We offer a vast array of courses ranging from Introduction to Political Science to Media & Politics to Comparative Politics of Communist and Post-communist Political Systems.
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Core Courses
1101 Introduction to Political Science – 4 credits
A survey of political systems with an emphasis on theoretical principles of government and the citizen’s relationship to the state. The course will also examine the methodology of the discipline of political science, including various aspects of the political and governmental process.
Social Science.
1111 Classical Political Thought – 4 credits
A survey of classical political thought from the ancient Greeks through the medieval period. The course will emphasize the concepts of natural law, Roman law, church-state relations, and other topics relating to the political ideas of the period. Heritage Sequence, Social Science.
1112 Modern Western Political Thought – 4 credits
An overview of Western political thought from the Enlightenment to the present with particular focus on the origin, nature, function, structure, and organization of the state and its relation to the citizens governed by it. The course explores the justification of governmental authority and the scope of governmental rights to interfere with individual lives and discusses the utility of political philosophy for contemporary life. Heritage Sequence, Social Science.
2219 Research Design and Methods – 4 credits
An overview of the steps involved in conducting survey, experimental, and qualitative research. Students will learn how to develop researchable questions, formulate testable hypotheses, and decide on the most appropriate methods for measuring concepts, testable hypotheses, analyzing data, and presenting results in a formal fashion. Prerequisite: Political Science and International Studies 1101 (recommended) (Open to Political Science and International Studies majors only) Social Science.
4492 Senior Seminar – 4 credits
An analysis of various topical or recurring problems in the area of either domestic or international politics. This course serves as a focal point for an integration of methodology, theory, and substantive problem areas.
1198, 2298, 3398, 4498 Independent Study and/or Internship
American Government Courses
1151 (FR) Law, Order, and Social Change in America – 4 credits
Interrelations between law and the political system in the United States: the Constitution, legislation, administrative regulations, judicial decisions, and courts in politics. Social Science. 168 Political Science and International Studies.
2201 American Political Institutions – 4 credits
An examination of the organization of the American government and its relationships to political life. Such topics as the constitutional context, the importance of interest groups, the influence of the media, voter behavior, and the executive, legislative, and judicial branches will also be considered. Sustained attention and special focus is directed to the development and growth of the modern Presidency. Social Science.
2202 State and Local Government – 4 credits
A comprehensive survey of state, county, and urban politics and administration with emphasis on the evolving federal relationship, the development of strong governors, and the emergence of professional state legislatures. Special attention is given to Maryland problems, prospects, policy dynamics and the environment as well as to the politics of public education. Social Science.
2207 American Public Policy – 4 credits
An examination of the major theoretical, conceptual, and practical issues in the study of public policy and the policy process, with examples drawn from current issues in American policy. These may include education, civil liberties, political economy, environmental policy, welfare, and energy. Social Science.
2210 Media & Politics – 4 credits
An examination of the “symbiotic” relationship between the news media and public officials in America. Special emphasis is placed on the interplay between the press and presidency and between the press and Congress. Cross-listed with English 2210.
2215 Environmental Policy – 4 credits
An investigation of the history, institutions, and decision-making processes that shape environmental policy in the United States. The course will emphasize the roles of and relationship between local, state, and federal governments as well as industry, science, and public opinion in environmental management and protection. Social Science.
2216 United States Campaigns and Elections – 4 credits
An examination of the development of American election campaigns from party based to candidate-centered and media-oriented. The course features in-depth coverage of the role of public opinion polling and its various strategic and tactical uses in campaign politics. Among the topics related to survey research will be sampling, question wording, questionnaire design, and analysis of the results. Social Science.
3305 Public Administration – 4 credits
An examination of the nature and development of public administration in the United States with attention to policies of organization, management, environmental policy, personnel, budgeting, forms of administrative responsibility, and governmental services. Social Science. Cross-listed with Business Administration
3305.
3308 American Constitutional Law – 4 credits
Introduction to the study of the principles of constitutional law as related to the changing political, social, economic and environmental problems of the United States; the role of the Supreme Court in the political process. Social Science.
3319 American Civil Liberties – 4 credits
A study of the First Amendment and the Fourth Estate with an emphasis on the major Supreme Court decisions on freedom of speech, press, environmental policy, communication law, assembly, and the law of mass media. This course involves students in classroom simulations and visits to courts. Social Science.
