POLI 101S 01 - American National Government
4 credits
J. Young
This course will introduce students to the study of the American Political System. Students will become acquainted with such political concepts as federalism, political culture, political socialization, political participation, etc. The course should enable students to analyze and evaluate the institutions processes and policies of American Government. Emphasis will be given to the role and activities of individuals and institutions as they shape and respond to the American Political Process. Student performance will be evaluated via three exams, group debate and class participation. Instructional format will include lecture/discussion and weekly issue round tables.
NOTE: This course is required of all political science majors and minors.
POLI 101S 02 & 03 - American National Government
4 credits.
E. Hasecke
This course will examine the institutions and workings of the federal government, with emphasis on the Congress, President, Courts, Political Parties and Interest Groups. Students will be asked to critically assess the current state of American democracy and discuss current events and politics. There will be three essay exams.
NOTE: This course is required of all political science majors and minors.
POLI 101S 04 - American National Government
4 credits.
R. Baker
This introductory course is intended to provide the student with a broad overview of American governmental institutions, processes, and policies. The Constitutional basis of our political system serves as the foundation for lectures and discussions. The course is required for all majors, and is a prerequisite for certain other upper-level courses in political science. A subscription to the New York Times is required.
NOTE: This course is required of all political science majors and minors.
POLI 102S 01 - Introduction to Comparative Politics
4 credits.
G. Hudson
The course is devoted to beginning an exploration of similarities and differences among some well-known national political systems found in the world. Students should expect to develop an acquaintance with the principal characteristics of established democracies ( Great Britain , Germany , and France ), developing democracies ( Russia and Mexico ), and non-democracies ( China and Nigeria ). A second major objective is to learn basic concepts and techniques used in comparative political analysis. Two hourly exams, a final exam, and a short paper are required.
NOTE: This course is required of all political science majors and minors.
POLI 102S 02 - Introduction to Comparative Politics
4 credits.
J. Allan
This course introduces students to the study of political institutions and political behavior from a comparative perspective. During the course of the semester, the course will focus on political processes and issues in a wide variety of countries, including advanced industrial democracies, communist and post-communist systems, as well as countries in the developing world. A second major objective is to learn basic concepts and techniques used in comparative political analysis. There will be two midterms and a final, and participation in a simulation exercise and several political games is also required.
NOTE: This course is required of all political science majors and minors.
POLI 102S 03 & 04 - Introduction to Comparative Politics
4 credits.
Staff
The course is devoted to beginning an exploration of similarities and differences among some well-known national political systems found in the world. Students should expect to develop an acquaintance with the principal characteristics of established democracies, developing democracies, and non-democracies. A second major objective is to learn basic concepts and techniques used in comparative political analysis. Two hourly exams and a final exam are required.
NOTE: This course is required of all political science majors and minors.
POLI 211R - Ancient & Medieval Political Philosophy
4 credits.
H. Wright
This is a challenging and thought-provoking course which explores the history of political philosophy from ancient Greek drama to medieval thought through a combination of primary textual analysis and interpretive commentary. What is political philosophy? Simply put, it is the quest for knowledge about the nature of politics. Ancient and medieval political philosophers sought knowledge about many of our most compelling and vital human questions. What is the nature of human beings? What is nature itself? What is justice? How can we begin to understand power? What is the good life for human beings? What is the best form of political rule? What is the proper relationship of philosophy to politics? On what basis might we construct our ethical life? Are men and women different, and if so, how might this impact the political? Not surprisingly, political philosophers have thought and continue to think very differently about these topics. Evaluation will be based on several short essays, midterm and final examinations, and class preparation and participation.
POLI 219 - Topics: American Political Thought
4 credits.
H. Wright
In this course we will examine a selection of key politico-theoretical debates and controversies, from the points of view of dominant and marginalized groups, dating from the colonial era to contemporary America . To lay the necessary groundwork, we will spend some time considering the moment of the American Founding. Then, we will explore writings from the country's early development, the post-Civil War era of Reconstruction and Industrialization, and the “Rise of the Positive State ” in the early 1900s. This foundational work will well prepare us for more contemporary ground, when we will explore topics including “Liberalism,” “the New Left,” “the New Right,” “Feminism,” and “Multiculturalism.” Evaluation will be based on several short essays, midterm and final examinations, and class preparation and participation.
POLI 222S - Urban Politics
4 credits.
R. Baker
An examination of politics and government in American cities. Emphasis is on how changes over time in local political structures and processes have affected the delivery of services at this most basic level of our federal system. The course has a lecture/discussion format. Two exams, quizzes, and a simulation will be required.
POLI 224S - The Presidency
4 credits.
J. Young
This course will examine the presidency and the powers and constraints of the office. To do this we will look at the historical development of the institution and ask what makes a great president. We will also examine a basic research question – why are some presidents more successful in passing their agenda than others? There will be two midterm exams and a final 10-page paper.
POLI 227 - Criminal Law and Politics
4 credits.
D. Carter
The primary goal of Criminal Law and Politics is to acquire an understanding of the procedural and substantive development of the American Criminal Justice System, and how it has been influenced by social, cultural and political factors. The course will attempt to examine American penal issues from the enactment of the U. S. Constitution, to contemporary problems and debates.
