Jonathan R. Tompkins, Chair
From the time of Plato and Aristotle, the study of politics has
been concerned with how human communities use power to shape the
lives of individuals. Students of politics observe the world's
political institutions, from local governments to international
organizations. They are interested in the quality of political
leadership, the values which underlie public affairs, the political
and legal processes used to make governmental decisions, and the
wisdom of policies. Politics is the continuing dialogue about
the best way for communities to govern themselves.
The department offers a varied undergraduate curriculum covering
domestic, foreign, and international politics. By meeting requirements
outlined below, a student may earn a bachelor degree in political
science or in political science history; a minor in political
science; or a bachelor degree in political science with an option
in American politics, international relations and comparative
politics, public administration or public law. A Master of Arts
degree in political science and a Master of Public Administration
degree are also offered.
The scope of the faculty's interest and research is wide. They
bring special insights gained through study and residence in Canada,
England, Western Europe, the former Soviet Union, Africa, India,
the Far East and Latin America, as well as in Montana and Washington,
D.C. All members of the department teach introductory and advanced
courses.
Courses offered in the department are designed to: (1) assist
students to secure a broad liberal education and to equip them
with the foundations for American citizenship; (2) provide undergraduate
preparation for those students who propose to continue study at
the graduate level with the ultimate goal of college teaching
and research; (3) offer a broad program of training for those
students who plan careers in government or politics; 4) assist
in preparing students for careers in teaching at both the elementary
and secondary levels; (5) provide a sound background for those
students who intend to enroll in law and other professional schools.
The major fields of political science are (1) American government
and politics with national, state and local government, politics,
and public law as sub fields; (2) public administration; (3) political
theory; (4) comparative government; (5) international relations,
organization and law.
Majors are eligible for membership in Pi Sigma Alpha, the national
political science honorary and are active in student political
activities. The Department of Political Science secures a number
of legislative and administrative internships in state and local
government each year. Internships and other learning opportunities
in Washington, D.C., are also available.
Special Degree Requirements
Refer to graduation requirements listed previously in the catalog.
See index.
All majors must meet the Upper-division Writing Expectation by
successfully completing PSC 400.
Political Science Major: Students majoring in
political science must take a minimum of 36 credits of political
science, including 100S, 120S, 130E, 150E; and one 300-400 level
course in four of the five major fields listed above. Twenty-one
of the 36 credits must be in upper-division courses. No more than
7 credits of independent study (PSC 496) and internship (PSC 498)
combined may count toward the 36 required credits.
Political Science Major with an Option in American Politics:
A student may earn a major in political science with an option
in American politics by completing 39 credits in political science,
including: 100S, 120S, 130E, 150E; one 300-400 level course in
four of the five major fields of political science listed previously;
and five of the following courses: 341, 342, 343, 352, 366, 370,
387. Courses used to complete the upper-division requirement of
this option also fulfill the 300-400 level requirement in the
respective major fields of political science.
Political Science Major with an Option in International
Relations and Comparative Politics: A student may earn
a major in political science with an option in international relations
and comparative politics by completing 39 credits in political
science, including: 100S, 120S, 130E, 150E; one 300-400 level
course in four of the five major fields of political science listed
previously; and three courses from each of the following groups:
a) 321H, 322H, 325, 326H, 327, 328H, 329H, 420; and b) 332, 335,
336, 430, 431, 433E. Strongly recommended: a) minimum of two years
of foreign language study; b) internship/study-abroad program.
Courses used to complete the upper-division requirement of this
option also fulfill the 300-400 level requirement in the respective
major fields of political science.
Political Science Major with an Option in Public Administration:
A student may earn a major in political science with an option
in public administration by completing a minimum of 39 credits
in political science, including: 100S, 120S, 130E, 150E; one 300-400
level course in four of the five major fields of political science
listed previously; 361, 460, and two of the following courses:
364, 461, 463S. A legislative or administrative internship is
strongly recommended. Courses used to complete the upper-division
requirement of this option also fulfill the 300-400 level requirement
in the respective major fields of political science.
