Department of Political Science Course Offerings
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*Courses from other departments may be necessary to fulfill a
particular major/minor.
| Political Institutions: | |
| 101 | American National Government (3). Study of the origin and development of United States government. It concentrates on the structure and operations of today's national government, including the role of politics. (Fall, odd years) |
| 102 | State and Local Government (3). Examines the basic principles of state government and its present-day operations. Special emphasis is placed in intergovernmental relations and the organization, functions, and problems of local, county, and municipal governments. (Spring, even years) |
| 202 | American Presidency (3). Prereq: PSC 101 and 102 or department consent. A survey of the office of the president of the United States as a political institution; topics include presidential nominations and elections, domestic and foreign policy-making, relationship with Congress and other components of government, and relationship with the public and the media. (Spring, odd years) |
| 303 | Legislative Process and Behavior (3). Prereq: PSC 101 and 102 or department consent. An examination of state and national legislative institutions and processes. Areas covered include the nature of legislative responsibility, organizational structure, the role of parties and lobbying groups, legislative decision making, legislative relations with executive and judicial branches, policy output, and the theory and methods employed by scholars currently working in this field. (Fall, even years) |
| 306 | Judicial Process (3). Prereq: PSC 101 and 102 or department consent. An examination of institutional and legal processes in various adjudicatory settings. Primary attention is given to judicial processes focusing on American civil and criminal law, especially with regard to the U.S. Supreme Court. (Spring, odd years) |
| 321 | American Political Parties and Politics (3). Prereq: Junior or senior classification or department consent. Examines the origin and development of political parties in the United States. Its emphasis is the study of the organization and activities of the two-party system in American politics. (spring 2016, spring 2020) |
| Political Theory: | |
| 218 | Christian Political Thought (3). A survey of biblical teaching related to the state, justice, and the moral worth of the individual and a critical examination of Christian writings on politics from Augustine to the present. (Spring, odd years) |
| 315 | History of Western Political Theory (3). An examination of the major trends and issues in Western political thought from the ancient Hebrew, Greek and Roman eras to the 19th century. (Fall, even years) |
| 316 | Contemporary Political Theory (3). Prereq: Junior or senior standing or department consent. (Formerly PSC 316 - Today's Isms.) Credit given in either political science or economics. A survey of the historical background and philosophical bases for the major political "isms" confronting the peoples of the world today. It focuses on communism, fascism, socialism, and capitalism. (Spring, odd years) |
| 319 | U. S. Political Theory (3). Prereq: Junior or senior standing or department consent. An examination of United States political and constitutional theory from its genesis in the works of major early modern thinkers to the contributions of 20th-century political and legal theories. The original writings will be stressed. (Fall 2016, Fall 2020) |
| 411 | War and Revolution (3). Prereq: Junior or senior standing or department consent. A critical examination of Christian political writings related to war and revolution, including the just-war theories of the Middle Ages; the revolutionary writings of Englishmen and Scots of the Reformation period, including John Ponet and John Knox; the French Huguenots, including Philip du Plessis de Mornay and Francis Hotman; writings related to the Puritan and Glorious Revolutions, including those of Samuel Rutherford and John Locke; and writings of American founders, including Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and John Jay. (Fall, even years) |
| Comparative Government and International Relations: | |
| 212 | Foreign Policy of the United States (3). Examines the evolution of the United States foreign policy from 1776 to the present. Focuses on the bases for formulating policies, the processes for implementing them, and the consequences of those policies in American life. (Spring, even years) |
| 311 | Comparative Government (3). Prereq: Junior or senior standing or department consent. A comparative study of the principles, structure, and operation of contemporary governmental systems with special attention to cross-national comparisons of institutions, political history, and political culture. (Fall, odd years) |
| Legal Studies: | |
| 301 | American Constitutional History (3). A survey of constitutional development in the United States. A careful study of the Constitution, with emphasis on the changing concepts of law as revealed in decisions of the Supreme Court. (Fall 2015, Fall 2019) |
| 331 | Church and State Relations (3). A study of the theory and historical and legal developments of church and state relations in England and the United States. (Spring 2014, Spring 2018, Spring 2022) |
| 431 | American Constitutional Law I (3). Prereq: Junior or senior standing or department consent. A study of the constitutional law of the United States with basic cases concerning such subjects as separation of powers, federalism, the taxing and spending powers, and interstate and foreign commerce. (Fall, odd years) |
| 432 | American Constitutional Law II (3). Prereq: Junior or senior standing or department consent. A study of the constitutional law of the United States with basic cases related to personal liberty and civil rights. (Spring, even years) |
| Methodology: | |
| 341 | Scope and Methods of Political Science (3). Prereq: PSC 101 and 102 or department consent. A course designed to equip beginning political scientists with the basic tools of political analysis used by professional political scientists. The scope of the discipline is explored through primary writings, and the student is introduced to general concepts, theories, approaches, and models as well as basic methodologies and techniques of political research. (Fall, odd years) |
| Applied Studies: | |
| 490 | Internship (2-6). Prereq: Junior or senior standing. (Formerly PSC 401 - Seminar.) Credit requires internship with government officials or other practical experience in public affairs (or with an institute of politics). The course may be repeated for credit up to six hours with the approval of the department chairman. Refer to “Student Intern Programs and Practicums” for further requirements. |
| 495 | Independent Research (2-6). Prereq: Junior or Senior standing. (Formerly PSC 401 - Seminar.) This course involves directed reading and discussion or independent research and writing. The course may be repeated for credit up to six hours with the approval of the department chairman. |
| 499 | Special Topics (3). Prereq: At least six hours in political science or department consent. This course covers selected areas not studied extensively in other courses and may be repeated for different topics. (Fall 2014, Fall 2018, Fall 2022) |
