Academics

Department of Politics > Course Descriptions

110 Introduction to Politics
Basic concepts in political science; selected political systems outside of the United States; some reading in political theory; and topics in international relations. Note: Politics 110 is not a prerequisite for Politics 120. (Meets GEC First-Year Writing Requirement.)

120 Introduction to American Politics
Origins of the American political system, basic institutions, political parties and interest groups, and evolution of constitutional interpretation. (Cross-listed as American Studies 119.)

205 Introduction to Forensics
(Cross-listed as Biology 205.)

210 Politics of Western Europe and the European Union
Analysis of the political institutions and public policies of selected Western European nations as well as of the European Union.

211 Islam in Africa
(Cross-listed as Islamic Studies 211.  Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

212 Politics of the Third World
This course will highlight special topics relating to Third World nations, e.g., delayed industrialization; the lingering impact of colonialism; power and authority in nonindustrial countries; and recent democratization trends. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

214 The Politics of South Africa
This course examines the historical, socio-cultural, economic, and political evolution of the Republic of South Africa. Students will learn about the nature, dynamics, and transformation of South Africa from the precolonial period and the era of apartheid to the emergence of black majority rule in the modern multiracial, democratic South Africa. The course analyzes the nature of the economy, race and ethnic relations, liberation theology, the armed struggle, and the democratization process. In addition, the course reviews the role and interrelationships of South Africa to its neighboring African states and the foreign policy of South Africa toward the United States and other major powers in the international system. (Cross-listed as African American Studies 214. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

215 Asian Politics
This course will discuss contemporary political systems in India, China, and Japan with due consideration of major historical influences such as imperialism and war. (Cross-listed as Asian Studies 218. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

216 The Politics of the Middle East
Study will focus on issues of modernization; the nature of Middle East governments; the past and present impact of religion on the region’s culture and socio-political system; the Arab-Israeli conflict and its implications for world peace; and the impact of oil on the economy and regime stability in the Persian Gulf region. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

217 African Politics
A survey of the geography, social and political history, and postindependent politics of Black Africa. (Cross-listed as African American Studies 219. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

219 The Politics of Latin America
An introduction to politics and social change in Latin America. Study will focus on several Latin American countries and on special topics such as human rights, religion, the military, land reform, women, and population policy. (Cross-listed as Latin American Studies 219. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

220 Political Parties
American parties, pressure groups, and electoral problems. (Cross-listed as American Studies 220.)

221 The Presidency
An analysis of the executive in national government. There will be special emphasis on recent elections. (Cross-listed as American Studies 221.) 

222 Congress
The U.S. Congress is studied with respect to representational styles, institutional roles and organization, and electoral trends. (Cross-listed as American Studies 222.)

223 Urban and Suburban Politics
Problems of political and social organization in central cities and suburbs. Topics include local political parties, machines, mayors and city managers, and differences between big-city and suburban politics. (Cross-listed as American Studies 223.)

224 Mass Media and American Politics
An analysis of the influence of the mass media on American political institutions and American attitudes. Topics include First Amendment issues, political campaigns, political movements, public opinion, advertising, and entertainment. (Cross-listed as American Studies 225.)

226 The Judiciary
This is an examination of the federal court system, focusing on the United States Supreme Court. Students will study the constitutional beginnings of the federal judicial branch and its position vis a vis the two other branches of government. We will examine the history of the United States Supreme Court, the politics of presidential appointment of judges, selected case law over the course of the Court’s history and its impact, personalities on the Court and the Court’s decision-making process. (Cross-listed as American Studies 226.)

227  Prelude to the Presidency
This course examines the nomination procedures and election of political candidates focusing on Congressional & Presidential campaigns. Specifically, we will study the role of political parties, interest groups, race, gender, public opinion, the media, and electoral reform in political campaigns and elections.

240 American Foreign Policy
U.S. foreign policy at the end of and after the Cold War, with reference to fundamental principles, perennial forces, and the lessons of history. (Cross-listed as American Studies 241.)

242 Islamic Fundamentalism: Revival  or Revolution?
This course examines the theoretical roots  of Islamic fundamentalism, demonstrating  differences between this and classic Islam. The fundamentalists’ definition of Islamic government and their reformulation of the concepts of community, the Jihad, gender, Islamic economics, and relations with the West will be surveyed. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

245 The Essentials of World Politics  (Offered Less Frequently)
The course surveys contending theoretical approaches to the study of world politics. It considers the role of the international system, nation-states, and individuals and other non-state actors and their impact on political outcomes in recent years. The course also explores contemporary issues in world politics related to war and peace, economic prosperity and deprivation, international governance, the global environment, and human rights.

260 Law and the Political System
Interrelations between law and the political  system in the United States: the Constitution, legislation, administrative regulation, judicial decision; courts in politics; federalism; vigilante law. Prerequisite: Politics 120 or sophomore standing. (Cross-listed as American Studies 260.)

290, 291 Tutorial
To be arranged individually with an appropriate faculty member.

309  Equity and Social Justice in Schools
(Cross-listed as Education 310.)

310 State and Nation-Building
This seminar focuses on the nature, dynamics, and strategies of state and nation-building processes within the modern international state system. Students will examine the mechanisms utilized to forge and facilitate national consciousness among the fragile, developing post-colonial states of Africa and other Third World countries. Dominant theoretical paradigms and empirical case studies that focus on the salient differences among nation-states, nations in search of states, and states in search of nations will be discussed. Other subjects include the role and relevance of nationalist ideology in our modern world and the causes, mechanisms, and consequences of ethnic conflicts and separatist movements in both developing countries and advanced industrialized states. 

312 Campaigns and Elections
This course examines the nomination procedures and election of political candidates, with a focus on significant historical campaigns,  congressional and presidential campaigns, and the influence of political institutions.  Specifically, we will study the role of political parties, interest groups, race, gender, political behavior, public opinion, the media, and electoral reform.

318 Topics in Comparative Politics
Topics such as “Women in the Third World,” “The Politics of Jerusalem,” and “Crime and Punishment.” (Cross-listed as Women’s and Gender Studies 318. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

321 U.S. Energy and Environmental Policy
Examination of policy processes surrounding energy and environmental regulation. Topics include production and use of energy resources (oil, gas, coal, nuclear, and renewable energy); foreign policy implications of energy supplies; environmental problems related to energy use and economic development (e.g., ozone layer depletion, carbon dioxide buildup); and American attitudes toward nature and the environment. (Cross-listed as Environmental Studies 321.)

328 Topics in American Politics
Seminar examining selected topics on political issues, institutions, or problems such as race and criminal justice. (Cross-listed as American Studies 328. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement, depending on topic.)

339 Comparative Nationalism
An examination of the ethnoterritorial, linguistic, and religious bases for nationhood and statehood in multicultural states, with an emphasis on contemporary crises in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

340 World Politics
Continuity and change in international relations; consideration of the causes of war and the  conditions of peace. Examination of balance- of-power systems and collective security. Consideration of theories of international political economy. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

345 Topics in International Relations:  Arms Proliferation and Control
This course introduces students to the main arguments and concepts in international relations regarding the proliferation and control of weapons of mass destruction. It studies the theory of arms proliferation and control, focusing on why states want these weapons, why they have sought to regulate them, and how proliferation affects international security. It also surveys recent case studies of arms proliferation and control, including the U.S.-Russian nuclear deterrence regime and new challenges to it, nuclear proliferation in South Asia, Northeast Asia, and the Middle East, and recent developments in the area of biological and chemical weapons. (Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

348 International Organization & Law
This course covers the history of international law since the Peace of Westphalia emphasizing core legal concepts such as sovereignty and nonintervention and a study of the role of the United Nations in world politics with brief  surveys of the European Union, OAS, and OAU. The course will combine lectures and class discussion as well as preparations for those students who will be participating in the College’s Model United Nations Program.

353 Topics in Political Theory

354 Critics of Democracy
Modern political thought is based on ideas of equality, individuality and individual liberty, private property, and an overall idea of progress. These ideas developed especially in the thinking of Locke, Smith, and Mill. But as modernism grew, so did its critics. This course will establish some basic theories of modernism through readings in the liberal tradition and then study its opposition through the writings of Burke, Rousseau, Tocqueville, Marx, Nietzsche, Freud, Marcuse, and Arendt as well as contemporary anti- and postmodernists.

355 Family Structure and Political Theory
An examination of traditional political theory looking to questions of sexuality, child-rearing, marriage, and family construction and how these crucial issues affect political organization. (Cross-listed as Women’s and Gender Studies 355. Meets GEC Cultural Diversity Requirement.)

356 Educating Kings and Citizens
Societies and their philosophers have been devoting attention to what and how and by whom children and young adults should be taught since Plato wrote the Republic over 2,000 years ago. Today’s debates over feminism, traditionalism, ethnocentrism, religion, etc., in education merely echo what has come before. Past thinkers asked two essential questions: Which members of society should be educated and what do they need to know? Readings include those by Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Locke, Rousseau, Dubois, Washington, Dewey, and others.

357 Justice and the Law
Political societies must make all manner of judgments about what is just. We must distribute goods, determine crimes, give punishments, and create legislative districts, all with an eye to some idea of justice. Is justice fairness? Proportional? Equitable? Different political and legal theorists have approached these questions differently. Using both traditional political theory texts  and contemporary legal theory, we will explore questions of justice and the law and whether justice can be found within the law or is external to it. Readings include those by Plato, Aquinas, Hobbes, Locke, Thoreau, Mill, King, Rawls, Gunier, and contemporary legal theorists.

360 American Constitutional Law
A study through Supreme Court cases of major themes in American constitutional law from 1789 to the present. (Cross-listed as American Studies 359.)

365 Civil Liberties
Problems in civil liberties and civil rights, relating law to political culture. U.S. Supreme Court cases, materials from other countries, and selected theoretical works. Focus is on the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment. (Cross-listed as American Studies 366.)

390, 391 Independent Research
To be arranged individually with an appropriate faculty member.

395, 396 Internship in Politics
Relates theory to practice by placing students  in governmental agencies, community interest groups, and other political environments. (Two course credits.)

470 Senior Research Project

480 Senior Seminar: Environmental Activism: Politics, Participation, and the Conflict between Business and Law
(Cross-listed as Environmental Studies 480.)

490, 491 Senior Thesis
To be arranged individually with a faculty supervisor.