Political Science

Graduate Faculty

Ali Abootalebi, Ph.D.
Rodd Freitag, Ph.D. (Interim Chair)
Ming-Li Hsieh, Ph.D.
Eric Kasper, Ph.D.
Mia Kelly, Ph.D.
Damir Kovacevic, Ph.D.
Adam Kunz, Ph.D.
Justin Patchin, Ph.D.
Geoffrey Peterson, Ph.D.
Daniel Simmons, Ph.D.
Jason Spraitz, Ph.D.
Amber Wilson, Ph.D.

No graduate degree programs offered.

Courses in Political Science are offered as electives for programs in other disciplines. All 500- and 600-level graduate courses include requirements or assignments which differentiate them from their companionate 300- and 400-level undergraduate offerings. Students who have taken a course at the 300- or 400-level may not include that course at the 500- or 600-level in a graduate program, except in the case of special topics courses when the topic is not the same as that taken at the undergraduate level.

POLS 501 State and Local Politics (3 crs)

Prerequisite: POLS 110 or consent of instructor.

• Dual-listed with POLS 301. Credit may not be earned in both courses.

A critical examination of federalism, localism, intergovernmental finance, intergovernmental relations, state and local institutions, and state and local elections.

Grading Basis: No S/U Grade Option

Lecture/Discussion Hours: 3

Lab/Studio Hours: 0

POLS 514 The Idea of Tolerance in the Western Political Tradition (3 crs)

• Dual-listed with POLS 314. Credit may not be earned in both courses.

Historical and philosophical consideration of the development of the idea of tolerance in the western political tradition, with emphasis on major philosophical defenders and critics of the ideal of an open, tolerant society, and on the American experiment in political, religious, and cultural tolerance.

Grading Basis: No S/U Grade Option

Lecture/Discussion Hours: 3

Lab/Studio Hours: 0

POLS 522 Politics of Russia (3 crs)

• Dual-listed with POLS 322. Credit may not be earned in both courses.

A study of the transitions taking place in Russia covering subjects such as the Soviet past, nationalism, leadership, political institutions, and relations with the other former Soviet republics.

Grading Basis: No S/U Grade Option

Lecture/Discussion Hours: 3

Lab/Studio Hours: 0

POLS 525 Model United Nations (3 crs)

• Dual-listed with POLS 325. Credit may not be earned in both courses.

A study of the institutional foundation and the contemporary role of the United Nations as a global intergovernmental organization in pursuit of a peaceful resolution to global conflicts and the promotion of cooperation among global actors.

Grading Basis: No S/U Grade Option

Lecture/Discussion Hours: 3

Lab/Studio Hours: 0

POLS 534 International Political Economy (3 crs)

Prerequisite: POLS 122 or ECON 103 or ECON 104 or ECON 201 or consent of instructor.

• Dual-listed with POLS 334. Credit may not be earned in both courses.

International political economy is the simultaneous study of power and wealth at the international level, or it is the study of political foundations of international economic interactions and vice versa.

Grading Basis: No S/U Grade Option

Lecture/Discussion Hours: 3

Lab/Studio Hours: 0

POLS 595 Directed Studies (1-3 crs)

Consent: Department Consent Required

• Dual-listed with POLS 395.

Study of a political problem or topic.

Repeat: Course may be repeated

Grading Basis: No S/U Grade Option

POLS 603 U.S. Constitutional Principles - Powers of Government (3 crs)

Prerequisite: POLS 110 or consent of instructor.

• Dual-listed with POLS 403. Credit may not be earned in both courses.

American constitutional principles as interpreted by the Supreme Court; the constitutional structure of the U.S. government. Emphasizes powers of Congress, President, Judiciary; principles of federalism and separation of power. Focus on study of Supreme Court cases.

Grading Basis: No S/U Grade Option

Lecture/Discussion Hours: 3

Lab/Studio Hours: 0

POLS 605 U.S. Constitutional Principles - Due Process and Criminal Law (3 crs)

Prerequisite: POLS 110 or consent of instructor.

• Dual-listed with POLS 405. Credit may not be earned in both courses.

American constitutional principles concerning the criminal process and criminal law. Emphasizes the rights found in the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments and theories of due process and incorporation from the Fourteenth Amendment.

Grading Basis: No S/U Grade Option

Lecture/Discussion Hours: 3

Lab/Studio Hours: 0

POLS 795 Research Paper (1-2 crs)

Repeat: Course may be repeated

Grading Basis: PR Only Grade Basis

POLS 797 Independent Study (1-3 crs)

Consent: Department Consent Required

Individual project under the direction of a faculty member.

Repeat: Course may be repeated

Grading Basis: No S/U Grade Option