politics. (4)

This course presents students with a historical and contemporary overview of the South African political situation. The following topics and issues are explored: The Apartheid paradigm; major actors, parties, movements and institutions; constitutional development in South Africa; colonial and post-colonialism; economic system; and South Africa's international relations. Offered on South African international education program.

351 U.S. Foreign Policy. (4)

This course is an examination of American foreign policy. The course focuses on key players as well as institutions and unofficial individuals or groups involved in the making of American foreign policy. Case studies will be used to bring a 'real-life' element to the class. Every year.

352 Global Gender Issues. (4)

Gender is now regarded as a fundamental variable in analyzing and understanding social, political and economic developments around the world. In this course, the focus is to identify the significance of gender at a global level. Examination of gendered division of labor in industrialized and developing societies, in particular, gendered discourses in development policies and gender-based economic strategies of modernization and restructuring. Beyond the economic realm, the course will also deal with other issues, such as wars, peace movements and concerns over military spending, which show remarkably similar patterns in terms of gender differences over policies. Alternate years.

353 International Law and Organization. (4)

Examines the historical and current development of international law and the emergence of different forms of international organization. There will be a special emphasis on the post-WWII period when there was a virtual revolution in international law, as reflected in the Nuremberg trial, Geneva conventions, the end of Colonialism and the International Declaration on Human Rights. Cross-listed as PCST 349. Alternate years.

355 International Political Economy. (4)

Focus on international economic linkages that will play a significant role in defining relations between states in the post-cold war world. While security has been perceived primarily in military terms, in the new world it is the economic conditions which will establish the ranking among nations. Recent agreements establishing European Economic Community, North American Free Trade Agreement, and General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT) are symbolic of the significance of global economic concerns. The course will deal with national and international responses to the challenge of global economic competition. Alternate years.

361 Senior Research Seminar in Public Affairs. (4)

This research seminar is designed for majors with course sequences in public policy. Students prepare 35-50 page research papers, using the standard scholarly research literature and primary source materials. Topic areas include but are not limited to health care, education, welfare, poverty, economic development and crime. Research projects focus on definition of a public policy problem, a review of existing alternative policy options for addressing the problem, and a recommendation for a preferred course of public action. Especially useful for students pursuing careers in public policy and public or non-profit management.

362 Senior Research Seminar/Law. (4)

Provides a framework for student preparation of the senior thesis in the area of law and law-related fields. Students will learn how to research using legal materials and tools and how to organize and draft a legal writing project. Students will make an in-class presentation on their writing process and write a thesis.

363 Senior Research Seminar/Political Institutions. (4)

Provides a process and structure for writing and presenting a senior thesis in an area related to U.S. political institutions and policies. Students work individually and collaboratively to plan and execute successfully their extended research projects. The senior thesis demonstrates the student's abilities to synthesize course work preparation in the major, to apply skills and knowledge to research on important political questions, and to communicate the analysis and recommendations to appropriate audiences.

364 Senior Research Seminar/International Relations and Comparative Politics. (4)

Provides a framework for student participation of the senior thesis in the areas of international relations and comparative politics. Students will study different research methodologies and share the results of their research with other seminar participants. Assigned reading, seminar discussions and individual research project in international relations or comparative politics. Every year.

365 Senior Research Seminar/Political Theory. (4)

This course will provide students with an interest in political theory the opportunity to explore in-depth the work of particular theorists (Hobbes, Locke, Madison, Mill, Marx, for example) or particular themes in political thought (such as freedom, justice, power). It will also provide students interested in constitutional law an opportunity to study/investigate law from a political-theory aspect. Every year.

371 Individual Learning Project. (1-4)

Supervised reading or research at the upper-division level. Permission of department chair and completion and/or concurrent registration of 12 credits within the department required. Projects are understood to be part of a student's concentration area work. Not available to first-year students.

395 Model United Nations Seminar. (0-2)

Prepares students for participation in a national Model United Nations Conference, usually held in New York City or Boston during the spring semester. Covers the structure and functions of the United Nations, plus selected international issues such as the environment, terrorism and human rights. Prerequisite: 121 or permission of instructor. Every year.

396 Washington, D.C., Summer Study. (8)

Students spend eight weeks in Washington, D.C., working for members of Congress, committee staffs, federal agencies, media or lobbying organizations. Includes evening seminars and guest speakers. Every summer.

397 Internship. (4-8)

Experiential learning in the field, including work with faculty researchers, elected officials, other public officials, lawyers and judges.

398 Honors Senior Project. (4)

Required for graduation with "All-College Honors" and "Departmental Distinction in Political Science." Prerequisite: HONR 396 and approval of the department chair and director of the honors program. For further information see HONR 398.