The Faculty

Chair:  David R. Jones 

 Professors:

Associate Professors:

Assistant Professors:

 

Field Description

Our lives, our communities, and our world are to a considerable degree shaped by political events. Political science provides students with an understanding of the multifaceted ideas, structures, and processes of politics in the United States and abroad. Courses are designed to accomplish three principal objectives: to help the student acquire and establish habits of critical and creative thinking about public issues; to enlarge and broaden the students understanding of significant data, major ideas, and activities regarding politics; and to prepare students for careers in law, government, journalism, and education.

The Major

All courses in the lists below are 3 credits.

Base Course

POL 1101

American Government: Practices and Values
Required Course
Political Science Capstone Seminar
Electives                                             21 credits

Students are to select 21 credits from among all the courses offered by the department, with at least one course from four of the six areas listed below.

American Government and Political Institutions

POL 2001

The United States in an Age of Globalization

POL 3008

Religion and Politics in the United States (, )

POL 3101

Political Psychology ()

POL 3102

American Conservatism: Origins, Development, and Contemporary Controversies ()

POL 3310

Public Opinion

POL 3311

Political Parties and Elections

POL 3312

Congress and the Legislative Process

POL 3313

Constitutional Law

POL 3314

Civil Liberties

POL 3316

The Presidency

POL 3318

Immigration and Integration in the United States

POL 3340

Political Socialization

POL 3417

Case Studies in American Government
Comparative Politics

POL 2260

Introduction to Comparative Government

POL 3086

Modern Middle East and North Africa ()

POL 3104

Politics of the Third World

POL 3361

Comparative Politics in Selected Areas of the World

POL 3362

Western European Political Systems

POL 3364

Latin American and Caribbean Political Systems

POL 3365

Asian Political Systems

POL 3366

African Political Systems

POL 3367

Comparative Revolutions

POL 3368

Communist Political Systems

POL 3842

Making of Modern India (), ()
International Politics

POL 2240

Introduction to International Relations

POL 3341

International Relations in the Middle East

POL 3342

American Foreign Policy

POL 3343

International Relations in Selected Areas of the World

POL 3344

The United Nations in World Politics

POL 3345

Contemporary International Conflict

POL 3346

The Rise of Asia in World Affairs (), ()
Political Theory and Methodology

POL 2332

American Political Thought

POL 3062

Political Sociology ()

 

POL 3201

Topics in Politics and Literature ()

POL 3233

Political and Administrative Research

POL 3333

Political Behavior

POL 3334

American Radicalism

POL 3335

Early Political Theory

POL 3336

Modern Political Theory

POL 3337

Contemporary Political Ideologies

POL 3500

Political Analysis
Public Policy

POL 2353

Public Policy

POL 3001

Women: Politics and Policy

POL 3005

Social Welfare Policy ()

POL 3103

Political Economy

POL 3315

Government and the American Economy

POL 3317

The Politics of Energy and the Environment

POL 5452

Field Work in Government and Politics
Urban Politics

POL 2220

State and Local Government

POL 2321

Urban Government

POL 3323

Politics and Government of New York City

POL 3422

Urban Public Policy

 

Honors Program in Political Science

The honors program in political science is designed for the outstanding student. Each student conducts research in an area specific to his or her interest and works closely with a faculty advisor. Registration requires permission from the department. Six credits are necessary for graduation with honors in political science. 

To be eligible for honors work in political science, students shall have

  1. completed 90 credits,
  2. completed 15 credits in political science, including ,
  3. compiled at least a 3.2 grade point average in their total academic work and a 3.4 average within political science, and
  4. an honors advisor assigned in advance.

The students thesis will be evaluated and graded by two faculty members in addition to the advisor, one from political science and one from another appropriate department. This committee of three will have the authority to recommend that the student be graduated with honors.

The Minor

A minor in political science will help students to flourish in the political environment in which their future economic and 

Selection of a minor must be made with the consultation and approval of the department. To suit the special educational needs and objectives of individual students, appropriate substitution of designated courses may be made after consultation with the departmental advisor. Students may minor by taking two 3000-level courses plus  Political Science Capstone Seminar.

Courses
Courses in Political Science

POL 1101

American Government: Practices and Values

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 2001

The United States in an Age of Globalization

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 2220

State and Local Government

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 2240

Introduction to International Relations

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 2260

Introduction to Comparative Government

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 2280

The Great Political Debates: The Individual and Society

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 2321

Urban Government

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 2332

American Political Thought

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 2353

Public Policy

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3001

Women: Politics and Policy

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3005

Social Welfare Policy ()

 

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3008

Religion And Politics In The United States (), )

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3062

Political Sociology ()

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3086

The Modern Middle East and North Africa ()

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3101

Political Psychology ()

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3102

American Conservatism: Origins, Development, And Contemporary Controversies ()

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3103

Political Economy

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3104

The Politics of the Third World

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3201

Topics in Politics and Literature ()

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3233

Political and Administrative Research

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3310

Political Opinion

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3311

Political Parties and Elections

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3312

Congress and the Legislative Process

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3313

Constitutional Law

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3314

Civil Liberties

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3315

Government and the American Economy

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3316

The Presidency

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3317

The Politics of Energy and the Environment

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3318

Immigration and Integration in the United States

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3323

Politics and Government of New York City

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3333

Political Behavior

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3334

American Radicalism

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3335

Early Political Theory

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3336

Modern Political Theory

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3337

Contemporary Political Ideologies

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3340

Political Socialization

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3341

International Relations in the Middle East

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3342

American Foreign Policy

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3343

International Relations in Selected Areas of the World

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3344

The United Nations in World Politics

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3345

Contemporary International Conflict

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3346

The Rise of Asia in World Affairs (), )

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3347

Seminar on Political Globalization

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3361

Comparative Politics in Selected Areas of the World

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3362

Western European Political Systems

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3364

Latin American and Caribbean Political Systems

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3365

Asian Political Systems

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3366

African Political Systems

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3367

Comparative Revolutions

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3368

Communist Political Systems

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3417

Case Studies in American Government

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3422

Urban Public Policy

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3456

American Intellectual History

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3500

Political Analysis

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3842

The Making of Modern India (), )

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3999

Special Topics in Political Science

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 4900

Political Science Capstone Seminar

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 5000

Independent Study in Political Science I

Hours and credits to be arranged

POL 5001

Independent Study in Political Science II

Hours and credits to be arranged

POL 5002

Independent Study in Political Science III

Hours and credits to be arranged

POL 5452

Field Work in Government and Politics

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 6001H

Political Science Honors I

3 hours; 3 credits per semester

POL 6002H

Political Science Honors II

3 hours; 3 credits per semester