Political Science Major with an Option in Public Law:
A student may earn a major in political science with an option
in public law by completing a minimum of 39 credits in political
science, including 100S, 120S, 130E, 150E; one 300-400 level course
in four of the five major fields of political science listed previously;
370, and four of the following courses: 352, 420, 433E, 461, 471,
472. Courses used to complete the upper-division requirement of
this option also fulfill the 300-400 level requirement in the
respective major fields of political science.
Teacher Preparation in Political Science (Government)
Major Teaching Field of Political Science (Government):
Students seeking licensure to teach government in a middle or
secondary school must complete the requirements for the B.A. degree
with a major in political science and C&I 428. Students must
complete a teaching minor in another curriculum area taught in
grades 5-12. Students must gain admission to the Teacher Education
Program and meet the professional studies requirements for all
middle and secondary teachers, as indicated in the School of Education
section of this catalog. Students are encouraged to seek licensure
advising from the Department of Curriculum & Instruction (see
the School of Education section of this catalog).
Minor Teaching Field of Political Science (Government):
Students seeking a teaching minor in political science (government)
must complete the requirements for the academic minor in political
science and C&I 428. Students must complete a teaching major
in another curriculum area taught in grades 5-12. Students must
gain admission to the Teacher Education Program and meet the professional
studies requirements for all middle and secondary teachers, as
indicated in the School of Education section of the catalog. Students
are encouraged to seek licensure advising from the Department
of Curriculum & Instruction (see the School of Education section
of this catalog).
Combined Political Science History degree and Comprehensive
Social Science teaching major: The B.A. degree with a
major in Political Science History is designed for students seeking
licensure to teach history and the social sciences in middle and
secondary schools, grades 5-12. The political science-history
major qualifies as a single-field endorsement and does not require
a teaching minor. Students complete at least 48 (maximum 60) credits
in political science and history, 9 credits in economics, and
12 credits in geography. Specific requirements for the degree
in history-political science and the comprehensive social studies
license include the following: PSC 100S, PSC 120S, PSC 130E; 15
upper division elective credits in political science; at least
three of the following four courses HIST 104H, 105H, 151H, 152H;
Hist 300; 9 upper division elective credits in history; ECON 111S;
ECON 112S; 3 upper-division elective credits in economics; GEOG
101; one regional geography course; 6 lower- or upper-division
elective credits in geography; and C&I 428. Students also
must gain admission to the Teacher Education Program and meet
the professional studies requirements for all middle and secondary
teachers, as indicated int eh School of education section of this
catalog. Students are encouraged to seek licensure advising from
the Department of Curriculum & Instruction (see the School
of Education section of this catalog).
Suggested Course of Study
Political Science Major:
First Year |
|
|
PSC 100S Introduction to American Government |
3 |
- |
PSC 120S Comparative Government |
- |
3 |
Seven General Education courses |
12 |
9 |
One elective |
- |
3 |
Total |
15 |
15 |
Second Year |
|
|
PSC 130E International Relations |
3 |
- |
PSC 150E Political Theory |
- |
3 |
Seven General Education courses |
|
|
One elective |
- |
3 |
Total |
15 |
15 |
Third Year |
|
|
Four PSC 300-400-level courses |
6 |
6 |
Six electives |
|
|
Total |
15 |
15 |
Fourth Year |
|
|
Four PSC 300-400-level courses |
6 |
6 |
Six electives |
9 |
9 |
Total |
15 |
15 |
Political Science with American Politics Option:
First /Second Year: same for all
options
|
Third Year |
Autumn |
Spring |
Three 300-400-level American Politics courses |
6 |
3 |
Two other 300-400-level PSC courses |
3 |
3 |
Five electives |
6 |
9 |
Total |
15 |
15 |
Fourth Year |
|
|
Two 300-400-level American Politics courses |
3 |
3 |
Two other 300-400-level PSC courses |
3 |
3 |
Six electives |
9 |
9 |
Total |
15 |
15 |
Political Science with International Relations and Comparative
Politics Option:
First /Second Year: same for all
options |
Recommend beginning foreign language study
as part of General Education courses. |
Third Year |
Autumn |
Spring |
Three 300-400-level International and Comparative courses |
6 |
3 |
Two other 300-400-level PSC courses |
3 |
3 |
Two other 300-400-level PSC courses |
3 |
3 |
Five electives |
6 |
9 |
Total |
15 |
15 |
Fourth Year |
|
|
Three 300-400-level International and Comparative courses |
6 |
3 |
One other 300-400-level PSC course |
3 |
- |
Six electives |
6 |
12 |
Total |
15 |
15 |
Political
Science with Public Administration Option:
First /Second Year: same for all
options |
Third Year |
Autumn |
Spring |
PSC 361 Public Administration |
3 |
- |
One 300-400-level public administration course |
- |
3 |
Two other 300-400-level PSC courses |
3 |
3 |
Six electives |
9 |
9 |
Total |
15 |
15 |
Fourth Year |
|
|
One 300-400-level public administration course |
3 |
- |
PSC 460 Human Resource Management |
- |
3 |
Three other 300-400-level PSC courses |
6 |
3 |
Five electives |
6 |
9 |
Total |
15 |
15 |
Political Science with Public Law Option:
First /Second Year: same for all
options |
Third Year |
Autumn |
Spring |
PSC 370 Courts and Judicial Politics |
- |
3 |
Two 300-400-level Public Law courses |
3 |
3 |
Two other 300-400-level PSC courses |
3 |
3 |
Five electives |
9 |
6 |
Total |
15 |
15 |
Fourth Year |
|
|
Two 300-400-level Public Law courses |
3 |
3 |
Two other 300-400-level PSC courses |
3 |
3 |
Six electives |
9 |
9 |
Total |
15 |
15 |
Requirements for a Minor
To earn a minor in political science the student must complete
a minimum of 21 credits of political science, including 100S,
120S, 130E, 150E; and three additional 300 400 level courses in
three of the five major fields of political science listed previously.
Nine of the 21 credits must be in 300 400 level courses.
Courses
U = for undergraduate credit only, UG = for undergraduate or
graduate credit, G = for graduate credit. R after the credit indicates
the course may be repeated for credit to the maximum indicated
after the R.
Political Science (PSC)
U 100S Introduction to American Government 3 cr.
Offered every term. Not open to senior level political science
majors except with consent of chair. Constitutional principles,
structures, and the political processes of the national government.
Credit not allowed for both PSC 100S and POL 146S.
U 120S Introduction to Comparative Government 3 cr.
Offered every term. Not open to senior level political science
majors except with consent of instr. Introduction to the basic
political concepts, themes, values and dilemmas as they apply
to the world’s diverse societies and cultures.
U 130E International Relations 3 cr. Offered
every term. Not open to senior level political science majors
except with consent of instr. Review of the evolution of the nation
state system and survey of contemporary international actors,
issues and forces for stability and change.
U 150E Political Theory 3 cr. Offered autumn
and spring. Analysis of the various attempts (from Plato to Marx)
to explain, instruct, and justify the distribution of political
power in society. Emphasis is placed upon those theories whose
primary concern is to define the nature of the "good"
society.
U 195 Special Topics Variable cr. (R 6) Offered
intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors,
experimental offerings of new courses, or one time offerings of
current topics.
U 196 Independent Study 1-6 cr. (R-6) Offered
intermittently.
U 300 Writing in Political Science 1 cr. (R-3)
Offered every term. Coreq., any upper-division political science
course. Designed for students seeking an approved writing course
or desiring additional experience in writing.
UG 321H Politics of Western Europe 3 cr. Offered
autumn. Prereq., PSC 100S and junior standing or consent of instr.
