Programs by Campus
Bloomington
Political Science
Courses
600 Level
With the exception of individual readings courses, 600-level courses are seminars or colloquia. In some instances a seminar will introduce students broadly to the principal scholarly literature in a field; in others, the objective will be to provide an in-depth analysis of a more specialized area of research. The kinds of seminar topics that are offered regularly are illustrated following.
Seminar topics often have relevance for each of several of the departmental examination fields. Furthermore, a given topic may be approached from a variety of perspectives. Therefore, although cross-listing is avoided here for the sake of brevity, it should be noted that essentially the same topic may appear under each of two or more generic titles at various times.
Interested students should consult detailed course descriptions, which are available on request from the departmental graduate office in advance of each semester. Any course at the 600 level may be taken more than once, provided the topic is not repeated.
700 Level
All 700-level courses are research seminars. Students are expected to demonstrate their own research enterprise on a topic agreed upon with the instructor. In some instances, team research may be carried out. Students are also expected to make significant progress toward identification of an eventual dissertation project in the research seminars in the major field. Each course may be taken more than once.
- POLS–Y 304 Constitutional Law (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 311 Democracy and National Security (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 313 Environmental Policy (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 333 Chinese Politics (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 334 Japanese Politics (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 337 Latin American Politics (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 338 African Politics (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 339 Middle Eastern Politics (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 340 East European Politics (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 342 Topics on the Regional Politics of Africa (3 cr.) May be repeated once for credit with consent of instructor and department graduate advisor.
- POLS–Y 343 The Politics of International Development (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 346 Politics in the Developing World (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 350 European Integration (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 353 The Politics of Gender and Sexuality (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 368 Russian and Soviet Foreign Policy (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 381 Classical Political Thought (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 382 Modern Political Thought (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 383 Foundations of American Political Thought (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 384 Developments in American Political Thought (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 394 Public Policy Analysis (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 550 Political Science and Professional Development (1–3 cr.) Philosophies and techniques of teaching various types of political science courses in different learning environments; factors related to the motivation and performance of students; development of course materials for undergraduate courses; preparing to present papers at conventions and to apply for grants; improving self-presentation skills for job interviews. May be repeated for up to three credits.
- POLS–Y 557 Comparative Politics: Approaches and Issues (3 cr.) Overview and analysis of the approaches and issues in the literature of comparative politics. Required of students taking comparative politics as a field of study for the Ph.D. It is recommended that this course be taken during the first two years of graduate work at Indiana University.
- POLS–Y 561 American Politics: Approaches and Issues (3 cr.) Overview and analysis of the approaches and issues in the literature of American politics. Required of students taking American politics as a field of study for the Ph.D. It is recommended that this course be taken during the first two years of graduate work at Indiana University.
- POLS–Y 565 Public Administration, Law, and Policy: Approaches and Issues (3 cr.) Overview and analysis of the approaches and issues in the literature of public administration, law, and policy. Required of students taking public administration, law, and policy as a field of study for the Ph.D. It is recommended that this course be taken during the first two years of graduate work at Indiana University.
- POLS–Y 569 International Relations: Approaches and Issues (3 cr.) Overview and analysis of the approaches and issues in the literature of international relations. Required of students taking international relations as a field of study for the Ph.D. It is recommended that this course be taken during the first two years of graduate work at Indiana University.
- POLS–Y 570 Introduction to the Study of Politics (3 cr.) Problems of graduate study and professional scholarship; central organizing concepts and the use of theory in political science and related disciplines; specialized areas of research and scholarship in political science; conditions of scientific inquiry and methodological problems in the study of political phenomena; central importance of theory in explanation.
- POLS–Y 572 Mathematical Tools for Political Scientists (1 cr.) Review of topics in mathematics that are particularly useful in the application of formal political theory and political methodology. Typical topics include Euclidean spaces and functions; sets, neighborhoods, sequences, and limits; derivatives; integrals; vectors and matrices; optimization. To be taken prior to or concurrent with Y573 and Y577.
- POLS–Y 573 Introduction to Formal Political Theory (3 cr.) Introduction to the use of formal models in political science. Provides the training required to develop basic models of political process and exposes students to classic works and problems in formal political theory.
- POLS–Y 575 Political Data Analysis I (3 cr.) Basic quantitative analysis techniques applied to political science data: principles of measurement, tables, graphs, probability distributions, nonparametric statistics, matrix algebra, Markov chains, correlations and simple regression, tests of significance. Computer processing of data and applications of bivariate statistics to problems in political science emphasized.
- POLS–Y 576 Political Data Analysis II (3 cr.) P: Y575 or equivalent. Focuses on general linear model and multivariate statistical techniques such as analysis of variance and covariance, partial and multiple regression and correlation, time series analysis, logit and probit analysis, canonical correlation, and discriminant analysis. Applications to problems in political science research emphasized.
