College of Arts and Sciences
Departments
History, Philosophy, Political Science, and Religious Studies
Political Science
Courses
- POLS-Y 103 Introduction to American Politics (3 cr.) An introduction to the nature of politics and government and the dynamics of American politics. The course includes an analysis of the origin and nature of the American federal system, its political party base, and its major institutions. (Fall and Spring)
- POLS-Y 105 Introduction to Political Theory (3 cr.) Perennial problems of political philosophy, including relationships between rulers and the ruled, nature of authority, social conflict, character of political knowledge, and objectives of political action. (Occasionally)
- POLS-Y 107 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 cr.) 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. (Occasionally)
- POLS-Y 109 Introduction to International Relations (3 cr.) Causes of war, nature and attributes of the state, imperialism, international law, national sovereignty, arbitration, adjudication, international organization, major international issues. (Occasionally)
- POLS-Y 163 Politics and Religion (3 cr.) This is an introductory course that will cover religion in the U.S. political system from the legal, historical, social, and political perspectives. This includes an analysis of the relationship between church and state, the impact of religion on major dimensions of politics in the U.S. and the impact of religion on major elements of our society. (Occasionally)
- POLS-Y 200 Contemporary Political Topics (3 cr.) An extensive analysis of selected contemporary political problems. Topics vary from semester to semester and are listed in the Schedule of Classes. (Occasionally)
- POLS-Y 205 Elements of Political Analysis (3 cr.) An introduction to the major approaches to and techniques of the systematic study of politics. Includes an introduction to the analysis of quantitative data. Required for majors. (Fall)
- POLS-Y 301 Political Parties and Interest Groups (3 cr.) A presentation of the nature of political parties, social movements, and interest groups and their relationship to the process of representation. The course also includes a discussion of the structure and organization of and membership in these groups. Theories about political party activity and behavior are also evaluated. (Occasionally)
- POLS-Y 302 Public Bureaucracy in Modern Society (3 cr.)
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. (Occasionally)
- POLS-Y 303 Formation of Public Policy in the United States (3 cr.) An analysis of the processes and institutions involved in the formation of public policy with emphasis on Congressional policy-making, oversight, fiscal control, and political setting. (Occasionally)
- POLS-Y 304 American Constitutional Law I (3 cr.) A study of the nature and function of law and the judicial process. An analysis of selected Supreme Court decisions interpreting the U.S. Constitution. (Fall)
- POLS-Y 305 American Constitutional Law II (3 cr.) A further study of the nature and function of law and the judicial process with an analysis of other important selected Supreme Court decisions interpreting the U.S. Constitution. (Occasionally)
- POLS-Y 307 Indiana State Government and Politics (3 cr.) A study of the constitutional foundations, political development, organization, accomplishments, and current problems of Indiana government. (Occasionally)
- POLS-Y 308 Urban Politics (3 cr.) An analysis of political behavior in modern American urban communities. The course 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. (Occasionally)
- POLS-Y 312 Workshop in State and Local Government (3 cr.) An intensive study of administration problems such as financial administration, public health, and welfare. (Occasionally)
- POLS-Y 316 Public Opinion and Political Participation (3 cr.) A study of the nature of public opinion and its impact on major domestic and foreign policy issues, of mass political ideology, of voting behavior and other forms of political participation, and of political culture. (Occasionally)
- POLS-Y 318 The American Presidency (3 cr.) An analysis of the development of the Presidency and its relationship to the American political system. The course also offers a study of presidential personalities and roles, with emphasis on political leadership, and of problems of the contemporary Presidency. (Spring)
- POLS-Y 319 The United States Congress (3 cr.) A study of the role of Congress in American national politics with emphasis on constitutional powers, organization, historical development, reform, Congressional-executive relations, policy-making, oversight, and fiscal control. (Fall)
- POLS-Y 335 Western European Politics (3 cr.) Development, structure, and functioning of political systems, primarily in France, Italy, and Germany. Political dynamics of European integration. (Fall)
- POLS-Y 360 United States Foreign Policy (3 cr.) Analysis of institutions and processes involved in the formation and implementation of American foreign policy. The course also offers an overview of major post-World War II U.S. foreign policies. (Fall)
- POLS-Y 362 International Politics of Selected Regions (3 cr.) The region studied will vary with the instructor and the year. However, Latin America is often the region selected. Current information may be obtained from the Political Science faculty. (Every other Spring)
- POLS-Y 366 Current Foreign Policy Problems (3 cr.) An analysis of foreign policy issues and options facing the United States. Such issues and options may include totalitarianism, imperialism, terrorism, containment, diplomacy, preventive actions, and others. (Occasionally)
- POLS-Y 372 The Analysis of International Politics (3 cr.) An analysis of the nature and attributes of the nation-state and of international systems. The course also includes an analysis of nationalism, imperialism, the causes of war, sovereignty, international law, international organizations, and major international issues. (Fall)
- POLS-Y 373 The Politics of Terrorism (3 cr.) Examines the definition, history, logic, and political implications of terrorism. (Spring)
- POLS-Y 381 Classical Political Thought (3 cr.) This course is not a history of political theory, per se. Rather, it is an intensive study of selected works in ancient and medieval political philosophy including Plato's The Republic, Aristotle's Politics, Cicero's The Commonwealth, and St. Thomas Aquinas' The Laws. (Every other Fall)
- POLS-Y 382 Modern Political Thought (3 cr.) Similarly to POLS-Y 381, this course is an intensive study of selected works in political philosophy of the so-called modern philosophers. These include Niccol Machiavelli's The Prince, Thomas Hobbes' The Leviathan, John Locke's Second Treatise on Government, Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Treatise on the Origins of Inequality Among Men and The Social Contract, and Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto. (Every other Spring)
- POLS-Y 383 American Political Ideas I (3 cr.) American political ideas from the colonial period to the founding period. (Occasionally)
- POLS-Y 384 American Political Ideas II (3 cr.) American Political ideas from the founding period to the present. (Summer)
- POLS-Y 385 Comparative Politics: Europe and Canada (3 cr.) A comparative analysis of four European countries and Canada, four seasoned democracies and Russia, whose political system is still in flux. Emphasis is placed on the political heritage of these countries, their governmental institutions, electoral systems, political party systems, and decision-making processes. (Occasionally)
- POLS-Y 394 Public Policy Analysis (3 cr.) A study of the place of theory and method in examining public policies in relation to programs, institutional arrangements, and constitutional problems. Particular reference to American political experience. (Occasionally)
- POLS-Y 395 Quantitative Political Analysis (3 cr.) 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 associations, analysis of variance, and regression.
- POLS-Y 398 Internship in Urban Institutions (3-6 cr.) This option, which requires the permission of a political science faculty, provides opportunities for students to observe and participate directly in the policy-making process of urban institutions requiring the assistance of paraprofessionals. Research and written reports are required. Evaluations will be made by both the agency and the faculty advisor. Students working in city and county institutions may repeat the course for a maximum of 6 credit hours. (Occasionally)
- POLS-Y 401 Topics in Political Science (3 cr.) P: Y103 Topic varies with the instructor and year; consult the Schedule of Classes for current information. (Occasionally)
- POLS-Y 480 Undergraduate Readings in Political Science (1-6 cr.) P: Y103. Individual readings and research. No more than 6 credit hours total may be taken. May be taken only with consent of instructor. (Fall or Spring)
- POLS-Y 481 Field Experience in Political Science (1-6 cr.) P: Y103. Open to junior or senior majors only. Political science project approved by a faculty member. Faculty-directed study of aspects of the political process based upon field experience. Directed readings, field research, research paper. (Occasionally)