| POS
101 |
American Government
This introductory course presents the dynamics of American
politics and government. Such factors as public opinion, interest
groups, political parties, mass media, Congress, the Presidency,
the bureaucracy, and the courts are analyzed. The national level
of American government is emphasized in this course. |
| POS
195 |
Wheeling and Dealing: The Theory and Practice of Negotiation
Negotiation is one of the central processes used in decision-making
and conflict resolution in the world today. Diplomats engage
in international negotiation, lawyers negotiate civil liability
suits, financiers haggle over mergers and acquisitions, labor
wrangles with management, buyers dicker with sellers, judges
bargain pleas of the accused, and teenagers barter for use
of the family car. The skills of a negotiator are important
for survival and success in a number of life and career events.
The purpose of this freshman seminar is to examine a number
of theoretical perspectives on negotiating and to develop
in students those skills necessary for successful negotiation.
In addition to readings on the topic, students will use a
variety of social science learning methods including role
playing, computer simulation, video instruction, and written
and filmed case studies. Some guest lecturers will also be
invited to class. General studies social science.
|
| POS
202 |
International Politics
An introduction to the political relations among countries.
Attention is focused both on the foreign policies of individual
countries and on the international political system at large.
The aim is to teach the student how to analyze and explain the
multifold activities that take place in the international arenas. |
| POS
205 |
Comparative Politics
The concepts of systems analysis are used in the study of
structures and processes of foreign political systems. Both
theoretical and case study materials are used to show the similarities
as well as the differences in the ways people govern themselves. |
| POS
206 |
Comparative World Views
This course concerns mindsets of individuals, how they are
formed, what their major components are, and how mindsets mold
our perceptions of events and influence choices at all levels
from the individual to the international. While Comparative
World Views is focussed on understanding the exterior world,
it begins with applications to the US. The cultural and political
bases for worldviews of other nations are examined, using case
studies of selected international incidents to highlight differences
in worldview. |
| POS
207 |
Research Methods in Political Science
The social scientific study of politics and public policy
is introduced in this course which includes skill development
in hypothesis formulation, measurement, research design, survey
research, and statistics through multivariate analysis. |
| POS
210 |
The U.S. Congress
This course introduces students to the history of the Congress,
the characteristics and behavior of its members, the impact
of Congressional elections, institutional powers and operations,
Congressional relationships with other branches of government,
the impact of public opinion on policy making, and methods to
assess the democratic performance of the institution. |
| POS
214 |
Public Policy
Students in this course study how policies are made by governments.
Half of the course is devoted to a comparative analysis of three
major policy perspectives or ideologies, along with a description
of popular models of the policy-making process. The other half
of the course uses this theoretical background to focus on policy
case studies from fields including economics, health care, education,
and the environment. |
| POS
216 |
Law and Society
An introduction to the social scientific study of law and
legal systems. Addresses such issues as the nature of law and
its functions in society, including social control, dispute
settlement, and social engineering. Examines the attributes
and organization of legal systems and particularly, although
not exclusively, the American system. Offers an overview of
the roles and functions of lawyers and judges, and a more focused
examination of Supreme Court decision-making. Some familiarity
with American politics and institutions is assumed. |
| POS
231 |
Criminal Law
An introduction to the study of criminal law. The principles
of American criminal law are examined using the case method.
Among the topics covered are the general principles of criminal
liability, the elements of various crimes, and defenses. The
structure and operation of the criminal justice system are
also reviewed.
Prerequisite: POS 101 or 216 or permission of the
instructor.
|
| POS
302 |
Public Administration
An introductory examination of the policy-making function
of the governmental bureaucracy, its societal supports, and
intergovernmental relationships. Contemporary issues, such
as budgetary priority-making, also are examined.
Prerequisite: POS 101.
|
| POS
310 |
Metropolitan Politics
An analysis of political conflict (governmental and nongovernmental)
in metropolitan areas. Suggested solutions to and theories of
modern urban community problems are analyzed and considered.
Patterns of political centralization and decentralization as
they are related to technological, ecological, and legal variables
also are treated. |
| POS
315 |
Political Theory
An examination of the major political concepts which have
molded our modern world, through the examination and discussion
of original works of political philosophy. The course covers
major theorists and their ideas, and major schools of thought,
from the Greek philosophers to the 20th century. Open to all
students. |
| POS
320 |
Politics and the Environment
This course develops the idea that there are three contending
views or "discourses" about how to frame environmental
politics: scientifically or technically; economically; or as
an exercise or test of democracy. By the end of the semester
students will be able to identify these discourses and to see
them at work in contemporary debates over environmental issues. |
| POS
321 |
Environmental Policy
After a brief history and discussion of the theory behind
environmental policy this class will devote its time to an
extended description and critical discussion of specific environmental
policies. This discussion is broken into two main categories:
policies dealing with pollution and public health (including
waste and air and water pollution), and policies dealing with
land management and the public realm (including agriculture,
public lands, and sprawl).
