Schools, Departments & Programs

Political Science

Course Descriptions
  • POLS-Y 100 American Political Controversies (3 cr.) CASE S&H Introduction to current or past American political controversies. The course content presents multiple sides of complex issues. Topics vary from semester to semester. The course may be repeated once for credit; however, the course may be counted only once toward a political science major.
  • POLS-Y 101 Introduction to Political Science (3 cr.) CASE S&H Introductory survey of the discipline of political science: integrates basic elements of American politics, political theory, comparative politics, and international relations. Intended especially for actual or prospective majors.
  • POLS-Y 102 International Political Controversies (3 cr.) CASE S&H Introduction to current or past controversial issues in international and comparative politics, presenting multiple sides of complex issues. Topics vary from semester to semester. The course may be repeated once; however, it may be counted only once toward a political science major.
  • POLS-Y 103 Introduction to American Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H Introduction to the nature of government and the dynamics of American politics. Origin and nature of the American federal system and its political party base. I Sem., II Sem., SS.
  • POLS-Y 105 Introduction to Political Theory (3 cr.) CASE A&H Perennial problems of political philosophy, including relationships between rulers and ruled, nature of authority, social conflict, character of political knowledge, and objectives of political action. Credit not given for both Y105 and Y215. I Sem., II Sem.
  • POLS-Y 107 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H Examines countries around the world to investigate fundamental questions about politics. Topics include democratic development, promotion of economic prosperity, maintenance of security, and management of ethnic and religious conflict. Critical thinking skills encouraged. Cases for comparison include advanced industrialized democracies, communist and former communist countries, and developing countries. Credit given for only one of Y107 and Y217.
  • POLS-Y 109 Introduction to International Relations (3 cr.) CASE S&H Causes of war, nature and attributes of the state, imperialism, international law, national sovereignty, arbitration, adjudication, international organization, major international issues. Credit not given for both Y109 and Y219. I Sem., II Sem., SS.
  • POLS-Y 200 Contemporary Political Topics (3 cr.) CASE S&H Extensive analysis of selected contemporary political problems. Topics vary from semester to semester and are listed in the online Schedule of Classes. I Sem., II Sem., SS. May be repeated once for credit.
  • POLS-Y 202 Politics and Citizenship in the Information Age (3 cr.) CASE S&H Introduction to the influence of the news media on citizen preferences and behavior in the information age. Analysis of the forces shaping the media, the relation between the media and politics, and the effect on citizens. Topics include decision making and development of critical skills in response to the information age.
  • POLS-Y 204 Institutional Analysis and Governance (3 cr.) CASE S&H Introduces the design and development of political, economic, and social institutions that support democratic governance or its alternatives. Uses theory to understand connections among individual choice, collective action, institutions, and constitutional order. Institutional analysis as a mode of reasoning about contemporary policy problems, law, and public affairs.
  • POLS-Y 205 Analyzing Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H Introduces the approaches and techniques used to study politics. Includes an introduction to social science language, concepts, and critical research skills. Overview of political science research approaches, including case study, surveys, and model-building. Emphasizes skills such as interpreting the presentation of data in charts, graphs, and tables, and elementary analysis of qualitative and quantitative data.
  • POLS-Y 210 Honors Seminar (3 cr.) CASE S&H Intensive examination of selected political topics for freshman and sophomore honors students. Emphasis on critical discussion and preparation of brief papers. May be repeated once for credit.
  • POLS-Y 211 Introduction to Law (3 cr.) CASE S&H An introduction to law as a method for dealing with social problems and as an aspect of the social and political system. An introduction to legal reasoning, procedures, and materials. Usually includes comparison of U.S. to other societies’ approaches to law. Mock court situations usually included.
  • POLS-Y 212 Making Democracy Work (3 cr.) CASE A&H Nature and justifications for democratic politics and the problems confronting democracy today. Demise of liberalism in America; rise of identity politics and its significance; racial inequality and the problems of deliberative democracy; problems of political alienation and participation.
  • POLS-Y 243 Governance and Corruption across the World (3 cr.) CASE S&H Analysis of problems of governance and corruption in developing and/or more developed countries. Examines conditions for effective governance and challenges to economic growth and provision of public goods. Addresses political causes and consequences of corruption. Case studies will vary and may be drawn from Asia, Latin America, Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, and North America.
