100-level | 200-level

NOTE: The categories to which each course belongs is indicated in parentheses after the course description. The areas are: Political Cultures (PC), American Politics (AP), Political Thought (PT), International Relations (IR), Comparative Politics (CP), Methodology (M), Public Law (PL), Experiential Learning (EL), and Advanced Study (AS).

300: Political Analysis and Research. An introduction to the scientific method as applied in political science research. Among the topics covered are distinctions between normative and empirical statements, techniques for gathering data, basic data analysis, and interpretation of statistical results. This course is strongly recommended for students considering graduate study. (M)

310:  Culture and Development. Examines the theoretical and empirical linkages between development and culture.  Development remains a hotly contested concept, as is its relationship with “culture,” or the norms, customs, practices and institutions that govern social relations in a particular society. The relationship between culture and development poses significant challenges to students of international and comparative political economy, especially in an era of unprecedented globalization. (PC)

311:  Diasporas and Gender. Explores the politics of gender and identity as they unfold in the movement and displacement of peoples from one nation-state to others. Focuses the role of women in the exit, transit, entrance and settlement of diaspora communities.  Questions are raised about the place of women in the family, labor markets, and in the construction of identities.  The broader dilemmas of displacement, cultural conflict, destruction and reconstruction of identities as well as the role of memory are explored through critical readings of literary texts. (PC)

312:  Contemporary Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Politics. Explores the historical roots and contemporary realities of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (GLBT) politics, nationally and internationally.  Such issues as hate crimes, marriage, AIDS, and ballot initiatives over non-discrimination law and policy have entered the political mainstream since the 1970s.  This course examines the GLBT movement, its political and social strategies, conflicts and issues, and the political roles played by its members as participants in political culture. (PC)

319: Topics in Political Cultures. (PC)

320: Dynamics of Public Policy. Competing theories of policy formation and the application of these theories to current policy contexts. Problems of policy implementation will be considered. (AP)

321: Mass Media and American Politics . The rise, fall and manipulation of public opinion and voting behavior with special attention given to the mass media. (AP)

322: Urban Policymaking. U.S. urban policy is examined from the standpoints of program objectives, the mechanics of their evaluation, and the barriers to their effective implementation. (AP)

323: Chicago Government and Politics. The particular socioeconomic characteristics of Chicago are linked with its formal government structure, informal political style, and prominent public issues. To enhance this analysis, comparisons with other U.S. cities are employed. (AP)

324: Inequality in American Society. This course examines the nature and extent of inequality in American society and explores various psychological, political, social, and economic theories which attempt to explain the existence of this phenomenon. (AP)

325: Latino Political Empowerment. An in-depth, critical examination of the politics and identity of Latinos in the United States. Major topics include the emergence of Latino communities, the political economy of Latino communities, and institutions and processes of contemporary Latino politics. (AP)

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326: Agenda Setting and Public Policy. This course examines theories of agenda setting and decision making in public policy. It offers empirical and theoretical analyses of linkages between the rise and fall of issues from the agendas of the United States Congress, President, media, interest groups, and public opinion. (AP)

327: Public Opinion. An in-depth look into how individuals form opinions, how researchers attempt to measure attitudes, what the public thinks about a variety of social and public policy issues, and the role that public opinion plays in American society, politics, and notions of democracy. (AP)

328: Topics in American Politics. (AP)

329: Topics in Public Policy. (AP)

330: American Political Thought. An examination of the enduring problems of American political thought from colonial time to the present, including puritanism, constitutionalism, Calhoun, populism, socialism, Social Darwinism, and pragmatism. (PT)

331: Contemporary Political Thought. An intensive seminar discussion of selected political and social thought of contemporary significance drawn from main currents of liberalism, conservatism, socialism, fascism, anarchism, and existentialism. (PT)

333: Marxism. An analysis of Marxist political and economic thought as represented by the writings of Marx, Lenin, Trotsky, Likacs, Sartre. Primary texts will be examined, and their application to the contemporary setting considered. (PT)

334: Latin American Political Thought. An historical survey of important themes in political thinking in Latin America. The readings draw upon literature and the writings of political actors theorists. (PT)

335: Theories of the Church (cross-listed as CTH 209). This course deals with the theological, social, and political implications of ecclesiology, or “theories of the church”. Students will explore ideas about the origins and purposes of the Church, notions of authority and membership, matters of church and state, and more. The impact of Marxist, feminist, and conservative ideologies on understandings of the church may also be explored. The course will integrate theological, sociological, and political methods of analysis. (PT)

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336:  African-American Political Thought. Considers black political thought through a variety of ideological, political, legal and historical perspectives.  First explores early efforts by blacks to challenge the racialized limitations of America's core principles of liberty, equality and democracy in the contexts of abolitionism, the women's suffrage movements, Manifest Destiny, and American industrialism.  Then concentrates on the evolution of contemporary black political thought, with an emphasis on both conceptual diversity and continuity over time. (PT)

337: Christian Political Thought. An exploration of key themes, thinkers, and movements in the Christian tradition's engagement with power, governance, authority, and allegiance. Students explore scriptural and early church sources; important pre-modern theologians, such as Augustine and Aquinas; Reformation figures, including Luther and Calvin; and contemporary philosophers, theologians, and topics. (PT)

339: Topics in Political Thought. (PT)

340: The European Union. This course examines the history, institutional structures and processes, and policies of the EU. It will look at how the EU is unique, sharing characteristics of states and of international organizations. (IR)

342: Arms, Security, and War. Focus is on the military dimensions of international politics, such as nuclear and conventional deterrence, arms races, arms control, alliances, and American defense policy, and how those affect war and peace. (IR)

