| POSC 120-01 |
American Government
Instructor: James Hoefler
Course Description:
A basic introductory course in American federal government which emphasizes its structure and operation. Special attention is given to the executive, legislative, and judicial processes.
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09:00 AM-10:15 AM, TR
DENNY 212 |
| POSC 120-02 |
American Government
Instructor: Katie Marchetti
Course Description:
A basic introductory course in American federal government which emphasizes its structure and operation. Special attention is given to the executive, legislative, and judicial processes.
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10:30 AM-11:45 AM, TR
DENNY 313 |
| POSC 170-01 |
International Relations
Instructor: Rachel Jacobs
Course Description:
Cross-listed with INST 170-01. An introduction to global politics which examines the interaction of states, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and individuals in the world arena. Topics covered include traditional concerns such as war, balance of power, the UN and international law along with the more recent additions to the agenda of world politics such as international terrorism, human rights, and economic globalization. This course is cross-listed as INST 170.
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01:30 PM-02:45 PM, MR
KAUF 186 |
| POSC 170-02 |
International Relations
Instructor: Ed Webb
Course Description:
Cross-listed with INST 170-02. An introduction to global politics which examines the interaction of states, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and individuals in the world arena. Topics covered include traditional concerns such as war, balance of power, the UN and international law along with the more recent additions to the agenda of world politics such as international terrorism, human rights, and economic globalization. This course is cross-listed as INST 170.
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03:00 PM-04:15 PM, TF
DENNY 311 |
| POSC 180-01 |
Political Philosophy
Instructor: John Harles
Course Description:
Cross-listed with PHIL 180-01. An introduction to the history of political thought, focused on such problems as the nature of justice, the meaning of freedom, the requirements of equality, the prevalence of moral dilemmas in political life, the question of whether we ought to obey the law, and the importance of power in politics. We will also discuss how these issues continue to resonate today.This course is cross-listed as PHIL 180.
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10:30 AM-11:20 AM, MWF
DENNY 212 |
| POSC 221-01 |
Constitutional Law II
Instructor: Harry Pohlman
Course Description:
An exploration of American constitutional rights. Both historical developments and contemporary issues are addressed. Topics include racial and sexual equality, affirmative action, seditious speech, and school prayer. Prerequisite: 120, or permission of the instructor.
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01:30 PM-04:30 PM, T
DENNY 110 |
| POSC 232-01 |
Religion in American Politics
Instructor: David O'Connell
Course Description:
Cross-listed with RELG 232-01. This class will provide students with an overview of the role of religion in American politics. Students will become more familiar with the dynamics of a complex and diverse United States through in-depth study of the political differences that define several major religious groups. The political intersections between religion, race, gender, sexual orientation and class will be explored, helping students to think critically about political power. Other topics will include important aspects of constitutional law as they pertain to religious rights, and the various ways in which religion influences public policy. This course is cross-listed as RELG 232.
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09:30 AM-10:20 AM, MWF
DENNY 304 |
| POSC 234-01 |
Gender and Justice
Instructor: Kathryn Heard
Course Description:
Cross-listed with LAWP 234-01, PHIL 261-02 and WGSS 302-02. Permission of instructor required. This course analyzes how legal theorists have drawn upon notions of gender, sex, and sexuality in order to understand and critique the American legal system and its norms. It considers questions like: How might a feminist perspective on the law illuminate instances of systematized inequality or legalized discrimination? Can queer theorists engage with the law in order to alter it, or does the very act of engagement hinder the possibility of future socio-legal change? How can the law better represent women of color, working women, queer women, stay-at-home mothers, transgender or non-binary individuals, women seeking surrogate or abortion services, and more, without reinforcing traditional understandings of what it means to be a woman? These questions and more will be taken up as we move through a rich combination of political philosophy, legal cases, and works of socio-legal analysis. Prerequisites: One POSC, LAWP or WGSS course or permission of instructor. This course is cross-listed as LAWP 234 and WGSS 302.
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10:30 AM-11:45 AM, TR
DENNY 203 |
| POSC 242-01 |
Political Behavior
Instructor: Sarah Niebler
Course Description:
Cultural, social, and psychological factors which contribute to forms and directions of political behavior. Special attention is given to American voting behavior, ethnic political behavior, and personality influences on politics. Field surveys are undertaken to illustrate contemporary trends. Prerequisite: 120, or permission of the instructor.
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03:00 PM-04:15 PM, MR
DENNY 211 |
| POSC 244-01 |
Public Opinion
Instructor: Sarah Niebler
Course Description:
Examines the origins, nature, and impact of public opinion in the United States. The ways that the public's attitudes are shaped and used by interest groups, politicians, and the mass media will be discussed. Methods of measuring public opinion, with special attention to polling, will be studied. Prerequisite: 120, or permission of the instructor.
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10:30 AM-11:20 AM, MWF
DENNY 112 |
| POSC 245-01 |
Political Parties and Interest Groups
Instructor: Katie Marchetti
Course Description:
A study of the functions, structures, and operations of American political parties and interest groups. Special attention is given to the techniques of running a campaign for office, to the role of the media in superseding American parties, and to the interactions of government with the two largest "interest groups": business and labor. Prerequisite: 120, or permission of the instructor.
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01:30 PM-02:45 PM, TR
DENNY 112 |
| POSC 250-01 |
West European Government and Politics
Instructor: Kristine Mitchell
Course Description:
This course provides a general overview to West European politics and the different political configurations that exist in the major West European countries. The course outlines some of the common features of the region's ongoing political development (e.g. democratization, institutionalization of the welfare state and political integration within the European Union) as well as the differences among today's national systems of political organizations.
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01:30 PM-02:45 PM, MR
EASTC 108 |
| POSC 258-01 |
Human Rights
Instructor: Rachel Jacobs
Course Description:
Cross-listed with INST 290-03. Permission of instructor required. The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights embodies a global consensus on the fundamental importance of human rights as a political value. But the idea and its practical applications have provoked intense controversy around the world on issues such as freedom of expression, capital punishment and torture, gender and sexuality, religious freedom, social and economic justice, and cultural and minority rights. Prerequisite: one social science course or permission of the instructor.
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09:00 AM-10:15 AM, TR
DENNY 203 |
| POSC 273-01 |
International Political Economy
Instructor: Russell Bova
Course Description:
Cross-listed with INST 273-01. This course examines the politics of global economic relations. Specific topics discussed include: trade and protectionism, international monetary relations, foreign direct investment, global institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and World Trade Organization (WTO), regional economic integration (e.g. the European Union [EU] and North American Free Trade Agreement [NAFTA], economic development, and the economic emergence of China and India. The larger issue serving as the backdrop to all of this is economic globalization -- its significance, sources, and consequences. Prerequisite: 170, or permission of the instructor. This course is cross-listed as INST 273.
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09:00 AM-10:15 AM, TR
DENNY 103 |
| POSC 277-01 |
International Politics of the Middle East
Instructor: Ed Webb
Course Description:
Cross-listed with INST 277-01 and MEST 266-01. This course examines key factors and events in the formation of the modern Middle East state system and evolving patterns of conflict and cooperation in the region. Students will apply a range of analytical approaches to issues such as the conflicts between Arabs and Israelis, Iraq's wars since 1980, and the changing place of the region in global politics and economics. Prerequisite: one course in any of International Studies, Middle East Studies, or Political Science. This course is cross-listed as MEST 266 and INST 277.
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01:30 PM-02:45 PM, TF
DENNY 203 |
| POSC 280-01 |
American Foreign Policy
Instructor: Andy Wolff
Course Description:
Cross-listed with INST 280-01. A survey of U.S. foreign policy since World War II. American approaches to such issues as containment, detente, arms control, deterrence, international law, and third world economic development will be discussed. Students will also address issues of U.S. foreign policy formulation, including the roles of the public, Congress, and the president in the foreign policy process. Prerequisite: 170 or INST 170 or permission of the instructor. This course is cross-listed as INST 280.
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03:00 PM-04:15 PM, MR
STERN 103 |
| POSC 290-01 |
Capital Punishment
Instructor: Kathryn Heard
Course Description:
Cross-listed with LAWP 290-01, PHIL 261-01 and SOCI 230-03. Permission of instructor required.
This course examines the historical and contemporary practices of capital punishment in the United States. Indeed, the United States is one of the few constitutional democracies that retains the punishment of death for criminal wrong-doing, despite the efforts made by some Supreme Court Justices to abolish the "machinery of death" in the American legal system and the pressure placed on federal and state governments by foreign nations to formally abolish its use. This course considers: Why does the state claim the authority to kill its citizens and how does it justify this authority? How has capital punishment in the United States changed over time, such that the modern promise of a "painless death" endeavors to legitimate its continuation? How do race, gender, class, religion, disability, and location impact who is subjected to the death penalty and for what crimes? What ethical arguments can be made for and against the use of capital punishment as a criminal sentence, from the perspectives of the condemned as well as the victim? Is it even possible to execute an individual in a manner that is just? These questions and more will be taken up as we move through a rich combination of political philosophy, legal cases, and works of socio-legal analysis.
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01:30 PM-02:45 PM, MR
DENNY 313 |
| POSC 290-02 |
China under Xi Jinping
Instructor: Neil Diamant
Course Description:
Cross-listed with EASN 206-01.
Since taking over as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party a decade ago, Xi Jinping has dramatically transformed China's domestic and foreign policies, with worldwide repercussions. This course examines Xi's rise to power and governing philosophy, the tactics he has deployed to consolidate control over the Communist Party, and his crackdown on civil society, the media, intellectuals, Hong Kong, and Uighurs. We will then turn to his impact on China's relationship to the United States, Russia, Japan, Taiwan, Africa, the European Union, and international organizations. How has the world reacted to a China that is boldly asserting that authoritarianism is superior to democracy, and claiming superpower status to rival the United States?
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10:30 AM-11:45 AM, TR
STERN 103 |
| POSC 290-03 |
Politics of Southeast Asia
Instructor: Rachel Jacobs
Course Description:
Cross-listed with INST 290-04.
This course is an overview of the politics of Southeast Asia. Contemporary Southeast Asia is a region of contrasts. It is home to some of the fastest growing economies of the world, hubs of global trade and finance, but also rising threats from non-state actors, ethnic violence, and democratic backsliding. This course will cover the development of the region over the 20th and 21st century from the colonial period to independence and to growing regional interdependence. It will address the political history of most countries in the region and key regional issues. The major themes covered in the course include: nationalism, mass atrocity, statelessness and migration, regional integration, trade, and human rights.
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10:30 AM-11:45 AM, TR
DENNY 110 |
| POSC 290-04 |
The Ukraine War & International Relations
Instructor: Russell Bova
Course Description:
Cross-listed with INST 290-02.
The Ukraine war raises questions about almost every big issue in the study of international relations. After an introduction to Ukraine, its recent history, its historical relationship with Russia, and its geopolitical significance, we will turn to those larger questions. What are the causes of the Ukraine war and of war in general? Is the long peace over, and is great power war becoming more likely? How stable is nuclear deterrence? Has the nuclear taboo eroded? Was the expectation that economic interdependence is an antidote to war wrong? What role do international, domestic, and individual factors play in foreign policy-making? Do economic sanctions work? In light of Ukraine, does the United Nations still have relevance? What is genocide and is it occurring in Ukraine? Can Putin be prosecuted for war crimes? Has the one-two punch of covid and Ukraine put an end to globalization? What paradigm of international relations theory best explains the Ukraine crisis? The goal will be to build on what you learned in the introductory IR class by examining both how IR concepts and theory help us to understand the Ukraine situation and how that situation might require critical rethinking of those very same concepts and theories.