  • POLS-Y 249 Religion, Politics, and Public Policy (3 cr.) CASE S&H Introduction to the effects of religious belief, behavior, and institutions on political processes and public policy. Implications of religion as an alternative source of public legitimacy in contemporary societies. Topics may include controversies or developments in American, comparative, or international politics.
  • POLS-X 276 Political Science Practicum I (1 cr.) In the practicum, students will conduct experiments, or participate in simulations, or hold moot court sessions, or compete in debates or engage in problem-solving exercises. Information on topic and course affiliation available in the online Schedule of Classes. S/F graded. May be repeated for a maximum of 2 credit hours in X276 and X180.
  • POLS-Y 281 Modern Political Ideologies (3 cr.) CASE A&H Assesses leading political ideologies of the past two centuries, e.g., conservatism, liberalism, socialism, communism, fascism, feminism, environmentalism, anarchism, populism, and various forms of religious fundamentalism. Analyzes those ideologies as forms of thought and as motivators of political agency and organization that have shaped the contours of the modern political world.
  • POLS-X 299 Careers for Political Science Students (1 cr.) What can you do with a major in political science? In this course you'll hear from a series of IU alums with professional careers in law, government, business, non-profits and research institutes, international service, polling, and other fields about what they do in their careers, how to get these jobs, and how to write a resume and excel in an interview.
  • POLS-Y 300 Topics in Current Politics and Governance (3 cr.) CASE S&H What's happening in current politics and governance? This course focuses on a contemporary issue or political event or process, covered at a more advanced level than Y200. Topics vary from semester to semester and are listed in the online Schedule of Classes. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours. I Sem., II Sem., SS.
  • POLS-Y 301 Political Parties and Interest Groups (3 cr.) CASE S&H Theories of American party activity; behavior of political parties, interest groups, and social movements; membership in groups; organization and structure; evaluation and relationship to the process of representation.
  • POLS-Y 302 Public Bureaucracy in Modern Society (3 cr.) CASE S&H Examines public bureaucracy, with special emphasis upon the United States, as a political phenomenon engaging in policy-making and in the definition of the terms of policy issues. Considers the role of bureaucratic instruments in promoting social change, and in responding to it.
  • POLS-Y 303 Formation of Public Policy in the United States (3 cr.) CASE S&H Processes and institutions involved in the formation of public policy in American society.
  • POLS-Y 304 Constitutional Law (3 cr.) CASE S&H American political powers and structures; selected Supreme Court decisions interpreting American constitutional system.
  • POLS-Y 305 Constitutional Rights and Liberties (3 cr.) CASE S&H Extent and limits of constitutional rights; selected Supreme Court decisions interpreting American constitutional system.
  • POLS-Y 306 State Politics in the United States (3 cr.) CASE S&H Comparative study of politics in the American states. Special emphasis on the impact of political culture, party systems, legislatures, and bureaucracies on public policies.
  • POLS-Y 307 Indiana State Government and Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H Constitutional foundations, political development, organizational and functional process and growth, and current problems of Indiana government. Readings, case studies, problems.
  • POLS-Y 308 Urban Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H Political behavior in modern American communities; emphasizes the impact of municipal organization, city officials and bureaucracies, social and economic notables, political parties, interest groups, the general public, and protest organizations on urban policy outcomes.
  • POLS-Y 311 Democracy and National Security (3 cr.) CASE S&H Analysis of fundamental tensions between democratic values and the requirements of national security. Topics include homeland security and civil liberties in an age of terror, civil-military relations, oversight of intelligence operations, effects of interventions and wars on democracy abroad and at home, and debates over the morality of United States security policies.
  • POLS-Y 313 Environmental Policy (3 cr.) CASE S&H Examines the processes of social decision reconciling human demands on the natural world with the ability of nature to sustain life and living standards. Analyzes the implications for public policies in complex sequential interactions among technical, economic, social, and political systems and considers the consequences of alternative courses of action.
  • POLS-Y 315 Political Psychology and Socialization (3 cr.) CASE S&H Analysis of the relationship between personality and politics. Use of major psychological theories and concepts to understand the attitudes and behavior of mass publics and political elites.
  • POLS-Y 316 Public Opinion and Political Participation (3 cr.) CASE S&H The nature of public opinion on major domestic and foreign policy issues; mass political ideology; voting behavior and other forms of political participation; political culture; and the impact of public opinion on political systems.
