Departmental Courses

PO10. U.S. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS (1 course)
A course designed to acquaint students with the theory and practice of U.S. government, plus increase their ability to evaluate and analyze our political practices in terms of democratic values. Topics include concepts of democracy, the Constitution, political parties and elections, the three branches of the federal government, and public policy. Area E, Fall and Spring semesters.

PO15. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (1 course)
This course introduces students to the structures and processes of international politics and surveys the major global issues of our time. The course focuses on the functions of the modern nation-state system and the patterns of conflict and cooperation in contemporary international relations. The purpose of the course is to provide students with a basic understanding of how the international political system works and to help them develop their own perspective on global issues. Fall and Spring semesters.

PO20. COMPARATIVE POLITICS (1 course)
This course introduces students to the comparative study of a variety of political systems. The course focuses on comparative analysis of various aspects of political systems, including: historical legacies; political culture and society; political institutions and parties; citizen participation and group formation; leadership and policy-making. Political systems are also evaluated in terms of their performance in economic development, political stability and political change. Countries studied include: Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China, Japan, India, Mexico and Nigeria. Area E, Fall semester.

PO32. MASS MEDIA AND POLITICS (1 course)
An analysis of how the development of major metropolitan newspapers, national news services, radio and television broadcasting, and other twentieth-century changes in the mass media have affected the actions of American political leaders, government officials, and the general public. There will also be an emphasis on how the U.S. economic system, government, and other factors influence the media. Fall semester.

PO33. POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTIONS (1 course)
A study of the nomination and election of political candidates, with emphasis upon American presidential and congressional races. Political parties are examined from the viewpoint of their organization, voters, and government. Fall semester.

PO37. LATIN AMERICAN POLITICS (1 course)
This course introduces the students to the political culture and institutional patterns in Latin America. Particular attention will be given to how political institutions respond to economic and social upheaval and political unrest. Relations between the U.S. and Latin American countries will also be discussed. Spring semester.

PO40. CLASSICS IN POLITICAL THOUGHT (1 course)
An analysis of the concepts of politics throught the writings of major political thinkers, especially Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Burke, Marx, and Mill. Special focus will center on the foundations of modern authoritarian and democratic policies. Fall and Spring semesters.

PO53, PO73. TOPICS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE (1 course)
This course offers an in-depth analysis of a special topic in political science. The subject matter varies, but always focuses on some of the central concepts and problems of politics, such as the tension between freedom and social order, developing democratic institutions, the analysis of power and authority, and political ethics. Offered periodically.

PO55. EAST ASIAN POLITICS AND DEVELOPMENT (1 course)
This course introduces students to domestic and international politcs, economic development and social change in selected East Asian countries. East Asian politics and development are studied with respect to historical legacies, society and culture, political institutions, economic development and foreign relations. The course focuses on the nations of China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, but will occasionally include nations in Southeast Asia. Prerequisite: Either PO15 or PO20 is recommended. Area GN, Spring semester.

PO60. JURISPRUDENCE (1 course)
What is law? This question will be pursued by examining several trials, by tracing the origins of law in English-American common law, by making comparisons with the European and Chinese systems, and by reading H.L.A. Hart and Ronald Dworkin. Fall semester.

PO65. U.S. PUBLIC POLICY (1 course)
This course is primarily designed to explore issues in U.S. public policy through the use of various tools of analysis and evaluation to assess the ends of and process of policy-making. Emphasis will be placed on understanding American policies, such as education, welfare, health, energy, environmental protection, crime, equal opportunity, and distributive justice from within ethical and political perspectives. Each student will research and design a public policy of their choice. Spring semester.

PO66. THE POLITICS OF DEVELOPING NATIONS (1 course)
This course examines important features of politics, economics, society and culture in developing nations and focuses on common problems associated with political modernization, economic development and social change in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Through comparative analysis, the course also attempts to develop generalizations about key problems and prospects in various regions of the developing world, such as East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Each student will prepare a country-study paper on a developing nation of his/her choice. Prerequisite: Either PO15 or PO20 is recommended. Area GN, Fall semester.

PO71. RESISTANCE AND LIBERATION (1 course)
This course will highlight modernist and post modernist theories of resistance and liberation in politics. We will consider the nature of oppression, the agents of change, the means of resistance, and the ends of liberation, including issues of nature/nurture, self/society, public/private, and violence/non-violence from the perspectives of liberalism, marxism, and feminism, among others. The writings of Marx, Alison Jagger, Toni Morrison, Foucault, Fanon, Gandhi, and Martha Nussbaum will be among those discussed. Students will develop their own theories of resistance in this discussion-oriented course. Spring semester.

PO72. ANALYZING POLITICS (1 course)
This course introduces students to the discipline of political science. Basic definitions of the political process and the fundamental concepts used in studying politics are discussed. The course acquaints students with how political scientists think about society and provides a basis for more sophisticated research and understanding of empirical political theory, as well as skills for analyzing political and social issues. Students will also explore the use of statistics and quantitative methods to address research questions. Prerequisite: Junior status or permission of instructor. Fall and Spring semester.

