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Political Science Current Courses

Spring 2025

Course Code Title/Instructor Meets
POSC 120-01 American Government
Instructor: Layton Mandle
Course Description:
A basic introductory course in American federal government which emphasizes its structure and operation. Special attention is given to the executive, legislative, and judicial processes.
12:30 PM-01:20 PM, MWF
DENNY 304
POSC 120-02 American Government
Instructor: Katie Marchetti
Course Description:
A basic introductory course in American federal government which emphasizes its structure and operation. Special attention is given to the executive, legislative, and judicial processes.
10:30 AM-11:45 AM, TR
EASTC 411
POSC 170-01 International Relations
Instructor: Russell Bova
Course Description:
Cross-listed with INST 170-01. An introduction to global politics which examines the interaction of states, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and individuals in the world arena. Topics covered include traditional concerns such as war, balance of power, the UN and international law along with the more recent additions to the agenda of world politics such as international terrorism, human rights, and economic globalization. This course is cross-listed as INST 170.
09:00 AM-10:15 AM, TR
DENNY 104
POSC 170-02 International Relations
Instructor: Andy Wolff
Course Description:
Cross-listed with INST 170-02. An introduction to global politics which examines the interaction of states, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and individuals in the world arena. Topics covered include traditional concerns such as war, balance of power, the UN and international law along with the more recent additions to the agenda of world politics such as international terrorism, human rights, and economic globalization. This course is cross-listed as INST 170.
09:30 AM-10:20 AM, MWF
DENNY 304
POSC 180-01 Political Philosophy
Instructor: John Harles
Course Description:
Cross-listed with PHIL 180-01. An introduction to the history of political thought, focused on such problems as the nature of justice, the meaning of freedom, the requirements of equality, the prevalence of moral dilemmas in political life, the question of whether we ought to obey the law, and the importance of power in politics. We will also discuss how these issues continue to resonate today.This course is cross-listed as PHIL 180.
09:00 AM-10:15 AM, TR
DENNY 304
POSC 204-01 Competing Political Ideologies
Instructor: Toby Reiner
Course Description:
This class surveys the major ideologies that compete for political support in Western societies, such as liberalism, conservatism, and socialism, as well as radical alternatives (anarchism and fascism), and new perspectives such as feminism and ecologism/environmentalism. We will also examine the nature of ideology, and whether it is possible to develop a neutral, non-ideological perspective on politics. Prerequisite: 180, or permission of the instructor.
01:30 PM-02:45 PM, MR
DENNY 304
POSC 206-01 Multiculturalism
Instructor: Toby Reiner
Course Description:
How can ethnic minorities be incorporated into Western democracies as equal citizens? Must the state support the continuation of cultural practices and traditions? What if those practices conflict with the freedom and equality of members of minority groups, especially of women or children? These are among the most vexed and pressing issues for many democracies and a key part of recent debate in political theory. They raise major philosophical questions, such as how we can treat people as equals while respecting the differences between them and what the limits of toleration are. We will survey the main recent responses to these questions. This course is cross-listed as PHIL 253. Prerequisite: 180, or permission of the instructor.
03:00 PM-04:15 PM, MR
DENNY 304
POSC 221-01 Constitutional Law II
Instructor: Harry Pohlman
Course Description:
An exploration of American constitutional rights. Both historical developments and contemporary issues are addressed. Topics include racial and sexual equality, affirmative action, seditious speech, and school prayer. Prerequisite: 120, or permission of the instructor.
01:30 PM-04:30 PM, T
DENNY 304
POSC 248-01 The Judiciary
Instructor: Jonathan Baughman
Course Description:
Cross-listed with LAWP 248-01. This course explores the laws interpretation in and influence on contemporary American society. It considers the nature of the law, the structure of courts, legal terminology, sources of law, and approaches to legal reasoning through an engagement with both watershed cases and contemporary issues in civil and criminal law. Some of the questions we will address include: how do everyday individuals interact with the law? What is the relationship between judicial process that is, the engagement with and navigation of the legal system and justice? How do we understand the redress of harms or the application of punishment as part of the achievement of justice and fairness? What political, legal, social, or rhetorical barriers exist to full inclusion of individuals within the processes of law, and is full inclusion even desirable? . Prerequisite: 120, or permission of the instructor. This course is cross-listed as LAWP 248.
12:30 PM-01:20 PM, MWF
DENNY 211
POSC 251-01 Latin American Government and Politics
Instructor: Diego Vega
Course Description:
Cross-listed with LALC 251-01. An introduction to the politics of contemporary Latin America. Emphasis is placed upon the varied political institutional responses to socio-economic change in the Americas. Major countries to be analyzed include Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Cuba. Prerequisite: one course in political science or Latin American, Latinx and Caribbean Studies. This course is cross-listed as LALC 251.
