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Programs of
Study
Political Science
Course Descriptions
— Political Science
- IS 390 — (W) Seminar in
International Studies — 3 credits
- Required for International Studies majors. Other
advanced undergraduates may take this course with permission of the professor.
This course can count for either Political Science credit or History credit.
- PS 130 — (S) American National
Government I — 3 credits
- Addresses key principles of American government:
democracy, constitutionalism, separation of powers, and federalism. It also
covers political parties, voting, public opinion, interest groups and the
media.
- PS 131 — (S) American National
Government II — 3 credits
- Addresses structure and functions of the branches
of government: Congress, the presidency, bureaucracy, and the courts. It also
covers civil rights and civil liberties.
- PS 135 — (S) State and Local
Government — 3 credits
- The structures, scope, processes, and politics of
state and local governments are analyzed. Also considered: the constitutional
position of state and local governments; the changing relationships among
federal, state and local governments; and policy areas of interest to students
in the class (educational policy, criminal justice policy, etc.).
- PS 212 — International
Relations — 3 credits
- This course examines the prominent tenets of
international relations as an academic discipline. Secondly, students are
provided with basic knowledge and tools for analyzing the international system
as it unfolds today. A constant theme is bridging the gap between theory and
practice of international relations.
- PS 213 — (D) Modern
Africa — 3 credits
- An introduction to the politics of major African
states with emphasis on ethnic, racial, and religious tensions as well as the
geopolitics of the region.
- PS 216 — (D,S Women’s Rights
and Status — 3 credits
- Public policies (formal and informal) and their
implementation determine the rights of citizens. This course examines public
policies that impact the legal, political, economic, and social status of women
in the U.S. A historical exploration of women’s rights will be the
foundation for the examination of women’s rights and status today. The
future prospects of women’s rights and status will also be discussed.
- PS 217 — Comparative
Government — 3 credits
- Political institutions of Germany, France, Britain,
and selected Third World nations are analyzed with focus on elections, parties,
interest groups and foreign policies.
- PS 218 — East European
Politics — 3 credits
- This course examines the history and politics of
East Europe from Poland to the Balkans and from Germany to the Ukraine during
the 20th century. Special attention is given to ethnic politics before and
after the communist period and the economics of the new privatization and its
problems.
- PS 219 — (S,D) Survey of Latin
American Politics — 3 credits
- An overview of the political cultures and political
dynamics of Latin America. A series of representative nations is examined to
provide a general overview of the region. Topics include historical figures and
events, the processes of democratization and modernization, and issues in
contemporary politics.
- PS 220 — (S, D)
Ideologies — 3 credits
- A study of the three major political ideologies
that shaped the 20th century (communism, fascism, and liberalism) and of those
that may shape the twenty-first: feminism, racism, egalitarianism,
environmentalism, libertarianism, and communitarianism.
- PS 221 — Politics of Southeast
Asia — 3 credits
- Domestic politics of Southeast Asia and
international politics affecting the region. The ASEAN nations (Thailand,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Brunei) and Myanmar, the
region’s only socialist country, along with the three communist states of
Indochina: Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia are considered; spheres of influence and
capitalism versus state socialism as a lever of economic development are also
discussed.
- PS 222 — Politics in
Russia — 3 credits
- This course considers Russian politics and
colonialism from the Revolution to contemporary economic efforts to move toward
capitalism. The politics of the remnants of the Soviet empire are examined and
Stalin and the Bolshevik experiment are also examined.
- PS 227 — (D,S) Women, Authority
and Power — 3 credits
- In our representative democracy, women are a
minority of elected and appointed government officials. This course studies the
historical and current paradox of women and U.S. public policy decision making.
It examines the role of women in pressure politics, their integration into
positions of political authority, and the future prospects for the political
power and authority of women.
- PS 230 — (S) Environmental Laws
and Regulations — 3 credits
- Consideration of the variety of statutory laws
legislated by Congress, as well as the variety of administrative rules and
regulations promulgated by the executive branch. Policy areas include air
pollution, water pollution, solid and toxic waste disposal, management of
public lands, and the regulation of nuclear power. A brief introduction to
international cooperation and conflict.
