Chair,
Department of International Studies, Languages, History, and Political
Science: William C. Clary, Ph.D.
Political Science Faculty:
Alan Havig, Ph.D.
Carolyn James, Ph.D.
Andrew Walker, Ph.D.
The political science major works with students who's goals lead
to professional employment in NGOs (non-governmental agencies such
as the United Nations), U.S. government agencies, state and local
government, or corporations. Or, they may provide the foundation
for advanced study in graduate and law schools. Political science
faculty also consider its majors and minors to be experiences in
liberal arts education, appropriate for students with a variety
of career goals who seek enrichment, knowledge and broader horizons.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science major serves students
who have a primary interest in the International Relations, Comparative
Politics, or American Government. A grade of C- or better
in each of the required courses in the major and a cumulative GPA
of at least 2.0 is required.
NOTE: In the following course listings, (1c) = 1.0 course
or 3 semester hours.
Requirements for the B.A. Major in
Political Science
Required Courses
One course from the followings:PSC 101S: Intro to Political Science (1c)
PSC 210S: International Politics (1c)
PSC 240: Research Methods in Political Science (1c)
PSC 493: Senior Practicum (1c)
PSC 494: Senior Seminar (1c)
PSC 378: Study Abroad (1c-2c)One course from the following:
PSC 368: Summer Off-Campus Internship (1c) (may be repeated once for credit)
PSC 201S: American Government: Structure and Process (1c)Choose seven (7.0) courses from the following:
PSC 242: Introduction to Comparative Politics (1c)
SSC 220: Intro to Law (1c)
Include at least four (4.0) at the 300 level. No more than 4.0 electives may be chosen from either the American or the International Relations/Comparative Politics list. One additional credit may be from the study abroad or internship if it is taken for two rather than one semester or summer.
International Relations/Comparative Politics
PSC 225: United Nations Politics I (.5c)American Politics
PSC 230S: World Order and Developing Nations (1c)
PSC 233: Introduction to the United Nations (.5c)
PSC 245S: Gender Integration and Civil-Military Relations (1c)
PSC 285S: Islam, Politics and Gender (1c)
PSC 320: World Political Geography (1c)
PSC 325: United Nations Politics II (1c)
PSC 340C: American Foreign Policy (1c)
PSC 356D: International Peace and Security (1c)
PSC 370C: Challenges to Peace: The Middle East (1c)
PSC 371C: Politics in the Third World (1c)
PSC 245S: Gender Integration and Civil-Military Relations (1c)Required Liberal Arts Courses
PSCS 280: Topics in Politics (such as: Women in US Politics) (1c)
PSC 340C: American Foreign Policy (1c)
PSC 350: Political Theory (1c)
PSC 354: American Urban and Minority Politics (1c)
PSC 360: The Supreme Court and Constitutional Law (1c)
PSC 363: The American Presidency (1c)
PSC 366: The American Legislative Process (1c)
PSC 375D: Politics and the Press (1c)
PSC 380: Topics in Politics (1c)
(such as: International Law, State and Local Government, International Organization)
MAT 207M: Introduction to Statistics (1c)Proficiency Requirements:
"L" credit earned by proficiency requirements.
Foreign language: Oral and written proficiency in French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, or another living language completed through the intermediate (252L) level or its equivalent (0-5.0 courses, depending upon prior background in the language.
Minors
Each minor requires completion of 5.0 courses, as
specified below. Students may elect additional courses in the minor
for a total of 8.0 within a 40.5 course degree program. Independent
studies (readings or projects) may be proposed as part of the required
5.0 courses in any minor.
International
Politics Minor
Required Course
PSC 210S: International Politics (1c)
Two courses (2.0) from the following:
INS 270: The Global Village (1c)Two courses (2.0) from the following:
PSC 223: Introduction to the United Nations (.5c)
PSC 225: United Nations Politics I (.5c)
PSC 230S: World Order and Developing Nations (1c)
PSC 245S: Gender Integration and Civil-Military Relations (1c)
PSC 325: United Nations Politics II (1c)
PSC 340C: American Foreign Policy (1c)
PSC 356D: International Peace and Security (1c)
PSC 370C: Challenges to Peace: The Middle East (1c)
PSC 371C: Politics in the Third World (1c)
American Politics
Minor
Required Course
PSC 201S: American Government: Structure and Process (1c)
One course (1.0) from the following:
PSC 245S: Gender Integration and Civil-Military Relations (1c)Three courses (3.0) from the following:
SSC 220: Introduction to Law (1c)
PSC 340C: American Foreign Policy (1c)
PSC 350: Political Theory (1c)
PSC 354: American Urban and Minority Politics (1c)
PSC 360: The Supreme Court and Constitutional Law (1c)
PSC 363: The American Presidency (1c)
PSC 366: The American Legislative Process (1c)
PSC 375D: Politics and the Press (1c)
Political Science Courses
PSC 101S: Introduction to Political Science
(1.0 course)
(Open to all students)
Introduces the student to study of political systems. Provides an
introduction to the five dominant subfields in the study of politics:
American Government, Political Theory, Comparative Politics, Public
Policy and International Relations.