03:00 PM-04:15 PM, TF
DENNY 211
POSC 280-01 American Foreign Policy
Instructor: Andy Wolff
Course Description:
Cross-listed with INST 280-01. A survey of U.S. foreign policy since World War II. American approaches to such issues as containment, detente, arms control, deterrence, international law, and foreign aid will be discussed. Students will also address issues of U.S. foreign policy formulation, including the roles of the public, Congress, and the president in the foreign policy process. Prerequisite: 170 or INST 170 or permission of the instructor. This course is cross-listed as INST 280.
01:30 PM-02:45 PM, MR
STERN 103
POSC 281-01 American National Security Policy
Instructor: Craig Nation
Course Description:
Cross-listed with INST 281-01. Analysis of formulation and implementation of American national security policy within the context of American society and the international system. National security will not be considered simply in a military/strategic sense but as connoting the preservation of the core values of a society. Prerequisite: POSC 170 or 120 or INST 170 or permission of the instructor. This course is cross-listed as INST 281.
01:30 PM-02:45 PM, TF
ALTHSE 204
POSC 290-01 British Politics
Instructor: John Harles
Course Description:
For American students of politics, Britain is an especially fruitful country for comparison. Beyond an alleged 'special relationship' between the United States and the United Kingdom, in many respects US political institutions and practices betray a British political heritage. This course will explore the central institutions and processes of British government, the social, economic, cultural and legal context of British politics, and Britain's past, present, and future relationship with Europe. Among the questions considered: Is the Westminster model of government and party competition past its "sell by date"? Is class waning as an explanatory factor in British politics? Does British immigration policy truly "Put Britain First"? Is the United Kingdom disuniting?" Was leaving the European Union an irreparable mistake?
10:30 AM-11:45 AM, TR
DENNY 103
POSC 290-02 China-Middle East Relations
Instructor: Joshua Yaphe
Course Description:
Cross-listed with EASN 206-03, INST 290-03 and MEST 200-04. This course will examine the evolving relations between China and the Middle East, from merchant travelers and religious scholars in the pre-modern period, to Mao's support for insurgent groups and liberation movements in the 1960s and 70s, to the growing economic trade and diplomatic engagement with authoritarian regimes of today. Beijing has developed a nuanced approach to the region, through diplomatic coordination in multilateral organizations, cultural and educational exchanges, and strategic investments with the potential for technology transfer. At the same time, Islam plays a complex role on both sides as they seek to balance security and religion, with governments under pressure to react to public calls for human rights. Students will apply their knowledge of International Relations concepts to this study of trans-regional activities taking place on a wide range of levels, including politics, economics, diplomacy, religion, technology, and defense and security affairs.
01:30 PM-02:45 PM, TF
DENNY 211
POSC 290-03 Latinx Political Histories
Instructor: Andy Aguilera
Course Description:
Cross-listed with AMST 200-04, HIST 211-05 and LALC 200-02. Since the 2016 election, the Latine/x voting base for Donald J. Trump has been a prominent discussion within the U.S. media. Such coverage broadly tackles the supposed rise of the conservative Latine/x or Hispanic vote with surprise. Their liberal or conservative politics, however, are a product of history, not nature as a leading historian has recently asserted. This course traces this trajectory to examine Latine/x political histories since the nineteenth century to the present. Beginning with Mexican politics in Texas and California during and after conquest, this course aims to highlight the diverse political activities and coalitions of Latine/xs in United States history. Likewise, the course will raise questions on how politics informs notions of identity and sense-of-belonging in the United States. Moreover, we will also examine the transnational and transhemispheric elements that help shape their politics. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the diverse politics that unite and divide Latine/xs across time and space.
01:30 PM-02:45 PM, TF
DENNY 303
POSC 390-01 National Security Law
Instructor: Harry Pohlman
Course Description:
Cross-listed with LAWP 400-01. This political science senior seminar will explore the science and the art of leadership in the public realm. The course will cover executive-level and legislative leadership but will also include examination of leadership in the bureaucracies and in the military, as well as leadership of political and social movements. Not appropriate for first years.
01:30 PM-04:30 PM, W
DENNY 204
POSC 390-02 American Political Representation
Instructor: Katie Marchetti
Course Description:
This seminar will acquaint you with the significant concepts and research questions addressed in recent and classic studies of political representation. We will consider the different dimensions of representation (e.g., descriptive, substantive), biases and inequality in representation and how normative considerations shape expectations about representation in practice. Representation is a very broad topic of study and the course readings will cover several subfields in American politics. For example, we will examine research about the behavior of political actors, the operation of government at the state and national levels, the roles of political parties and organized interests in representation, and how individuals form ideas about and respond to government activity and policies.
01:30 PM-04:30 PM, M
DENNY 313
POSC 490-01 Senior Thesis
Instructor: Sarah Niebler
Course Description:
Permission of Instructor Required. Senior political science majors who are interested may apply to take this course during the spring semester of their senior year. The course involves writing a senior thesis based on a question of the students own choosing. Permission of instructor is required.
09:30 AM-11:20 AM, W
DENNY 303