Courses

    Emphasizes interrelations among levels and branches of government, formal and informal institutions, processes, and behavior. Approved for GT-SS1. Meets MAPS requirement for social science: general or U.S. history. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: contemporary societies or United States context.

    Covers basic legal concepts and processes emphasizing the American system. Gives special attention to political functions of law. Recommended as preparation for PSCI 4241 and 4251. Prereq., PSCI 1101.

    Covers constitutional and institutional foundations and historical development of the presidency; roles, powers, selection, recent modifications, and institutionalization. Uses lectures and class discussion. Prereq., PSCI 1101. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: United States context. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.

    Introduces students to the subjects, techniques, and findings of Political Science research on campaigns and elections. Particular emphasis is placed on the study of voting, campaign effects, partisan coalitions, electoral rules, campaign finance, and the policy impact of elections. Prereq., PSCI 1101. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: United States context.

    Highlights the practice of party politics in the United States, including the nature, structure, organization, and functions of political parties and interest groups. Analyzes interest group politics and political behavior. Prereq., PSCI 1101. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.

    Provides intensive examination of the role of Congress in American government, including congressional elections, representation, the organization of Congress, and congressional policy making. Examines larger context of congressional politics, including political parties, the president, and interest groups. Prereq., PSCI 1101.

    Examines measurement of public opinion and evaluation of its impact on governmental policy formation, including survey research techniques. Prereq., PSCI 1101. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.
    Examines politics in the American states from a comparative and historical perspective. Considers major political actors---interest groups, citizens (direct democracy), and political parties, as well as central institutions, in the state political arena. Also focuses on major state public policy concerns. Prereq., PSCI 1101. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: United States context. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.
    Examines the structure of political, social, and economic influence in urban areas. Focuses on the relationship of the political system to governmental, social, and economic institutions and the contemporary policy processes in American cities. Prereq., PSCI 1101. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: United States context. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.

    Examines theoretical and empirical research on social movements from a U.S. perspective. Considers why social movements arise, who participates in them, the tactics they employ, obstacles they face, and their political impact. Prereq., PSCI 1101.

    Examines structure of political, social, and economic influence in urban areas. Focuses on the relationship of political processes to governmental, social, and economic institutions and contemporary policy processes in American cities. Prereq., PSCI 1101. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: human diversity.. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.

    Examines competing theoretical approaches to questions related to origins, development, and purposes of modern government in the United States; particular attention paid to impact of transformations in the underlying structure of the capitalist economy. Prereq., PSCI 1101. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: United States context.

    Analyzes how the American governmental and political system is structured to define, select, and implement national security policies. Examines roles of the president, Congress, bureaucracy, interest groups,and other actors. Prereq., PSCI 1101.

    Examines relationship between human behavior and legal system, looking closely at the voluntary relationship between the citizen and the state, the use of law to balance economic liberty and equality, support for civil liberties, and procedural, distributive, and retributive justice. Prereq., PSCI 1101.

    Contemporary and historic overview of U.S. courts' treatment of sex and gender. Using the case method, examines policy issues including, but not limited to: same sex marriage and civil unions; privacy; affirmative action; abortion; reproductive technologies; and discrimination based on sex and sexual orientation in education and in the workplace. Prereq., WMST 2000 or PSCI 1101. Same as WMST 3300. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: human diversity.

    Provides an overview and critical examination of women as political actors within the United States. Students will examine the gendered components of citizenship, election, political office, and public policy. Furthermore, students will explore the ways in which gender intersects with class, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and other identities in U.S. politics. Same as WMST 3311.

    Examines the founding period of the United States through the events, political concepts and individuals depicted in the art exhibited in the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. The course includes a visit to the U.S. Capitol Building, the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, the floor of the U.S. Senate, and an exploration of the legislative process. Prereq., PSCI 1101 or 2012 or 2223 or 2004. PSCI 4081 and PRLC 4081 are the same course. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Juniors or Seniors).

    Examines the political status and activities of Mexican Americans and other Latino groups (Cuban Americans and Puerto Ricans) in the U.S. Also covers Latino political attitudes and behaviors; Latino efforts to influence the major national, state, and local institutions of the American government; and public policy concerns of Latinos. Recommended prereq., PSCI 1101. Restricted to sophomores/juniors/ seniors. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: human diversity.

    Examines the psychological foundations of political decision-making among citizens and elites. Condsiders the role of political psychology in explaining political behavior and outcomes at the individual and collective level. Prereq., PSCI 1101.

    Focuses on the nature and scope of American constitutional principles as developed by the U.S. Supreme Court: federalism, jurisdiction of the federal courts, separation of powers, the taxing power, and the commerce power. Involves the case method. Prereq., PSCI 1101. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.
    Continuation of PSCI 4241. Emphasizes war power, powers of the president, citizenship, the Bill of Rights, and the Civil War amendments. Involves the case method. Not open to freshmen. Prereq., PSCI 1101 or instructor consent. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.
    Examines aspects of political communication as it applies to citizens, political decision makers, and specific public policies. Prereq., PSCI 1101 or instructor consent. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Juniors or Seniors).

    Addresses the problems and challenges women face around the world and the ways in which women have mobilized to address them. Explores political activism at the local, national, regional, and global levels. Focuses on different forms of activism, including strategies aimed at working with and within governmental institutions, as well as outside and against them. Recommended prereq., WMST 2000 or WMST 2600. Same as WMST 4500.

    Introduces uses and abuses of symbols as instruments and indicators of political change. Prereq., PSCI 1101. Recommended prereq., junior or senior standing.

    Examines the political history and development of the United States of America. Looks at the particular policy choices we have made and examines the future political agenda. Prereqs., junior or senior standing and PSCI 1101 recommended. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Juniors or Seniors).

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