Comparative analysis of parliamentary forms of government and
politics with emphasis on Great Britain, France and Germany.
UG 322H Soviet and Post Soviet Politics 3 cr.
Offered spring. Prereq., PSC 100S and junior standing or consent
of instr. Culture, ideology and political institutions of the
former Soviet Union and its successor states.
UG 325 Politics of Latin America 3 cr. Offered
autumn. Latin American politics from both historical and contemporary
perspectives.
UG 326H Politics of Africa 3 cr. Offered autumn.
Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. Development of the
political systems of sub Saharan Africa. Analysis of the interaction
between African and Western social, political, and economic forces.
Consideration of African political thought.
UG 327 Politics of Mexico 3 cr. Offered spring.
Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. A review of contemporary
politics of Mexico from the Revolution to the present.
UG 328H Politics of China 3 cr. Offered autumn.
Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. Institutions and
political development in China.
UG 329H Politics of Japan 3 cr. Offered spring.
Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. Institutions and
political development in Japan.
UG 332 International Organizations 3 cr. Offered
autumn. Prereq., PSC 130E and junior standing or consent of instr.
A theoretical and political examination of the United Nations
(and selected other organizations) as an instrument of international
cooperation.
UG 335 American Foreign Policy 3 cr. Offered
spring. Prereq., PSC 130E and junior standing or consent of instr.
American diplomatic, economic and defense policies since World
War II and their significance in international politics.
UG 336 The Causes of War 3 cr. Offered spring.
Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. A colloquium to
clarify the definitional and philosophical problems besetting
the search for the causes (and the prevention) of war.
UG 341 Political Parties and Elections 3 cr.
Offered spring even-numbered years. Prereq., PSC 100S. Political
party organization, nominations, campaigns and elections in the
United States.
UG 342 Media and Public Opinion 3 cr. Offered
intermittently. Prereq., PSC 100S. Study of the role played by
mass media in shaping public opinion, policy agendas, and governmental
institutions.
UG 343 Politics of Social Movements 3 cr. Offered
intermittently. Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr.
The role of social movements in shaping the politics of power,
reflected in public policy, electoral politics, relations of class,
race, and gender, and people's understanding of the world and
their place in it.
U 350E Ancient and Medieval Political Philosophy 3 cr.
Offered autumn. Prereq., PSC 150E or consent of instr. The classical
western tradition, beginning with the ancient Greeks, spanning
the Christian era, and ending with the high Renaissance period.
Examination of the political ideas/values of these different times,
exploring broad questions concerning human nature, the origins
of the state, and the meaning of “legitimate” authority.
UG 352 American Political Thought 3 cr. Offered
spring. Prereq., PSC 150E or consent of instr. The study of representative
political thinkers is used to illustrate the theme of American
democracy as a multifaceted experiment with self government.
U 353E Modern Political Theory 3 cr. Offered
autumn. Prereq., PSC 150E or consent of instr. Analysis of Hobbes,
Locke, Rousseau, Burke, James and John Stuart Mill, Marx and
Lenin with regard to their “modern” views of the
purpose(s) of political inquiry, the nature of citizenship and
popular sovereignty.
Particular attention to contemporary implications of ideas.
UG 354 Contemporary Issues in Political Theory 3 cr.
(R 6) Offered intermittently in autumn. Prereq., PSC 150E or consent
of instr. Topics variable. Research and assessment of current
political and social issues through the study of a representative
text and related literature.
UG 355 Theories of Civil Violence 3 cr. Offered
autumn. Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. Survey of
the theoretical literature on civil violence, its causes and consequences.
Analysis of violence as a political technique and of counter measures
designed to prevent or control it.
U 361 Public Administration 3 cr. Offered autumn.
Prereq., PSC 100S. Legal and institutional setting of the administrative
system; dynamics of organization and processes of public management.
