| NOTE: The
following course, PSC 130, is a prerequisite for all other courses in Political Science
unless waived by the department chair.
PSC 130 Introduction to U.S. Government
3 cr
Stresses formation and
principles of the United States Constitution and roles of Congress,
the President, and the Courts in the American system of government.
Considers popular participation in politics, rights and responsibilities
of citizens, and current public problems.
PSC 210 Public Policy 3 cr
Examination of selected
functions and policies of the U.S. Government, with special emphasis
on the relationship between politics and the socio-economic environment.
Emphasis is placed upon the political, economic, and historical variables
as they affect contemporary public policy output.
PSC 230 Current Political Issues 3
cr
An examination of the
perennial political questions as they arise in current political issues
and the arguments supporting different positions on the issues.
PSC 232 State and Local Governments
3 cr
An overview of state
and local government systems. An analysis of administration and politics
within states and localities and an examination of state and local
governmental action.
PSC 250 Comparative Politics 3 cr
Introduction into the
basic differences and similarities of the major political systems
of the world. Emphasis is placed upon governmental structures and
processes.
PSC 251 World Leaders 3 cr
This course introduces
students to the concept of leadership and focuses on the lives and
achievements of a number of influential 20th century leaders. Prerequisites:
PSC 130 or permission of Department Chair.
PSC 270 International Relations 3
cr
The fundamental forces
which motivate the foreign policies of states; the international relations
of states with special reference to the balance-of-power system; problems
of international politics.
PSC 310 Introduction to Political
Inquiry 3 cr
Examines the concepts
and techniques of systematic political analyses. (Identical to CJ
310.)
PSC 311 Political Thought I 3 cr
An examination of the
central themes of classical Western political thought through the
reading and discussing of the primary works of such thinkers as Plato,
Aristole, Augustine, and Aquinas.
PSC 312 Political Thought II 3 cr
An examination of the
seminal themes of modern Western political thought through the reading
and discussing of the primary works of such thinkers as Machiavelli,
Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau.
PSC 313 Political Thought III (W)
3 cr
An examination of the
developing themes of modern Western political thought through the
reading and discussing of the primary works of such thinkers as Burke,
Mill, Marx, and Nietzsche.
PSC 320 Foundations of American Legal
Principles 3 cr
A study of the basic documents and cases
that undergird the unique aspects of American law and its legal system.
PSC 320 credit may be applied as elective credit toward a degree but
cannot be included in the 36 hours required for a PSC major.
PSC 330 Judicial Process (W) 3 cr
The study of the American
judicial process at the federal and state court levels. (Identical
to CJ 330).
PSC 331 Constitutional Law I 3 cr
Principles of constitutional
powers and liberties will be examined through an analysis of decisions
and opinions by the U.S. Supreme Court. (Identical to CJ 331).
PSC 332 Constitutional Law II 3 cr
An examination of constitutional
principles under the Fourteenth and First Amendments through an analysis
of decisions and opinions by the U.S. Supreme Court. (Identical to
CJ 332).
PSC 334 Public Administration (W)
3 cr
National, state, and
local administration, with special attention to the relationship between
formal agency structure and policy execution.
PSC 338 Parties and Political Participation
3 cr
Examines the nature of
participation in the political process with special emphasis on political
parties, interest groups and voting.
PSC 347 Public Opinion and Political
Participation 3 cr
The formation, composition,
distribution, and measurement of public opinions and its effect upon
public policy.
PSC 360 Politics of Europe 3 cr
Comparative study of
the political institutions and policies of the European countries,
with a special focus on Great Britain, France, Germany, and Russia.
PSC 363 Politics of Latin America
3 cr
Comparative study of
the political institutions and policies of the Latin American countries.
PSC 364 Politics of Africa 3 cr
Comparative study of
the political institutions and policies of the countries of Sub-Sahara
Africa.
PSC 365 Middle East Politics 3 cr
Comparative study of
the political institutions and policies of the countries of North
Africa and the Middle East.
PSC 368 Politics of South Asia 3 cr
Comparative study of
the political institutions and policies of the South Asian countries.
PSC 372 American Foreign Policy 3
cr
The traditional features,
the formulation, the instruments, and the general trends of American
diplomacy.
PSC 421 American Political Thought
I (W) 3 cr
An examination of the
central themes of American political thought through the reading and
discussing of the primary works of such thinkers as Roger Williams,
Hamilton, Madison, Jefferson, Thoreau, Calhoun, and Lincoln.
PSC 422 American Political Thought
II (W) 3 cr
An examination of the
central themes of American political thought the reading and discussing
of the primary works of such thinkers as Tocqueville, Sumner, Veblen,
Lippmann, Niebuhr, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X.
PSC 436 The Politics and Process of
Urban Government 3 cr
A study of Urban growth
with an analysis of the major problems facing large cities of this
country. Political, administrative, social, and economic aspects will
be covered.
PSC 437 Legislative Process in the
United States 3 cr
Principles, procedures,
and problems of law making, with special attention given to the U.S.
Congress.
PSC 438 The American Presidency (W)
3 cr
A study of the presidency
in its institutional context, with an emphasis on competing strategies
of executive decision making and leadership.
PSC 440 Advanced Studies in Public
Policy 3 cr
Advanced study of the
trends in the sub-field of public policy, major themes, or more specialized
treatment of a specific area. May be repeated for credit when content
varies. Prerequisites: PSC 130 and CJ 205. (Identical to CJ 440).