- PS 231 — (S) Environmental Policy
Process — 3 credits
- The role of the legislative, executive, and
judicial institutions in shaping the content of environment policy. Discussion
of the processes by which such policies are formulated and implemented,
including consideration of the impact of federalism.
- PS 232 — Public
Administration — 3 credits
- A study of the structures, scope and processes of
American public bureaucracies. The growth of the executive branches of
governments, the role of public bureaucracies in our democratic government, and
the experiences of American public bureaucrats are analyzed.
- PS 240 — (Q, W) Research Methods
in Political Science — 3 credits
- Consideration of both qualitative and quantitative
research methods in the study of Political Science. Topics include: primary
source material, legal research, analysis of aggregate data, analysis of survey
data and use of focus groups. Special consideration is given to survey research
and public opinion polling. Course also introduces principles of univariate,
bivariate and multivariate statistical techniques.
- PS 280 — Pre-Law
Internship — 3 credits
- PS 295 — Contemporary Mexican
Culture and Language — 3 credits
- An intersession travel course to Guadalajara,
Mexico, for 3 credits in Humanities (foreign language area, intermediate and/or
advanced level), 3 credits in the social sciences (political science), and
cultural diversity credit. The course is team-taught by University of Scranton
faculty from the Departments of Foreign Languages and Political Science with
assistance from Mexican faculty at UNIVA. (Also listed as SPAN 295.)
- PS 310 — Judicial
Politics — 3 credits
- Role of the federal and state court systems in our
constitutional democracy, with an emphasis on their policy-making functions.
Consideration of the factors shaping the judicial philosophies and political
orientations of federal and state justices and judges.
- PS 311-312 — Constitutional
Law — 6 credits
- An examination, by means of case law, of the
demands of liberty and the demands of democracy within the American
Constitution. Topics include federalism, the separation and division of powers,
social issues tied to industrialization and urbanization, commercial and
property rights, and the rights of the poor and the oppressed as they arise in
our legal framework.
- PS 313 — (D) Classical Political
Ideas — 3 credits
- An examination of philosophical questions about
politics (including the nature of law, morals, justice, and authority; and the
role of ideas in political and social life) in classical texts from East and
West, from Lao Tzu and Plato to the beginnings of modernity and Machiavelli.
- PS 314 — (D) Modern Political
Ideas — 3 credits
- An examination of philosophical questions and
politics (including the nature of law, morals, justice, and authority; and the
role of ideas in political and social life) in modern texts from East and West,
from the beginnings of modernity with Machiavelli to Marx and Mao.
- PS 315 — Contemporary Political
Thought — 3 credits
- A study, based on primary materials, of the current
state of the controversies in contemporary political thinking. A wide range of
perspectives, from far left to far right, will be analyzed and critically
examined. Minimally, the works of John Rawls, Robert Nozick, C.B. MacPherson,
Isaiah Berlin, and Leo Strauss will be included.
- PS
316 — Jurisprudence — 3 credits
- An examination of the differences between “the
law” and “the laws”; the nature of legal systems; the nature and
grounds of political, moral and legal obligations, and the controversy between
the traditions of Natural Law and Positive Law.
- PS 317 — Parties, Elections, and
Interest Groups — 3 credits
- Discussion of the historical development and
current status of political parties and interest groups in the United States.
Emphasis on the functions performed by political parties in our system vs.
their functions in other systems, such as parliamentary democracies. Emphasis
also on factors shaping the creation, maintenance, and political power of
organized interest groups.
- PS 318 — (W) U.S. Foreign Policy:
Cold War and Aftermath — 3 credits
- Examines and analyzes critically the content of
American foreign policy in the Cold War and post–Cold War eras. Special
emphasis on themes, goals and means of American foreign policy, particularly
national security.
- PS 319 — (W) U.S. Foreign Policy
Process — 3 credits
- Examines the actual formulation and implementation
of American foreign policy within the decision-making process. Analyzes what
the process is, who the decision makers are, and internal and external
variables of policy making in the U.S. Involves at least two in-depth American
foreign policy case studies.
