Click
here to see Political Science B.A. and B.S. Degree Requirements
Click
here to see Political Science B.A. and B.S., Pre-Law Concentration Degree
Requirements
*General Education Courses
**Writing Intensive Courses
*Political Science 150. AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS. An
introduction to the American political system, with an emphasis upon the
national political institutions, processes, groups, public behavior, and
issues which shape contemporary society. 3 credits.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW
A RECENT POSC 150 SYLLABUS (Harbour)
*Political Science 245. GENDER AND POLITICS. An examination of gender as a socio-political construct within a global context, including an analysis of both feminist and masculinist theories of politics. An in-depth study of the gender who, what, and how of world politics. 3 credits. TLOU
*Political Science 255. INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS. A survey of political systems, and a consideration of the meaning of concepts and themes, such as states, political systems, nationalism, ethnicity, ideologies, racial politics, and political change. Students will become familiarized with both mainstream and alternative approaches to studying political phenomena within a comparative framework. Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe will provide the framework. 3 credits. TLOU
*Political Science 331. POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY. Survey of the principal
political theories and philosophies from ancient Greece through the Middle
Ages, including the contributions of Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, St. Augustine,
and St. Thomas Aquinas. 3 credits. HARBOUR
CLICK HERE
TO
VIEW A RECENT POSC 331 SYLLABUS
*Political Science 332. POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY. Survey of modern
political theories and philosophies, including the contributions of Machiavelli,
Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Burke, and Marx. 3 credits. HARBOUR
CLICK HERE TO VIEW A RECENT POSC
332 SYLLABUS
**Political Science 216. AMERICAN STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT. A study of American state and local political institutions and processes, and of related current issues and problems. 3 credits. CALIHAN
Political Science 230. ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE. Survey of the operations of institutions which compose our system for administering criminal justice, including police administration, premises and politics of court procedures and management, and corrections. 3 credits. CALIHAN
Political Science 295. SPECIAL TOPICS. Offered on demand. 3 credits.
Political Science 300 (History 300). TEACHING HISTORY AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOL. A study of the nature of disciplines from which content in the social sciences in drawn for instruction at the secondary level and of the relationship between the nature of these disciplines and the planning of instruction. Observation and participation in the work of selected secondary school classrooms is required. This course does not count toward the completion of the 43 credits stipulated under Section D, Political Science Major, B.A. Degree, or of the credits designated as major requirements for the B.A./B.S. Pre-Law concentrations. Prerequisites: Education 245 and 260. 3 credits. WELCH
**Political Science 314 (History 314). POLITICAL HISTORY OF AFRICA. A survey of the political landscape of African history. A major portion of the course examines the significance of precolonial kingdoms, assesses the growth of the "slave trade", analyzes African intellectual history, and explores the "eve of colonialism" in Africa. 3 credits. TLOU
**Political Science 335. WESTERN EUROPEAN POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT. An examination of the political systems of Western Europe, with in-depth analysis of Great Britain, France, and Germany. Issues like social democracy, gendered politics, right-wing extremism, and the European Union are explored as causes of political change and continuity in Europe. 3 credits. TLOU
**Political Science 336. RUSSIAN AND EASTERN EUROPEAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS. Study of the governments and politics of Russia and Eastern Europe. Special attention is given to the rise and fall of Communism and to the challenges of building democratis institutions and market oriented economic systems. 3 credits. TLOU
**Political Science 337. ASIAN GOVERNMENTS AND POLITICS. A study of the political systems and foreign policies of the major Asian powers, with emphasis on China and Japan. 3 credits. Staff
**Political Science 341, 342. AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT. (Political Science 341 -- to the Civil War; Political Science 342 -- 1860 to the Present). An introduction to the principal thinkers and the central themes in American political thought. 3 credits. HARBOUR
**Political Science 343. AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY. A study of U.S. foreign policy with special attention to the policy-making process, current problems in foreign affairs, and the development of long-range foreign policy. 3 credits. Staff
**Political Science 350. THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY. The modern
presidency and its role in contemporary politics, emphasizing the constitutional
background of the office, the evolution of presidential powers, relationships
between the presidency and the Congress and bureaucracy, the presidential
election process, and the role of the presidency in policy making. 3 credits.
