College Catalog
Course Descriptions
Political Science (POLI)

POLI 130 / AMER 130 United States Politics and Government - GS 6
A survey of the United States political system at the national, state and local levels; including examination of constitutions, social and political ideology, mass political behavior, parties and interest groups, the Congress, the presidency, the courts, and the development of national public policy. Focuses on the problems of policy-making in a pluralistic democratic system. Each semester. See Extended General Education Course Description.

POLI 150 / INTL 150 Introduction to International Studies - GS 3
The objective of this course is to promote an awareness of global interdependence, with its challenges and opportunities. The course is interdisciplinary, examining issues from several relevant and related points of view: political, ecological, cultural, economic, and ethical. The content may vary from semester to semester. Examples of issues the course might examine are: Nationalism versus The Concept of an International Community; U.S. Foreign Policy and Human Rights; Foreign Policy of Communist Countries; Cultural Diversity and International Cooperation. Every semester. See General Education Extended Course Description.

POLI 160 / INTL 160 Introduction to Comparative Politics
The purpose of this course is to provide students with the comparative insights and methodological tools needed to understand the importance of political culture, governmental structures, and political behavior in a variety of political systems. This course will also address the development of the state under different historical conditions and in different socio-economic environments. Students will be exposed to a variety of political issues including political legitimacy, political institutionalization, the politics of identity, political violence, among others. Fall semester.

POLI 200 Research Methodology and Techniques
Examines the fundamental methods and techniques used in political science research. Emphasis on concept formation and measurement, hypothesis development, research design, data collection, hypothesis testing, statistical association, theory construction, and ethics in political science research. Prerequisites: POLI 130 & POLI 160 or 150. Each Semester

POLI 231 State and Local Politics
An examination of state and local politics focusing on the legal and theoretical bases of state and local government, including intergovernmental relations; government institutions; and comparative public policy. Emphasis is placed on understanding state and local politics within a framework of competition among state and local governments. Prerequisite: POLI 130. Fall semester, alternate years.

POLI 260 Current Russian Politics - GS 7
An examination of major political developments in Russia from 1917 until the present with an emphasis upon the impact of political culture and economic factors on the development of totalitarianism and the process of democratization. Fall Semester. See Extended General Education Course Description.

POLI 310 Western Ideologies - GS 10
This course examines the political ideologies which have influenced the western world, and been extended to the non-western world as well. By ideology is meant a body of political thought or belief which motivates groups to take political action. The course begins with an overview of the philosophical roots of political ideology in western political thought, and comes to focus on the development of political ideas and movements on the 19th and 20th centuries. The course includes studies of nationalism, liberal democracy, democratic socialism, Marxism, Soviet and Chinese Communism, Fascism, National Socialism, anarchism, and various radical and traditionalist movements. See Extended General Education Course Description.

POLI 314 / PHIL 314 / CLAS 314 Classical and Medieval Political Thought
An examination of the political theories of major ancient and medieval thinkers. Issues such as the origin, purpose, nature, and types of political societies, the meaning of citizenship, the relation of the individual to society, and the meaning of authority and rulership will be investigated in the writings of Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas. Fall semester, alternate years.

POLI 316 / PHIL 316 Modern Political Though
An examination of the political theories of major thinkers of the modern period (16-19th centuries). Issues such as the nature of political power, the origin and purpose of political societies, social contract, authority, law, liberty, sovereignty, and revolution will be investigated in the writings of Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hegel, and Marx. Fall semester, alternate years.

POLI 317 American Political Thought (see Infrequently Offered Courses section of the Catalog)

POLI 332 Political Parties and Elections
An examination of the role of political parties and elections at the state and national level in the U.S. Focuses on elections as a linkage mechanism between the citizens and the institutions of government in a democracy. Emphasis on such issues as: nomination processes, the role of the media, campaign advertising, campaign strategy, citizen participation and voting behavior. Prerequisite: POLI 130. Fall semester, alternate years.

POLI 335 / AMER 335 Legislative Politics
An examination of the power, structure and functions of legislative bodies at the national and state levels in the United States. Focuses on the various factors that influence the performance of these bodies. Prerequisites: POLI 130. Fall semester, alternate years.

POLI 336 / LEAD 336 Executive Leadership
An examination of Executive Leadership at the national, state, and local levels in the United States. Focuses on leadership development, leadership styles and the impact of leadership in governing. Prerequisite: POLI 130. Spring semester, alternate years.

