B.A. in Political Science

Courses

POL 2 Introduction to American Politics

This course introduces the study of the Constitutional structure, major functions and operations of the national government. Must be taken by all Political Science majors. Special sections are offered for students in the Program for Academic Success (P sections) and for non-native speakers (F sections). This course fulfills the Power, Institutions, and Structures thematic cluster requirement in the core curriculum.

3 Credits

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POL 3 Introduction to Political Science

This course is an analysis of the nature of the state, political power, law sovereignty and political ideologies. The stress is on analysis of contemporary concepts. Must be taken by all Political Science majors. Special sections are offered for students in the Program for Academic Success (P sections) and for non-native speakers (F sections).This course fulfills the Power, Institutions, and Structures thematic cluster requirement in the core curriculum.

3 Credits

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POL 15 Introduction to Research and Writing in Political Science

This course will help students develop their skills in the field of political science. Students will develop their ability to read and analyze different types of literature in the discipline and they will learn to use and evaluate these sources in order to answer research questions.

3 Credits

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POL 51 International Relations

This course considers the development and characteristics of relations among states, national policy, sources of strength and weaknesses in the policies of states, actual and potential importance of areas of the world in determining the course of world events. Must be taken by all Political Science majors. This course fulfills the Power, Institutions, and Structures thematic cluster requirement in the core curriculum.

3 Credits

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POL 64 Introduction to Comparative Politics

This course is a comparative analysis of government and politics in selected state systems in the contemporary global community.

3 Credits

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POL 21 American Political Theory

Origin and nature of political theory in the United States is reflected in the writings of American political theorists from colonial times to the present. Must be taken by all Political Science majors.

3 Credits

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POL 26 European Political Theory I

The nature of man, the state, government, law, and nature of political theory are seen through selected writings from Plato to Machiavelli. This course, or Political Science 27, must be taken by all political science majors.

3 Credits

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POL 27 European Political Theory II

The nature of man, the state, government, law, and nature of political theory are seen through selected writings from Machiavelli to present. This course, or Political Science 26, must be taken by all political science majors.

3 Credits

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POL 4 Political Psychology

This course is an analysis of the relationship between psychological phenomena and the formation, maintenance and transformation of political beliefs and behavior. This course fulfills the Power, Institutions, and Structures thematic cluster requirement in the core curriculum.

3 Credits

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POL 5 Ethnicity, Race, and Politics

The influences of race and ethnicity on politics within selected states and regions of the world are covered in this course.

3 Credits

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POL 7 Political Aspects of Economics

This course is an examination of the political aspects of economic institutions and processes with particular attention to the relationship of governments and markets on the domestic and international levels.

3 Credits

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POL 10 Research Problems in Political Science

This course may be taken more than once by Political Science majors.

1-3 Credits

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POL 18 Women and Contemporary Politics

This course is an examination of the current political role of women and an evaluation of their impact on the political system.

3 Credits

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POL 19 Political Sociology

This course is an examination of power in society: definitions, theories, and studies of who has power to do what to whom. In addition, the course includes: the symbolic uses of politics, the politics of status, and the subordination of economics interests, the political roles of intellectuals, voting and political participation, democracy, totalitarianism and mass society (same as SOC 19)

3 Credits

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POL 23 Modern China: Political Doctrines and Society

The influence of political thought on societal change in modern China from the late Imperial Period to the present is examined.

3 Credit

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POL 26 European Political I

The nature of man, the state, government, law and the nature of political theory are seen through selected writings from Plato to Machiavelli. This course, or Political Science 27, must be taken by all Political Science majors.

3 Credits

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POL 27 European Political Theory II

The nature of man, the state, government, law and the nature of political theory are seen through selected writings from Machiavelli to the present. This course, or Political Science 26, must be taken by all Political Science majors.

3 Credits

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POL 29 Problems in Contemporary Political Theory

This course is an analysis of selected problems of contemporary political ideologies in relation to their political, social and intellectual backgrounds. Stress is given to liberalism, socialism, communism, fascism and conservatism.

3 credits

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POL 31 American Constitutional Law I

This course covers American constitutional law, its historical evolution and the Supreme Court as a political institution. Emphasis is placed on civil rights and civil liberties.

3 Credits

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POL 32 American Constitutional Law II

This course covers American Constitutional law, its historical evolution and the Supreme Court as a political institution. Attention is given to federal courts and the law, the federal system, powers of the various branches of government, economic regulation and taxation.

3 Credits

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POL 34 Legislative Process

This course covers legislative bodies particularly Congress, the New York legislature, and the City Council of New York; the effect political parties exercise and the bureaucracy, pressure groups and public opinion.