International Relations and Comparative Governmet
2203 International Law and Organization – 4 credits
An introduction to the history, purpose, environmental policy and scope of international law and organizations. Questions this course attempts to answer include: How does international law affect states, international organizations, non-state actors, and individuals? Who creates international law, and who is governed by it? What is the relation between international and domestic law? What role do international organizations play in the international system? How does membership in international organizations influence states’ abilities to achieve their goals? Prerequisite: Political Science and International Studies 1101. Social Science.
2204 Approaches to International Relations – 4 credits
An introduction to the major theories and approaches for analyzing global developments, studying the structure and organization of the international system, examining the various actors shaping world politics, exploring causes of conflicts and means for conflict resolution, and reflecting on the future of international relations and the role of individuals in the world community. Social Science.
2205 The European Union: History, Institutions, and Major Policies (Offered at the Budapest Campus) – 4 credits
This is a one-semester course encompassing all essential features of European integration and the existing European Union. Social Science.
2213 Comparative Politics of Western European Polities: The United Kingdom, France, and Germany – 4 credits
A comparative methodological analysis of the Western European governments of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany with an emphasis on systems analysis, political culture, structural-functionalism, and elite analysis. All three polities are members of the European Union which is also analyzed with relation to the regional integration of Europe. Social Science. Political Science and International Studies 169.
2214 African Politics through Literature – 4 credits
It is often difficult for Westerners to grasp the intricacies and subtlety of African politics. Literature can be used as a vehicle for discussing the difficult topics that arise in a relatively exciting and stress-free manner. African authors like Ngugi wa Thiongo, Chinua Achebe, Buchi Emecheta, and Nadine Gordimer provide historical context and local color while dealing with issue that continue to confront African governments such as the colonial encounter/legacy, poverty/underdevelopment, the role of women, and Africa’s place in the global community. This course is designed to emphasize politics viewed through the lens of African authors, for who can better tell the stories than those who live them? The selected texts reflect both an historical and a geographical coverage of Africa. Film may be used to complement the novels. Social Science.
2217 Contemporary African Politics – 4 credits
The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the study of contemporary African politics. Readings and lectures will focus on the historical, cultural, and economic aspects of African political development from the colonial era through today. Particular attention will be paid to issues and problems that face contemporary African governments. We will also address Africa’s interconnectedness to the Western world. Social Science.
3306 National Security in a Changing World – 4 credits
A survey of the international and domestic factors that shape contemporary U.S. national security policy and strategy. The course provides a brief introduction to traditional conceptions of military strategy and the use of force, examines the extent to which domestic political factors influence national security 170 Political Science and International Studies policy-making, and explores the merits and shortfalls of future national security strategies. Topics discussed include civil-military relations, leadership and accountability, terrorism, peacemaking and peacekeeping, and resource management. Cross-listed with Sociology 3306. Prerequisite: Political Science and International Studies 1101 (recommended).
3307 U.S. Foreign Policy – 4 credits
An overview over U.S. foreign policy from the Second World War to present. The primary objective is to acquire a general understanding of the main ideas, events, and strategies that have shaped U.S. foreign policy over the past half-century. Topics discussed include containment, deterrence, the nuclear arms race, humanitarian intervention and the use of force, economic assistance and trade, and a number of regional and thematic issues. Social Science.
3310- Politics of Developing Areas – 4 credits
An examination of the political, social, and economic problems of “third world" development with Latin America as the regional area of focus. The models of corporatism, bureaucratic authoritarianism, civil-military relations, and dependency theory are applied to case studies in Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, and Peru. An examination of the role of women in development as well as environmental development issues are also included. Sustainable development models are offered as an alternative to the failed attempts at development. Satisfies the Global Awareness, and Social Sciences basic liberal art requirement. Cross-listed with Cross Cultural Studies 3310.
3311 Third World Politics – 4 credits
The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the study of third world politics, a subset of comparative politics. Understanding global politics is important to the lives of all global citizens. Through the study of Africa and Asia, students will gain an understanding of terminology and concepts, types of political systems, international issues (economics, environment, socio-cultural) and changes in political systems and culture around the world. Social Science.