  • POLS-Y 317 Voting, Elections, and Public Opinion (3 cr.) CASE S&H Determinants of voting behavior in elections. The nature of public opinion regarding major domestic and foreign policy issues; development of political ideology; other influences on the voting choices of individuals and the outcomes of elections; relationships among public opinion, elections, and the development of public policy.
  • POLS-Y 318 The American Presidency (3 cr.) CASE S&H Examination of the American presidency both in historical setting and in contemporary context. Topics such as presidential elections, roles and resources of the president, structures and processes of the presidency, presidential leadership and behavior, relationships of the presidency and other participants in policy making.
  • POLS-Y 319 The United States Congress (3 cr.) CASE S&H Evolution and development of the contemporary Congress. Topics such as electoral processes; organizational structures and procedures of the Senate and House of Representatives; involvement of Congress with other policymaking centers; lawmaking, representative, and oversight activities of the national legislature.
  • POLS-Y 320 Judicial Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H Examines the American judicial system in the contemporary context. Analysis of the trial and appellate courts with a focus on the United States Supreme Court. Topics include analyses of the structure of the judicial system, the participants in the system, and the policy making processes and capabilities of the legal system. The course concludes with an assessment of the role of courts in a majoritarian democracy.
  • POLS-Y 321 The Media and Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H Examines the contemporary relationship between the media and politics, including use of the media by politicians and public officials, media coverage of governmental activities, and media coverage of campaigns and elections. Course focuses primarily on the United States, but includes comparative perspectives.
  • POLS-Y 324 Gender and Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE DUS Analysis of women in contemporary political systems, domestic or foreign, with emphasis on political roles, participation, and public policy. Normative or empirical examination of how political systems affect women and the impact women have on them. Topics vary semester to semester. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • POLS-Y 325 African American Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE DUS Examines the African American political condition, with special emphasis on political thought and behavior. The course analyzes not only how the political system affects African Americans, but also the impact African Americans have on it. Themes for this course may vary.
  • POLS-Y 326 American Social Welfare Policy (3 cr.) CASE S&H Values and social welfare policy. Development, current status, politics and proposals for reform of social security and private pensions, income maintenance policy, health care, and housing. The future of the welfare state.
  • POLS-Y 329 Racial and Ethnic Politics in the United States (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE DUS A survey of minority group politics in the United States. The course examines the socioeconomic position and political history of various demographic groups and highlights key public policy debates central to the future of ethnic politics and race relations in the United States. Compares theories of racial formation in the context of a political system predicated on majority rule.
  • POLS-Y 332 Russian Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE GCC Political process and government structure in the Russian state. Political institutions inherited from tsarist empire and the Soviet state (1917–1991), history of subsequent political reform. Political problems of ethnic conflict, creating democratic institutions, and of transition from socialism to market economy.
  • POLS-Y 333 Chinese Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE GCC Explores contemporary politics and policy issues in the People’s Republic of China. Influence of revolutionary practice and ideology; analysis of contemporary economic, political and social organizations; examination of policy issues including social reforms, economic growth, and democratization and globalization.
  • POLS-Y 334 Japanese Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE GCC Political development of Japan, with emphasis on changing attitudes toward modernization; cultural and sociological factors affecting the functioning of contemporary political institutions; and the implication of Japanese experience in modernization of other developing societies.
  • POLS-Y 335 Western European Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE GCC Development, structure, and functioning of political systems, primarily in France, Italy, and Germany. Political dynamics of European integration.
  • POLS-Y 336 South East Asian Political Systems (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE GCC Covers the governmental organization, and the political behavior and traditions, of countries in the South East Asian region. Addresses regional issues of political and economic development, and international issues regarding the relationship of the region to the rest of the world.
  • POLS-Y 337 Latin American Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE GCC Comparative analysis of political change in major Latin American countries, emphasizing alternative explanations of national and international developments; examination of impact of political parties, the military, labor and peasant movements, Catholic Church, multinational corporations, regional organizations, and United States on politics; public policy processes in democratic and authoritarian regimes.
  • POLS-Y 338 African Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE GCC Explores politics in Sub-Saharan Africa. Examines relevance of "traditional" political systems; impact on colonialism; building new nations and states; authoritarian regimes; process of democratization; management of ethnic, regional, religious and class conflict; political challenges of economic development; role of international actors, including the United States, United Nations, World Bank, and non-governmental organizations; and globalization.