3 Credits

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POL 35 The American Judicial Process

This course covers the structure and function of judicial systems; organization, administration, and politics of judicial bureaucracies; roles of judges, juries, counsel, litigants and interest groups in the adjudication process.

3 Credits

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POL 36 Public Opinion

This course covers the nature and formation of public opinion and its role in political and social affairs; influence of leadership, pressure groups and propaganda; areas of consensus; efforts to measure public opinion.

3 Credits

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POL 37 Political Parties

This course covers the development, organization, and activities of American political parties and the social and political conditions that influence their character and purpose.

3 Credits

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POL 38 Radical Movements and Politics of Change in the United States

This course studies the growth of organizations and associations representing the interests of the radical movements in the United States and their impact on the political scene.

3 Credits

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POL 39 American Government: State and Local

This course is a study of the constitutional structure, major functions and operations of state and local governments.

3 Credits

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POL 40 Women and the Anglo-American Legal Experience

This course covers the legal position of women as it developed from English common law into

American law. Among other topics, the following are considered: English common law and its initial effect on present American law; domestic relations; political and civil rights; abortion, adoption, and sterilization; equal opportunity employment and pay issues; credit; and women in the American legal profession.

3 Credits

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POL 41 The Media and the Law

This course is a study of the law and ethics of the communications media. A special examination is made of their rights, risks, restraints, and responsibilities. Included are freedom of press, privilege, libel, self-regulatory codes, prior restraint, copyright, licensing, and governmental controls. Same as CMA 10

3 Credits

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POL 45 U.S. National Security

This course evaluates the area of U.S. national security with emphasis on military and strategic problems during the Cold War and Post-Cold War eras; defense policy-making; conventional and nuclear dimensions of defense issues; and strategic interests of the United States around the world.

3 Credits

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POL 46 American Foreign Policy I

This course covers the continuity and change in American foreign policy goals, strategies, and tactics from the 18th century to World War II. Particular attention is devoted to constitutional issues and the decision-making process.

3 Credits

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POL 47 American Foreign Policy II

This course covers contemporary issues in the formulation and implementation of American foreign policy.

3 Credits

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POL 50 International Organization

A study of the origins, role, structure and function of international institutions essential to an understanding of the global system and its attempts at organization. Possible areas of study include the United Nations, the European Union, and World Trade Organizations.

3 Credits

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POL 51 International Relations

This course considers the development and characteristics of relations among states, national policy, sources of strength and weaknesses in the policies of states, actual and potential importance of areas of the world in determining the course of world events. Must be taken by all Political Science majors. This course fulfills the Power, Institutions, and Structures thematic cluster requirement in the core curriculum.

3 Credits

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POL 52 Psychological Foundations of International Relations

This course is an examination of the psychological factors affecting interactions (behavior) among nations with an emphasis on perception and misperception, aggression, the management of conflict and decision-making.

3 Credits

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POL 53 International Law I

This course is a study of the concepts of sovereignty and the international community and the development of international organizations from ancient times to the creation of the United Nations.

3 Credits

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POL 54 International Law II

This course is a study of international law to determine its development, changing nature, and the various methods used to enforce it, with special reference to codes of conduct, rights of nationals abroad and the treaties and conventions that make up this body of law.

Credits: 3

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POL 55 Politics of the Developing Nations

This course is a survey of problems of new nations as developing areas, trends in political structure and ideologies, problems of economic development, relationships to existing great powers.

3 Credits

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POL 56 World Affairs since 1945

This course studies the impact of World War II upon the state system, the cold war and the development of bipolar international politics, the United Nations as an instrument for international order and security, the decline of the colonial system and the emergence of new states, development of the People's Republic of China and Western Europe as new power centers.

3 Credits

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POL 58 Islam in World Politics

This course is a study of the doctrines and practices of Islam with special attention to its current impact on social, economic and political developments in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

3 Credits

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POL 59 China in World Politics

This course is an analysis and discussion of the international politics and foreign relations of China.

3 Credits

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POL 61 Modern China: Political Doctrines and Society

The influence of political thought on society change in modern China from the late Imperial Period to the present is examined.

3 Credits

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POL 62 Research Seminar in International Studies

This course is a study of a major current problem of an international nature. The roots of the conflict, its historical development, and the viewpoints of the various parties involved, its proposed solutions and its international implications are analyzed and evaluated. The topic for in-depth research varies each time the course is offered.

3 Credits

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POL 64 Introduction to Comparative Politics

This course is a comparative analysis of government and politics in selected state systems in the contemporary global community.

