Plan of Study – Political Science

Note: A Semester Hour (s.h.) is a unit of academic credit representing an hour of class (such as lecture class) or three hours of laboratory work each week for an academic semester. Most courses are two, three or four semester hours.

Political Science: Minor

Minor Courses (Minimum of 21 semester hours required.)

PSC 1510 American Government (3 s.h.)

American political structure to include the organization, powers, functions and services of national, state and local government and their interdependence in seeking solutions to contemporary social, economic, and political issues.

PSC 3030/3410 Option (Choose from: PSC 3030 or PSC 3410.)

PSC 3030 International Relations (3 s.h.)

Analysis of world politics, sources of foreign policy, dynamics of the existing international system, systematic theorizing about future developments.

PSC 3410 Comparative Politics (3 s.h.)

Comparative analysis of political phenomena, emphasizing the dynamics of power, governmental institutions, social-economic-cultural configurations, and patterns of values and ideologies among various countries.

PSC 3770 State and Local Government (3 s.h.)

Analysis of state and local governments, local forces, trends in metropolitan and suburban politics, problems in planning in an age of urbanization and governmental relations.

PSC 4310 Political Theory (3 s.h.)

Examination of the historical, theoretical, and qualitative explanations for basic concepts in the formation of government such as justice, liberty, political authority, and the public good. Through careful readings of primary texts, students are introduced to the body of philosophical thought on politics and governing that has developed over 2500 years.

Minor electives (Minimum of 9 semester hours required. NOTE: For those students seeking teacher certification, PSC 3030 International Relations and PSC 3410 Comparative Politics are both required.)

CJ 2350 American Judicial Process (CJ*/PSC) (3 s.h.)

Analysis of the American state and federal court systems; history, traditions, and philosophy underlying the American system of justice; legal systems and law; court structures and roles: judges, prosecutors, attorneys, litigants; and the adjudication process: arrest to arraignment, trials, juries, and sentencing.

CJ 4050 Constitutional Law (CJ*/PSC) (3 s.h.)

Introduction to constitutional law, political theory. Historical examination of the major Supreme Court decisions which have contributed to contemporary judicial interpretations of the Constitution.

HIS 1010 World Problems (HIS*/PSC) (3 s.h.)

Analysis of the most significant contemporary world issues confronting the international community of nations and citizens of United States.

HIS 4631 Global Studies: Modern Africa (HIS*/PSC) (3 s.h.)

Study of selected historical and political problems and themes related to modern sub-Saharan Africa, with attention to relationships with the non-African world.

HIS 4632 Global Studies: Modern Asia (HIS*/PSC) (3 s.h.)

Study of selected historical and political problems and themes related to modern Asia, with an emphasis on China, Japan, and India, and attention to domestic developments and global relationships.

HIS 4633 Global Studies: Modern Latin America (HIS*/PSC) (3 s.h.)

Study of selected historical and political problems and themes related to modern Latin America, with attention to regional and global relationships.

HIS 4634 Global Studies: Modern Middle East (HIS*/PSC) (3 s.h.)

Study of selected historical and political problems and themes related to the modern Middle East, with an emphasis on Arab and Islamic cultures, attention to the non-Arab and non-Islamic dimensions of the region and to global relationships.

LAW 2100 Law, Society, and Politics (LAW*/PSC/SOC) (3 s.h.)

This core curriculum law course examines the social, political, and historical contexts of law as a social institution. Students will examine historical, political, and societal perspectives on why law is made, how it is made in legislatures and the courts, and how it shapes what individuals do on an everyday basis. Students focus on legal institutions and resolution processes including historical and recent case law, institutional political science, resultant social policy, and its impact on society through mixed media and an examination of case studies. This is not a legal specialty course and permission to use it for major credit must be obtained from the Program Director prior to enrolling in the course.

PSC 3030 International Relations (3 s.h.)

Analysis of world politics, sources of foreign policy, dynamics of the existing international system, systematic theorizing about future developments.

PSC 3410 Comparative Politics (3 s.h.)

PSC 4010 Political Parties and Elections (3 s.h.)

Examination of United States political parties and elections and their roles in the American system of government with a focus on the debates, controversies, and paradoxes implicit to political parties and elections.