PSC - Political Science
An introduction to the historical and theoretical concepts and subject matter of political science, required for all political science majors and minors. May be offered as Writing Intensive. This course may be offered in an online format. (University Program Group III-B: Studies in Social Structures)
Credits
3(3-0)
Focus is on the elements of individual political behavior. Includes rational choice; political involvement, commitment, and participation; elections and voting behavior; and political opinion. May be offered as Writing Intensive. (University Program Group III-A: Behavioral Sciences)
Credits
3(3-0)
Examines the formal institutions of government and how politics actually works in the United States: civil rights, civil liberties, elections, media, interest groups and more. This course may be offered in an online format. May be offered as Writing Intensive. (University Program Group III-B: Studies in Social Structures)
Credits
3(3-0)
Examines issues of political economy, political participation, political efficacy, alienation, Black Nationalism, PanAfricanism and institutional, ideological and individual racism. (University Program Group IV-C: Studies in Racism and Cultural Diversity in the United States)
Credits
3(3-0)
Introduction to theoretical tools used in the field of international relations. May be offered as Writing Intensive. This course may be offered in an online or hybrid format. (University Program Group III-B: Studies in Social Structures)
Credits
3(3-0)
Prepares the student to confront the issues to be faced as a citizen of the US and as a member of the global society. (University Program Group III-B: Studies in Social Structures)
Credits
3(3-0)
Introduction to quantitative reasoning to provide students with the skills necessary to interpret and critically assess the validity and reliability of political data. This course may be offered in an online or hybrid format. Quantitative Reasoning.
Credits
3(3-0)
An examination of relevant theories, concepts, and methods of comparative political analysis and application of these in the study of selected political systems. This course may be offered in an online format. (University Program Group III-B: Studies in Social Structures)
Credits
3(3-0)
Structure and functions of states, cities and counties, with emphasis on Michigan. May be offered as Writing Intensive. This course may be offered in an online format. (University Program Group III-B: Studies in Social Structures)
Credits
3(3-0)
Discussion of vital issues in the history of Western political thought, such as freedom, justice, equality, and power. Authors include Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Marx. This course may be offered in an online or hybrid format. (University Program Group I-A: Human Events and Ideas)
Credits
3(3-0)
Empirical political research techniques including the scientific method, measurement, descriptive and inferential statistics, literature reviews, data collection, computer assisted data analysis, and research reporting. Quantitative Reasoning. This course may be offered in an online format. Prerequisites:
PSC 100, 105, or 150; one other political science course.
Credits
3(3-0)
Analysis of Michigan's election campaigns with focus on organization, strategies and tactics. Emphasis on election consequences for state's policy leaders, opinion, interests and government. Prerequisite:
PSC 105 or
PSC 261.
Credits
3(3-0)
Analysis of Michigan's legislative process, policy issues, and state government politics. Emphasis on origination, shaping, negotiating, and content of state policy. Prerequisite:
PSC 105 or
PSC 261.
Credits
3(3-0)
The midtier experience provides observations and small-group instructional opportunities for students seeking secondary certification in political science. Course includes both campus instruction and field work. CR/NC only. Prerequisites: completion of
EDU 107; 12 hours of political science.
Credits
2(1-2)
Analysis of the legislative process, studying formal and informal devices used by legislative bodies in determining policy. Primary emphasis is on the United States Congress. This course may be offered in an online or hybrid delivery format. Prerequisites:
PSC 105.
Credits
3(3-0)
Development of the executive office of the United States, with emphasis on the Presidency. This course has been approved for offering in a distance learning format.
Credits
3(3-0)
Focuses on the American judicial process, including federal and state courts, roles of judges and other actors, civil and criminal justice processes, and judicial policymaking. Recommended:
PSC 100 or
PSC 105.
Credits
3(3-0)
Analysis of American political parties as instruments of democratic government. Their structures, functions, and organizations, with emphasis on nomination, campaigns, and elections.
Credits
3(3-0)
Examines the civil rights movement from 1954 to 1980s; based on PBS series: Eyes on the Prize. Identical to
PHL 345,
REL 345,
SOC 345. Credit may not be earned in more than one of these courses. Prerequisites: Any one of the following:
HST 110,
HST 111,
HST 112, LAR 145,
PSC 100,
PSC 105,
PSC 125,
REL 140,
SOC 100. (University Program Group IV-C: Studies in Racism and Diversity in the United States)
Credits
3(3-0)
Cross Listed Courses
REL 345/SOC 345/PHL 345
This course will look primarily at empirical studies of women’s role in politics in the U.S. but also in other contexts. Identical to
WGS 326. Credit may not be earned in more than one of these courses. This course may be offered in an online format. May be offered as Writing Intensive. (University Program Group IV-A: Studies in Discrimination)
Credits
3(3-0)
Cross Listed Courses
WGS 326
The reasons for, and the methods of, lobbying government officials in the United States, with an emphasis on implications for democracy. Recommended:
PSC 105.
