Chair  Mark Rupert, 100 Eggers Hall, 315-443-2416.

Faculty Kristi J. Andersen, Michael Barkun, Kenneth Baynes, James P. Bennett, Guthrie S. Birkhead, Edwin A. Bock, G. Matthew Bonham, Mehrzad Boroujerdi, Keith J. Bybee, Horace Campbell, Matthew R. Cleary, Elizabeth F. Cohen, Francine D'Amico, Bruce W. Dayton, Gavan Duffy, Colin Elman, Miriam F. Elman, Margarita Estévez-Abe, Jonathan K. Hanson, Danny Hayes, Margaret Hermann, Seth Jolly, Thomas M. Keck, Ralph Ketcham, Audie Klotz, W. Henry Lambright, Christine Mahoney, Edward F. McClennen, Robert D. McClure, Glyn Morgan, Terrell A. Northrup, Rosemary O'Leary, Sarah B. Pralle, Thomas J. Raven, Grant D. Reeher, Mark Rupert, S.N. Sangmpam, Hans Peter Schmitz, Jeffrey M. Stonecash, Brian D. Taylor, Laurence Thomas, Margaret Susan Thompson, Stuart J. Thorson, Mitchel B. Wallerstein, Hongying Wang

Political science is the study of politics, government, and their relationship with other aspects of society. Courses in political science enable students to use political theory and empirical analyses to make sense of their world, to interpret political phenomena in the United States and in other areas of the world, and to understand world politics. Skills in research, analysis, and critical thinking that political science students acquire help to prepare them for careers in politics and government, journalism and communication, and business, as well as post-graduate study.

Note: Students are required to fulfill the requirements for the B.A. or minor in political science as stipulated in the course catalog for the academic year in which they declare their political science major.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
To declare a political science major, students must have a B or better in two introductory courses (PSC 121,123,124,125,202, MAX 123, or MAX 132). The B.A. in political science requires 30 credits, including PSC 121, one additional course at the 100 level, and PSC 202. Of the remaining 21 credits, 18 are taken in courses numbered 300 or above. An additional 3 credits may be taken at the 100 level as part of the remaining 21 credits, but no more than a total of 9 credits may be taken at the 100 level. The upper-division courses regularly offered by the department are included in the list below. PSC majors must take at least one course from the approved list of courses with international content (approved courses are designated with an asterisk [*], see list below). Political science majors must take at least 9 credits of coursework included in one cluster of related upper-division courses. (Clusters are listed below.) Experience credit courses may not be used to satisfy major requirements. Graduation with a B.A. in political science requires a  2.0 average in the upper-division coursework applied toward the major. Political science majors seeking a degree with honors must satisfy the requirements of the Honors Program in addition to the requirements for the major in political science.

Distinction in Political Science
Minimum Department GPA     3.5
Minimum Cumulative GPA     3.5
Award of Distinction in Political Science requires successful completion of 6 credits of distinction thesis preparatory coursework and successful defense of written thesis.

COURSES
The courses regularly offered by the department for application toward a major or minor are listed below. Special topics courses (PSC 300, PSC 411) and courses which may be taken multiple times (PSC 350) may be included in a cluster with the approval of the undergraduate advisor. Courses taken abroad may also count with the approval of the undergraduate advisor. Finally, students may petition to construct their own cluster; this petition will be considered by the department’s Undergraduate Studies Committee.

PSC 121    American National Government and Politics
PSC 122    American State & Local Government and Politics
PSC 123*    Comparative Government and Politics
PSC 124*    International Relations
PSC 125    Political Theory
PSC 129    American National Government and Politics (Honors)
PSC 139*    International Relations (Honors)
PSC 202    Introduction to Political Analysis
PSC 317    Local Internship

Law and politics
PSC 304    The Judicial Process
PSC 316    Supreme Court in U.S. Politics
PSC 324    Constitutional Law I
PSC 325    Constitutional Law II 
PSC 352*    International Law
PSC/WSP 374  Law and Society
PSC 375/PHI 397  Philosophy of Law
PSC/QSX 384  Sexuality and the Law 

Public policy
PSC 302    Environmental Politics and Policy
PSC 305    The Legislative Process and the U.S. Congress
PSC 308    The Politics of U.S. Public Policy
PSC 309     Interest Group Politics
PSC 312    Urban Government and Politics
PSC 318    Technology, Politics, and Environment
PSC 323    Politics of the Executive Branch
PSC 357*    U.S. Foreign Policy
PSC 359*    Foreign Policymaking
PSC 361*    Politics in the Cyber-Age
PSC/PAF 418*  Comparative Public Policy in Practice
PSC 369*    Global Migration

