Political Science
The Department of Political Sciences offers students a personalized education within a distinctive graduate program. Graduate courses are taught by full time faculty and conducted in a seminar form, with specific attention to the individual interests of students. All graduate students receive extensive methodological training, a well-rounded exposure to political science- including courses in comparative politics and international relations- as well as courses in American politics and political theory.
pOLITICAL sCIENCE (plsc)
PLSC 400 Scope and Methods of Political Science (3 Credit Hours)
This is a broad course that lays out the main approaches to political science.
PLSC 401 Intro to Research Design & Method (3 Credit Hours)
This course is an introduction to principles of research design in political science. The main objective of this course is to familiarize students with the social scientific approach to studying politics.
Students will learn how to ask empirical questions about the political world, how to develop theories and generate testable hypotheses, how to collect appropriate types of evidence, how to answer research questions scientifically using such evidence, and how to clearly convey their evidence and argument to others
Outcomes
Students will learn how to ask empirical questions about the political world, how to develop theories and generate testable hypotheses, how to collect appropriate types of evidence, how to answer research questions scientifically using such evidence, and how to clearly convey their evidence and argument to othersPLSC 402 Seminar on Empirical Analysis (3 Credit Hours)
The course allows students to develop additional methods to empirical analysis.
PLSC 404 Selected Problems in American Politics (3 Credit Hours)
This course focuses on selected problems in the study of American politics and the American Political system.
Gain an in-depth understanding of selected problems in American politics and the American Political system
Outcomes
Gain an in-depth understanding of selected problems in American politics and the American Political systemPLSC 405 American Executive Branch (3 Credit Hours)
This course relies on historical and contemporary scholarly literature on the American presidency to analyze the development and scope of rhetorical and party leadership, legislative relations, the commander-in-chief and diplomatic roles as well as the growth of the institutionalized presidency.
Students will master the key literature on the American presidency as well as conduct research on a particular aspect of the US presidency
Outcomes
Students will master the key literature on the American presidency as well as conduct research on a particular aspect of the US presidencyPLSC 406 American Legislative Branch (3 Credit Hours)
This course focuses on the organization of and decision-making in the US legislative branch.
Students will fully understand how the US Congress is structured and legislates, as well as its interactions with other US institutions and with American society
Outcomes
Students will fully understand how the US Congress is structured and legislates, as well as its interactions with other US institutions and with American societyPLSC 407 Public Policy-Making & Implementation (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines the process and dynamics of US policy-making systems.
Students will understand the development of the public sector agenda, the policy formation and legitimation processes, and the role of implementation functions, as these relate to substantive issues or policy arenas
Outcomes
Students will understand the development of the public sector agenda, the policy formation and legitimation processes, and the role of implementation functions, as these relate to substantive issues or policy arenasPLSC 409 Organizational Theory (3 Credit Hours)
The course offers a broad approach to the various theoretical and practical approaches to the study of organizations.
PLSC 410 Urban Politics (3 Credit Hours)
This course addresses the major theories, studies and issues of urban politics.
Students will understand "political machines", parties, interest groups, voting, protests, minority and ethnic groups, city councils, mayors, bureaucrats and community power structures
Outcomes
Students will understand "political machines", parties, interest groups, voting, protests, minority and ethnic groups, city councils, mayors, bureaucrats and community power structuresPLSC 411 American Political Parties/Electoral Process (3 Credit Hours)
This course analyzes the roles and functions of the party system and voting behavior in the United States.
Students will understand the role of mass communication and issues in elections, the impact of party identification, and the impact of the electoral system on behavior of party and voter
Outcomes
Students will understand the role of mass communication and issues in elections, the impact of party identification, and the impact of the electoral system on behavior of party and voterPLSC 412 Constitutional Politics (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines constitutional policy-making in the United States.
Students will understand the political role of the Supreme Court, judicial values in constitutional adjudication, and the impact of court decisions
Outcomes
Students will understand the political role of the Supreme Court, judicial values in constitutional adjudication, and the impact of court decisionsPLSC 417 The American Legal System (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines the structure, functions, interrelationships, dynamics, and decision-making processes of the US legal system.
Students will understand the major components of the American legal system - legislatures, administrative agencies, and courts
Outcomes
Students will understand the major components of the American legal system - legislatures, administrative agencies, and courtsPLSC 418 Political Psychology & Socialization (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines psychological, social and environmental influences on political attitudes and behavior.