  • POLS-Y 339 Middle Eastern Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE GCC Political culture and change in selected Middle Eastern and North African countries. Topics include political elites, traditional cultures, modern political ideology, institutions of political control, conflict management, and social reform policies.
  • POLS-Y 340 East European Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE GCC Compares political change in the East European states, and emphasizes the legacies of authoritarianism and communism and the post-communist transition to democracy. Topics include the building of political institutions, the inclusion of citizens into the polity, the reform of the economy, the management of ethnic and social conflicts, and integration into the European Union.
  • POLS-Y 342 Human Rights and State Repression (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE GCC A survey of human rights: their content and recognition, protection in national and international laws, and their violation by state and nonstate actors. The effectiveness of political and judicial institutions in curbing these violations is also considered, as is the global diffusion of norms in support of essential human rights.
  • POLS-Y 343 The Politics of International Development (3 cr.) CASE S&H Examines the key debates and issues regarding how "poor" countries develop economically and socially. Analyzes the interactions between politics and economics in the development process at the global, national, and local levels. Cases for comparison will include countries from Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East.
  • POLS-Y 344 Civil Wars (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE GCC Examines modern civil wars, focusing on their causes, dynamics, and consequences. Introduces theories to explain how civil wars begin and progress, as well as case studies to test those theories in specific contexts. Also considers ways of preventing civil wars and mitigating their consequences.
  • POLS-Y 345 Comparative Revolutions (3 cr.) CASE S&H Analysis of major modern revolutions. Focus on the social, economic, and political causes of revolutions; the rise of revolutionary movements; and the strategies for gaining and consolidating power.
  • POLS-Y 346 Politics in the Developing World (3 cr.) CASE S&H Focuses on politics in the developing world (Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East). Comparison of political history; experiences of colonialism and post-colonial authoritarian systems; political economy; development and globalization; democratization and management of protest and conflict; and interactions with international actors and transnational social movements.
  • POLS-Y 347 German Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE GCC Survey of the German political system including governmental institutions, the origins and role of political parties, opportunities for citizens to participate in politics, and current political culture. Special attention is paid to the question of how well Germany's democracy functions after experiencing several regime changes.
  • POLS-Y 348 The Politics of Genocide (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE GCC Comparative study of major twentieth-century genocides. Examines the political conditions, ideologies, and movements leading up to mass murder, and the ethnic and global context of genocide. Focuses on the question of responsibility and accountability from the viewpoints of perpetrators, victims, and bystanders in the national and international communities.
  • POLS-Y 349 Comparative Public Policy (3 cr.) CASE S&H Investigates public policies and policy making among advanced industrial democracies from a comparative perspective. Usually covers policy areas such as immigration, health care, education, and taxation.
  • POLS-Y 350 Politics of the European Union (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE GCC Study of the politics of the European Union (EU). Assesses past and present dynamics of economic and political integration in Europe, the structure and work of European Union institutions, and EU public policies such as the Single Market, the common currency, common foreign and security policy, and trade.
  • POLS-Y 351 Political Simulations (1-3 cr.) A course tied to simulations of international organizations such as the European Union, the United Nations, or the Organization of American States. May be taken alone or in conjunction with related political science courses. May be repeated for a maximum of 3 credit hours.
  • POLS-Y 352 The Holocaust and Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE GCC Examination of the socioeconomic conditions and political ideologies leading up to the Holocaust, and the political, administrative, and social context for the genocide from the vantage of perpetrators, victims, and bystanders. Focus on the individual, national, and international responses to and responsibilities for the Holocaust. Consideration of the Holocaust's legacies for the postwar world.
  • POLS-Y 353 The Politics of Gender and Sexuality (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE GCC Analysis of the gendered roles of women and men in politics and examination of the interplay between gender relations and public and private institutions. Includes exploration of political and social movements that attempt to influence public policy about gender and/or sexuality in the United States and in other countries. Examines how different social, economic, and political practices play a role in the construction of gender and sexuality. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • POLS-Y 356 South Asian Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE GCC Introduction to the legacy of British colonialism in South Asia, to the development and decay of political institutions, to questions of economic growth, to social movements, and to regional conflicts.
  • POLS-Y 360 United States Foreign Policy (3 cr.) CASE S&H Analysis of institutions and processes involved in the formation and implementation of American foreign policy. Emphasis is on post-World War II policies.
  • POLS-Y 361 Contemporary Theories of International Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H Theories used in the study of international politics: systems theory, field theory, conflict theory, alliance and coalition theories, balance-of-power theories, and an introduction to game and bargaining theory.
