Politics and Society (PS)

PS 402 - Practical Politics

Credits: 4

With particular attention to the development and evolution of US political institutions over time, this course seeks to help students understand how national politics affects them and their communities and how they can, in turn, use that insight to affect national politics. We will work to develop not just new knowledge, but to foster tools and practices of civic engagement.

Attributes: Historical Perspectives(Disc)

Mutual Exclusion: No credit for students who have taken POLT 402.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

PS 425 - Exploring Leadership

Credits: 1-4

Exploring Leadership is an introductory course on the foundations of student development and leadership, with an emphasis on applying the formal literature on leadership to help students develop and articulate their own personal philosophy of leadership and enact a leadership action plan for their club/organization/leadership position. no credit for students who have taken.

Equivalent(s): UMST 525

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

PS 426 - Social Justice & Leadership

Credits: 1-4

An exploration of social justice through personal and institutional lenses to analyze power and privilege, discrimination and prejudice, inclusion and equity through the intersections of multiple social identities to develop student leaders who will promote an equitable and inclusive environment and serve as social change agents in the college and community.

Equivalent(s): UMST 526

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

PS 430 - The Mindful Leader

Credits: 2

Research has shown that mindfulness and emotional intelligence positively impact leadership, job performance and satisfaction, and work-life balance. This course will introduce students to mindfulness and emotional intelligence through research, discussion, and personal experience. Students will explore how to lead mindfully and develop their emotional intelligence to better manage personal and professional stress and support a culture of vulnerability, non-judgment, and being in the present moment. This course is open to all undergraduate students. Credit cannot be earned if taken UMST 599: The Mindful Leader.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

PS 500 - Wicked Problems: Puzzles in Public Policy

Credits: 4

Meaningful change in the US is difficult under the best of circumstances, and it's almost never the best o circumstances. As a result, the richer your understanding of the complex and often irrational US policy-making system, the better the chance that you will be able to understand why certain policies are made (or not made), why they take the form that they do, and how to alter them.

Attributes: Social Science (Discovery); Writing Intensive Course

Mutual Exclusion: No credit for students who have taken POLT 500.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

PS #501 - Social and Political-Economic Theory

Credits: 4

Classics of sociological and political economic theory, as well as contemporary thinking in conservative, classical liberal, modern liberal, and radical political economy. Emphasis on the historical context in which these ideas emerge, and the links among them. Readings and discussions include such thinkers as Comte, Spencer, Weber, Durkheim, Locke, Marx, Smith, Riccardo, J.S. Mill, Shumpeter, Keynes, Hayek.

Attributes: Historical Perspectives(Disc)

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

PS 506 - Civil Society and Public Policy

Credits: 4

Explores how grassroots advocacy organizations and social movements mobilize human and material resources in order to shape public policy and what tactics and organizational and communication strategies lead to success. Provides students with hand-on learning through service learning project at a local organization. Policy areas may include immigration, environmental conservation, women's issues and more.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

PS #507 - Justice, Law and Politics

Credits: 4

This course examines the relationships among law, politics, and social structures and how much relationships shape our conceptions of justice. We explore philosophical and historical origins of US law and such concepts as due process and sovereignty. We examine the foundations and economic, environmental, and sociological underpinnings of contemporary legal and political issues.

Attributes: Social Science (Discovery)

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

PS #509 - Political and Social Change in Developing Countries

Credits: 4

Overview of the pressing social, political, and economic issues in the developing world. Analysis includes: political development, including different forms of authoritarianism and democracy; international political economy and models of macro-economic development; international and national aid programs aimed at reducing poverty. Case studies include China, India, Iraq and more.

Attributes: World Cultures(Discovery)

Equivalent(s): POLT 553

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

PS #510 - Politics of Food

Credits: 4

This course examines the politics of how food is produced, marketed and distributed in the United States, with attention to how the American food system has changed since World War II. The ethics and nutritional and public health implications of current agricultural policies and practices are looked at carefully, as are the environmental impacts of current practices. The impact on international food prices and markets and world hunger are also examined.

Attributes: Environment,TechSociety(Disc)

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

PS #511 - Women and War

Credits: 4

Explores impact of war on women as both victims (i.e. refugees, rape victims) and participants (i.e. warriors). Covers issues such as women in combat as soldiers and terrorists, women's rights, sexual violence and rape during warfare, women's roles during peace-building etc. Case studies include Bosnia, Liberia, Afghanistan, USA, Colombia, and more.

Attributes: World Cultures(Discovery)

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

PS 515 - New Hampshire Politics in Action

Credits: 4

A hands-on course on New Hampshire politics and policymaking, in which students will identify a Bill currently active in the NH General Court and develop and execute a step-by-step plan for helping get it enacted or defeated. Periodic travel to the State Capitol in Concord will be required.

Attributes: Inquiry (Discovery); Writing Intensive Course

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

PS #520 - Globalization: Politics, Economics and Culture

Credits: 4

Globalization is a complex web of interwoven processes that affect virtually all facets of our daily lives, from pop culture to economics to politics and everything in between. But what exactly is globalization, anyway? And does increased interconnectedness and interdependence do more harm than good? What are the effects of globalization on our society and on others around the world? How can we solve problems, such as climate change, that transcend national boundaries? This course covers different dimensions of globalization, exploring everything from free trade and global supply chains in business to the global hip-hop phenomenon to the problem of international terrorism, and many other issues.

Attributes: World Cultures(Discovery)

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

PS 595 - Research for Political and Policy Action

Credits: 4

This course offers an overview of how the social sciences--political science especially--decide which questions to ask and how to design the research projects that will help them develop answers to those questions. As we explore these methods of inquiry and analysis, students undertake their own multi-methods research project to better understand something that interests or puzzles them while experiencing first hand the challenges inherent in sound research.

Attributes: Inquiry (Discovery); Writing Intensive Course

Mutual Exclusion: No credit for students who have taken POLT 595.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

PS #599 - Peer Educator Development

Credits: 1 or 4

Preparing students to be leaders on their campus and in their community. Upon completion, students will be eligible to take the BACCHUS Certified Peer Educator (CPE) exam to become a nationally-certified peer educator. No credit for students who have taken UMST 599 - Peer Educator Development.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

PS #651 - Selected Topics: Public Service

Credits: 4

Interdisciplinary treatment of selected topics in politics and society. Topics may include democracy, empire and war, gender roles in electoral process, the sociology and psychology of terrorism, the political economy of hunger and poverty, the social origins of dictatorship and democracy, and others. Topic: Empire, Democracy, and War is Writing intensive.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

PS 701 - Senior Seminar/Internship in Public Service

Credits: 4

Students undertake internships or other approved field projects with organizations such as political campaigns, media organizations, government offices, business or community groups. The seminar component enables students to share and analyze these experiences, employing readings, discussions, collective behavior games, and speakers.

Attributes: Writing Intensive Course

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

PS 731 - Community Leadership - Capstone

Credits: 4

Culminating experience for the Community Leadership Minor, but open to other students with instructor's permission. Working alone or in groups, students will design and execute a project of benefit to a community partner.

Equivalent(s): UMST 531, UMST 701

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

PS #750 - Poverty & Inequality Past and Present

Credits: 4

This course will help students develop the knowledge and tools, using the best available data and research from across disciplines, to describe the scale and scope of need in the US. It will also help you develop understanding of the causes of poverty, inequality, and homelessness, and the consequences of them too -- not just upon individuals and families, but ultimately upon entire neighborhoods, communities, and the nation as a whole.

Attributes: Writing Intensive Course

Mutual Exclusion: No credit for students who have taken POLT #750.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading