Political Science (POS)

Introduction to American government, its historical foundations, institutions, and political processes. The course explores the structure and interplay of the various institutions and sub-institutions of the American government, introducing the ideas and forces that shape its politics. The goal is to enable students to understand the causes and consequences of political behavior in order to become more informed citizens.

Introduction to the basic concepts, questions, and wider study of Political Science: conflict and cooperation, interests and power, systems and change, and substantive divisions and subfields of Political Science. It takes a comparative approach and presupposes little to no prior knowledge of political science while building analytical skills to comprehend political developments.

Introduction to the basic theories and concepts of policy analysis, with particular emphasis on the policy-making process at the federal level. Examines such selected policy issues as welfare, health insurance, and housing. The course also seeks to asses the impact of policy decisions on various groups in American society.

A study of the politics, institutions, policies, problems, structure, major functions, and outcomes of sub-systems of state and local governments. Covers local political, legislative, judicial, and other non-traditional, emergent issues in these sub-national political systems and jurisdictions and their interactions including interstate, state-state, and state-local relations.

Introduction to Public Administration, its fundamentals, especially the development and implementation of public policy. Includes the conceptual and practical understanding of the subject matter focusing on topics such as planning, budgeting, ethics, the policy process, and intergovernmental relations. Prerequisite: POS 230

This course introduces students to Public Administration and helps them understand its fundamentals, especially the development and implementation of public policy. The discussion includes the conceptual and practical understanding of the subject matter focusing on topics such as planning, budgeting, ethics, the policy process, and intergovernmental relations. Additional assignments will be given at the instructor's discretion.

This course undertakes a systematic study of the African American individual, society and institutions within the American political system, covering various periods of the African American political experience and development.

This course undertakes a systematic study of the African American individual, society, and institutions within the American political system, covering various periods of the African American political experience and development. Additional assignments will be provided.

Study of the organization, structure, and progressive change in the politics and political systems of the world's major powers, with an emphasis on Europe's advanced industrial democracies (United Kingdom, France, and Germany) and selected BRIC/Global South countries.

The course is designed to help students acquire a sound conceptual and practical understanding of the foreign policy challenges of the United States. It describes the role that domestic politics and institutions (both formal and informal) play in shaping American foreign policy placing emphasis on key geopolitical regions. Prerequisite: At least 45 credit hours

This course provides an opportunity to develop an understanding of the fundamentals of law and the American?legal system. Designed?to give attention to both the development of legal reasoning and the judicial process, the course will provide an introduction to the cultural, racial, sociological, and economic variables affecting?the development of political and legal theories and perspectives.

This course focuses on empirical research methodology, emphasizing measurement, testing theory, and applying social scientific research methods to prepare students for graduate-level study. This course provides experience in reading peer-reviewed literature, developing social scientific theories, and proposing and developing feasible research designs.

Study of the basic principles of the American constitutional system. Emphasis is placed on the judicial interpretation and application of these principles in construing the powers of the government and the rights of individuals. This course examines the historical background of major federal court decisions. Prerequisite: POS 332

Study of the basic principles of the American constitutional system. Emphasis is placed on the judicial interpretation and application of these principles in construing the powers of the government and the rights of individuals. This course examines the historical background of major federal court decisions. Additional assignments will be given. Prerequisite: POS 332

Continuing an analysis of the social, cultural,economic, and political climates having an impacton contemporary political issues. The course willbe the foundation for understanding America in the21st Century. Beginning the analytical progressionwith the Civil War Amendments, this course will bethe gateway to an understanding of 21st CenturyAmerica.

Continuing an analysis of the social, cultural,economic, and political climates having an impacton contemporary political issues. The course willbe the foundation for understanding America in the21st Century. Beginning the analytical progressionwith the Civil War Amendments, this course will bethe gateway to an understanding of 21st CenturyAmerica.

Examination of inferential and descriptive statistics to facilitate researchers obtaining, calculating, and interpreting statistical results applied to political questions and policy analysis, including the capabilities of the computer in analytics as applied to research problems.

This course examines the structure and function of public organizations, with emphasis on theories of administrative hierarchies and evaluation of bureaucracies. It deals with organizational structures, functions, behavior, and performance. It includes the study and analysis of individual or group behaviors within organizational settings.

Examines relationships among nations relative to conflict and security, alliances, institutions, international organizations, global political economy, and emerging transnational issues such as terrorism and climate change. It considers traditional and non-traditional state and non-state actors and threats and opportunities to the global system particularly given the impact of ever-increasing technology and globalization.

Critical analyses of enduring political problems in the writings of European theorists from Machiavelli to the present.

Study of major European political ideas, problems, philosophies, and philosophers that have influenced and shaped the development of western society from Machiavelli to the present. Topics include forming and ruling states, freedom, liberty, equality, individuality, democracy, religion, justice, and commerce. It identifies enduring themes, historical and current tensions, and unresolved contradictions. Includes additional project to fulfill the honors designation.

Introduction to the American legal system using a case study approach.

Introduction to public personnel management. The course focuses on the recruitment, examination, placement, remuneration, morale, retirement, training, and issues that impact public service. It also examines the context, processes, paradoxes, and various environments (legal, political, economic, and social dimensions) of public personnel management at the federal level. Prerequisite: POS 350

The course provides students with an overview of African politics within a historical context and examines contemporary issues in a broader international framework with particular emphasis on the role of colonialism, the Cold War, and post-colonial relations with the big powers. It also focuses on intra-African relations, synthesizing materials that examine democratization, political stability, economic development, and regional integration. Prerequisite: At least 45 credit hours

The course is designed to neutralize, as much as possible, media bias on Africa. While these miseries are very characteristic of African politics, they did not occur in isolation. To mitigate media bias, students will be introduced to the most chronic crises in Africa, but against the backdrop of historical events such as colonialism and the Cold War. Prerequisite: At least 45 credit hours

Independent reading and analytical reporting on works outside the immediate scope of formal courses. Special emphasis is placed on the depth of various perspectives.

Survey of the contemporary politics and governments of countries on the Asian continent. Attention is paid to the historical, geographic, economic, political, religious, and cultural conditions and issues that have shaped them and from which present governments evolved.

Internship in a public agency or nonprofit organization, providing students the opportunity to integrate and extend classroom learning with practice. The course provides an opportunity to apply political science, public administration, or public policy theories and knowledge to a specific goal or challenge faced by the organization with a greater level of responsibility. Prerequisite: POS 100 and at least 30 credit hours

Semi-independent or directed substantive research course that utilizes rigorous research methods under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Students conduct scientific inquiry on a selected Political Science topic, in consultation with and on approval by the instructor, and conduct thorough empirical research on the topic. Students present findings within simulated or actual professional settings. Prerequisites: At least 75 credit hours