POLI 337 Judicial Process and Behavior
An examination of the functions, structure, participants and decision-making in the U.S. judicial system. Focuses on the political nature and the public policy-making role of the judicial system. Prerequisite: POLI 130. Fall semester, alternate years.

POLI 338 Introduction to Public Administration
An examination of the growth of the public sector in the United States, and the consequences and challenges resulting from that growth. Emphasis is placed on the politics of bureaucracy, the relative roles of the public and private sectors in providing goods and services, and past and present controversies over the appropriate method of organizing the public sector. Prerequisite: POLI 130.

POLI 341 Constitutional Law 1
An examination of the constitutional evolution of the doctrines of judicial power, federalism, and separation of powers with emphasis on the historical circumstances in which the developments took place and the impact of the judicial decisions on the United States social, economic, and political systems. Prerequisite: POLI 130 & sophomore standing. Fall semester, alternate years.

POLI 342 Constitutional Law 2
An examination of major judicial decisions in the areas of civil rights and civil liberties and their impact on United States society. Prerequisite: POLI 130 & sophomore standing. Spring semester, alternate years.

POLI 346 Policy Analysis
This course consists of two parts. The first part examines the policy process in American government, the content of contemporary policy, and the impact of policy on society. Case studies will illustrate the nature of policy making and problems of implementing public policy. The second part of the course will introduce various tools and methods which will enable students to analyze public policy. Prerequisites: POLI 130, SSCI 224, & POLI 200, sophomore standing. Fall semester, alternate years.

POLI 348 Environmental Politics
Examines the social and political trends that have contributed to the environmental hazards we now face. Various theoretical approaches that discuss human relations with the environment will be examined in the context of critical issues such as global warming, siting of toxic waste facilities and the pollution of the Fox River. Prerequisite: POLI 130. Fall semester, alternate years. Cross listed with PEAC 348.

POLI 350 International Relations
An examination of the various theories of international relations including the balance of power, integration theory, game theory, dependency, neo-realism, etc. The source also examines the importance of the realist, pluralist and structuralist paradigms in the study of world politics. Prerequisite: INTL/POLI 150. Fall semester.

POLI 353 United States Foreign Policy
The formulation, conduct, and content of contemporary United States foreign policies, defense policies, changes in Cold War diplomacy, and policy toward the new states and developing countries. Prerequiste: INTL/POLI 150. Spring semester, alternate years.

POLI 355 International Organizations
This course examines the role of international organizations in world politics. It focuses on the historical development of inter-governmental organizations (IGOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and their increasing impact on a wide range of global issues, including peacekeeping, human rights, the world economy, the environment, etc. This course also provides students with the theoretical tools and concepts they need to understand the dynamics of the institutional structures and political processes of international organizations in an increasingly interdependent world. Prerequisite: INTL/POLI 150. Spring semester, alternate years. Cross listed with PEAC 355.

POLI 362 North-South Relations in the Contemporary World - GS 11
This course examines the historical origins of the North- South conflict and the dynamics of this asymmetrical relationship in the post-World War II period. The course also addresses the complexity of the political, economic and social issues that developed and developing nations face in an increasingly interdependent world. See Extended General Education Course Description. Cross listed with PEAC 362.

POLI 365 European Politics
An examination of the political systems of a number of European countries. Attention will be given to their historical evolution, ideologies, and political cultures as possible explanatory factors for the similarities and differences among the systems. Prerequisites: POLI 160 and junior standing. Spring semester; alternate years.

POLI 368 Politics and Governments of Latin America
An overview of the governments and politics of Latin American countries from a comparative perspective. The course examines the structure, functioning, and interaction of Latin American political institutions as well as the process of political change and development in the region.

POLI 489 Special Topics
This is a seminar course that is offered whenever a mutual interest in a more specialized topic in political science exists for a member of the faculty and a sufficient number of students. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

POLI 490 Independent Study
Individual study of an approved topic in political science under the direction of a political science faculty member. Permits faculty and students to explore together some subject of special or personal interest. Reading and tutorial discussion are required; written work is optional. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor and approval of Associate Dean for Social Sciences.

POLI 492 Directed Research
Qualified students may perform political science research projects under the supervision of a political science faculty member. Prerequisites: consent of instructor and approval of Associate Dean for Social Sciences.

POLI 494 Internship
Appropriate work or active political experience with government agencies or partisan political groups may be undertaken for course credit, when directly related to the educational goals of the student. Prerequisites: consent of instructor and approval of the Associate Dean for Social Sciences.

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