Students will understand the psychodynamics of political development and socialization as they interact with opinion formation and political participation
Outcomes
Students will understand the psychodynamics of political development and socialization as they interact with opinion formation and political participationPLSC 419 Managing Urban Government (3 Credit Hours)
This course studies the politics of urban government management.
Students will understand the environments in which the urban manager functions
Outcomes
Students will understand the environments in which the urban manager functionsPLSC 420 Comparative Political Systems (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines political institutions and political behavior in various political systems.
Students will master the literature on comparative politics, including the methodology of comparative analysis
Outcomes
Students will master the literature on comparative politics, including the methodology of comparative analysisPLSC 421 Democratic Political Systems (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines selected democratic political systems.
Students will understand how selected democratic systems operate, focusing on their similarities and differences
Outcomes
Students will understand how selected democratic systems operate, focusing on their similarities and differencesPLSC 422 Authoritarian Political Systems (3 Credit Hours)
This is a graduate-level seminar on authoritarian political systems. The course explores theoretical perspectives on authoritarianism, political institutions in non-democracies, and paths to democratization.
Students will become familiar with concepts and theories of authoritarianism, gain knowledge about different types of authoritarian rule, and learn about how authoritarian governments work and perpetuate power
Outcomes
Students will become familiar with concepts and theories of authoritarianism, gain knowledge about different types of authoritarian rule, and learn about how authoritarian governments work and perpetuate powerPLSC 423 Soviet & Post-Soviet Politics (3 Credit Hours)
This course analyzes the development of Soviet and post-Soviet politics since 1917.
Students will understand the emergence and development of Soviet politics, as well as its decline in the mid-1980s
Outcomes
Students will understand the emergence and development of Soviet politics, as well as its decline in the mid-1980sPLSC 424 Politics of Developing Areas (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines the politics of the "developing world."
Students will understand the methods used to analyze politics in the developing and underdeveloped nation-states
Outcomes
Students will understand the methods used to analyze politics in the developing and underdeveloped nation-statesPLSC 425 Sub-Saharan Africa (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines politics in Africa from the pre-colonial period to the present.
Students will understand issues relating to decolonization, ethnicity, class, political economy, democratization, and regime transition in Sub-Saharan Africa
Outcomes
Students will understand issues relating to decolonization, ethnicity, class, political economy, democratization, and regime transition in Sub-Saharan AfricaPLSC 426 Latin American Politics (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines important themes in the study of politics in Latin America.
Students will understand the current scholarship and methodologies in the study of Latin American politics
Outcomes
Students will understand the current scholarship and methodologies in the study of Latin American politicsPLSC 427 Politics of the Middle East (3 Credit Hours)
Enrollment Conditions: Permission of the instructor required. This course offers a historical and thematic approach to study the society and politics of the contemporary Middle East. Two central aims of the course are to cultivate critical perceptions regarding widespread images and descriptions of the region and to bolster students' historical, socioeconomic and political knowledge of the region.
Students will master important political science literature on the Middle East and be well positioned to pursue original research
Outcomes
Students will master important political science literature on the Middle East and be well positioned to pursue original researchPLSC 428 Political Violence (3 Credit Hours)
This course offers a thematic approach to the study of political violence with a particular focus on armed conflicts involving non-state actors (i.e., civil wars). It addresses a wide variety of questions informed by the cutting-edge research in political science and other disciplines.
Students will develop an understanding of the causes of different forms of violence in different parts of the world, motivations of people who participate in violence, and solutions to armed conflicts
Outcomes
Students will develop an understanding of the causes of different forms of violence in different parts of the world, motivations of people who participate in violence, and solutions to armed conflictsPLSC 429 Comparative Politics Selected Problems (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines selected issues in comparative politics.
Students will master the literature or conduct research in a particular area of comparative politics
Outcomes
Students will master the literature or conduct research in a particular area of comparative politicsPLSC 430 Theories of International Politics (3 Credit Hours)
This course analyzes theories and major issues of international politics.
Students will master the literature in major research areas and theoretical frameworks in international relations
Outcomes
Students will master the literature in major research areas and theoretical frameworks in international relationsPLSC 431 Formulation US Foreign Policy (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines how US foreign policy is made.
Students will understand the decision-making institutions and their interaction in the formulation and execution of political, military and economic foreign policy
Outcomes
Students will understand the decision-making institutions and their interaction in the formulation and execution of political, military and economic foreign policyPLSC 432 Comparative Foreign Policy Analysis (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines contemporary policy positions of major blocs of nations as well as specific nations.
Students will understand how foreign policy is made in countries other than the United States, as well as the policy of blocs of nations
Outcomes
Students will understand how foreign policy is made in countries other than the United States, as well as the policy of blocs of nationsPLSC 433 International Organization (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines the development and role of international organizations.
Students will understand the political and administrative principles and problems of various types of international organizations, including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and other key global and regional organizations
Outcomes
Students will understand the political and administrative principles and problems of various types of international organizations, including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and other key global and regional organizationsPLSC 435 International Political Economics (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines global economic systems.
Students will understand global political-economic relations in the post-WWII period, including international monetary relations, international trade, regional integration, direct investment, debt, and development assistance
Outcomes
Students will understand global political-economic relations in the post-WWII period, including international monetary relations, international trade, regional integration, direct investment, debt, and development assistancePLSC 436 International Conflict (3 Credit Hours)
This course focuses on concepts and approaches related to the causes of war, conflict and peace in the international system.
PLSC 437 Selected Problems International Law (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines selected issues or problems in international law.
Students will understand contemporary theories of international law and the relationships among the various traditional and contemporary areas of international law
Outcomes
Students will understand contemporary theories of international law and the relationships among the various traditional and contemporary areas of international lawPLSC 439 Selected Problems in International Politics (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines important themes and theories in international politics.
Students will master a specific body of literature or conduct research in a particular area of international relations
Outcomes
Students will master a specific body of literature or conduct research in a particular area of international relationsPLSC 440 Ancient Political Thought (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines the major works of the most important theorists within the classical tradition.
Students will master key writings of Thucydides, Plato, Aristotle, and other theorists
Outcomes
Students will master key writings of Thucydides, Plato, Aristotle, and other theoristsPLSC 442 Modern Political Thought (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines major modern political thinkers.
Students will master key works of from the Italian Renaissance to the French Revolution
Outcomes
Students will master key works of from the Italian Renaissance to the French RevolutionPLSC 444 Great Authors (3 Credit Hours)
This course focuses on the works of political theorists in the western tradition.
Students will master key works of theorists in the western tradition
Outcomes
Students will master key works of theorists in the western traditionPLSC 446 Political Ethics (3 Credit Hours)
This course surveys classic debates on ethics - such as utilitarianism and deontological ethics - to provide students with analytical tools to answer the deceptively simple question "What is the right thing to do?" The course draws on classical readings of political philosophy, while seeking to make those abstract problems tangible by applying them to real world cases and examples.
PLSC 447 American Political Thought to Civil War (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines pre-Civil War US political thought.
Students will master the works of key thinkers from the American founding to the Civil War
Outcomes
Students will master the works of key thinkers from the American founding to the Civil WarPLSC 449 19th Century Political Thought (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines key theorists in the nineteenth century.
Student will master the works of key theorists beginning with the French Revolution and through the nineteenth century
Outcomes
Student will master the works of key theorists beginning with the French Revolution and through the nineteenth centuryPLSC 470 Fieldwork in Political Science-Internship (1-3 Credit Hours)
This is a graduate level course that allows students to get experience through internships. Restricted to Graduate School students.
Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of models of leadership and public service by working with supervisors who are normally leaders in their fields
Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of models of leadership and public service by working with supervisors who are normally leaders in their fieldsPLSC 475 Political Analysis I (3 Credit Hours)
This course provides an introduction to the use of inferential statistics in political science.
Students will master the basic statistical techniques used in political science
Outcomes
Students will master the basic statistical techniques used in political sciencePLSC 476 Political Analysis II (3 Credit Hours)
This is an intermediate course in data analysis methods in political science.
Students will master intermediate research and quantitative methods in political science
Outcomes
Students will master intermediate research and quantitative methods in political sciencePLSC 499 Directed Readings (3-6 Credit Hours)
This course involves specialized study under the supervision of a faculty member.