3 Credits

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POL 65 Politics of the European Union

This course covers the history, institutions and selected policies of the European Union.

3 Credits

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POL 66 Government and Politics of South and Southeast Asia

This course cover political developments in South and Southeast Asia in the 20th century such as: colonialism and the nationalist revolts, new governments their problems and politics, conflicts of interest of the great powers.

3 Credits

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POL 67 Government and Politics of East Asia

This course is an examination of the political institutions and processes of China, Japan and Korea.

3 Credits

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POL 68 Government and Politics of Western Europe

This course covers internal government structures, principles and practices of leading Western European powers.

3 Credits

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POL 70 Government and Politics of the Middle East

This course covers internal government structures, principles and practices of selected countries in the Middle East.

3 Credits

 

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POL 71 Russian Government and Politics

This course is an analysis of the institutions, processes and theoretical foundations of government and politics from the Imperial period to the present.

3 Credits

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POL 73 Government and Politics of Latin America

This course covers the internal structures, principles and practices of leading Latin American countries.

 3 Credits

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POL 75 International Politics

3 Credits

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POL 76 Comparative Analysis of Dictatorships

This course is an analysis and discussion of selected problems of modern dictatorship using communist and fascist political systems for comparative purposes.

3 Credits

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POL 79 Violence in Contemporary Politics

This course is an analytic study of the background, causes, motivations, possible justifications and impact of political violence in modern times.

 3 credits

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POL 80 Administrative Behavior

This course covers the concepts and theories of administrative and organizational behavior. A survey of the literature on administrative patterns will be provided, with special attention to public organization, decision-making, leadership and small-group behavior in the social system bureaucracy.

3 Credits

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POL 82 Introduction to Public Administration

This course studies the structures and operations of the American administrative system with a review of some problems inherent in bureaucracy.

3 Credits

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POL 83 Policy-Making in American Government

This course studies the emphasis on policy-making at different levels of national, state, and local government. It includes an analysis of relationships of political inputs to policy outputs; evolution of the results of the policy process; relationship to the democratic process and the limitations.

3 Credits

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POL 84 The Executive Process

This course examines the requirements of institutional leadership; internal and external communications; the selections, use and evaluation of staff; advice; patterns of delegation and control; and political relations.

3 Credits 

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POL 88 Contemporary Problems in Public Administration

This course is a senior seminar examining selected issues in public administration. May be repeated with the permission of the chair.

3 Credits

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POL 90 Senior Seminar in Politics and Government

Seniors majoring in Political Science consider a given topic chosen by the instructor. The topic varies from year to year.

3 Credits 

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POL 91 Diplomacy and Negotiation

This course provides an introduction to the core concepts, processes, and techniques of diplomacy and negotiation. The course focuses on the role of diplomacy by individuals and governments (track 1 diplomacy) and other types of diplomacy (Track II and III diplomacy).

Credits 3 

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POL 93, 93A, 93B, 93C, 93L Political Science Internship I

Placement with a public or private entity within the domestic or international environment provides direct experience in politics and/or law.

1-6 Credits

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POL 94, 94A, 94B, 94C, 94L Political Science Internship I

Placement with a public or private entity within the domestic or international environment provides direct experience in politics and/or law. Prerequisite of 3.0 average and the permission of the department chair.

3 Credits

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POL 95 Literacy in the Social Sciences

This course is an intensive immersion in the literacy skills of reading and writing, learning and teaching the academic disciplines that together comprise social studies education. Designed for social studies adolescent education majors, this course introduces the student to the learning and teaching of select core issues found in the social science disciplines of Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, and Sociology. Same as ECO 95, GGR 85, HIS 95 and SOC 95. Prerequisite of Adolescent Education Social Studies major is required.

3 Credits

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POL 97 Public Administration Internship I

Placement within a government agency provides administrative experience in the operations of the public sector. Prerequisite of junior or senior status and Political Science major.

3 Credits

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POL 98 Public Administration Internship II

Placement within a government agency provides administrative experience in the operations of the public sector. Prerequisite of junior or senior status and Political Science major.

3 Credits 

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POL 303 European Political Theory I – Honors Core

This course fulfills the Core Curriculum requirements in Economics/Political Science. The nature of man, the state, government, law and the nature of political theory as seen through selected writings from Plato to Machiavelli. This course fulfills the Perspectives on World Cultures thematic cluster requirement in the core curriculum. Must be in Honors College

3 Credits

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POL 304 European Political Theory II – Honors Core

This course fulfills the Core Curriculum requirements in Economics/Political Science. The nature of man, the state, government, law and the nature of political theory as seen through selected writings from Machiavelli to the modern world.

3 Credits