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01:30 PM-02:45 PM, MR
DENNY 104 |
| POSC 290-05 |
The Politics of American Pop Culture
Instructor: David O'Connell
Course Description:
This class will explore the important interactions between pop culture and American politics. Over the course of the semester, we will explore topics such as the impact of hip hop music on political behavior, the partisan and informational consequences that come from watching comedy programs like Saturday Night Live and The Daily Show, government censorship of entertainment products, the politics of sports and fashion, and the impact that pop culture has had on the criminal justice system. This class will also feature a number of in-depth case studies, ranging from the political career of Arnold Schwarzenegger to Michael Jordan's lack of political activism.
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01:30 PM-02:45 PM, MR
DENNY 303 |
| POSC 290-06 |
Radical Politics and Thought of the Caribbean
Instructor: Nadia Alahmed
Course Description:
Cross-listed with AFST 320-01 and LALC 300-03.
This is an interdisciplinary seminar that will explore the contributions of Caribbean theorists, intellectuals, revolutionaries, and activists to the global discourse on Black Radicalism. Focusing on the 20th century, the course will discuss Caribbean articulations on Black liberation, Black Feminism, Black and Third World Marxism. It will forefront the impact Caribbean scholars made on major political and cultural movements of the 20th century such as the Harlem Renaissance, Negritude, Black Power, Third World Movement, and Hip Hop.
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03:00 PM-04:15 PM, MR
DENNY 311 |
| POSC 290-07 |
Crime and Punishment
Instructor: Harry Pohlman
Course Description:
Cross-listed with LAWP 290-02.
This course will examine and critically evaluate the substantive principles that the criminal law uses to assess culpability. Central questions are: Why punish? Who should be punished? How much punishment is proportionate? The focus will be on homicide and therefore the morality and constitutionality of capital punishment will be a recurring issue in our discussions. Various defenses and justifications will be considered, such as self-defense, necessity, insanity, diminished capacity, and duress.
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01:30 PM-04:30 PM, W
DENNY 311 |
| POSC 390-01 |
Summits: A Study of Pivotal Moments in International Relations
Instructor: Andy Wolff
Course Description:
Cross-listed with INST 390-01.
This seminar investigates the political dynamics and long-term ramifications of international summits that are arguably major turning points in modern international relations. The seminar takes a comparative look at the fundamental components of summitry: the influence of personal diplomacy, the effectiveness of negotiating strategies and tactics, the management of public relations and messaging, and geopolitical pressures and implications. Students will study in detail the Congress of Vienna, the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, the Munich Conference of 1938, the Allied Conferences during WWII (Tehran, Yalta, and Potsdam), Nixon-Mao Summit Meeting, and the 1978 Camp David Summit. The class will also utilize role-playing simulations to highlight themes and test negotiating strategies.
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01:30 PM-04:30 PM, W
ALTHSE 07 |
| POSC 390-02 |
Leadership
Instructor: James Hoefler
Course Description:
This political science senior seminar will explore the science and the art of leadership in the public realm. The course will cover executive-level and legislative leadership but will also include examination of leadership in the bureaucracies and in the military, as well as leadership of political and social movements.
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01:30 PM-04:30 PM, T
DENNY 212 |
| POSC 490-01 |
Senior Thesis
Instructor: Santiago Anria
Course Description:
Permission of instructor required. Senior political science majors who are interested may apply to take this course during the spring semester of their senior year. The course involves writing a senior thesis based on a question of the students own choosing. Permission of instructor is required.
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01:30 PM-04:30 PM, W
DENNY 315 |
| POSC 500-01 |
Public Administration: Essential Competencies
Instructor: Sarah Niebler
Course Description:
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