Students will master a particular segment of academic literature or conduct in-depth research on a specific topic
Outcomes
Students will master a particular segment of academic literature or conduct in-depth research on a specific topicPLSC 502 Seminar in Political Behavior (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines selected topics in the development and shaping of political behavior.
Students will master the political behavior literature and conduct research in specific areas of the discipline
Outcomes
Students will master the political behavior literature and conduct research in specific areas of the disciplinePLSC 503 Seminar: Law & Political Behavior (3 Credit Hours)
This course analyzes selected topics concerning the relationship between legal processes, policies, and politics.
Students will understand a particular topic in law and political behavior
Outcomes
Students will understand a particular topic in law and political behaviorPLSC 504 Seminar: American Public Policy (3 Credit Hours)
This seminar analyzes the American public policy.
Students will understand the formation, implementation, and evaluation of public policies in the United States
Outcomes
Students will understand the formation, implementation, and evaluation of public policies in the United StatesPLSC 505 Seminar in Urban Problems (3 Credit Hours)
This course analyzes selected policies in urban and state politics.
Students will understand the politics of specific urban and state policies
Outcomes
Students will understand the politics of specific urban and state policiesPLSC 506 Seminar State & Urban Policy Analysis (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines current perspectives and techniques in the analysis of state and urban policies.
Students will understand contemporary policy analysis perspective and techniques as well as methods in policy analysis
Outcomes
Students will understand contemporary policy analysis perspective and techniques as well as methods in policy analysisPLSC 515 Seminar-Public Administration (3 Credit Hours)
This is an upper-level seminar on complex questions related to public administration.
PLSC 520 Seminar: Comparative Politics (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines an important, contemporary area of research in comparative politics.
Students will master a specific body of literature and conduct research in a specific area in comparative politics
Outcomes
Students will master a specific body of literature and conduct research in a specific area in comparative politicsPLSC 521 Seminar Western European Politics (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines contemporary politics in Western European countries.
Students will understand political and policy developments in Western Europe, as well as the structures of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Outcomes
Students will understand political and policy developments in Western Europe, as well as the structures of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty OrganizationPLSC 531 Seminar: International Politics (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines various research topics in international politics.
Students will master a particular body of work or conduct research in a specific area of international politics
Outcomes
Students will master a particular body of work or conduct research in a specific area of international politicsPLSC 532 Soviet/Post-Soviet Foreign Policy (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines the foreign policies of the Soviet Union and the post-Soviet states.
Students will understand the formulation and application Soviet and post-Soviet foreign policies
Outcomes
Students will understand the formulation and application Soviet and post-Soviet foreign policiesPLSC 533 U.S. National Security (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines the U.S. security establishment and the national security process.
Students will understand how US security policy is made, including the defense budget, US force structure, intelligence, covert operations, and the role of Congress
Outcomes
Students will understand how US security policy is made, including the defense budget, US force structure, intelligence, covert operations, and the role of CongressPLSC 543 Liberalism (3 Credit Hours)
This course analyzes liberal political thought.
Students will master key works and theorists focusing on equality, liberty, natural rights, utilitarianism, and idealistic bases of modern liberal society
Outcomes
Students will master key works and theorists focusing on equality, liberty, natural rights, utilitarianism, and idealistic bases of modern liberal societyPLSC 546 Political Philosophy Selected Problems (3 Credit Hours)
This course examines a selected theoretical issue in the history of political thought.
Students will master the writings and theories in a particular theme of political theory
Outcomes
Students will master the writings and theories in a particular theme of political theoryPLSC 595 Thesis Supervision (0 Credit Hours)
The is the first course in a two-course sequence for researching a thesis towards earning a Master's degree.
PLSC 596 Thesis Research (3 Credit Hours)
The is the second course in a two-course sequence for researching a thesis towards earning a Master's degree.
PLSC 597 Dissertation Research (3-6 Credit Hours)
The course is for students researching a thesis topic towards writing a dissertation prospectus.
PLSC 598 Teaching Internship (3 Credit Hours)
The course allows students to complete an internship focused on teaching.
PLSC 600 Dissertation Supervision (0 Credit Hours)
The course is for students researching a dissertation towards earning a PhD.
PLSC 605 Master's Study (0 Credit Hours)
The course is for students researching a thesis towards earning a Master's degree.
PLSC 610 Doctoral Study (0 Credit Hours)
The course is for students researching a dissertation towards earning a PhD.