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 govern-mental structures and processes.
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, Aristotle, 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 through 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 subfield 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 PSC 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 PSC 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 develop-ment 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 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 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 PSC 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 in Public Administration 3-9 cr, maximum 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

Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice

College of Arts and Sciences