UG 364 State and Local Government 3 cr. Offered
intermittently. Prereq., PSC 100S and junior standing. Analysis
of American state and local government with emphasis on governmental
organization, intergovernmental relations, local government powers,
and self government charters. Special attention to Montana.
UG 366 The American Presidency 3 cr. Offered
autumn. Prereq., PSC 100S. The constitutional foundation and evolution
of the executive branch, the structure of the office and executive
functions and powers.
U 370 Courts and Judicial Politics 3 cr. Offered
spring. Prereq., PSC 100S and junior standing. Introduction to
American courts with emphasis on judicial policy making.
UG 387 Legislative Politics 3 cr. Offered spring.
Prereq., PSC 100S. Structure, processes, and politics of U.S.
Congress and state legislatures. During legislative years, special
emphasis will be devoted to the Montana Legislature.
U 395 Special Topics Variable cr. (R 6) Offered
intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors,
experimental offerings of new courses, or one time offerings of
current topics.
U 400 Advanced Writing in Political Science 1 cr.
(R-3) Offered every term. Coreq., any upper-division political
science course. Designed for political science students to satisfy
their upper-division writing expectation for the major or for
students desiring additional experience in writing.
UG 420 Comparative Legal Systems 3 cr. Offered
spring. Prereq., junior standing. Emphasis on non-western approaches
to law, specifically Islamic law and the legal systems of East
Asia. Focus on constitutional law, judicial process, civil liberties,
and law enforcement and corrections.
UG 430 Inter American Relations 3 cr. Offered
intermittently. Prereq., PSC 325 or consent of instr. Examination
of problems, issues and concepts in the international relations
of nations of the western hemisphere.
UG 431 Politics of Global Migration 3 cr. Offered
spring. Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. Exploration
of the elective and forced migration of peoples within countries
and across national boundaries. Geographical coverage includes
Asia, North and Central America, Africa, and Europe. Attention
to policy and gender issues surrounding economic and political
migration.
UG 433E International Law 3 cr. Offered spring.
Prereq., PSC 332 and junior standing or consent of instr. Introduction
to classical principles and contemporary issues of the law of
nations.
UG 460 Human Resource Management 3 cr. Offered
spring. Prereq., PSC 361 or consent of instr. Study of the essential
elements of human resource management, including analysis and
evaluation of work, and the selection, management, and evaluation
of public employees.
UG 461 Administrative Law 3 cr. Offered autumn
odd-numbered years. Prereq., PSC 100S and junior standing. The
legal foundations of public administration with emphasis on legislative
delegation, administrative rulemaking and adjudication, judicial
review, and public participation.
UG 463S Development Administration 3 cr. Offered
autumn. Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. Study of
the functions and processes of public administration in the Third
World. Focus on alleviating poverty and underdevelopment. Includes
project design and development planning activities.
UG 471 Constitutional Law I: Federalism and Separation
of Powers 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., junior standing
or consent of instr. Case studies of judicial policy making by
interpretation of the United States Constitution.
UG 472 Constitutional Law II: Civil Rights and Liberties
3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., PSC 471 or consent of
instr. Case studies of judicial policy making by interpretation
of the United States Constitution.
U 493 Omnibus Variable cr. (R 15) Offered every
term. Prereq., consent of instr. Independent work under the University
omnibus option. See index.
UG 495 Special Topics in Political Science 1 3 cr.
(R 9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr. Experimental
offerings of new courses, or one time offerings of current topics.
UG 496 Independent Study in Political Science 1 3 cr.
(R 6) Offered every term. Prereq., nine credits in political science
courses numbered at the 300 or 400 level and consent of instr.
Research in fields appropriate to the needs and objectives of
the individual student.
U 498 Cooperative Education Experience 1 10 cr.
Offered every term. Prereq., sophomore standing and consent of
instr. Extended classroom experience which provides practical
application of classroom learning during placements off campus.
Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and
the Center for Work-Based Learning. Offered pass/not pass only.
G 501 Public Administration 3 cr. Offered autumn.