PSC 201S: American Government: Structure and Process
(1.0 course)
(Open to all students)
Introduces the student to the basic structures and processes of
the American political system. The focus of the course is on national
government, public opinion, interest groups and elections. Particular
attention given to the ways in which the American political system
enhances or hinders full participation by women and ethnic minorities.
PSC 210S: International Politics
(l.0 course)
(Open to all students)
The study of international relations involves describing historical
and contemporary international events and attempts to explain these
events. With these goals in mind, the class will be presented some
of the dominant concepts and theories used to explain relations
among states. These tools then will be used to analyze selected
international relations.
PSC 223: Introduction to the United Nations
(.5 course)
(Open to all students)
This course provides an introduction to the United Nations as an
international organization. Students will learn the demands upon
an international diplomat, including parliamentary procedure, caucusing
techniques, the UN's specific Committee Rules of Procedure and roles
of committee chairs and rapportears. This course is a prerequisite
to United Nations Politics I or II.
PSC 225: United Nations Politics I
(.5 course)
(Prerequisite: PSC 223; may be repeated for credit)
Study of the foreign policy of the country to be represented by
Stephens College students in the National Model United Nations during
the year of enrollment. Attendance at the Model UN in New York City
is mandatory. A participation fee is charged.
PSC 230S: World Order and Developing Nations
(1.0 course)
(Open to all students)
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to academic
treatments of world order and developing nations. The areas to be
covered will include traditional and transitional societies, poverty,
colonialism, schools of political development, nationalism, urbanization
and migration. The ultimate goal is to equip students with the ability
to understand how developing states choose to govern themselves,
what challenges they face and how well these challenges are met.
PSC 240: Research Methods in Political Science
(1.0 course)
(Open to all students)
Helps students learn the skills necessary to conduct research in
political science and other social sciences. The topics include
the definition of political science, research design, data analysis
and statistical software.
PSC 242: Introduction to Comparative Politics (1c)
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: PSC 101S)
The purpose of this course is to acquaint students with a variety
of political structures and processes. Specific countries will be
presented in order to conduct a systematic comparative study. In
doing so, we can have a better understanding of various political
systems, including our own, in terms of strengths, weaknesses, and
potential for positive change.
PSC 245S: Gender Integration and Civil-Military Relations (1c)
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: PSC 101S, PSC 210S or PSC 242)
In the United States, the military is under strict civilian control.
At the other extreme, some states have governments controlled by
the military. In this class students will learn about the mix of
politics known as "civil-military relations". This course also introduces
the characteristics of civil-military relations to better understand
why, when and how conflicts occur. Emphasis is placed on the role
of women.
PSC 280: Topics in Politics
(.5–1.0 course)
(Open to all students)
Course will focus on one timely political issue about which concerned
student citizens should be informed.
PSC 285S: Islam, Politics and Gender (1c)
(1.0 course)
(Open to all students; crosslisted as REL285S and WST285S.)
This course introduces Islam as a religion, a framework for community
and a way of governance. The various strains of Islam will be presented,
including the Sunni/Shi'a split and Islamic fundamentalism. Gender
issues are introduced as a debate characteristic of modern Islam
domestically, within other cultures and across cultures. The goal
is to develop a student's ability to analyze an eclectic religion
and its concomitant political systems.
PSC 325: United Nations Politics II
(l.0 course)
(Prerequisites: PSC 223; may be repeated for credit.)
Advanced study of the foreign policy of the country to be represented
by Stephens College students in the National Model United Nations
during the year of enrollment. Attendance at the Model UN in New
York City is mandatory. A participation fee is charged.
PSC 340C: American Foreign Policy
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: PSC 101S or PSC 201S or PSC 210S,
or PSC 215S; junior standing or permission of instructor.)
This course introduces the conduct and formulation of American foreign
policy. American national interests, values, history and form of
government all contribute to the manner in which this country conducts
interstate relations. Various issues of foreign policy are covered,
with an emphasis on cross-cultural considerations when dealing with
other nation-states.