PO74. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (1 course)
This course focuses on the role played by international organizations in world politics. Most attention is given to international governmental organizations, such as the United Nations, the European Community, and other regional organizations. Non-governmental organizations from multinational corporations to the International Red Cross are discussed as well. The course investigates the extent to which all of these organizations contribute to the development of a peaceful and just world community of nations. Students do a term project as well as smaller papers on the readings. Prerequisite: PO15 recommended. Spring semester.

PO75. STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (1 course)
This course is designed to introduce the student to the government institutions, processes, and issues of state and local politics. One of the major features of the course is a project in which the student analyzes and evaluates a public issue by following a bill through the policy-making process of the Minnesota State Legislature. Fall semester, even years.

PO76. CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENCY (1 course)
The two most powerful branches of the national governments are the legislative and executive. They have struggled with each other ever since the U.S. constitution was first enacted, but they also must cooperate if democratic government is to succeed. Each branch has resources -- constitutional powers, staff -- and support from the public, interest groups, and the media. The outcome of the struggle and cooperation between the branches affects U.S. economic, domestic, and foreign policy. Prerequisite; Recommend previous course in U.S. government or U.S. history. Fall semester, odd years.

PO77. READINGS IN POLITICAL THEORY (1 course)
An examination of major political thinkers through a careful reading of their works. Emphasis will be placed on the ideologies of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, such as liberalism, communism, anarchism, fascism, feminism, and communitarianism. Offered on demand.

PO78. RELIGION AND POLITICS IN AMERICA (1 course)
This course offers an intensive analysis of the many connections between religion and the American political system. Students will first consider religion's historical role in shaping American political culture. Other topics to be covered include the constitutional relationship between church and state, the religious dimensions of American political behavior, religious influences on political institutions and decision makers, religious interest group activity and its impact on public policy, and the salience of religious factors in contemporary politics. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior status. Area E, Spring semester, odd years.

PO80. ISSUES FOR AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY (1 course)
Students will develop a term project on a foreign policy issue of their choice, as well as discuss the central dilemmas and assumptions about U.S. foreign policy in the present and near future. The purpose is to help students clarify their own substantive views on the major foreign policy issues for our time. the course, therefore, has a substantive focus more than a focus on how foreign policy is made. Alternate years.

PO83. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORY (1 course)
This is an advanced course in international relations, focusing on various theories of international politics and the central features of the international political system. Major theoretical perspectives and topics covered include: Realism -- power, balance of power, conflict and war; Pluralism -- interdependence, transnationalism, international organization and decision-making; Globalism -- imperialism, dependence, world-economy and historical change. Normative questions in international relations theory also are examined. These topics are explored through discussion and criticism in a seminar format. Students write a substantial research paper in addition to shorter papers and essay exams. Prerequisite: PO15 and junior or senior status. Spring semester, odd years.

PO85. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW (1 course)
A study of the judicial interpretation of the American Constitution, with special attention given to constitutional history, judicial review, criminal law, rights, and civil liberties. Spring semester.

PO88. SEMINAR IN COMPARATIVE POLITICS (1 course)
This advanced course in comparative politics addresses various current topics and theoretical issues in the comparative field. Topics may include: patterns of democratization; the transition from socialism to market economy; theories of the State; ethncity and nationalism; policy-making in advanced industrial societies; cultural and historical analysis. Topics are examined in a broad comparative framework and explored through discussion and criticism in a seminar format. Students write a substantial research paper, in addition to shorter papers and essay exams. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior status; PO20 recommended. Spring semester, even years.

PO89. SEMINAR IN CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN POLITICS (1 course)
This course examines the state of American politics today, analyzing several facets of the political system in order to reach judgments concerning the issues and problems facing contemporary American governments at all levels. Students read the best current literature on the institutions of government as well as the activities of citizens, parties, the media, and organized interest groups. The primary goal is to consider all facets of the U.S. political system and what trends are likely to affect the future course of American politics. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior status or permission of the instructor. Fall semester.

PO61, PO91. INDEPENDENT STUDY IN POLITICAL SCIENCE (Course value to be determined)

PO68, PO98. CAREER EXPLORATION, INTERNSHIP (Course value to be determined)
Off-campus employment experience related to the student's major. See description of the Internship Program. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior status. Offered Fall and Spring semesters and Summer.

PO94. CRIMINAL JUSTICE SEMINAR (1 course)
This course is offered as the capstone experience for criminal justice majors. It reviews selected topics in criminal justice and will require the writing of a major research paper. Prerequisites: PO60 or SA64 or permission. Offered annually.

PO99. POLITICAL SCIENCE THESIS (.5 course)
Taken in conjunction with another political science course from the approved list. Prerequisite: PO72 and permission of instructor. Fall and Spring semesters.