343: Russian-American Relations. This course examines the relationship between the two superpowers in the context of their relations with other nations. The current status of relations is described and related to historical trends and explanatory models. Political, economic, cultural, and military dimensions are covered. (IR)

344: World Political Economy. Political conflicts over trade relations, global inequality, development, growth, inflation, and scarcity are analyzed, with special emphasis placed on a description of the institutions and processes that shape international economics. (IR)

345: The Catholic Church in World Politics (cross-listed as CTH 286). This course seeks to familiarize students with major theories, research traditions, and issues regarding the role of Catholicism in the contemporary world. It will assess the role of various levels and actors with the Church--the Vatican, priests and nuns, lay groups and movements, activists, and others--in working as forces of social change/stability in matters of world politics, economics, and culture. The course will also consider the impact of globalization and other transnational processes on the activities and options of Catholic institutions and actors. (IR)

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346: The United Nations and World Problems. This course will examine the historical and theoretical foundations of the United Nations, particularly in light of the changing problems and issues that confront the global community as we approach the 21^st century, such as international peace and security, global economic inequality, and environmental and human rights norms. (IR)

347: Ethics in World Politics (cross-listed as CTH 389). Drawing on general theories of international relations and historical cases, this course examines both the forces that inhibit the development and effectiveness of ethical norms at the international level and the conditions under which such norms develop and affect the behavior of states and other actors. (IR)

349: Topics in World Politics. (IR)

350: Political Development in Industrialized Nations. This course compares democracies and dictatorships in order to ascertain how they differ and what are the requisite conditions for each type of political system. Among the concepts to be examined are elections, participation, distribution of resources, corruption, and transparency. (CP)

351: Revolution and Terrorism . Aspects of revolution, emphasizing contemporary cases, including units on ideology, leaders, followers, organization, techniques, weapons, causes and theories of revolution. (CP)

353: Comparative Democracy and Dictatorship. (CP)

354: Political Representation in Comparative Perspective. A comparative treatment of those processes and institutions that comprise the representative system, including executives, legislatures, political parties, coalitions, and elections.(CP)

355: State and Nation Building. This course examines the origin, nature and strategies of state formation in general, with particular emphasis on African state processes. (CP)

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356: Ethnic Conflict in the Third World. This course examines the nature, causes and consequences of ethnic conflict in third world nations, including conflict resolution in the presence of ethnic and racial cleavages. (CP)

357: Eastern Europe in Transition. This course covers the causes of the “democratic” revolutions in 1989 and the processes of change in Eastern Europe as those countries transform from Soviet- model political systems to other forms of politics. The course will cover economic and social developments within those nations as well as relevant changes in their international environments. (CP)

358: Global Gender Issues. This course examines how inequalities between women and men are connected to the global politics of power, security, the political economy, and ecology. It focuses on the theoretical and practical linkages between “women's issues” and political matters such as wars of secession, arms proliferation, global economic recessions, and environmental degradation. Questions of the nature of power, abuses of human rights, the human costs of global inequality, and the meaning of a just world order are explored. (CP)

359: Topics in Comparative Politics. (CP)

361: International Law. The nature, sources, and applications of international law in the international community, including issues of recognition, territory, jurisdiction, settlement of international disputes, diplomatic agents, intervention and the use of force. (PL)

362: The Criminal Justice System. An overview of the important features of the American criminal justice system, including the role of police, courts and corrections. The course analyzes conventional and alternative definitions of crime and explanations for criminal behavior. An examination of race and class issues as they relate to criminal justice, and their implications for public policy, is also included. (PL)

363: Women and the Law (cross-listed as WMS 326). This course investigates the variety of ways in which women come into relation with the law, e.g., through laws and judicial decisions dealing with equal opportunity. (PL)

364: Comparative Protection of Individual Rights. This course will compare the status of individual rights in Britain, the United States, and Canada, and under the European Convention on Human Rights. Course materials will consist of judicial decisions and other materials on specific areas of civil liberties. (PL)

365:  Constitutional History of Voting Rights. Explores the legal and political struggles of two originally disenfranchised groups--women and African Americans--to gain access to the ballot, and what their struggles reveal about American law, politics and society.  This course is also intended to familiarize students with dominant legal theories, as well as introduce them to alternative approaches such as Critical Race Theory and Critical Feminist Theory.  The readings include Supreme Court opinions, legal theories of voting rights jurisprudence, political theories of representation, and historical narratives.  (PL)

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366: National Security and the U.S. Constitution. Explores the relationship between the U.S. Constitution and the government's responsibility for the protection of national security.  The course examines the constitutional doctrine of separation of powers and the respective roles of Congress, the President, and the courts in the conduct of foreign policy and the use of military force.  It also examines the relationship between national security and protection of various rights, including freedom of speech, freedom of the press, privacy, and personal liberty. (PL)

367: U.S. Immigration Law. Examines the various legal categories under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act that permits persons to be admitted to the United States either temporarily or permanently. It also examines U.S. policies toward illegal immigration and the rights of aliens after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (PL)

369: Topics in Public Law. (PL)

381: Theory and Practice of Public Policy. This course provides an understanding of the public policy process and integrates classroom learning with developments in our community. Volunteer service in an off-campus organization or agency working on a public policy issue is required as part of the course. (EL)

390: Capstone Seminar. (AS) [Formerly PSC 399]

392: Internship. By arrangement. Variable credit. (AS)

393: Honors Seminar. By permission. Variable credit. (AS)

394: Senior Thesis. By permission. Variable credit. (AS)

395: Travel/Study. By arrangement with sponsoring faculty, foreign and domestic tours or residence programs may be combined with lectures, readings, and research assignments. (AS)

399: Independent Study. By arrangement. Variable credit. (AS)

100-level | 200-level

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