Credits
3(3-0)
Study of campaigns and elections in the United States, including candidate emergence and nominations, campaign organization and strategy, election results, and electoral reform.
Credits
3(3-0)
Students travel to Greece (Athens, Delphi, Mycenae, Olympia) to study the foundation of Western civilization, especially politics and philosophy, and connect them to modern ideas.
Credits
3(3-0)
Comparative survey of selected African political systems with focus upon Sub-Saharan Africa.
Credits
3(3-0)
Comparative analysis of selected Eastern European states, including Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, former Yugoslavia, Romania, Bulgaria.
Credits
3(3-0)
The impact of culture on politics in several countries of Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and Philippines.
Credits
3(3-0)
Emphasis on selected states in East Asia. East Asia consists of China, Japan, and Korea. This course may be offered in an online or hybrid format. (University Program Group IV-B: Studies in Cultures Outside of the Anglo-American Tradition)
Credits
3(3-0)
Comparative analysis of the politics of selected Middle Eastern states, including Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Jordan, Morocco, Iran, Israel and Turkey. This course is approved for offering in a distance learning format.
Credits
3(3-0)
Political examination of Islam's revival as a political doctrine that poses a unique reading of modernity, world peace and democracy in the 21st century.
Credits
3(3-0)
Comparative political analysis of selected European states and the European Union. May be offered as Writing Intensive. This course may be offered in an online format. (University Program Group IV-B: Studies in Global Cultures Outside of the Anglo-American Tradition)
Credits
3(3-0)
A comparative analysis of politics in contemporary Latin America with focus on the impact of authoritarianism, international intervention, economic underdevelopment, and democratization. (University Program Group IV-B: Studies in Cultures Outside of the Anglo-American Tradition)
Credits
3(3-0)
Classical and contemporary theories of international relations. War, terrorism, and genocide. International law and organizations. Global economics and world poverty. Ethics in international relations.
Credits
3(3-0)
An examination of the political, military, and economic relations between Latin America and the United States.
Credits
3(3-0)
Introduces students to the activities of the United Nations and the protocol and procedures of diplomacy in order to participate in United Nations simulations. Prerequisite: 26 credits completed.
Credits
3(3-0)
Allows advanced students to further their knowledge of the protocol and procedures of diplomacy and participate in United Nations simulations. Prerequisite:
PSC 353. Co-requisite:
PSC 355.
Credits
1-6(1-0)
This course is a lab for
PSC 353 and
PSC 354. Can be repeated up to a total of nine credits. CR/NC only. Co-requisite:
PSC 353 or 354.
Credits
1-9(Spec)
This course will introduce students to South Asian politics. It will examine the evolution of political institutions, ethnic conflicts, and political crises in the region. (University Program Group IV-B: Studies in Cultures Outside of the Anglo-American Tradition)
Credits
3(3-0)
Selective survey of dominant trends in American political thought from the revolutionary era to the present. This course may be offered in an online or hybrid format. (University Program Group I-A: Human Events and Ideas)
Credits
3(3-0)
Study and analysis of the main social revolutionary ideologies of the left during the past 100 years in the United States.
Credits
3(3-0)
This course examines a number of different modern ideologies such as liberalism, socialism, fascism, conservatism, environmentalism, and radical Islamism. This course may be offered in an online format.
Credits
3(3-0)
Exploration of modern arguments for and against liberal democracy and discussion of the future of liberal democracy in the U.S. and elsewhere. (University Program Group I-A: Human Events and Ideas)
Credits
3(3-0)
This course examines the key concepts and authors of Greek and Roman political theory. Focus is on Plato and Aristotle. May be offered as Writing Intensive. Recommended:
PSC 275. (University Program Group I-A: Human Events and Ideas)
Credits
3(3-0)
This course examines the key concepts and authors of modern political theory. Focus is on the social contract theorists: Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. Recommended:
PSC 275. (University Program Group I-A: Human Events and Ideas)
Credits
3(3-0)
Examines some key authors and concepts of twentieth- and twenty-first century political theory. The course may include Nietzsche, Lenin, Freud, Rawls, or Nozick, among others. Recommended:
PSC 275.
Credits
3(3-0)
Directed reading or research on an approved topic. Prerequisite: Open to students not on academic probation and who shall have completed 12 semester hours in political science, with the permission of the instructor.