- PS 322 — Public
Personnel — 3 credits
- (Prerequisites: At least two of PS 130, 131, 135,
231, 232 or permission of instructor) An examination of public-personnel
administration and management. Theories of organization, personnel choices,
personnel management, civil-service history, and current issues in personnel
administration and management are considered.
- PS 323 — Central
America — 3 credits
- This course provides an overview of contemporary
Central American politics. Special attention is given to the revolutionary
upheavals in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. The course also explores
current challenges to the region’s economic and political development such
as crime, free trade and relations with the United States.
- PS 325 — Politics of the
Budgetary Process — 3 credits
- (Prerequisites: At least two of PS 130, 131, 135,
231, 232 or permission of instructor) Public budgeting in theory and in
practice is discussed. Historical reforms and the inevitable politics of the
process are considered. Use of budget simulations allow for practical
experience.
- PS 326 — Theories of Political
Economy — 3 credits
- An examination of the works of the great thinkers
in the tradition of the political economy, and an extensive study of the
historical evolution of theories of value, the creation of value and the
increase of productive abilities.
- PS 327 — U.S.
Congress — 3 credits
- Reading and discussion of selected Federalist
Papers in order to appreciate the founders' views on human nature, the nature
of government, democracy, and legislatures. An examination of the structure and
function of the contemporary United States Congress, including the impact of
political parties and interest groups on the business of Congress. Theories of
representation are also considered.
- PS 328 — (D) Modern
China — 3 credits
- Study of modern Chinese politics in the 19th and
20th centuries. Problems of modernization, Westernization, and communism in the
People’s Republic of China.
- PS 329 — The American
Presidency — 3 credits
- This course will focus on the American presidency
– historical development, powers of the office, elections, models of the
presidency and, to a lesser extent, the relations between the president and
congress, and the president and the judiciary.
- PS 330 — Western Europe in World
Affairs — 3 credits
- This seminar provides an historical, political, and
analytical foundation for understanding the profound political and economic
changes facing Europeans today. This involves studying the two world wars, the
formation of Cold-War alliances and security systems, the European integration
movement, the foreign policies of major European states, and organization of
post–Cold War Europe.
- PS 331 — (W) The European
Union — 3 credits
- (Enrollment only by permission from the professor.)
Provides an in-depth study of the European Union and its 15 member states in
order to prepare students for an intercollegiate simulation of the EU, which is
held in Washington, D.C., each December. Students examine the EU’s
theoretical and historical foundations, its institutions and policy procedures,
and the ongoing challenges for European integration.
- PS 332 — (D) Modern
Japan — 3 credits
- This course examines the history and politics of
Japan; the period of the shoguns; the reforms of the modernizing Meiji era at
the end of the 19th century; the Japanese effort to conquer Asia; the postwar
political structure; the question, “Is Japan a democracy?”; and the
economic miracle of the present.
- PS 333 — United States-Latin
American Relations — 3 credits
- An introduction to the political, economic, and
security relations between Latin America and the United States from the
beginning of the 19th century through the present day. Present day topics
include regional trade arrangements, democracy promotion, drug trafficking,
immigration and the impact of 9/11.
- PS 338 — Politics of
Islam — 3 credits
- The political ideology of Islam; efforts to
establish theocracies in a number of states from Iran to Egypt to Malaysia and
Indonesia; Islam as a political opposition in such countries as the
Philippines, Russia, and China; Shiite versus Sunni sects; the politics of
Israel and the Islamic states of the Middle East; OPEC; the Palestinian
question; political terrorism; Islam as an expansionist ideology.
- PS 384 — Special Topics in
Political Science — 3 credits
- Study and analysis of selected topics in the field
of Political Science. The particular topic or topics will vary from year to
year depending on the instructor and changing student needs.
- PS 480 — Public Administration
Internship I — 3 credits
- Permission of faculty advisor and Dr. Champney
required for internship registration.
- PS 481— Public Administration
Internship II — 3 credits
- Permission of faculty advisor and Dr. Champney
required for internship registration.
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