PSC 151 - Introduction to American Government 4cr

This course is an introduction to the major institutions and actors of the American political system, including parties, interest groups, and the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. Attention is given to cultural, ideological, and economic contexts. The fundamental concepts of political science are applied to the structure of power and the policy-making process in America.

History/Political Science

PSC 199 - Independent Study 1-4cr

PSC 245 - Environmental Politics in Global Perspectives 4cr

This course surveys the emerging global environmental legal structures, norms, and standards. It examines the role of international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in creating international regimes, and monitoring and tracking compliance of different states. It will also look into the dynamics of interactions between IGOs and NGOs in creating new global discourse communities in an era of increased environmental awareness.

History/Political Science or Language/Global Issues

PSC 257 - International Relations 4cr

This course is a general survey of the essential concepts and practices of international politics, examining the historical past of international communities as well as current international concerns and issues.

History/Political Science or Language/Global Issues

PSC 258 - Comparative Government: Industrialized States 4cr

This course examines the structure of government and political culture in industrialized states. The course focuses on, but is not limited to, the governments of Great Britain, Japan, France, and Germany. The principal forms of government, including parliamentary and presidential systems, are examined along with a wide variety of party systems and electoral systems. In addition, students compare and analyze the public policies of industrialized states in the areas of immigration, health care, education, and the environment.

History/Political Science or Language/Global Issues

PSC 259 - Comparative Government: Third World 4cr

This course is a systematic and comparative study of the important political institutions, political culture, political legitimacy, policies, and politics of major third world countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Students examine in a comparative manner what makes a state strong or weak in the global system, and why certain governments behave the way they do.

History/Political Science or Language/Global Issues

PSC 290-298 - Special Topics in Political Science 2-4cr

This course is an in-depth consideration of a topic of particular concern within the discipline of Political Science. The course may be repeated for credit under different topics.

PSC 299 - Independent Study 1-4cr

PSC 320 - Chinese Government and Politics 4cr

This course is an in-depth study of the origin and evolution of Chinese revolutions, and their impact on world power configuration and on transforming Chinese society and culture. Students study the dramatic events of the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution, and the Tiananmen Square Incident and their aftermath for China and the world. Students learn to appreciate the dynamics of Chinese politics and their impact on regional as well as world politics.

History/Political Science or Language/Global Issues

PSC 328 - Western Political Thought 4cr

This course covers dominant political theories or ideologies in a historical context. Some of the major political theories or ideologies include those of Plato, Machiavelli, Locke, Hume, J. S. Mill, Hegel, Marx, Lenin, Mussolini, and Hitler. Offered irregularly.

History/Political Science

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or permission of instructor.

PSC 329 - American Political Thought 4cr

In this course, attention will be aimed at four critical periods and topics in American political thought. They are (1) the founding of the republic and the adoption of the 1787 Constitution, (2) the formulation and justification of a peculiarly American form of political culture, (3) the debate over slavery, civil rights, states' rights, and the American Civil War, and (4) the conflicting views of populism, progressivism, and American conservatism. Offered irregularly.

History/Political Science

Prerequisite: PSC 151 Introduction to American Government or permission of instructor.

PSC 330 - Politics of Developing States 4cr

This issue-oriented course examines important questions in the politics of developing states. Students look at the legacies of colonialism, neocolonialism, and nationalism in the developing state, as well as the impact of modernization, the WTO, IMF, World Bank, and other international institutions on the development of the third world countries. Population growth and its environmental impact will also be examined through different case studies.

History/Political Science or Language/Global Issues

PSC 336 - United States Foreign Policy 4cr

This course covers United States foreign policy and its geo-political consequences from the turn of the twentieth century to the present. Study begins with constitutional authority, and then students determine how foreign policy has been made, tracing various influences such as public opinion, the media, interest groups, and multinational corporations, as well as the military, congress, and the president. Students engage in extensive research into a major crisis in American foreign policy in the past thirty years, analyze the role played by dominant influences, and evaluate the leadership of the sitting administration in the crisis. Awareness of and application to current foreign policy issues will continue throughout the course.

History/Political Science

PSC 340 - International Politics in the Pacific 4cr

This course examines the dynamics of international relations among major Asia-Pacific Nations including the United States, China, Russia, Japan, the two Koreas, Southeast Asian Nations, as well as the importance of the overseas Chinese community in Southeast Asian countries. Students strive to understand the cooperation and rivalry of these different nations through a discussion of the history, culture, economic, and security concerns of these different nations from World War II to the present.

History/Political Science or Language/Global Issues

PSC 399 - Independent Study 4cr

PSC 431 - Constitutional Law 4cr

Using a combination of history, jurisprudence, and case law, this course investigates the evolving role of the Supreme Court in shaping American politics. Topics to be considered include governmental structures, powers, and relationships; civil liberties; and civil rights. Students will study legal history, legal theory, and will examine approximately seventy of the most important decisions handed down by the Supreme Court. Offered irregularly.

Prerequisites: PSC 151 Introduction to American Government and junior or senior standing or permission of the instructor.

PSC 490-498 - Special Topics in Political Science 2-4cr

This course is an in-depth consideration of a topic of particular concern within the discipline of Political Science. The course may be repeated for credit under different topics.

PSC 499 - Independent Study 1-4cr