PSC 450 Advanced Studies in Comparative
Politics 3 cr
Advanced study in the
area of comparative politics. May be repeated when subject matter
varies. Prerequisites: PSC 130 and 250.
PSC 470 Advanced Studies in International
Relations 3 cr
Advanced study in the
field of international relations. May be repeated for credit when
subject matter varies. Prerequisites: PSC 130 and 270.
PSC 481 Public Policy and Aging 3
cr
Examines government response
to the growing number of older Americans. The course examines the
policy process and focuses on such issues as retirement, pensions,
health care, housing, social services, and intergenerational issues.
Elder advocacy and the long term political consequences of demographic
changes are also addressed.
PSC 484 Political Corruption 3 cr
Study of the causes and
consequences of political corruption from a comparative and national
perspective. Special attention is given to corruption in the area
of criminal justice. Prerequisite: PSC 130, or IS 100, or CJ 205,
or permission of department chair. (Identical to CJ 484.)
PSC 490 Special Topics 3 cr
Study of a significant
topic or problem in political science. May be repeated once for credit
when the content varies.
PSC 494 Directed Studies 1-3 cr
Under the guidance of
a faculty member, the student will pursue directed research or readings
on an approved topic in political science. May be repeated for credit.
Student must have senior standing and prior approval to sign up for
the course.
PSC 496 Professional Studies: Internship
3-9 cr
Relates the intern’s classroom
studies with occupational and professional experiences in an approved
government or para-governmental agency. Written reports required.
Course may be repeated for a maximum of twelve hours’ credit.
Prerequisites: Open only to political science majors with advanced
standing with permission of department chair; PSC 130.
(NOTE: PSC 130, Introduction to U.S. Government,
or its equivalent, and PSC 334, Public Administration, or its equivalent,
are prerequisites for each of the following courses.)
PSC 500 Public Administration Organization
and Behavior: Theory and Practice 3 cr
A review and examination
of the several principal, traditional, and contemporary theories of
organization, policy making, and administration. Field problems and
case studies are stressed.
PSC 510 Intergovernmental Relations
3 cr
Broad survey of empirical
research and theoretical elaboration involving the historical, political,
fiscal, and administrative relationships among the various levels
of government in the American federal system.
PSC 520 Research Methods and Design
3 cr
Social science research
methodologies will be used to help students develop skills for policy
analysis and decision making in the public service. Stresses the understanding
of research methods and data collection in a Public Administration
setting. Theoretical development and elaboration, and an overview
of the variety of research designs used in social science research
will be included.
PSC 530 Quantitative Analysis 3 cr
Focus is on application
of statistical analysis techniques to Public Administration problems
and issues. Computer analysis and interpretation of descriptive statistics
will be emphasized. Topics will include fundamentals of probability,
sampling, hypothesis testing, point estimation, association, correlation,
and multi variate analysis.
PSC 540 Governmental Personnel Management
3 cr
This course will cover
contemporary topics in public personnel administration, including
public-employee unionization, relevance of the traditional civil-service
approach, the challenge of employee productivity and motivation, equal
opportunity, and public service ethics.
PSC 541 Leadership: Theory and Practice 3 cr
This course will provide the analytical and intellectual thought,
careful examination and reflection of the core issues in the practice
of leadership. Models and influences on leadership will be critically
examined.
PSC 550 Managing the Public
Budget 3 cr
This course emphasizes
the political management and public-policy implications of budget
reform. The conceptual framework for program and performance budgeting
will be explored, as well as the increasing congressional role in
federal budget policy.
PSC 560 Comparative Public Adminstration 3 cr
A study of the operation of government systems throughaout the
World - their history, features, similarities, and differences. Prerequisite:
PSC 130 and PSC 334; permission of department chair.
PSC 570 Administrative Law 3
cr
This course emphasizes
the relationship between administrative processes of government and
the legal system. Attention is given not only to the administrative
process involving formal adjudication, rule making, and judicial review,
but also to those processes involving formal and unreviewed discretionary
action. Students propose legal resolutions to contemporary administrative
issues.
PSC 580 Public Policy Analysis and
Evaluation 3 cr
A practical introduction
to policy analysis and program evaluation including a general overview
of conceptual frameworks by which evaluations are conducted and an
examination of the various qualitative and quantitative techniques
by which policy outcomes and programs are analyzed. Designed to develop
skills necessary for conducting evaluations and assessing the validity
and credibility of evaluations conducted by others. Prerequisites:
PSC 520 and 530.
PSC 581 Public Policy and Aging 3
cr
Examines government response
to the growing number of older Americans. The course examines the
policy process and focuses on such issues as retirement, pensions,
health care, housing, social services, and intergenerational issues.
Elder advocacy and the long term political consequences of demographic
changes are also addressed.
PSC 584 Political Corruption 3 cr
Study of the causes,
consequences of political corruption is given from a comparative and
national perspective. Special attention is given to corruption in
the area of criminal justice.
PSC 590 Special Topics 3 cr
Study of a significant
topic in Public Administration. May be repeated for credit when the
content varies.
PSC 594 Directed Studies 1-6 cr
Under the guidance of
a faculty member, student will pursue directed study of approved topics
in public administration. For non-thesis students.
PSC 596 Professional Studies: Internship
Public Administration 3-9 cr, max. of 9 hours credit
Relates the participants’
classroom studies to occupational and professional experiences in
an approved public agency. Written reports required. May be taken
for a total of twelve hours. (For further details, see section on
internship.)
PSC 599 Thesis 4-8 cr |