Credits
1-6(Spec)
This course provides experiential learning in a variety of leadership techniques intended to facilitate citizen engagement in public decision making. CR/NC only. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Credits
1-12(Spec)
This course provides experiential learning in the use of public opinion polling to facilitate democratic processes and governance. CR/NC only. Prerequisites: PSC 280 and permission of instructor.
Credits
1-12(Spec)
An integrative learning experience where students apply textbook knowledge to governmental and public affairs work experience. CR/NC only. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
Credits
1-12(Spec)
Examines the role of public and nonprofit organizations in society. Covers special topics of interest not covered in existing courses. May be repeated when the content is not a duplication of a previous special topics offering. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
Credits
3-9(3-0)
Lesson plans, objectives evaluations, organization and methods of teaching government and politics. Three weeks of mid-tier experiences. Prerequisites: completion of at least 15 hours of political science course work; at least junior status.
Credits
3(3-0)
Examines major U.S. Supreme Court decisions concerning judicial review, separation of powers, federalism, fiscal and commerce powers, and economic liberties.
Credits
3(3-0)
Examines major U.S. Supreme Court decisions regarding the First Amendment, criminal procedure, racial and gender equality, and the right to privacy.
Credits
3(3-0)
Examination of theories that describe and criticize the social, cultural and political status of women and offer alternatives to the status quo. Identical to
WGS 426 and
PHL 426. Credit may not be earned in more than one of these courses. Recommended: one course in philosophy or one of
PSC 275, 326, 371, 372, 373, 378.
Credits
3(3-0)
Cross Listed Courses
WGS 426/PHL 426
Analyzes the external interests of the United States and how they are pursued.
Credits
3(3-0)
This course examines the theory and literature on the causes of violent conflicts such as revolution, insurgency and civil war.
Credits
3(3-0)
This course examines trends in Americans’ participation in public life, as well as various approaches intended to increase their civic and political engagement. This course may be offered in an online format. Prerequisite:
PSC 105 or graduate status.
Credits
3(3-0)
This course serves to integrate political institutions and levels of government in terms of policy development and implementation. This course is approved for offering in a distance learning format. Prerequisites:
PSC 105 or graduate standing.
Credits
3(3-0)
Techniques of cross-national and other comparative policy analysis applied to social and economic policies of industrialized nations, especially Western Europe. This course may be offered in an online or hybrid format. May be offered as Writing Intensive.
Credits
3(3-0)
Analysis of relationships between politics and public policy in the environmental arena. Emphasis upon policy making process, political strategies, and alternative decision modes. Prerequisites: complete minimum of 56 credit hours of university course work.
Credits
3(3-0)
This course will examine the major theoretical frameworks used in the study of American national government and politics and survey current research in the area. Prerequisites: a minimum of 9 hours of political science coursework, including
PSC 105.
Credits
3(3-0)
Survey of the principles of administrative law and the politics of the U.S. regulatory processes. This course is approved for offering in a distance learning format.
Credits
3(3-0)
Comparative study of political systems of Soviet bloc countries and Yugoslavia.
Credits
3(3-0)
Significant aspects of international relations on the basis of timeliness and importance. This course is approved for offering in a distance learning format.
Credits
3(3-0)
Processes of international law; role in international relations and organizations; effects on individual rights in peacetime through cases, treaties, customs, and legal rules. This course is approved for offering in a distance learning format.
Credits
3(3-0)
This course supplementsthe study of the international legal regime examined in International Law I by focusing upon the newly established international criminal law regime. Recommended:
PSC 555.
Credits
3(3-0)
This course examines the theory and literature on the causes and consequences of violent conflicts and the uses of non-violent means to conflict resolution.
Credits
3(3-0)
Examination of large and small city governments. Their political process, behavior and citizen participation. Emerging public policies and intergovernmental cooperation.
Credits
3(3-0)
An analysis of the administrative and fiscal relationships between the national, state, and local governments, with emphasis on grants-in-aid and revenue sharing.
Credits
3(3-0)
This course examines the role of the armed forces in politics. Theories about civil-military relations, coups d'ètats, and transitions to democracy will be analyzed. Writing Intensive. Recommended:
PSC 242 or graduate status.
Credits
3(3-0)
Development and utilization of quantitative data, with emphasis on behavioral research, public opinion polling, and statistical analysis.
Credits
3(3-0)
Explorations of special problems in subject areas found within Political Science individually agreed upon by student and instructor. May be repeated for a maximum of six hours. This course may be offered in an online format. Prerequisite: Undergraduates must have a major or minor in PSC and/or PAD and at least 12 hours completed in PSC and/or PAD, as well as approval by instructor and department chair before registration. Graduate students must have approval by instructor and department chair before registration.
Credits
1-6(Spec)
Subject matter not included in courses currently listed in Bulletin.
Credits
1-12(Spec)