Schedule of Classes

The American political system: constitutional principles, political processes, and governmental policy making.

Political processes through which rapidly growing problems of the state and local governments are identified, fought over, and resolved.

Comparative analysis of selected political systems.

Recurrent concepts or issues in political thought and ways they have been treated by classic and contemporary writers. Obligation and the social contract, liberty, justice and equality, property, representation.

Fundamental issues and problems that have contributed to structuring current patterns of international relations.

Introduction to political inquiry; research methods necessary for in-depth research.

Topics of special interest which may vary each time course is offered. Topic stated in current Schedule of Classes. May be repeated under a different topic for a maximum 6 hours credit.

Systematic political thought in Western philosophy during ancient and medieval times. Cross listed as PHL 307.

Organization and activities of modern political parties, forces shaping partisan organization and activities, and development of public policy. Emphasis on party politics in contemporary America, with attention to American political history and comparative party systems.

Political behavior of American trial courts and variables connecting them to the larger political system. Examples from criminal procedure and civil justice cases. Emphasis on police and prosecutorial discretion; recruitment of judges; juries; and social function of judgments and punishments.

An examination of the modern administrative state through an in-depth study of the federal regulatory process; administrative law and procedure; the politics involved in the development and reform of the federal regulatory bureaucracy.

Students work with selected political agencies, to study practical political problems from the perspective of the discipline. Course may be repeated for a maximum of six credit hours. Pass/Fail.

Individual in-depth work on a subject approved and supervised by a PLS faculty member. For highly qualified students.