- POLS–Y 576 Advanced Topics in Political Data Analysis (3 cr.) P: Y576 or equivalent. Content varies. Topics include analysis of covariance structures, dynamic modeling, estimation of multiple equation systems, mathematical models, time series analysis. Applications to problems in political science research emphasized. May be repeated for credit if topic differs.
- POLS–Y 579 Qualitative Methods in Political Research (3 cr.) P: Y576 or equivalent. This course surveys the use of qualitative methods such as case studies, comparative historical analysis, interviews, focus groups, participant observation, interpretivism, and culture studies. Readings include works about each method as well as concrete research that utilizes each method, and students will also conduct practical exercises such as interviews.
- POLS–Y 580 Research Methods in Political Science (1–3 cr.) Foundations of political research; alternative research strategies; problems of measuring political variables; design of research to test hypotheses. S/F grading.
- POLS–Y 591 Computer Applications in Political Science (1 cr.) This course introduces students to computing applications for political scientists. Topics include computing packages such as STATA, S-Plus, and Excel; creating datasets; and transferring datasets among programs. A prerequisite for this course is enrollment in Y575.
- POLS–Y 592 Bibliography of Political Science (1 cr.) Introduction to library research tools in political science, problems of bibliographical research, special resources of Indiana University, problems of utilizing library resources.
- POLS–Y 600 State Politics (1 cr.) An examination of the institutions and processes by which state governments carry out their responsibilities. Includes the study of executives, legislatures, parties, and elections at the state level.
- POLS–Y 622 Urban Politics (3 cr.) An examination of—and the problems faced and challenges faced by—the governments of cities and metropolitan areas. Includes study of leadership, citizen participation, intergovernmental relations, and urban policy.
- POLS–Y 630 State Executive Politics (3 cr.) A course that examines the role of governors in state politics. Includes the study of leadership and the relationship between the executive and other elements of government at the subnational level. This course is not currently being offered.
- POLS–Y 640 State Parties and Interest Groups (3 cr.) An examination of political parties and interest groups, their roles in government, and their structure and organization.This course is not currently being offered.
- POLS–Y 657 Comparative Politics (3 cr.) The focus may be on one or more political systems within regions indicated. Illustrative topics: political elites and social stratification, comparative administration and public policy, cross-national analysis, West Europe, East Europe, comparative Communist systems, Russia, Africa, Middle East, Latin America, East Asia, comparative development strategies.
- POLS–Y 661 American Politics (3 cr.) Illustrative topics: the presidency, legislative process, political behavior, political parties and representation, political socialization, comparative state politics, urban politics, bureaucratic politics.
- POLS–Y 663 Political and Administrative Development (3 cr.) Illustrative topics: politics of social change, comparative urbanization, political and administrative development.
- POLS–Y 665 Public Law and Policy (3 cr.) Illustrative topics: urban policy analysis; politics of higher education; science, technology, and public policy; politics of environmental policy.
- POLS–Y 669 International Relations (3 cr.) Illustrative topics: international conflict, international organization, quantitative international relations, analysis and evaluation of policy making, U.S. foreign policy, Russian and Soviet foreign policy, international and comparative communism, international political economy.
- POLS–Y 671 Public Administration (3 cr.) Illustrative topics: organization theory, urban administration, public administration.
- POLS–Y 673 Empirical Theory and Methodology (3 cr.) Illustrative topics: survey of empirical theory, theory building and causal inference, positive political theory, institutional analysis and design, empirical democratic theory, research design.
- POLS–Y 675 Political Philosophy (3 cr.) Illustrative topics: analysis of political concepts; political theory of the Enlightenment; nineteenth-century political thought; welfare state: theory and practice; Marxist theory; American political thought.
- POLS–Y 681 Readings in Comparative Politics (1–4 cr.)
- POLS–Y 683 Readings in American Politics (1–4 cr.)
- POLS–Y 685 Readings in Public Administration, Law, and Policy ( (1–4 cr.)
- POLS–Y 687 Readings in International Relations (1–4 cr.)
- POLS–Y 689 Readings in Political Theory and Methodology (1–4 cr.)
- POLS–Y 757 Comparative Politics (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 761 American Politics (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 763 Political and Administrative Development (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 765 Public Law and Policy (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 769 International Relations (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 771 Public Administration (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 773 Empirical Theory and Methodology (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 775 Political Philosophy (3 cr.)
- POLS–Y 780 Directed Research in Political Science (1–4 cr.) **These courses are eligible for a deferred grade.
- POLS–Y 880 M.A. Thesis (1–4 cr.) **These courses are eligible for a deferred grade.
- POLS–Y 890 Ph.D. Thesis (arr. cr.) **These courses are eligible for a deferred grade.