PSC 350: Political Theory
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: PSC 101S or PSC 201S; junior or senior standing)
A study of the history of political thought prevalent in the United
States and other modern democracies. Provides an overview of prominent
political theories in general as well as unique strains of political
thought as manifested by African-American, Hispanic-American, Aboriginals
and women.
PSC 354: American Urban and Minority Politics
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: PSC 201S and junior or senior standing)
Course will focus on the structural aspect of the urban political
system. Furthermore, the urban/suburban governance concerning the
most important issues, such as the concentration of poverty, women/minorities'
equal rights and interracial relationships will also be systematically
examined.
PSC 356D: International Peace and Security
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: PSC 201S or PSC 210S.)
This course will examine the causes, effects, and array of strategies
for addressing problems related to peace and war in world politics.
Students will consider topics such as theories about the nature
and origins of war, international cooperation, arms control, ethnic
conflict and crisis decision-making. The course will consider both
historical and current events.
PSC 360D: The Supreme Court and Constitutional Law
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: LPR 110S or PSC 101S sophomore standing;
or permission of instructor; cross-listed as LPR 360D.)
Course explores the basic principles of American constitutional
law through an examination of the United States Supreme Court. Focuses
on the history of the Court, civil liberties and individual rights
and the development of social policy as understood through landmark
Supreme Court decisions.
PSC 363: The American Presidency
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: PSC 101S and PSC 201S; junior standing or permission
of instructor)
A study of the development, current status and future of the American
presidency. Emphasis on presidential/congressional relationships.
PSC 366: The American Legislative Process
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: PSC 101S and PSC 201S; junior standing or permission
of instructor)
Study of American national and state legislatures, legislators and
public policy interest groups. Special attention is given to the
theory of representation, to federalism and to legislative/executive
relationships.
PSC 368: Summer Off-Campus Internship
(1-2.0 courses)
(Prerequisite: 3.0 upper level PSC courses, major or minor in PSC
and approval of department.)
This is an opportunity for a summer off-campus internship within
government, an organized political interest group or international
organization. Students must complete 240 hours of substantive work
in an approved internship for one course credit.
PSC 370C: Challenges to Peace: The Middle East
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: PSC 101S or PSC 210S or PSC 242 or
permission of instructor.)
This course provides an overview to domestic politics within Israel
and the Palestinian Authority and interstate relations with Israel's
Middle Eastern neighbors. There is a long and confusing history
to Middle East unrest; students will be guided through this maze
to a better understanding of the issues at hand and challenges to
peace. Modern emphasis will be placed on relations with the Palestinian
Authority, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
PSC 371C: Politics in the Third World
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: PSC 101S and 210S; junior or senior standing, or
permission of instructor)
Study of selected less-developed nations. Emphasizes the role of
nationalism, conflict and institution building in political processes.
Various countries studied.
PSC 375D: Politics and the Press
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: ENG 102, completion of at least 1.0 "S" category
liberal arts course and junior standing; cross-listed as MCO 375D)
Course focuses on relationship of electoral politics and mass media.
Topics include historical look at media in campaigns, negative and
positive influence of media on campaigns, impact of political ads
and debates, political communication theories, campaign reform and
election/media laws, and improvements in political coverage. Course
also relevant to those interested in political science or public
policy. Offered each semester.
PSC 378: Study Abroad
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: Major/minor in PSC, 3.0 upper level PSC courses and
approval of department.)
Students study at a foreign college or university and have the opportunity
to test what they have learned in the places where politics differ
dramaticallly, thereby improving their learning experience. May
be taken for a full year at 2.0 course credits.
PSC 380: Topics in Politics
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: PSC 101S and PSC 201S; may be repeated for credit.)
Deals with a central issue, theory, institution, policy or process
in politics. Consult course schedule for current topic.
PSC 493: Senior Practicum
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: senior standing in PSC major.)
The senior practicum course reinforces the internship/study abroad
requirement, benefiting from first-hand experience at a professional
academic conference. Prior to the conference, students will acquaint
themselves with professional political science papers. At the conference,
students will attend panels that present these papers and have an
opportunity for exchanges with the authors.
PSC 494: Senior Seminar
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: senior standing in PSC major.)
Capstone experience.
Independent Study
Independent studies (special studies, tutorials,
readings, projects) may be proposed by students who wish to investigate
a subject not otherwise available. Information about independent
study may be obtained in department offices or the Office of the
Registrar.