Political Economy
PSC/LAS 333*  Politics of Latin America
PSC 335*    Politics of East Asia
PSC 355*    International Political Economy
PSC/AAS 365*  International Political Economy of the Third World
PSC/MES 367*  Oil, Water, and War

Parties and Elections
PSC 309    Interest Group Politics
PSC 311    American Political Parties
PSC 313    Campaign Analysis
PSC 314    Public Opinion and Electoral Behavior
PSC 338*    Comparative Political Parties

American Politics and History
PSC 303    Rise of the National Government
PSC/AAS 306  African American Politics
PSC 311    American Political Parties
PSC 324    Constitutional Law I
PSC 325    Constitutional Law II 
PSC 326/HST 383  Foundations of American Political Thought
PSC 327/HST 342  Modern American Political Thought
PSC 328/WGS 318  American Social Movements
PSC 329HST 341  The Modern American Presidency
PSC/PHI/JSP 379  American Slavery and the Holocaust

Comparative Politics
PSC 331*    Government and Politics of Canada
PSC 332*    Politics of Post-Communist Europe
PSC/LAS 333*  Politics of Latin America
PSC 339*    Contemporary Political Transitions
PSC/AAS 341*  Politics of Africa
PSC 343*     Politics of Western Europe
PSC/MES 344*  Politics of the Middle East
PSC/MES 345*  Islam and Politics in Asia
PSC/AAS 346*  Comparative Third World Politics
PSC 347*    Politics of Russia
PSC/MES 349*  Politics of Iran
PSC/AAS 364*  African International Relations
PSC/AAS 365*  International Political Economy of the Third World 
PSC/MES 366*  Representations of the Middle East
PSC/MES/HST 368*  Islam and the West
PSC 401*    Government and Politics in Great Britain
PSC 402*    Government and Politics in Italy
PSC 403*    Government and Politics in France
PSC 404*    Government and Politics in Spain
PSC 405*    Politics of the European Union
PSC/SOC/SOS 407*  Political Integration and Disintegration in Western Europe
PSC 409*    The European Union
PSC 414*    European Identity Seminar
PSC/HST 453*  Twentieth-Century Europe
PSC 473*    London Seminar

Political Participation and Mobilization
PSC 302    Environmental Politics and Policy
PSC 309    Interest Group Politics
PSC 311    American Political Parties
PSC 314    Public Opinion and Electoral Behavior
PSC/WGS 319  Gender and Politics    
PSC 328/WGS 318  American Social Movements
PSC 336*    Political Leadership
PSC 337*    Political Psychology
PSC/WGS 356*  Political Conflict
PSC/SOS 408*  Comparative Social Movements
PSC/PHI/WGS 413  Identity and Difference

Citizenship and Democracy
PSC 307    The Politics of Citizenship
PSC 326/HST 383  Foundations of American Political Thought
PSC 327/HST 342  Modern American Political Thought
PSC/LAS 333*  Politics of Latin America
PSC 336*    Political Leadership
PSC 339*    Contemporary Political Transitions
PSC 369*    Global Migration
PSC 371    Democratic Theory and Politics
PSC 383    Civil Society and Democracy

Global Governance and Foreign Policy
PSC 350*    Problems in International Relations
PSC 352*    International Law
PSC 353*    International Organizations
PSC 355*    International Political Economy
PSC 357*    American Foreign Policy
PSC/LAS 358*  Inter-American Relations
PSC 359*    Foreign Policymaking
PSC/PHI 363*  Ethics and International Relations
PSC 354*    Human Rights and Global Affairs
PSC 405*    Politics of the European Union
PSC/SOC/SOS 407*  Political Integration and Disintegration in Western Europe
PSC/IRP 412*  Global Governance: The United Nations System
PSC 414*    European Identity Seminar

Political Thought and Philosophy
PSC 326/HST 383  Foundations of American Political Thought
PSC 327/HST 342  Modern American Political Thought
PSC 371    Democratic Theory
PSC 372    Marxist Theory
PSC 373/PHI 317  Political Philosophy: The Social Contract and Its Critics
PSC/MES 366*  Representations of the Middle East
PSC 381    Political Fiction and Film
PSC 382/PHI 417  Contemporary Political Philosophy
PSC 383        Civil Society and Democracy
PSC 385    Rationality and Politics
PSC/PHI 406*  Political Theory, Liberty, and Justice

Political Violence and Conflict
PSC 348*    Politics and the Military
PSC/WGS 356*  Political Conflict
PSC/PHI 363*  Ethics and International Relations
PSC 354*    Human Rights and Global Affairs
PSC/MES 367*  Oil, Water & War
PSC 376*    Revolution and Civil Violence
PSC 377    Religion and Politics
PSC/PHI 379*  American Slavery & the Holocaust