3312 The Politics of African Diaspora – 4 credits
This course will entail an examination of the political/historical/social processes of African nationalism and the American civil rights movement as a global phenomenon. Framed by the defining moments of the 20th century (i.e. WWI, WWII, the Viet Nam Conflict, the Cold War), students will examine the ideas of pan-Africanist/Nationalist thinkers such as Aimee Cesaire, Frantz, Fanon, Amilcar Carbral, Kwame Nkrumah, Marcus Garvey, W.E.B. DuBois, A. Philip Randolph, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. Topics to be explored include: the idea of African Diaspora; pan-Africanism; collective self-determination; the construction of gender roles and configurations of class within nationalist discourses; and the role of African cultural expression in freedom struggles. We may also examine a few contemporary legacies of the Diasporic African nationalist movement.
Social Science.
3313 Politics of Global Feminisms – 4 credits
Students in this course will examine the development and content of a worldwide feminist movement. Its diversity, complexity, and contested nature is what characterizes the movement as consisting of multiple feminisms rather than a single unifying ideology and practice. We will examine in depth the concerns and challenges facing women in the Political Science and International Studies 171 western world in contrast to the concerns of women in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean in the age of globalization. Social Science.
3314 The Politics of Ethnicity and Nationalism – 4 credits
Differences between people – ethnicity, culture, race, language, religion – are at the center of most contemporary internal conflicts. By extension, the implications for international relations are serious since most countries in existence today are not ethnically or culturally homogenous. The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the study of ethnicity and nationalism, a serious and complex undertaking. Some of the critical questions we will address are: What is ethnicity? What are the sources of nationalism? Why are ethnic/nationalist differences seemingly so intractable? How might governments manage differences among citizens? How might international coalitions deal with ethnic/ nationalist conflicts that influence the international system? Social Science.
3315 Comparative Politics of Communist and Post-communist Political Systems – 4 credits
A comparative exploration of the historical, cultural, social, political, and economic similarities and differences in the systems of the Former Soviet Union and The People’s Republic of China. Both systems attempted to implement Marxism in their systems. The failure of Marxism in the Former Soviet Union and the continuing application of the Marxist model in China are explored. Theoretical paradigms that attempt to predict the future of these regimes are also analyzed. Global Perspective, Social Science. Cross-listed with Cross Cultural Studies 3317.
3317- Comparative Politics of Communist and Post-Communist Political Systems – 4 credits
A comparative exploration of the historical, cultural, political, and economic similarities and differences in the systems of the Former Soviet Union and The Peoples Republic of China. Both systems attempted to implement Marxism in their systems. The failure of Marxism in the Former Soviet Union and the continuing application of the Marxist model in China are explored. Theoretical paradigms that attempt to predict the future of these regimes are also analyzed.
Satisfies the Global Awareness, and Social Sciences basic liberal art requirement. Cross-listed with Cross-Cultural Studies 3317.
3333 Conflict Resolution, Peacemaking, and Peacekeeping in Post-Cold War World – 4 credits
This course is designed to expose students to the multifaceted nature of conflict on the inter- and intra-state levels, historically, and in the current post Cold War period. This objective will be achieved by exploring the sources, causes, environmental policy, and determinants of conflict, presenting the various perspectives on the genesis and the amelioration of conflict, and utilizing some case method analysis to demonstrate the life cycles of some specific conflicts and the management or resolution thereof. The cases vary each semester but have included the following: The Middle East Conflict, the Anglo-Irish Conflict, the Gulf War (and now the second war against Iraq), the war on terrorism, and the conflict in former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. The course also covers the spread of radical fundamentalist Islam as a source of conflict in the Post Cold War World and specifically with regard to the “War on Terror”. Social Science and Global Perspective.
Cross-listed with Cross Cultural Studies 3333.
Jan Term Courses
1144 Fishing and Diving in Belize
This is a course on the history, politics, culture, and saltwater recreational opportunities of Belize. Students will explore the second largest barrier reef in the world, visit a manatee preserve and tour Mayan ruins.
1140 Culture and Politics of Cameron
Spend two weeks in sunny Cameroon learning about culture, people, and politics. Cameroon is located in West Africa and is a stable and beautiful country. The first few days will be spent at the University of Buea learning about the country and its many cultures. The remainder of the trip will be spent traveling throughout the country. An important component of this course will be developing cross-cultural communication skills. Students will conduct individual mini-research projects and will apply their new skills in completing this research. The final week will be spent processing the trip and finalizing research projects.
2271 International Simulation
An exploration of the United Nations. This course will prepare students for preparation in the Harvard Model United Nations Simulation.