  • POLS-Y 362 International Politics of Selected Regions (3 cr.) CASE S&H The region studied will vary with the instructor and the year. Current information may be obtained from the Department of Political Science. May be repeated once for credit, with permission of the departmental undergraduate advisor.
  • POLS-Y 363 Comparative Foreign Policy (3 cr.) CASE S&H Compares factors that influence foreign policy and the foreign policy process. Focuses on domestic or internal sources of foreign policy behavior, including impact of individual leaders, group decision-making processes, bureaucratic politics, ideology and political culture, historical experience, and type of political system. Classroom simulations are central to the course.
  • POLS-Y 364 International Organization: Political and Security Aspects (3 cr.) CASE S&H International organizations as lateral extensions of the Western state system, exercising influence in accordance with a variety of strategies. Strategies employed by the United Nations in the political and security area.
  • POLS-Y 366 Current Foreign Policy Problems (3 cr.) CASE S&H Critique of foreign policy issues: communism, containment, imperialism, and others. Research papers and classroom presentation for critical discussion.
  • POLS-Y 367 International Law (3 cr.) CASE S&H Sources and consequences of international law; relationship to international organizations and world order; issues of national sovereignty, human rights, conflict resolution, international property rights, world trade, environmental change, and other topics.
  • POLS-Y 368 Russian and Soviet Foreign Policy (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE GCC R: Y332. Behavior of Russia and U.S.S.R. in world affairs from 1945 to the present. Emphasis on impact of geographic assets and vulnerabilities, historical experience, domestic politics, and the changing international environment.
  • POLS-Y 372 The Analysis of International Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H R: Y109 or equivalent. Introduction to the systematic study of international politics, focusing on the major approaches of decision making (microanalysis) and the international system (macroanalysis) and on a number of specific methodologies, such as game theory, content analysis, simulation, and quantitative/ statistical techniques.
  • POLS-Y 374 International Organization (3 cr.) CASE S&H Examines assumptions about the causes, functions, results, and structures of international (intergovernmental) organizations. Theory is combined with case study of the United Nations particularly. The European Community and regional organization examples provide a basis for understanding an evolving phenomenon.
  • POLS-Y 375 War and International Conflict (3 cr.) CASE S&H The nature of war. Theories and evidence on the causes of war. Discussion of the ways in which war has been conceived and perceived across time and of methods employed to study the phenomenon of war.
  • POLS-Y 376 International Political Economy (3 cr.) CASE S&H Theories about the interaction between the international economic and political systems are the subject of this course. Works from each of the main traditions—liberal, Marxist, and statist—will be assigned. Specific topics covered will include (among others): the politics of trade, aid, foreign investment, and international monetary affairs; theories of dependency and imperialism; the politics of international competition in specific industries; the stability/ instability of international economic regimes.
  • POLS-X 376 Political Science Practicum II (1 cr.) In the practicum, students will conduct experiments, or participate in simulations, or hold moot court sessions, or compete in debates or engage in problem-solving exercises. Information on topic and course affiliation available in the online Schedule of Classes. S/F graded. May be repeated for a maximum of 3 credit hours in X376 and X280.
  • POLS-Y 379 Ethics and Public Policy (3 cr.) CASE A&H Examines questions at the intersection of ethics and public policy. What morally problematic means are justified in pursuing political ends? What should be the ends of public policy? What are the moral responsibilities of public officials when they try to answer the first two questions? Uses ethical theory to examine concrete cases in public policy and concrete cases to test the adequacy theory.
  • POLS-Y 381 Classical Political Thought (3 cr.) CASE A&H, CASE GCC An exposition and critical analysis of the major political philosophers and philosophical schools from Plato to Machiavelli.
  • POLS-Y 382 Modern Political Thought (3 cr.) CASE A&H, CASE GCC An exposition and critical analysis of the major political philosophers and philosophical schools from Machiavelli to the present.
  • POLS-Y 383 Foundations of American Political Thought (3 cr.) CASE A&H Explores the evolution of American political ideas from colonization through ratification of the Constitution and its implementation.
  • POLS-Y 384 Developments in American Political Thought (3 cr.) CASE A&H, CASE DUS Explores the evolution of American political ideas under the Constitution of the United States, and its promises and problems.