Advanced analysis of processes of public management; examination
of public administrators' involvement in policy making.
G 503 Policy Analysis 3 cr. Offered spring. The
role of public administrators in the policymaking process with
emphasis on methods of policy analysis and program evaluation.
G 504 Organization Theory 3 cr. Offered spring.
Concepts and theories relevant to the administration of complex
organizations, including administrative structure, behavior, process
and functions.
G 505 Budgeting and Finance 3 cr. Offered spring.
Seminar focusing on principles of public finance and analysis
of budgeting as a primary tool of public sector management.
G 520 Comparative Government 3 cr. Offered autumn.
Prereq., consent of instr. Concentrated reading and examination
of selected subject areas in the field of comparative government.
G 521 Capitalism and Democracy in the Americas 3 cr.
Offered spring. Prereq., senior or graduate standing or consent
of instr. Critical examination of the politics of capitalism and
democracy in Latin America from a variety of perspectives. Reading
and discussion of key texts. Students present research that engages
theoretical themes in contexts relative to their graduate work.
G 522 Human Resource Management 3 cr. Offered
autumn. Study of the essential elements of human resource management,
including analysis and evaluation of work, and the selection,
management, and evaluation of public employees.
G 523 Administrative Law 3 cr. Offered autumn.
The legal foundations of public administration with emphasis on
legislative delegation, administrative rulemaking and adjudication,
judicial review, and public participation.
G 524 Management Skills 3 cr. Offered spring.
Focus on developing the skills required of managers in nonprofit
and government organizations, such as competency in self-assessment,
oral and written presentations, managing stress, communicating
supportively, motivating, managing conflict, empowering and delegating,
succeeding in multicultural contexts, and participating in interviews.
G 525 Strategic Planning and Leadership 3 cr.
Focus on the means by which public and nonprofit agencies can
carry out their missions effectively.
G 526 Issues in State Government 3 cr. Examination
of the evolution and development of state governments since the
founding period by focusing on the basic political institutions
and a broad range of public policy issues that affect governing
in the states.
G 528 Public Administration Practicum 2 cr. Offered
every term. Field work in a government or nonprofit agency or
reflective analysis of work experience.
G 529 MPA Research Design 1 cr. Preparation of
a research design for the applied research project required of
MPA students.
G 530 International Relations 3 cr. Offered autumn.
Prereq., consent of instr. Concentrated reading and examination
of selected subject areas in the field of international relations.
G 540 American Government 3 cr. Offered spring.
Prereq., consent of instr. Concentrated reading and examination
of selected subject areas in the field of American government.
G 550 Political Theory 3 cr. Offered spring.
Prereq., consent of instr. Concentrated reading and examination
of selected subject areas in the field of political theory.
G 580 MA Research Design 1 cr. Selection of topic
and development of research design for MA thesis.
G 594 Seminar Variable cr. (R 9) Offered intermittently.
Topic varies.
G 595 Special Topics Variable cr. (R 9) Offered
intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors,
experimental offerings of new courses, or one time offerings of
current topics.
G 596 Independent Study Variable cr. (R 6) Offered
every term. Prereq., consent of instr.
G 597 Applied Research Project 1 4 cr. (R 4)
Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr. Offered pass/not
pass only.
G 598 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr.
(R 6) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr. Offered pass/not
pass only.
G 599 Thesis Variable cr. (R 6) Offered every
term.
Faculty
Professors
Jeffery D. Greene, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1992
Forest L. Grieves, Ph.D., University of Arizona, 1967
Paul L. Haber, Ph.D., Columbia University, 1992
Louis D. Hayes, Ph.D., University of Arizona, 1966
Peter Koehn, Ph.D., University of Colorado, 1973
James J. Lopach, Ph.D., University of Notre Dame, 1973
Jonathan R. Tompkins, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1981 (Chair)
Associate Professor
Ramona Grey, Ph.D., University of California, Riverside, 1991