P = Prerequisite, R = Recommended, C = Concomitant
I = Fall Semester, II = Spring Semester, S = Summer Session(s)

POLS Y100 American Political Controversies (3 cr.) This course focuses on controversial issues in American politics. Students develop their critical thinking and oral communication skills through class debate and dialogue. The course explores such issues as: presidential morality, campaign finance reform, capital punishment, gun control, affirmative action, hate speech, school vouchers, school prayer, gay marriage, and tax cuts.

POLS Y101 Principles of Political Science (3 cr.) This course provides an overview of the sub-areas of political science: comparative systems, theories, international relations, and institutions. It encourages students to examine the political nature of their world. The course is exploratory in nature, seeking to raise questions, not necessarily to answer them. I, II

POLS Y103 Introduction to American Politics (3 cr.) Introduction to principles, institutions, and dynamics of American government and politics. Origins and development of the United States Constitution; federalism; separation of powers; major institutions of national government; political parties. Nature and problems of modern democracy. I, II, S

POLS Y107 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 cr.) Study of political systems of Western and non-Western countries. Similarities and differences among types of political systems; stability and change in politics. I, II

POLS Y109 Introduction to International Relations (3 cr.) Causes of war, nature and attributes of the state, imperialism, international law, national sovereignty, arbitration, adjudication, international organization, major international issues. I, II

POLS Y301 Political Parties and Interest Groups (3 cr.) Theories of American party activity; behavior of political parties, interest groups, and social movements; membership in groups; organization and structure; evaluation and relationship to the process of representation.

POLS Y304 Judicial Process and American Constitutional Law I (3 cr.) Nature and function of law and judicial process; selected Supreme Court decisions interpreting the American constitutional system.

POLS Y311 National Security in a Democratic Polity (3 cr.) Exploration of a basic dilemma of a democratic polity; how can demands for national security be reconciled with democratic practices and values? The war powers of the United States government: roles of the presidency, Congress and public opinion. American national security policy since World War II.

POLS Y316 Public Opinion and Political Participation (3 cr.) The nature of public opinion on major domestic and foreign policy issues; mass political ideology; voting behavior and other forms of political participation; political culture; and the impact of public opinion on political systems.

POLS Y317 Voting, Elections, and Public Opinion (3 cr.) Determinants of voting behavior in elections. The nature of public opinion regarding major domestic and foreign policy issues; development of political ideology; other influences on the voting choices of individuals and the outcomes of elections; relationships among public opinion, elections, and the development of public policy.

POLS Y318 The American Presidency (3 cr.) Development of the presidency and its relationship to the political system; problems of the contemporary presidency; personality and presidential roles with emphasis on political leadership.

POLS Y319 The United States Congress (3 cr.) Origins and development of Congress and its place in modern American politics; congressional committees, parties, leadership, and policies; congressional-executive relations; members' relationships with their constituencies; voters and elections; public opinion and interest groups; international comparisons of legislatures.

POLS Y324 Women and World Politics (3 cr.) An analysis of women and power. Feminist critiques of the state, power, and citizenship. Diverse cultural understandings of gender roles will be explored.

POLS Y327 Gender Politics in the United States (3 cr.) This course seeks to analyze issues of power and politics from the perspective of gender within the United States cultural context. It will consider the impact of women in traditional areas of politics as well as revised theoretical understandings of power, the political, and the public/private debate.

POLS Y330 Central American Politics (3 cr.) An analysis of contemporary political change in Central America. Emphasis on reformist and revolutionary paths to political, social, and economic transformations. The legacy of United States intervention in the region will be highlighted.

POLS Y335 West European Politics (3 cr.) Development, structure, and functioning of political systems, primarily in Britain, France, Italy, and Germany. Political dynamics of European integration.

POLS Y337 Latin American Politics (3 cr.) An analysis of contemporary political change in Latin America. Emphasis on problems of economic development, militarism, and redemocratization. The importance of religion, gender, race, and ethnicity are considered.

POLS Y343 Developmental Problems in the Third World (3 cr.) An overview of contemporary politics in Third World societies. Major theories of political development are emphasized along with an analysis of issues concerning militarism, political participation, appropriate technology, and resource allocation. North-south relations will be highlighted.

POLS Y350 European Integration (3 cr.) Study of the politics of the European Union. Assesses the process and dynamics of economic and political integration in Western Europe, the structure and work of European Union institutions, and public policies.

POLS Y362 Democratic Revolutions (3 cr.) How are authoritarian governments different from democratic governments like the United States? How do some authoritarian regimes become democratic and what determines whether they will remain democratic or revert to authoritarianism? These are some of the questions this course will seek to answer as it explores the recent world-wide "revolutions" to democracy.

POLS Y371 Terrorism and Political Violence (3 cr.) What is terrorism? How is it different from war and other forms of political violence? What drives people to become terrorists or to join terrorist causes? This course explores terrorism and political violence in their international dimensions. It analyzes theories of terrorism by looking at specific cases of terrorists and terrorist groups.

POLS Y376 International Political Economy (3 cr.) Theories about the interaction between the international economic and political systems are the subject of this course. Works from each of the main traditions—liberal, Marxist, and statist—will be assigned. Specific topics covered will include (among others) the politics of trade, aid, foreign investment, and international monetary affairs; theories of dependency and imperialism; the politics of international competition in specific industries; the stability or instability of international economic regimes.

POLS Y380 Selected Topics of Democratic Government (3 cr.) Topics vary from semester to semester and will be described by political science advisors. May be repeated more than once for credit.

POLS Y381 History of Political Theory I (3 cr.) An exposition and critical analysis of the major political philosophers and philosophical schools from Plato to Machiavelli.

POLS Y382 History of Political Theory II (3 cr.) An exposition and critical analysis of the major philosophers and philosophical schools from Machiavelli to the present. It is not necessary for the student to have taken POLS Y381.

POLS Y383 American Political Ideas I (3 cr.) American political ideas from the Colonial period to the Civil War.

POLS Y388 Marxist Theory (3 cr.) Origin, content, and development of Marxist systems of thought, with particular reference to philosophical and political aspects of Russian Marxism. Comparisons with non-Marxist socialist theory.

POLS Y480 Undergraduate Readings in Political Science (1-3 cr. max.) Individual readings and research. May be taken only with the consent of the department chairperson. No more than 6 credit hours may be counted for the major requirement.

POLS Y481 Field Experience in Political Science (cr. arr.) Directed readings, field research, research papers. May be taken only with the consent of the department chairperson.

POLS Y490 Senior Seminar in Political Science (3 cr.) Readings and discussions of selected problems; research paper ordinarily required. May be repeated once for credit. Open to juniors and seniors. II

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