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Member of the Division of Social Studies
Barb Trish, Chair, Dionne Bensonsmith, Robert Grey, Wayne Moyer, Russell Osgood, Ira Strauber, Eliza Willis, Jeremy Youde
Political science courses focus on the processes by which societies make decisions affecting the lives of their citizens. Questions raised by political science include: Who has the power, how is it acquired, and how is it used? What produces stability and what produces change in societies? What is political leadership, and what forces shape the relations between leaders and the led? How do societies through their governments attempt to deal with basic problems? Political science offers students both a grasp of the various answers provided for these questions and a sophisticated sense of how to choose among these answers.
Since a core of central questions is common to virtually all the department’s courses, students of political science are expected to begin with the introductory course, Political Science 101, in which these questions are pointedly raised. This course provides the necessary background for further work in the various fields of the discipline: American politics, comparative politics, international politics, and political philosophy.
Political science majors should take statistics and courses in related social studies—anthropology, economics, history, philosophy, and sociology. They are encouraged to undertake interdisciplinary study combining social studies with the humanities. Students have the option of doing work in a foreign language to supplement their study of political science. Appropriate internships and experience off campus enhance the major. Students will find courses in mathematics valuable to their major program in political science.
Recent graduates in political science have undertaken careers in a number of different fields. Law, government service, teaching, journalism, and social work have proven especially attractive.
The Major
A minimum of 32 credits. With permission, up to eight of the 32 credits may be taken in related studies, at the 200-level or above, outside the department.
Required are: Introduction to Political Science 101 and courses in each of the following areas:
- American politics (Political Science 216, 219, 222, 237, 238, or 239)
- Comparative politics (Political Science 255, 261, 262, 273, or 275)
- International politics (Political Science 250 or 251)
In addition, eight credits of coursework are to be taken at the 300 level after having completed the prerequisite at the 200 level. It is preferred that students complete all of their 200-level work before undertaking 300-level courses, so students should try to reserve 300-level work for the third and fourth years.
The following is the schedule of Prerequisite: A 200-level course can be used as a prerequisite for only one of two 300-level courses required to fulfill distribution requirements.
- Political Science 305 (Political Science 219, 250, or 255).
- Political Science 310 (Political Science 216, 237, 238, or 239).
- Political Science 319 (Political Science 219).
- Political Science 350 (Political Science 250 or 251).
- Political Science 352 (Political Science 250 or 251).
- Political Science 354 (Political Science 250, 251, 261, 262, 273 or 275).
- Political Science 357 (any comparative politics course).
In addition to the required 32 credits, students are required to take statistics (Mathematics 115 or 209), or four semesters (or its equivalent) of a modern foreign language, or two semesters of ancient Greek or Latin.
To be considered for honors in political science, graduating seniors, in addition to meeting the College’s general requirements for honors, must achieve a GPA of 3.75 in the major and a GPA of 3.6 overall.
101 Introduction to Political Science (Fall or Spring) 4 credits
Designed to provide a general introduction to the major concepts and themes of the discipline of political science, using examples from contemporary American, comparative and international politics. Prerequisite: none. STAFF.
216 Politics of Congress* 4 credits
A study of the politics of Congress, including such topics as congressional elections, party leadership, floor voting, congressional committees, congressional policymaking, and reform proposals. Emphasis placed on understanding theories of legislative behavior. Prerequisite: Political Science 101 or permission of instructor. TRISH.
219 Constitutional Law and Politics (Fall) 4 credits+
An introduction to the role of the United States Supreme Court as a policymaking institution in American politics and how law gives shape to, and is shaped by, struggles over the development of the institutional structure of the polity, governmental powers, and citizens’ rights. Prerequisite: Political Science 101 or permission of instructor. I. STRAUBER.
222 Welfare State, Politics and Society (Spring) 4 credits
An examination of the role of American political institutions in shaping welfare policy. This course focuses on the relationship between ideology, political structures, and the policymaking process. Attention will be given to the effects of race, class, and gender on the development of welfare policy over time, and their influence on key developments in the American welfare state, such as the passage of the 1935 Social Security Act. Prerequisite: Political Science 101 or permission of instructor. BENSONSMITH.
237 Political Parties (Fall) 4 credits+
An examination of the political party in U.S. politics. Considers the party at three levels: the individual, the organization, and the system. Topics include the development and evolution of parties, candidates and elections, third parties, and the role of parties in the U.S. political system. Prerequisite: Political Science 101 or permission of instructor. TRISH.
238 Campaigns and Elections* (Fall) 4 credits+
Study of U.S. campaigns and elections from both scholarly and pragmatic perspectives. Emphasis on the implications of modern campaigns and election for democracy in the United States. Students analyze contemporary politics in light of the material covered. Offered during national election seasons. Prerequisite: Political Science 101 or permission of instructor. STAFF.
239 The Presidency (Spring) 4 credits+
Consideration of the modern presidency as an institution and the president as a critical political actor in politics. Topics include leadership, institutional change, executive-legislative relations, decision-making, and presidential selection. Prerequisite: Political Science 101 or permission of instructor. TRISH.
250 Politics of International Relations (Spring) 4 credits+
A study of the evolving relations between nations in the period since 1939, focusing on U.S. foreign policy. The crucial decisions of the Cold War and post-Cold War evaluated against the standard of the rational national actor, taking into account distortions caused by the bureaucratic, bargaining, personality, psychological, societal, momentum, and communications factors. Prerequisite: Political Science 101 or permission of instructor. MOYER.