  • POLS-Y 386 African American Political Thought (3 cr.) CASE A&H, CASE DUS Focuses on the various ideologies and strategies informing the African American political struggles in the United States. Readings focus on thinkers and activists from the rebellion against slavery to the contemporary debates about institutional racism and reparations. Features work by African American thinkers associated with a broad range of movements.
  • POLS-Y 388 Marxist Theory (3 cr.) CASE A&H Origin, content, and development of Marxist system of thought, with particular reference to philosophical and political aspects of Russian Marxism.
  • POLS-Y 394 Public Policy Analysis (3 cr.) CASE S&H Place of theory and method in examining public policies in relation to programs, institutional arrangements, and constitutional problems. Particular reference to American political experience.
  • POLS-Y 395 Quantitative Political Analysis (3 cr.) CASE N&M P: MATH M118 or A118 or equivalent. Introduction to methods and statistics used in political inquiry, including measures of central tendency and dispersion, probability, sampling, statistical inference and hypothesis testing, measures of association, analysis of variance, and regression. Credit given for only one of Y395, ANTH A306, CJUS K300, ECON E370 or S370, MATH K300 or K310, PSY K300 or K310, SOC S371, STAT K310 or S300 or S301, or SPEA K300.
  • POLS-Y 399 Politics of the United Nations (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE GCC Origins and evolution of the UN; principal UN bodies, how they operate and what they do; who finances the UN; controversies and voting patterns in the UN; attitudes toward the UN and debates within member countries regarding its role; impact of UN activities and programs (e.g., conflict resolution and mediation, peacekeeping and peace enforcement; nation building, development aid, weapons proliferation, human rights, health, environment).
  • POLS-Y 401 Topics in Political Science (3 cr.) CASE S&H Topic varies with the instructor and year; consult the online Schedule of Classes for current information. May be repeated once for credit.
  • POLS-Y 405 Models and Theories of Political Decision Making (3 cr.) CASE S&H P: One course in political science at the 200 level or above. R: ECON E201. Introduces collective choice and game theory for understanding how societies make political decisions. Examines how institutions, or the political context in which decisions are made, affect group choices. Theories of individual and group decision making, collective choice, and social dilemmas. Applications to congressional politics, intergovernmental relations, and parliamentary democracies.
  • POLS-Y 406 Problems in Political Philosophy (3 cr.) CASE A&H Centers on conflicting interpretations of justice, liberty, and equality, as well as certain problems of democracy, including the tension between majority rules and minority rights, and the correlation of rights and duties. Topics vary. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • POLS-Y 407 Problems in Comparative Politics (3 cr.) CASE S&H Exploration of issues and themes in the field of comparative politics. Includes advanced methodological, empirical, and theoretical approaches. Topics vary. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours
  • POLS-X 471 Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship (1-6 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Faculty-directed participation in the various aspects of academic teaching and research. Students will assist a faculty member in such activities as directing simulations, grading, teaching discussion sections, doing research. Individual assignments will vary by instructor. S/F grading. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours in X471 and Y484.
  • POLS-X 476 Political Science Practicum III (1 cr.) In the practicum, students will conduct experiments, or participate in simulations, or hold moot court sessions, or compete in debates or engage in problem-solving exercises. Information on topic and course affiliation available in the online Schedule of Classes. S/F graded. May be repeated for a maximum of 3 credit hours in X476 and X380.
  • POLS-X 477 Field Experience in Political Science (1-6 cr.) P: Junior or senior standing, 15 credit hours of political science, and project approval by instructor. Faculty-directed study of aspects of the political process based on field experience. Directed readings, field research, research papers. Certain internship experiences may require research skills. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours in X477 and Y481.
  • POLS-X 490 Undergraduate Readings in Political Science (1-6 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Individual readings and research. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours in X490 and Y480.
  • POLS-Y 490 Senior Seminar in Political Science (3 cr.) P: Senior standing or consent of department. Seminar sessions arranged to present papers for evaluation and criticism by fellow students. Subject matter varies by semester. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • POLS-Y 496 Foreign Study in Political Science (3-8 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Course involves planning of research project during year preceding summer abroad. Time spent in research abroad must amount to at least one week for each credit hour granted. Research paper must be presented by end of semester following foreign study. May not be repeated for credit.
  • POLS-Y 499 Honors Thesis (1-12 cr.) P: Approval of instructor and departmental honors director. May be repeated for a maximum of 12 credit hours.