How our national government is supposed to work and how it does work. Problems and tensions. Contemporary issues and controversies. 4 credits (IS or US)

Nature of the state system and the conduct of international diplomacy in the nuclear age. Causes of instability and conflict and the various means aimed at conflict resolution. 4 credits (IS or GP)

Unchanging and continuing themes and issues of politics and political philosophers. Original works of selected major political theorists including Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, the contract theorists, and Marx. 4 credits (UQ)

The nature, functions, uses, and operations of the legal process. Types of law (civil, criminal, equity) courts, judges, and other legal actors. Specific current problems to illustrate the legal process. 4 credits. (IS)

Qualitative and quantitative approaches to the study of politics and public policy. The logic, assumptions, goals, and limitations of the scientific approach to the study of politics, with emphasis on quantitative methods and the use of computers in research. Prerequisite: 201, 210, or 220, or consent of instructor. 5 credits. (QR)

State and local government structures, processes, and policies. Problems of local-state cooperation and relations with specific policy areas of concern to these governmental levels, including pollution, law enforcement, taxation, and education. 4 credits.

American political thought from colonial times to the present. Consideration of how the political theories of early American thinkers addressed the problems of their age and relate to modern problems and issues. Theories of change and resolution. Application of contemporary theories from various areas in society to evolutionary trends in American thought. 4 credits. (UQ or US)

Examination of original works of twentieth-century political theory. Consideration of alternative views of central political concepts such as power, liberty, equality, and resistance. Prerequisites: 220 or PHIL 365, or consent of the instructor. 4 credits. (UQ)

Examination of the relationship between politics and religion in varying contexts: theories of the role of religion in government and society, religious social movements, contemporary political controversies involving religion. Prerequisites: 201, 210, or 220, or RELS 110 or 115 or consent of instructor. 4 credits. (UQ)

Examination of rights and justice in the United States. Analysis of law in society. The concepts of obligation, authority, disobedience, and punishment. Focus on contemporary legal controversies. Prerequisite: any POLS 200-level course or consent of instructor. 4 credits. (IS or UQ)

Exploration of the role of the Supreme Court in the American political system. Examination of debates over the Court's proper role in the system, empirical research on judicial behavior, and the role of the executive and legislative branches in the judicial nomination and confirmation process. 4 credits. (IS)

Exploration of what can be learned about politics from other disciplines, including literature, film, and the fine arts. 4 credits.

Exploration of concepts of gender in society and their social and political implication. Analysis of sex, gender, and sexuality through different theoretical approaches. Focus on political behavior, rights, recognition and justice. 4 credits. (IS or GP)

The making, content, and consequences of public policies in American, cross-national and/ or international contexts. Analysis of the policy making process in general and the study of specific types of public policies. Health care, education, energy, environmental protection and social welfare. Prerequisite: sophomore standing or higher. Offered every two years. 4 credits. (IS)

See MSCM 337. 4 credits.

See MSCM 345. 4 credits.

Formal debate course on the current problems in US foreign policy. Possible topics included: US military intervention abroad, US foreign economic policy, climate change. humanitarian intervention, weapons proliferation, immigration, democracy promotion, and regional issues. Prerequisites: 210 and/or 384 recommended. 4 credits (IS or GP)

Provides introduction to international public law and the global governance arrangements that aim to address many of the world's most urgent problems, including use of force, climate change, poverty, and human rights violations. Special emphasis on moral and ethical dimensions of these issues. Prerequisite: 210 strongly recommended. Offered fall. 4 credits. (IS or GP)

Topics important to the study of the American political system, for example, the American Presidency, American Politics and the Culture Wars, and Why Americans Hate Politics. Prerequisite: 210 strongly recommended. Offered every two years. 4 credits. (IS)

Exploration of various areas of international politics. Possible topics include globalization, international environmental politics, women and war, international law and human rights, advanced study of theories of international relations, U.S. foreign policy. 4 credits. (IS or GP)

Explanation of political attitudes and behavior based on individual and group psychology. Various psychological theories explaining political behavior are examined, as well as a wide variety of issues including war, terrorism, leadership, voting behavior and differences in elite and mass decision making. Prerequisite: junior standing or higher, or consent of instructor. Offered every 2-3 years. 4 credits (IS)

Consideration of the various forms taken by Islamist movements as influenced by the country contexts within which they are embedded. Comparative methodology used to examine important similarities and differences across movements and country cases to explain political outcomes, such as violence or moderation. Prerequisite: 210 or consent of instructor. 4 credits. (IS or GP)

Advanced seminar in political theory. Varying topics such as concepts of justice, order, authority, ethics, and other subjects central to political theory. Prerequisite: 215 (for majors) or consent of instructor. Offered fall. 4 credits. (UQ)

History, conduct, and politics of U.S. foreign policy. Specific current problems used to highlight connections between past and present, illuminating domestic political determinants of foreign policy and promoting civic engagement. Prerequisite: 210 strongly recommended. 4 credits. (IS or VP)

Comparison of the major political institutions and processes of nations in the same region, or of one nation with those of the United States and other nations with which a student is familiar. Possible foci: Britain, Canada, Germany, Latin America, Africa, and Western Europe. Prerequisite: 390 or consent of instructor. 4 credits. (IS or GP)

Domestic political systems of countries in various world regions, including Western Europe, former communist countries, and developing countries in a framework of comparative analysis. Attention to understanding how modern political systems try to resolve domestic and international problems. Prerequisite: sophomore standing or higher. 4 credits. (IS or GP)

Opportunities to learn how Washington works, including site visits to key institutions, briefings with members of the media, study of legislative and executive branches of government, and research projects. 5 credits.

For students wanting to investigate further topics of interest developed in regular courses or desiring to study material not specifically addressed in other courses. 1-5 credits.

Strongly recommended during junior year. 3 credits. (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) (EL)

Capstone course in Political Science. Includes instruction on research design, appropriate research methods in different subfields, peer review workshops, professional development workshops. Successful completion requires integrative thesis paper and oral defense of research. Prerequisites: senior standing and Political Science major status. Offered spring. 3 credits. (MWI)

Further investigation of topics developed in regular elective departmental courses that students elect to pursue as proseminars (registration required in both the course in question and the pro-seminar). Prerequisites: concurrent enrollment in corresponding lecture and junior standing or higher, or consent of instructor. 1 credit. (MWI)