POLI 232S - Public Opinion
4 credits.
S. Rhine
This is a study of the measurement, development, and role of public opinion in American politics. We will explore how public opinion affects government as well as how government shapes public opinion. We will study its impact among demographic groups and its effect on various issues. Class will be a combination of lecture and discussion. Students will be assessed using a paper, discussion, quizzes and exams.
POLI 236S - Media and Politics
4 credits.
S. Rhine
Media and Politics is a survey course about the impact of the media on the public and political elites. The course will explore topics of the media structure, news content, public knowledge, and elite efforts to influence media coverage. The class will be a combination of lecture and discussion. Students will be assessed using a paper, discussion, quizzes and exams.
POLI 260 1Z - Methodology
4 credits.
J. Allan
The political science methodology course focuses on providing students with requisite skills needed to conduct and understand research in the field of political science. Emphasis is placed on conceptualization and design of a research project; various data collection methods used in political science; data analysis techniques; and the process of research report writing. Evaluation will be based on an exam, several short exercises, and a major research paper.
NOTE: This course is required by all political science majors.
PREREQUISITE: Statistics (Business, Math,
or Psychology)
WRITING INTENSIVE
POLI 309 1W - Adv. Topics: North American Politics
4 credits.
J. Allan
This course is a comparative survey of the political systems within the North American Free Trade Area: Canada , Mexico , and the United States (although more emphasis will be placed on Canada and Mexico ). Topics covered in the course from a comparative perspective include political culture and values, political institutions, the practice of federalism, political parties and electoral systems, public policies, and NAFTA. The course will also focus on politics across, as well as within, the three countries: are there commonalities among North American states? What is the impact of NAFTA and do attitudes to further economic integration vary across borders? What is the future of NAFTA? The course format will be a combination of lectures and discussions, with occasional small group exercises. Evaluation will be based on two midterms and a final exam, class participation, and two research papers.
PREREQUISITE: POLI 102S and Junior standing
WRITING INTENSIVE
POLI 319 1W - Adv. Topics: Feminist and Postmodern Political Thought
4 credits.
H. Wright
This course explores some of the major figures, schools of thought, and concepts in Postmodern and Feminist Political Theory. Beginning with Nietzsche's 19 th century critique of modernity, we will study several postmodern critiques and concerns, including those of Derrida, Foucault, and Lyotard. Then, setting postmodern thought aside for the moment, we will explore feminist political theory in all its complexity, from Wollstonecraft's liberal feminism to Goldman's anarcha-feminism to Mackinnon's critique of law and pornography to Elshtain's communitarian feminism.
Ultimately we will find ourselves in a perfect position to examine the often uneasy relationship between postmodernism and feminism. For in questioning the very notion of universal truth claims, postmodernism displaces the unified category of “woman” as subject, something many feminists are loathe to part with on a political level. However, many feminist theorists have found postmodernism's critique of the foundations of knowledge useful, arguing that the Western philosophic tradition is phallologocentric and urging the development of new understandings of subjectivity and difference, and the emergence of a new type of political life. Evaluation will be based on an in-class presentation, two long papers, midterm and final essay examinations, and class preparation and participation.
Prerequisite: JR CLASS STANDING and either POLI 211R, POLI 212R, POLI 219, or permission of instructor.
WRITING INTENSIVE
POLI 320 1W - Public Administration
R. Baker
Using a systems framework, this course focuses on politics and policymaking of the federal bureaucracy. Emphasis is on how bureaucrats and bureaucratic agencies interact with each other, and with other political factors at the federal level. The course combines lectures with seminar discussion format. Students will be asked to write 4 critical book reviews, and an article summary. Two essay exams will also be given. 4 credits . 2/05
PREREQUISITES: POLI 101 and Junior standing
WRITING INTENSIVE
POLI 352 1W - Russian Foreign Policy
G. Hudson
This course examines the development and factors involved in Russian foreign policy, with an emphasis on events since 1991. One of the major themes of the class will concern an understanding of the nature of the changes taking place in that policy under the Yeltsin and Putin administrations. The transition in foreign policy during the Gorbachev years (1985-91) will also be discussed. The class will consider defense policy, economic policy, and the imperatives of the processes of nation-building and state-building as elements of Russian foreign policy. The class will center about either the presentation and preparation of a lengthy term paper or three “mini” papers, written in response to specific issues.
4 credits. 2/05
PREREQUISITES: POLI 102 or 204 and Junior standing
WRITING INTENSIVE
WITT SEM - Democracy in the US and Iraq
S. Rhine
The war with Iraq has dominated American politics for the last several years. We'll use this event to help us understand democratization, U.S. foreign policy, the media and our own capacities as citizens to make informed decisions. We will study Iraq and the war with Iraq from a variety of perspectives. We will explore the different ethnic and religious divisions in the country to provide background. We will look at the democratization literature and civil society. This focuses on the role of groups in enhancing democracy. We will track the events leading up to the war, including U.S. media coverage of those events and statements. We'll delve into the new foreign policy doctrine of preemption and its implications. Then we will look at assessments of our intelligence and policymaking, partly by using the 9/11 Commission Report. Much of the course will focus on Iraq . But we also will turn the attention on ourselves to ask whether we live up to democratic standards. 3/05
