POL 101 American
Politics (annual)
The institutions of American government
and the forces that shape governmental action, with emphasis on federal-state
relations, the structure and functions of interest groups and political
parties, the role of the Presidency, the operation of the Congress, the
courts, and the federal bureaucracy. 3 credits.
POL 102 Comparative Politics
(annual)
An introduction to the approaches
and concepts of comparative cross-national political analysis, focusing
on selected western and non-western political systems. Policy-making structures,
political parties and party systems, elite and interest groups are compared
and the impact of ideology, political culture, and personality and social
cleavages is assessed. 3 credits.
POL 103 International Relations
(annual)
How nations and transnational actors
interact in the international arena and why they behave the way they do
with reference to power, balance of power, deterrence, imperialism, diplomacy
and negotiations, international law, international organization, collective
security, war, and the interrelationship between international economic
issues and international politics. 3 credits.
POL 201 Introduction to Political
Theory (annual)
A survey of political theory from
Aristotle to the present. The development of political ideas and the writings
of major political theorists in their historical and institutional contexts.
3 credits.
POL 204 The Great Powers in International
Politics (bi-annual O)
A comparative study of the major
actors in contemporary international politics and the relation of great
power status to effective control over the international system. 3 credits.
POL 212 International Organizations
(annual)
The nature and functions of international
organizations with special reference to the achievements, problems, and
prospects of the United Nations and its specialized agencies. Attention
is also given to the impact of regional organizations such as the Common
Market.
Prerequisite: POL 103. 3 credits.
POL 222 International Law
(bi-annual)
A case study approach to the nature,
role, and function of international law. Special attention is given to
the origins and sources of international law and to its role in contemporary
international relations. 3 credits.
POL 241 The Presidency (annual)
A study of the role of the Presidency
and executive power in the American federal system. The personal qualities
and political styles of recent presidents and the array of formal and informal
institutions that have come to constitute the modern institutional Presidency.
Prerequisite: POL 101 or permission
of the instructor. 3 credits.
POL 242 Congress and The Legislative
Process (bi-annual E)
An examination of the United States
Congress and its role in the political process. Topics studied will include
the relations between congressmen and their constituencies, congressional
elections, the internal formal and informal structure of Congress, and
the nature of congressional decision-making in various policy areas.
Prerequisite: POL 101 or permission
of instructor. 3 credits.
POL 244 American Political Parties
and The Electoral Process(bi-annual E)
The structure and operation of
American political parties, with emphasis on their organization, leadership,
and political role. The course will also examine electoral strategies,
the use of polls and the media, the effects of issues and personalities,
and recent campaign financing laws.
Prerequisite: POL 101 or permission
of the instructor. 3 credits.
POL 261 Government and Politics
of Israel (annual)
An examination of Israeli political
culture in light of Israel's history and economic and socio-cultural structure,
with special attention to the evolution and role of the major institutions
in contemporary Israeli political life.
3 credits.
POL 302 Modern Political Theory
(bi-annual O)
A consideration of some central
issues in contemporary political thought: key texts in the history of liberalism,
socialism, fascism, democratic theory, and the critique of post-industrial
society. Readings from De Tocqueville, Marx, Weber, Durkeim, Marcuse, Sartori,
et. al.
Prerequisite: POL 201 or permission
of the instructor. 3 credits.
POL 305 The Third World in International
Politics (bi-annual O)
The conflicting goals and interests
of the developed and developing nations of the Third World. The emergence
of the developing nations as significant members of the international system
will be examined.
Prerequisite: POL 103 or permission
of the instructor. 3 credits.
POL 310 The Supreme Court and
The Constitution (bi-annual E)
The role of the Supreme Court in
the American system of government. A study of major constitutional problems
that have arisen in the light of representative Supreme Court decisions.
Prerequisite: POL 101 or permission
of the instructor. 3 credits.
POL 311 Introduction to Legal
Principles (annual)
The nature, evolution, and purpose
of law within human societies: the sources and techniques of the law, the
distinction between public and private law, and an examination of some
key conceptual problems arising under criminal law and the laws of contract,
property, and tort.
Prerequisites: HMH 101-102 or permission
of the instructor. 3 credits.
POL 315 American Foreign Policy
(bi-annual O)
The formulation and conduct of
American foreign policy since World War II. The changing relationship between
the United States and the Communist world, the Third World, America's Western
allies, and the nations of the Middle East is traced and the problems of
arms control, national security, and international political economy are
analyzed.
Prerequisite: POL 101 or permission
of the instructor. 3 credits.
POL 341 State and Local Government
(upon request)
A study of the relationships among
various components of government on the national, state, and local level,
including examination of the state legislature, the governor, state administrative
organization, the state judiciary, rural local government, municipal government,
state and local relations, metropolitan areas, and state and local finances.
Prerequisite: POL 101 or permission
of the instructor. 3 credits.
POL 411 Seminar: Problems of
Modernization and Political Development (upon request)
The pre-conditions, processes,
and consequences of modernization and political development. Various theories
and models of modernization, the crises and consequences of nation-building,
the problems of personal and societal transformation in comparative perspective.
Case studies to compare the experience and problems of western nations
and third world countries.
Prerequisite: POL 102 and junior
status or permission of the instructor.
3 credits.
POL 481-482 Independent Study
(upon request).
3 credits each.
POL 485 Legislative Internship
(annual)
Select students work as supervised
interns in local Congressional and state legislative offices.
Prerequisites: Departmental permission
and independent interview by Congressional or legislative staff director.
3 credits.
POL 486 Communal Internship
Students work as supervised interns
in selected community agencies. Prerequisite: Departmental Permission
3 credits.
POL 493 Advanced Topics in Social
Science (annual)
Prerequisite: Senior status or
departmental permission. 3 credits.
POL 494 Senior Honors Project
in Political Science (upon request)
Prerequisites: POL 493 and departmental
permission. 3 credits.