251 International Political Economy* (Spring) 4 credits
Introduction to the study of political economy through the examination of the pursuit of wealth and power in the international system. Evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of different theoretical approaches as applied to the issues of trade, international finance, and foreign investment. Prerequisite: Political Science 101 or permission of instructor. Economics 111 is highly recommended. WILLIS.
255 Pluralist Systems: Comparative Politics of European Government: East and West* (Fall) 4 credits+
Europe possesses a broad and very diverse range of political systems and polities. In order to help students understand and appreciate this diversity, students will be asked to explore the political systems and societies of a broad range of European countries. Particular attention will be devoted to Italy, Germany, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland. This range of both West and East European countries should provide students with an understanding not only of how more advanced political systems function, but also of what types of political and institutional structures the newly emerging democracies of Central Europe have chosen. Particular attention will be paid to the way in which political outcomes differ depending on the institutional and socioeconomic make up of individual states. Prerequisite: Political Science 101 or permission of instructor. STAFF.
261 State and Society in Latin America* 4 credits+
Examination of the diverse and common dilemmas facing Latin America, using social scientific approaches. Topics include economic development and political uncertainty. Prerequisite: Political Science 101 or permission of instructor. WILLIS.
262 African Politics* (Fall) 4 credits+
A study of typical Third World politics in an African context. A study of behavior of political elites constrained both by the international context and by limited resources. Topics include personalistic leadership, corruption, military coups, civil wars, mass-elite interactions, and peasant autonomy. Prerequisite: Political Science 101 or permission of instructor. GREY.
265 Issues in Democratic Political Theory (Spring) 4 credits
The purpose of this course is to explore some facets of the relationships between citizenship, democracy, freedom, and liberalism. In particular, the course is concerned with what “critical” citizens might consider to be relevant when thinking about public affairs, their own interests, and the interests of others. Prerequisite: Political Science 101 or permission of instructor. STRAUBER.
273 Politics of Russia* (Spring) 4 credits+
Analysis of the dynamics of Russian politics, beginning with the historical background of communist rule in the Soviet Union. Primary focus on the Putin era. Topics include: democracy, corruption, economic reform, and mass-elite interactions. Prerequisite: Political Science 101 or permission of instructor. GREY.
275 Politics of the People’s Republic of China* (Fall) 4 credits+
A study of the dynamics of politics in the People’s Republic of China. After a study of the history of communism in the PRC, the course examines the role of political leadership, the communist party, the state bureaucracy, the People’s Liberation Army, and elite-mass relations. Recent reforms in the political and economic systems are analyzed. Some comparison with the experience of the political system of the former USSR. Prerequisite: Political Science 101 or permission of instructor. GREY.
305 Transnational Legal Institutions (Spring) 4 credits
Also listed as History 305. This course, in seminar form, will consider the workings of the European Court of Justice, the International Court of Justice, International Arbitration, and the proposed International Criminal Court. Prerequisite: Political Science 219, or 250, or 255, or permission of instructor. OSGOOD.
310 Advanced Seminar in American Politics (Spring) 4 credits
A research-oriented course in American politics. Students examine research methods and their application to political questions/phenomena. Students then devise and conduct an intensive research project. Throughout the course there is an emphasis on quantitative political science. Prerequisite: Mathematics 115 or 209; and Political Science 216, or 237, or 238, or 239; or permission of instructor. TRISH.
319 Advanced Seminar in Constitutional Law and Politics (Spring) 4 credits
The goal of the seminar is to study the role of the U.S. Supreme Court as a means of change and conservation, both legal and social, in the 20th and 21st centuries. The course addresses selected 14th Amendment due process and equal protection cases and doctrines, using both primary and secondary materials, in order to evaluate the legal and political strengths and weaknesses of the court as a means of change and conservation. Prerequisite: Political Science 219 or permission of instructor. I. STRAUBER.
350 International Politics of Land and Sea Resources* (Fall) 4 credits+
Analysis of the international politics of the conflict between the developed nations of the North and the developing nations of the South for control of the world’s resources and over trade and environmental issues. The impact of national decision-making processes, international organizations, cartels, and multinational corporations. Case studies. Prerequisite: Political Science 250, or 251, or permission of instructor. MOYER.
352 Advanced Seminar on the U.S. Foreign Policymaking Process* (Fall) 4 credits+
An in-depth study of the U.S. foreign and defense policymaking process, emphasizing international relations theory; case studies of recent important decisions; discussion of the role, structure, function, and power of the National Security Council, State Department, Defense Department, and CIA; conflict between president and Congress; impact of press, public opinion, lobbies, and elections. Prerequisite: Political Science 250, or 251, or permission of instructor. MOYER.
354 Political Economy of Developing Countries (Fall) 4 credits
Following a brief examination of the main theoretical approaches taken in the study of development, students apply these approaches to a comparison of several less-developed countries. Emphasis on the interplay between domestic and international factors in the path to industrialization. Prerequisite: Political Science 250, or 251, or 261, or 262, or 273, or 275, or permission of instructor. Economics 111 is highly recommended. WILLIS.
357 Diffusion of Democracy (Spring) 4 credits+
An analysis of the conditions under which and the processes by which nations become and/or remain democracies. Prerequisite: Political Science 255, or any comparative politics course, or permission of instructor. GREY.
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