Prerequisite: It is recommended, but not required,
that POS 320 be taken before POS 321.
|
| POS
322 |
Political Parties, Elections and Interest Groups
An analysis of the political organizations, including
the political parties and pressure groups operating in the
American political system. Students will be expected to participate
in supervised field work.
Prerequisite: POS 101.
|
| POS
325 |
Intergenerational Justice and the Environment
This course combines readings on the philosophical question
of intergenerational justice with other readings which apply
the concept of intergenerational justice to environmental issues,
broadly defined. Among the theoretical issues we will examine
is whether we have obligations to distant future generations
and how we ought to understand those obligations. Different
approaches to intergenerational justice will be examined, and
the students will be encouraged to explore the implications
of adopting one or the other understanding of intergenerational
justice. |
| POS
334 |
Liberalism and Conservatism
This course presents the ideas and principles of liberalism
and conservatism, plus those of radicals and reactionaries.
First, these ideologies are placed in the context of contemporary
ideologies. Then each is viewed in terms of its historical background,
content, and present political position. Students read contrasting
accounts of these ideologies and write essays in which they
explore the ideas in depth. |
| POS
340 |
Topics for Political Analysis
A seminar on a selected topic of interest to students and
faculty in political science. The focus is on materials and
method as well as the content of the topic. Recent topics covered
were political leadership, women in politics, and the theory
and practice of democracy. |
| POS
350 |
International Law
This course in international law is intended especially
for students of international affairs and for prelaw students.
It examines international law in the context of the international
political system of which it is a part. The course emphasizes
the rules of international law as they are set forth and practiced
in the areas of subject status and legal qualities, jurisdiction,
actions, cooperation, pacific settlement of disputes, and the
use of force. |
| POS
355 |
International Organization (W)
The character and functions of international organizations,
and their place in the context of international politics,
are analyzed through an intensive study of contemporary international
organizations, including the United Nations, regional organizations,
and others.
Prerequisite: POS 202.
|
| POS
371 |
Constitutional Law
The study of the United States Constitution as interpreted
by the United States Supreme Court, concentrating on fundamental
constitutional doctrines of judicial review, federalism, and
separation of powers. Emphasis also is placed on understanding
the role of the judiciary in the American constitutional system,
as well as the importance of
considering the political and historical context in which
any given constitutional doctrine is developed. This course
is taught using the case method.
Prerequisite: POS 101 or 216 or permission of the
instructor.
|
| POS
372 |
Civil Liberties
This course is an intensive analysis of constitutional
provisions and United States Supreme Court decisions regarding
protections for individuals against excessive governmental
interference (civil liberties) and provisions by which individuals
may use government power to protect themselves against certain
forms of discrimination (civil rights). Emphasis is placed
upon the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, including the Equal
Protection Clause and Due Process Clauses of the 14th Amendment
as well as various congressional enactments intended to further
the purposes of those amendments. Such topics as the right
to privacy, abortion, the rights of the criminally accused,
and other controversial and contemporary issues are covered.
This course is taught using the case method.
Prerequisite: POS 101 or 216 or permission of instructor.
|
| POS
399 |
Internship
Involvement in a public bureaucracy or political activity
under the supervision of an Albright instructor and a mentor
at the internship location. |
| POS
401 |
Seminar on American Institutions and Culture
A reading seminar on institutions, processes, personalities,
and outcomes of domestic politics and public policy. Readings
are selected to provide students with an understanding of
the scope of the approaches used by political scientists when
studying institutions, behavior, and culture. Designed for
juniors and seniors in political science.
Prerequisite: POS 101.
|
| POS
403 |
United States Foreign Policy Seminar (W)
A seminar examining the processes and functioning of the
United States political system in the area of foreign policy
determination. The decisions the U.S. has made and their effects
are analyzed and evaluated.
Prerequisite: POS 101 or 202.
|
| POS
410 |
Political Power and the Environment
The method of this class will be to look into the various
theoretically asserted "dimensions" of political
power asserted by traditional pluralists, radicals, and post-modernists.
Each shall be demonstrated by an extended look into an environmental
case study. Cases range from air pollution, to protection
of a wild river, to coal mining, to the exclusion of Native
American notions of property and kinship with the environment.
Students will obtain from this class a detailed knowledge
of important historic environmental struggles and a clarified
working knowledge of power, one of the most important concepts
in the study of politics.
Prerequisite: POS 101.
|
| POS
412 |
Seminar in Law and Public Policy
A research seminar that examines the roles of law and
legal institutions in the formulation, administration, consequences,
and evaluation of public policies. In order to facilitate
understanding of the complex interplay between private and
public actors characteristic of this subject, the seminar
involves intensive examination of one or more policy areas.
Examples of such policy areas include the limitations of the
judiciary as a public policy actor, the continuing controversy
over the establishment and free exercise of religion clauses,
and the controversy over the death penalty.
Prerequisite: POS 216, or 371, or 372 or permission
of instructor.
|
|
POS 425
|
Senior Seminar in Crime and Justice
The goal of the course is to tie together the Crime and
Justice student’s study of political science by examining
how criminalization policy is made and administered, and what
types of limits the United States Constitution places on how
the law is enforced.
|
Political Science