Political Science (POLS)

Examines institutions, processes and dynamics of the American governmental system emphasizing problems of policy making in a pluralistic democratic system.

Explores questions such as the role of the state, electoral systems and issues such the separation of Church and State, terrorism, war and security, human rights and nationalism through qualitative and quantitative analysis. Examines why some developed democracies have extensive welfare states.

Explores conceptual and theoretical tools for interpreting world politics and navigating the international system. Covers basic foreign policy analysis and key actors in the international system. May be repeated for maximum of 6 credits.

Explores civic dialogue and civil discourse. Covers content research and debate on topical issues while developing the capacity to listen actively, understand and empathize with opposing positions, and move dialogue forward.

Explores the factors that explain political behavior across time and context, focusing on why people believe what they believe and vote the way they do. Covers methods for studying political behavior and reflecting on political inquiry.

Utilizing the case approach, students will analyze the structure of the legal system and the process of judicial decision making. Students will also be introduced to substantive areas of common law.

Comparative analysis of state and local governments in the United States, and their relationships with the federal government. Focus on organization, structure, function, and administration of state and local government, addressing issues such as education, criminal justice, economic development and social services. It also examines the various roles of political leaders and interest groups at the state and local levels with a special emphasis on Wisconsin politics and government. Recommended for Teacher Education students.

Covers methods, philosophy and sources of political science research.

Explores the processes, problems, methods and issues involved in the formulation of public policies. Emphasizes policy formation at the national, state and local levels. Employs case studies.

The works of the classical Greek political philosophers, Thucydides, Plato and Aristotle. Cross-listed with: PHIL 207.

Examines tactical decision making from both a rational and cognitive-bureaucratic perspective.

Formulation and implementation of foreign policy in the United States. Relationship of American foreign policy to its domestic foundations and to the larger international system.

Provides an overview of state and local political institutions, including state constitutions, structural organization, relationships between legislative, executive, and judicial branches, and intergovernmental relations at state and local levels. Delves into contentious public policy areas such as safety and environmental regulations, unionization, and economic development planning.

Selected topics in political science. May be repeated for credit with a different topic.

Surveys the key environmental laws of the United States, such as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act.

Surveys the political and social aspects of environmental policy making and how different political decision-making structures respond to various environmental issues. Community-based learning designation.

Contemporary theories of international relations with selected applications to current issues or relationships in international politics. Emphasis on critical theories in the evaluation and comparison of various theoretical approaches. Cross-listed with: PHIL 304.

Exploration of the origins of liberalism, conservatism, and socialism. Readings may include Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Mill, Hegel, Marx, and Nietzsche. Cross-listed with: PHIL 306.

Examines contemporary philosophical works including themes of the meaning of equality, liberty, autonomy, gender, race and community in contemporary society. Cross-listed with: PHIL 307.

Examines U.S. Supreme Court cases concerned with the protection of civil liberties. Topics may include race and equality; sex, marriage, and reproduction; free speech; freedom of religion.

Examines and evaluates greenhouse gas mitigation and adaption policies which are being implemented by a variety of national and sub-national governments. Multi-career cross-listing: MAPS 512.

An examination of the interrelationships between local and state politics and the professional sports teams located in those communities. Topics to be covered include: team location and relocation, public subsidy of stadium construction, economic development impacts, and what it means to be a "big league" city.

Analyzes the relationship of African Americans to the United States Constitution, and includes such topics as slavery, the Fugitive Slave Acts, the Civil War Amendments, segregation, the civil rights movement, voting rights, affirmative action, and housing laws. Cross-listed with: ETHN 316.

Examines decision making from both a rational and cognitive-bureaucratic perspective. Investigates the universal applications of theoretical strategic thinking, integrates tactical and strategic decision making, and applies creative and critical thinking in strategic formulation and implementation. Explores case studies of military, political, and corporate strategies. Multi-career cross-listing: MAPS 517.

Introduces to the politics of the U.S. Congress. Examines the workings of the U.S. Congress focusing on congressional elections; goals and strategies of congressional members; parties and leaders; rules of the legislative game; committees; floor and voting; inter-branch politics; and scientific research on congressional politics. ONLINE instruction; additional online class fee.

Examines the structure of government established by the Constitution. Includes the relations between the states and the federal government, the power of Congress to regulate the economy, and the power of the President to conduct war.

Examines how law and politics interact with personal and social identity, including race, gender, and class. Cross-listed with: PHIL 321.

Examines political culture, political institutions, and public choices of European democratic states. Focuses on the history, institutions, and policies of the European Union.

Examines problems of developing political institutions as they cope with and generate processes of social change, economic development and cultural independence.

Cooperation and competition in the anarchic environmental of international politics. Selected models of world order investigating integration and fragmentation of nation-states, development and maintenance of international regime structures, and the influence of international/reg'l organizations.

Investigates African politics and society, stressing the transboundary linkages that exist in the local, national, and global level. Includes common challenges to African countries, such as colonial history, debt, resource development, and violent conflict. Examines political, economic and cultural strengths of African countries.

City and metropolitan politics in the United States; definition and description of the "urban crisis". Material from political science and allied disciplines included.

Examines the relationship between politics and the larger social structure, such as structure of power in the United States and the economy; political consciousness and the debate on the changing nature of industrial societies. Cross-listed with: SOCA 356.

Examines political party development in the United States; structure, functions, and behavior of parties and pressure groups; responsiveness to the electorate and public opinion; and some theories on the role of parties and interest groups in a democracy. Comparative material included.

Introduces and examines experiences Latinos(as) encounter with and within the U.S. criminal justice system, as well as related international and transnational issues. Uses a range of theoretical frameworks, including socio-ecological, political and psychological. Cross-listed with: LBST 367/CRMJ 367.

Introduces students to some of the major topics of debate and research in political science with regard to voter behavior and political participation in U.S. politics, with a heavy emphasis on federal elections.

Selected topics in political science will be examined. May repeat for credit with different topic.

Examination and criticism of several competing explanations of voting behavior and political participation in the United States. The dynamics of citizen involvement in the political process will be featured.

Examines the environmental, systematic, and political variables that define the existing and potential political position of women in the United States. Requires a research paper.

Explores international bargaining frameworks and theories of negotiation in international relations. Provides the basis for students to participate in the Model United Nations Conference in New York.

Focuses on experiences tailoring narrative, informative, and persuasive speeches. Provides the opportunity to put the strategic elements of POLS 405 to work in the context of active, large-scale negotiation at the Model United Nations Conference in New York. Requires fees.

Examines international legal relationships among actors in world politics. Investigates the legal framework of public international law.

Investigates the differences in types of war; motivations for war; and factors explaining the timing of war onset, duration, and termination. Addresses conditions that promote atrocities, war crimes, and the devolution of civil society. Explores why all wars are not created equal.

A capstone research experience for majors in their last year. Also serves to assess mastery of the discipline of political science. Required of all political science majors who are not concentrating in legal studies.

Studies selected topics in political science at an advanced level.

Provides opportunities to serve as intern in state, regional, county or local government offices or in the offices of elected officials.

Provides individual instructions on topics related to political science. Maximum of 6 credits may be applied toward the major.