HARBOUR
CLICK HERE TO VIEW
A RECENT POSC 350 SYLLABUS
Political Science 355. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES (I). Study of prominent Constitutional principles, issues, and practices pertaining to persons accused or convicted of crime. Particular focus on the ideas of the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments. Extensive use of Supreme Court decisions. 3 credits. CALIHAN
Political Science 356. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES (II). Study of prominent Constitutional principles, issues, and practices concerning government-private individual relations, with particular emphasis upon freedoms of speech, press, religion; privacy; and social and economic discrimination. Extensive use of Supreme Court decisions. 3 credits. CALIHAN
**Political Science 360. POLITICAL PARTIES. Comparison of two-party systems with one-party and multi-party systems around the world; study of the nature, advantages, and disadvantages of political party systems, with an emphasis upon the development of the two-party system in the U.S. 3 credits. Staff
Political Science 370. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. Survey of the premises and issues of public bureaucracies, and of principal activities of policy administrators, including personnel management, budgeting, decision-making, intergovernmental relations, and relations with courts, elected officials, and private organizations. 3 credits. CALIHAN
**Political Science 390. POLITICAL LEADERSHIP. The course investigates
the diverse nature of leadership and the place of leadership in modern
society. While the main emphasis is on political leadership, a strong interdisciplinary
approach will be employed. Students will be required to think about various
needs, origins, moral dilemmas, requirements, and techniques of leadership
in a wide variety of differing circumstances. 3 credits. HARBOUR
CLICK HERE TO VIEW A RECENT POSC 390 SYLLABUS
Political Science 400. WASHINGTON INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. Department-sponsored internship in association with the Washington Center Internship Program. The internship combines intensive on-the-job training with academic seminars, lectures, and research. Prerequisites: Political Science 150, and 6 additional hours in Political Science; second-semester sophomore to senior standing; 2.5 cumulative GPA; permission of department head. 16 credits. Staff
Political Science 401. THE POLITICAL SCIENCE SEMESTER INTERNSHIP. Work in residence with the Virginia General Assembly for a complete session, the balance of the semester to be spent in directed study on a topic or topics approved by the department. Open to qualified juniors and seniors. Prerequisites: Political Science 150; 216; 341 or 342; and permission of instructor. 16 credits. Staff
Political Science 402. POLITICAL SCIENCE INTERNSHIP. Department sponsored internship in association with appropriate public or private agency. This program of work and study must be approved by the advising departmental instructor, with the credit assigned being tied to the nature of the project. Prerequisites: Political Science 150 and 216; six additional hours of political science; and permission of instructor. 1-16 credits. Staff
**Political Science 441. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. Study of the factors conditioning international politics, with emphasis upon the foreign policies of major powers. 3 credits. Staff
Political Science 442. INTERNATIONAL LAW AND ORGANIZATIONS. A study of international law and organizations, with emphasis upon the principles of international law. Additional consideration of the policies of the United Nations. 3 credits. CALIHAN
Political Science 443. UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY AND NATIONAL SECURITY: 1990-2000. This course represents an endeavor to identify and analyze major US foreign policy and national security issues and threats likely facing the United States both externally and internally in the closing decade of the Twentieth Century. Major attention is devoted to the continuing dynamics in Russo-American relations and to problems of a politico-economic nature posed by nations of the developing or Third World. Additionally, discussions focus on various response options potentially applicable to the resolution of current issues. 3 credits. Staff
Political Science 455 (History 455). CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. Intensive case-study examination of the continuing development of the Constitution. Emphasis on judiciary, presidency, federalism, commerce, and due process problems. 3 credits. CALIHAN
Political Science 460, 461, 462. POLITICAL SCIENCE SEMINAR. Open to juniors and seniors. Offered on demand; 1 credit. Staff
Political Science 461. SENIOR SEMINAR. Capstone course in Political
Science. Research, writing, and assessment of student outcomes. Required
of majors in Political Science. 1 credit. HARBOUR
CLICK HERE TO VIEW
A RECENT POSC 461 SYLLABUS
Political Science 463, 464. WASHINGTON SYMPOSIA. Symposium programs sponsored by the Washington Center. 40 to 60 hours of lectures, panel discussions, workshops, site visits, and bi-weekly discussion groups over a 2 to 3 week period in Washington, D.C. Prerequisites: Political Science 150, 2.5 cumulative GPA, approval of department head. 2 or 3 credits. Staff
Political Science 465. THE ROLE OF US NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN FOREIGN POLICY. This course provides a basic overview of the history, current organization and missions of the US Foreign intelligence establishment ("the Intelligence Community") and its various programs and activities in support of US foreign policy and national security objectives in the closing years of the 20th century. 3 credits. Staff
Political Science 469 (History 469). SOVIET DIPLOMACY. An analysis of the diplomacy and foreign policy of Soviet Russia, 1917 to 1991, with emphasis upon the political machinery and motivating forces which determine foreign policy. 3 credits. CROWL
Political Science 490, 491. POLITICAL SCIENCE SEMINAR. Open to juniors and seniors; offered on demand. 3 credits.
Political Science 495. SPECIAL TOPICS. 1-3 credits.