Course List - Political Science Minor

Required Courses (18 credits — at least 6 credits must be at the 400 level)
PL SC 001	Introduction to American National Government Introduction to development and nature of American political culture, constitutional/structural arrangements, electoral/policy processes; sources of conflict and consensus.	3 credits
PL SC 003	Introduction to Comparative Politics Introduction to study of comparative government and politics: normative/ empirical theories; government functions in modern societies; representative structures and processes.	3 credits
PL SC 014	International Relations Characteristics of modern nation-states and forces governing their international relations; nationalism; imperialism; diplomacy; current problems of war and peace.	3 credits
PL SC 017	Introduction to Political Theory Introduction to basic issues in political theory through analysis of selected major political thinkers.	3 credits
PL SC 110	Rights in America This course explores the historical and contemporary struggles of particular groups within American society to expand their rights.	3 credits
PL SC 418/418W	International Relations Theory A survey of traditional and contemporary conceptual frameworks and theoretical approaches for the analysis of international relations.	3 credits
PL SC 439	The Politics of Terrorism Analysis of political terrorism as a violent alternative for peaceful change and traditional warfare in the nuclear age.	3 credits
PL SC 442	American Foreign Policy Principles of American foreign policy; processes of policy formulation; roles of the President, Congress, the State Department, and other government agencies.	3 credits
PL SC 455	Governments and Politics of Western Europe Comparative analysis of political and governmental structures of major West European nations; main functions and processes of such structures.	3 credits
PL SC 470W	Legal Brief Writing Writing of legal briefs as practiced in American courts.	3 credits
PL SC 471	American Constitutional Law The origins of judicial review, landmark decisions of the Supreme Court, and their impact on the American form of government.	3 credits
PL SC 472	The American Legal Process Analysis of the roles, procedures, and policies characterizing the American legal system.	3 credits
PL SC 480/480W	Congress and the Presidency This course examines states, markets, power, production, and the relations between the various transnational agents who act in these areas.	3 credits
PLSC 490	Policy Making and Evaluation Advanced analysis of public policy, emphasizing policy evaluation and the factors that determine policy success and failure.	3 credits