Fall 2024

Theoretical, institutional, and functional aspects of American national, state, and local government and politics; contemporary issues. Recommended for freshmen and sophomores.

Gateway to the major in political science. Comparative analysis of political institutions and processes in selected industrial, developing and socialist countries, in terms of contrasting ideologies, parties, elites, and economies.

Interaction between law and politics; overview of the American legal system; value conflicts and public policy questions which arise within it.

Examination of the rules and realities of American politics, and the role politics plays in American life and culture.

Multidisciplinary survey of gender assumptions in relation to sexuality, mental health, social and political relations, and artistic expression.

Overview of human rights controversies across the globe. Introduction to techniques of analysis for social issues, interdisciplinary research methods, and interpretation of complex political problems.

Methodological and theoretical problems of micro-analytic studies in political science. Techniques of data collection and assimilation.

Evolution of contemporary institutions; differing views of community power; major policies; state and federal relations to local governments; metropolitan community problems.

American state politics from a comparative perspective. Examines political processes, differing policy outcomes and the impact of social change on system performance.

Organization and function of political parties, nominations and elections, strategy and tactics of campaigning, professional candidate management finance, political machines, voting behavior.

Theories of development and nation-building; revolutionary and evolutionary modernization; role of history, culture, socioeconomic conditions in affecting political structures and functions.

Political development in the Middle East, emphasizing historical, cultural, and socioeconomic conditions affecting political structures and functions; modernization and countervailing social, economic and religious forces.

Institutions and processes of advanced societies; political culture, interest articulation and aggregation, the governmental process.

Basic concepts of Western political thought from Plato through the contract theorists.

Political theories and philosophies in modern times and their relation to public policy and social reform.

Selected topics in designated area of political science. Discussion of readings and presentation of papers.

Intensive experience in governmental and political offices. Minimum time requirement; evaluation by office and intern report required.

Course covering substantive law, evidence, public speaking and use of societal mores in courtroom advocacy. Open only to Mock Trial team members.

The citizen's political world; political socialization, opinion formation and dissemination; development of political cultures and subcultures; political mobilization; personality and politics.

The political realities of selected environmental issues; resolving and implementing social priorities; interests, attitudes, strategies, and tactics of pressure groups; institutional biases and opportunities.

Intensive examination of critical issues of particular interest in the field of American politics.

Intensive examination of special topics in the field of law and public policy.

Intensive examination of critical issues of particular interest in the field of comparative politics.

Intensive examination of critical issues of particular interest in the field of political thought.

Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit.