Political Science (POLT)

POLT #801 - Courts and Public Policy

Credits: 3

Impact of judicial decisions on public policy and influences on judicial decision making at the federal, state, and local levels.

Equivalent(s): PA #801

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT #802 - Grant-writing for Public and Non-profit Sectors

Credits: 3

This class provides students with a comprehensive overview of the process for writing proposals for grant funding. Students will learn to research funding opportunities and write the various sections of a funding proposal. Differences in seeking grants from foundation, corporate, and government funders will be explored. In addition to individual projects, the class will work as a group to research, write, and submit a funding proposal for a nonprofit or municipal government program.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT #804 - Policy and Program Evaluation

Credits: 3

Policy and program evaluation of federal, state, and local governmental enterprise; focuses on the politics, practices, and methods of evaluative investigation. Evaluation as a technique for providing rational information for budgetary and policy-making decisions.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 805 - Elections in the United States

Credits: 4

Students will study various aspects of elections in the United States while observing and analyzing case studies during a campaign season.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT #808 - Administrative Law

Credits: 3

Examines the legal rules governing regulatory agencies, in the US. Topics include regulatory adjudication and rulemaking, legislative and executive control over administrative agencies, judicial review and public participation. Course examines federal and state levels of government.

Equivalent(s): PA 808

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 809 - Reforming American Government

Credits: 4

Why is American government designed the way that it is (and how does it change?)? Whose interests are protected and whose interests are limited by its design? What do successful reforms tell us about the future of reform?.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT #815 - Art of Negotiation

Credits: 3

Identification, analysis, evaluation and application of effective communication and negotiation skills. Course will include case studies and simulation/role-playing exercises.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 821 - Feminist Political Theory

Credits: 3

Familiarizes students with trends feminist political thinking; exploring issues of race, ethnicity, class, religion/spirituality, sexual orientation, ability, age as they relate to gender and the development of feminist political theory. Attention is paid to critical thinking and analysis using the paradigm of gender as a prism through which to view our lives and ideas.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 840 - States and Societies in the Middle East

Credits: 3

This seminar explores the comparative politics of selected countries and conflicts in the contemporary Middle East and North Africa. We focus on understanding the causes and consequences of popular uprisings, civil wars, and protracted conflicts. The class is taught through discussion, with students taking active, participatory roles. Themes include changing forms of governance, changing practices of warfare, gender and minority rights, economic and environmental problems, protest and activism, state-society relations, and migration and refugees. Students read memoir, journalistic accounts, and theoretical articles in comparative politics to understand important developments. Specific country and issue cases change each year; recent seminars have addressed Israel-Palestine, Syria, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. Writing, reading, and discussion intensive class. Designed as follow-on course to POLT 559, Comparative Politics of the Middle East, counts as capstone course for the Middle East Minor.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 842 - Politics of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India

Credits: 3

Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India are strategically important states and potential flashpoints of conflict. Nuclear neighbors, India and Pakistan have been in conflict for 70 years while Afghanistan remains internally unstable. The politics of these countries are also intimately involved with each other. The class will focus both on the internal politics of these states and their foreign relations with each other and the United States. Students will develop expertise in a crucial world region.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 848 - Food and Wine Politics

Credits: 3

This course investigates the evolution of wine and foods politics over the past few decades. Food and wine politics provides a lens through which to analyze contrasting perspectives on production, markets, quality, consumer preferences, health, and safety. This course draws upon texts from economic history, political economy, economic sociology, and public policy to shed light on the differences and similarities in political and market organization across Europe, the United States, and emerging market economies. The first half of the course will focus on wine politics and the second half of the course will focus on food politics.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 850 - Politics of Poverty

Credits: 3

Why are some countries rich while others are so poor? This course answers this question by examining several theories of economic development: political culture, modernization, dependency, regime types, urban bias, rent-seeking institutions, and international aid. The immediate goal of this course is for students to understand the causes of international inequality in the distribution of wealth. Students also improve their ability to evaluate theoretical arguments and empirical evidence critically, and develop reading and writing skills.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 851 - Comparative Environmental Politics and Policy

Credits: 3

Environmental politics and policy across national boundaries and at different levels of governance. Comparisons of the U.S. and European Union environmental policies to build a foundation for comparisons across national boundaries and sub-national authorities. Students improve their understanding of how and why comparative methods are used to gain insight into politics and policymaking. Central concepts and debates addressed include the roles of expertise, sustainability, precautionary principle, the use of market mechanisms in policy, environmental justice, policy devolution and flexibility, environmental performance assessment, NGO roles, activism, and social movements. Using a range of theoretical approaches and historical and contemporary events and case studies, students will evaluate the claims and explanatory power of various concepts and theories. Includes ethical issues emerging from the theory and practice of environmental politics.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 860 - Theories of International Relations

Credits: 3

Theoretical approaches of international politics, international organization, and international political economy with particular emphasis on systems theories, domestic determinants of foreign policy, and theories of decision making.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 862 - International Political Economy

Credits: 3

This course has been designed to introduce advanced undergraduates and graduate students to the current theoretical discussions in international political economy. The course analyzes the development of current international economic regimes, as well as looks at systemic theories (interdependence, hegemonic stability), domestic determinants (bureaucratic, interest group) and decision-making theories (rational choice). By monitoring current economic and political news, students are challenged to apply these ideas to explain the current problems in political economy.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT #865 - Security Intelligence Study

Credits: 3

The goal of the Security Intelligence Study course is to provide an opportunity for students to apply research and analysis models used by intelligence professionals to a real world problem. Using unclassified public sources, students research and present an analytical product to help limit risk for a government decision maker. Participants learn about and use publicly available data and intelligence analysis models.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 878 - International Organization

Credits: 3

This course is about cooperation at the international level. With a focus on international organizations, we examine what roles international institutions (both IGOs and NGOs) play in global governance and their effects in various issue areas. We examine their historical origins, functions, and the international and domestic political forces that impact their effectiveness. The course also considers the role of international organizations on world order including conflict resolution, peacekeeping, development, and human rights.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 897B - Seminar in American Politics

Credits: 3

Advanced analysis and individual research.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 897C - Seminar in Comparative Politics

Credits: 3

Advanced analysis focusing on government and politics in foreign nations or regions. Areas of interest may include: constitutional structures, political parties and interest groups, legislatures, bureaucracy, and public policy. Topics address such concerns as: religion and politics, patterns of economic development, ethnic strife, and political leadership.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 897E - Seminar in International Politics

Credits: 3

Advanced analysis focusing on problems of theory and contemporary issues in international politics. Areas of interest may include: democratic norms in international relations, NATO expansion and European security, the peace process in the Middle East, etc. See department listings for semester offerings.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT #897I - Seminar in Political Thought

Credits: 3

Advanced treatment and individual research.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 898B - Seminar in American Politics

Credits: 3

Advanced analysis and individual research.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT #898C - Seminar in Comparative Politics

Credits: 3

Advanced analysis focusing on government and politics in foreign nations or regions. Areas of interest may include: constitutional structures, political parties and interest groups, legislatures, bureaucracy, and public policy. Topics address such concerns as: religion and politics, patterns of economic development, ethnic strife, and political leadership.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT #898F - Seminar in Public Administration

Credits: 3

Advanced analysis and individual research, including opportunities for direct observation of governmental administration.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 899 - Master's Thesis

Credits: 3-6

Each student carries out original research that culminates in a master's thesis. Permission required. Cr/F.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits.

Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading

POLT 900 - Political Science Pro-Seminar

Credits: 3

Familiarizes students with political science as a profession. Briefly surveys the scope of the discipline in terms of the substantive fields and methodological approaches. Examines the logic of research design and explores diverse methods of inquiry (e.g., archival, experimental, case study, comparative analysis, field study, survey, etc.), including the process of generating a presentable research paper.

Equivalent(s): POLT 910

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT #905 - Introduction to Statistical Analysis

Credits: 3

Quantitative research, design and analysis methodology, and techniques for political science and public policy and administration.

Equivalent(s): PA 905

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT #906 - Foundations and Theories of Public Administration

Credits: 3

Introduction to essential aspects of public and non-profit administration. Critical concepts and theoretical bases; operational nature of public and non-profit administration; contributions of key scholars and practitioners to the study and understanding of public and non-profit administration.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT #907 - Legal and Policy-Making Environment on Public and Non-Profit Sectors

Credits: 3

Though the use of case studies, analysis and assessment of legal, institutional, social, political and economic settings within public and non-profit sectors.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT #908A - Capstone in Public Administration

Credits: 3

In-Service.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT #908B - Capstone in Public Administration

Credits: 6

Pre-Service.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT #909 - Organization and Management in Public and Non-profit Sectors

Credits: 3

Introduction to key actors, theories, and concepts in the fields of organizational theory and behavior.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT #911 - Public Management Techniques

Credits: 3

Introduction to analytic decision-making and planning techniques applicable to public sector management.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT #918 - Non-Profit Management

Credits: 3

Introduction to governance and management in the non-profit sector: finance, development, personnel management, strategic planning, and risk management.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 995 - Independent Study

Credits: 1-3

A) American Politics; B) Comparative Politics; C) International Politics; D) Political Thought; E) Public Administration; F) Public Policy. The graduate student engages in independent study under the direction of one of the faculty members of the department. Permission required.

Equivalent(s): PA 995

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 996 - Independent Study

Credits: 1-3

A) American Politics; B) Comparative Politics; C) International Politics; D) Political Thought; E) Public Administration; F) Public Policy. The graduate student engages in independent study under the direction of one of the Faculty members of the department. Permission required.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading