All courses are offered for 3 credit hours unless otherwise noted. 

Course Number	Course Name	Days/Times	Faculty
POSC 109	The U.S. Political System	MWF 10:35-11:25	Karen Beckwith
POSC 160	Introduction to Comparative Politics (Counts for CAS Global and Cultural Diversity Requirement)	TR 2:30-3:45	Pete Moore
POSC 172	Introduction to International Relations	TR 10:00-11:15 MWF 11:40-12:30	Elliot Posner Paul Schroeder
POSC 306/406	Interest Groups in the Policy Process	MW 12:45-2:00	Joseph White
POSC 321/421	News Media and Politics	MWF 9:30-10:20	Girma Parris
POSC 326/426	Constitutions in Practical Politics	TR 4:00-5:15	Laura Tartakoff
POSC 328/428	Topics in Civil Liberties	TR 11:30-12:45	Laura Tartakoff
POSC 349/449	Research Methods	MWF 11:40-12:30	Justin Buchler
POSC 370H/470H	China’s Foreign Policy	MW 12:45-2:00	Paul Schroeder
POSC 370M/470M	Theories of Political Economy	TR 4:00-5:15	Kathryn Lavelle
POSC 375/475	The International Politics of Technology	TR 2:30-3:45	Elliot Posner
POSC 376/476	United States Foreign Policy	TR 11:30-12:45	Kathryn Lavelle
POSC 379/479	Introduction to Middle East Politics	TR 10:00-11:15	Pete Moore
POSC 382A	Child Policy	MW 3:20-4:35	Gabriella Celeste
POSC 383/483	Health Policy and Politics in the United States	MWF 3:20-4:10	Joseph White
POSC 384/484	Ethics and Public Policy	MW 3:20-4:35	Jeremy Bendik-Keymer
POSC 389	Special Topics in American Politics and Policy: Race, Immigration and American Political Development	MWF 2:15-3:05	Girma Parris
POSC 391	Special Topics in Comparative Politics: The Poltiics and Government of India	MW 3:20-4:35	Julia Lee
POSC 391	Special Topics in Comparative Politics: Women and Politics in Global Perspective	TR 1:00-2:15	Julia Lee
POSC 395	Special Projects (1-6 credit hours. Prerequisites: see description)	Times as arranged	Staff
POSC 396	Senior Project/SAGES Capstone (Prerequisites: See description)	Times as arranged	Staff
POSC 495	Independent Study  (Graduate students only. Must be taken for a letter grade. Prerequisites: See description)	Times as arranged	Staff
POSC 601	Individual Investigation  (1-6 credit hours. Graduate students only. May be taken only on a pass/fail basis. Prerequisites: See description)	Times as arranged	Staff
POSC 651	M.A. Thesis Research  (6 credit hours. Graduate students only. Permission from supervisor and graduate committee is required. Grade is for the thesis itself, so Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory)	Times as arranged	Staff
POSC 701	Dissertation Ph.D.  (1-9 credit hours. Prerequisites: see description)	Times as arranged	Staff
	Integrated Graduate Studies (See description)

POSC 109
The U.S. Political System                                                                                      
Karen Beckwith
MWF 10:35-11:25

This course provides an overview of governmental institutions and processes in the United States, the political forces that combine to shape them, and how we might best understand the system that government and politics create.

POSC 160
Introduction to Comparative Politics                                                                      
Pete Moore
TR 2:30-3:45

Comparative politics is the study of processes and institutions within countries.  Prompted by real-world puzzles, comparativists investigate broad, theoretical questions:  What constitutes a revolution, and why do revolutions occur?  How does one country become more democratic than another?  Why do relations between some ethnic groups turn violent?  This course introduces some of the central puzzles and theories of comparative politics in order to help students better understand world events. Counts as CAS Global and Cultural Diversity Requirement.

POSC 172
Introduction to International Relations  
Elliot Posner
TR 10:00-11:15
Paul Schroeder
MWF 11:40-12:30                                

Why do countries fight wars?  Can nuclear proliferation be curtailed?  Does trade help developing countries or harm them?  This survey of the field of International Relations examines “big questions” in world politics.  It introduces themes including the rise, development and changes of the nation-state system; patterns and causes of international conflict and cooperation; international law, organizations, and transnational institutions; the roles of both state and non-state actors in international politics; and the methods used to understand this field.

POSC 306/406
Interest Groups in the Policy Process
Joseph White
MW 12:45-2:00

Introduction to the institutions and processes that make up the political environment of nonprofit and other organizations in the United States, beginning with an examination of the role of civil society in a democracy and continuing with the framing of issues, role of political entrepreneurs and organized interests, elections, the legislative process and strategies for influencing it, and the roles of executive institutions and the courts.

POSC 321/421
News Media and Politics
Girma Parris
MWF 9:30-10:20

This course traces the evolution of the media from an appendage of the American Party system to the so called fourth branch of government and how its influence on the political system has changed with its maturation. A central theme of the course will be an investigation of the changing normative conceptions concerning the role of the media in a popular democracy: When did fake news become objective journalism? Is the news now fake or objective? And why does this matter? These are some of the issues that students will address in class and in written assignment/ class examination.

POSC 326/426
Constitutions in Practical Politics
Laura Tartakoff
TR 4:00-5:15

Overview of ancient Greek and Roman constitution-making, medieval principles, emergence of modern constitutionalism, and the constitutionalist vision of the American and French Revolutions. Examination of contemporary constitutional issues and developments in countries such as Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ethiopia, India, and the United States. Counts as CAS Global and Cultural Diversity Requirement.

POSC 328/428
Topics in Civil Liberties
Laura Tartakoff
TR 11:30-12:45

Rights of the accused as outlined in the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments.  Topics covered are (1) arrests, searches, and seizures, (2) the privilege against compelled self-incrimination, (3) the rights to counsel, confrontation, and jury trial, and (4) the prohibition against cruel and unusual punishments.  Case-specific approach but presents interplay of history, philosophy, and politics as background of each topic.

POSC 349/449
Research Methods
Justin Buchler
MWF 11:40-12:30

This course examines approaches that political scientists use to understand events and processes.  In doing so, the course provides students with skills helpful to completing senior projects, such as the ability to evaluate and conduct research.  Through exercises and projects, students will take part in the research process from constructing a question to developing a research design to interpreting results.  Students will learn and apply key techniques, including inductive and deductive reasoning, hypothesis construction, operationalization of concepts, measurements, sampling and probability, causal inference, and the logic of controls.  They will produce materials common to the discipline, such as research designs. SAGES departmental seminar.

POSC 370H/470H
China’s Foreign Policy
Paul Schroeder
MW 12:45-2:00

The rise of China is evident in the country’s more forward and robust foreign policy that began in 1979.  At every turn, nations throughout the world must now consider China wherever their interests are at stake, be it Korea and Northeast Asia, Indochina and Southeast Asia, India/Pakistan and South Asia, or Afghanistan and Iran in the Middle East, not to mention the many African states that welcome Chinese investment but chafe at China’s presence.  Further, China is increasingly aggressive in international trade, a major determinant of its foreign policy.  This course describes the key factors that make up Chinese foreign policy, including its cultural tradition, policy-making institutions, the role of the military, and domestic determinants of foreign policy.  The course also examines China’s ever-changing foreign policy strategies, from an aggressive posture to charming its neighbors only to become more strident once again.  The course will also examine China’s role involving possible mercantilism, currency manipulation, and the hunt for traditional and alternative energy sources.  Throughout the course, we will pay attention to how China’s foreign policy relates to international relations theories and what strategies might be used to manage China’s growing role in international affairs.

POSC 370M/470M
Theories of Political Economy
Kathryn Lavelle
TR 4:00-5:15

This course is a SAGES departmental seminar in political economy that brings a wide range of theoretical perspectives to bear on the relations between market and state in the contemporary world. It focuses on three questions: What have been the major debates concerning the role of the government in the economy?  How were these debates resolved in the compromise of embedded liberalism, and What experiences have individual states had with these questions of political economy? To answer these questions, we will read original literature to uncover the connections among politics, economics, and the world of ideas that has resulted in the political debates we confront today. . SAGES departmental seminar.

POSC 375/475
The International Politics of Technology
Elliot Posner
TR 2:30-3:45

Technology is deeply political.  Nowhere is this statement more evident than in the realm of international relations, where governments perceive technology as a source of power and wealth and a symbol of relative position and modernity.  Yet for centuries skeptics have questioned the economic rationale of government technology policies.  Still, to this day, countries support emulation, innovation and a host of other strategies as means for catching up with leading nations or locking in current advantages.  What lies behind such policies?  What do they accomplish?  And what are the domestic and international politics surrounding them? After reading classic arguments, including texts by Adam Smith, Alexander Hamilton and Friedrich List, students will consider 20th and 21st century debates and an array of experiments tried by poor, middle-income and rich countries.  Cases include the development of new industries; the imposition of sanctions; the dilemma of dual technologies and military spillovers; the forging of national champions; the reorganization of banks and the creation of international financial centers; the copying of regional clusters (e.g. Silicon Valley) and stock markets (e.g. the Nasdaq); and the extraterritorial extension of domestic regulation and governance techniques.  There are no prerequisites and first year students are welcome. SAGES departmental seminar.

POSC 376/476
United States Foreign Policy
Kathryn Lavelle
TR 11:30-12:45

Focus on U.S. foreign policy making with a dynamic network of executive and congressional actors and organizations; analysis of traditional and contemporary U.S. foreign policies from nuclear defense to current economic resource issues; future role of the United States in world affairs.

POSC 379/479
Introduction to Middle East Politics
Pete Moore
TR 10:00-11:15

This is an introductory course about Middle East Politics, in regional as well as international aspects.  In this course we will explore broad social, economic, and political themes that have defined the region since the end of World War Two.  Since this is an introductory course, a major goal will be to gain comparative knowledge about the region’s states and peoples.  The countries that comprise the modern Middle East are quite diverse; therefore, we will only be able to focus on a few cases in depth.  A second goal is to use the tools and theories social scientists employ to answer broad questions related to the region, such as: How have colonial legacies shaped political and economic development in the Middle East?  How do oil, religion, and identity interact with politics?  How have external powers affected the region’s political development?  What do the uprisings of 2011 hold for the region’s future? Counts as CAS Global and Cultural Diversity Requirement.

POSC 382A
Child Policy
Gabriella Celeste
MW 3:20-4:35

This course introduces students to issues in public policy that impact children and families. Local, state, and federal child policy will be considered, and topics will include, for example, policies related to child poverty, education, child welfare, juvenile justice, and children’s physical and mental health. Students will learn how policy is developed, how research informs policy and vice versa, and a framework for analyzing social policy. Recommended preparation: One social sciences course or consent. Cross-listed as ANTH 305 and CHST 301.

POSC 383/483
Health Policy and Politics in the United States
Joseph White
MWF 3:20-4:10

Overview of the principal institutions, processes, social forces, and ideas shaping the U.S. health system.  Historical, political, economic, and sociological perspectives on the health system are explored as well as the intellectual context of recent policy changes, challenges, and developments.  Students will acquire a sense of how health services are financed and delivered in the U.S.  They will also learn how to assess its performance compared to that of other similar countries.

POSC 384/484
Ethics and Public Policy
Jeremy Bendik-Keymer
MW 3:20-4:35

Evaluation of ethical arguments in contemporary public policymaking discourse.  That is, approaches to evaluating not only the efficiency of policy (Will this policy achieve its end for the least cost?) but also the ethics of policy (Are a policy’s intended ends ethically justified or “good,” and are our means to achieve those ends moral or “just”?).  Overview of political ideologies that supply U.S. political actors with their ethical or moral arguments when proposing and implementing public policy, followed by an application of these differing perspectives to selected policy areas such as welfare, euthanasia, school choice, drug laws, censorship, or others. Cross-listed as PHIL 384/484.

POSC 389
Special Topics in American Politics and Policy: Race, Immigration and American Political Development 
Girma Parris
MWF 2:15-3:05

This course takes a historical look at the politics of race and immigration as a means of not only detailing its history but in brining into relief the historical lineage of contemporary issues in the politics of race and the politics of immigration. The course will look at the historical origins of (but not limited to) the following contemporary issues: undocumented immigration, nativism. refugee policy, police brutality, residential segregation, mass incarceration and socioeconomic gaps that correlate with race and ethnicity. A secondary goal of the course is to show how historically the politics of race and immigration have interacted and/ or reinforced policy developments in the other. This has led to political developments in race/ immigration often reinforcing or spurring political development in the other. In addressing this secondary goal, the course will investigate the institutional and political foundations of the socio economic hierarchies that have developed along race and ethnic lines. Written assignments, class discussion and class examinations will be oriented towards the investigatory aims of these two goals.

POSC 391/491
Special Topics in Comparative Politics: The Poltiics and Government of India
Julia Lee
MW 3:20-4:35

As the world’s largest democracy, India is a prominent country in global affairs today. This course provides an introduction to the political structure and policymaking process that shape development in contemporary India. The main questions we address are: How has India’s democracy thrived in a country with numerous religious, linguistic, ethnic, and economic groups? How does politics help explain India’s rapid economic growth on one hand and widespread poverty on the other? What are the major challenges of India’s democracy today? Some of the topics we will cover include: colonial legacies, government institutions, elections and political parties, decentralization, identity politics, poverty, civil society, and corruption. Using India as a guide, the course will cover concepts and themes that are useful for analyzing politics in other developing countries.

POSC 391/491
Special Topics in Comparative Politics: Women and Politics in Global Perspective
Julia Lee
TR 1:00-2:15

This course is an introduction to the comparative study of women’s participation in politics from an international perspective. The main questions we focus on are: Does the descriptive representation of women lead to their substantive representation? Do gender quotas promote women’s representation? Do women make a difference once elected to office? What are the main obstacles to women’s representation? How has public opinion changed with respect to women in politics? The course will provide an opportunity for students to read and discuss empirical, qualitative, and theoretical scholarship on the role of women in politics with a focus on developing countries. Course readings are organized under four sections: representation and impact, women’s political participation, culture and attitudes toward women, and transnational issues concerning women. As part of the course grade, students will be expected to write an original research paper.  No prerequisite.

POSC 395
Special Projects

(Requires consent and a permit from instructor)  Study of a topic of particular interest, or an approved internship. The student must submit to the departmental office a project prospectus form, approved and signed by the faculty supervisor, no later than the end of the second week of classes. The prospectus must outline the goals of the project and the research methodology to be used and is part of the basis for grading. The prospectus form is available from the departmental office of from the department’s Web page.

POSC 396
Senior Project SAGES Capstone
Times as Arranged

(Requires consent and a permit from instructor)  Capstone experience for political science majors or senior POSC minors as part of the SAGES program, providing opportunity to do an in-depth paper on a topic of particular interest to them. Students must obtain approval from a faculty project advisor and list that advisor on the registration form. The advisor must sign and student submit to the department a prospectus including goals, schedule, and research methodology. This paper should demonstrate, and ideally even extend, the skills and expertise developed over the course of study in the department. Upon completion of the capstone, students will be expected to present their work in a public forum. Recommended preparation: Junior or Senior political science major or senior political science minor and departmental prospectus form. Counts as SAGES Senior Capstone.