Department of Political Science
James J. Lopach, 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. In addition, no more than 15 total credits in special topics courses (e.g., PSC 381, 395) 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, 364, 366, 370, 383, 387, 468, 483. 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, 325, 326H, 327, 328H, 329H, 381, 420, 481; and b) 335, 336, 337, 382, 430, 431, 433, 463S, 482. Strongly recommended are: 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, and three of the following courses: 364, 385, 460, 461, 463S, 466, 467, 468, 485. A legislative or administrative internship is strongly recommended. Courses used to complete the upperdivision 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,
433, 460, 461, 471, 472. Courses used to complete the upperdivision
requirement of this option also fulfill the 300-400 level
requirement in the respective major fields of political science.
Teacher Preparation in Government
Students who want to be licensed to teach civics and government at the middle and high school level must complete the BA degree requirements in political science (no option required). They also must complete a teaching minor in a second field of their choice and the professional licensure program in the School of Education. Students may also earn a teaching minor in government. See the Department of Curriculum & Instruction for information about admission to the Teacher Education Program and completion of these licensure requirements.
Teacher Preparation in Government and History
Students who want to be licensed to teach government, history, and one additional social science at the middle and high school level must complete the BA degree requirements for the combined academic major in political science and history. In completing this combined degree, students simultaneously satisfy the Comprehensive Social Science teaching major and the professional licensure program in the School of Education. See the Department of Curriculum & Instruction for information about admission to the Teacher Education Program and completion of this licensure program.
Suggested Course of Study
Political Science Major:
| First Year | A | S |
|---|---|---|
| PSC 100S Introduction to American Government | 3 | - |
| PSC 120S Comparative Government | - | 3 |
| Seven General Education courses | 12 | 9 |
| One elective | - | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | |
| Second Year | A | S |
| PSC 130E International Relations | 3 | - |
| PSC 150E Political Theory | - | 3 |
| Seven General Education courses | 12 | 9 |
| One elective | - | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | |
| Third Year | A | S |
| Four PSC 300-400-level courses | 6 | 6 |
| Six electives | 9 | 9 |
| 15 | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | A | S |
| Four PSC 300-400-level courses | 6 | 6 |
| Six electives | 9 | 9 |
| 15 | 15 |
Political Science with American Politics Option:
| First /Second Year: same for all options | ||
|---|---|---|
| Third Year | A | S |
| Three 300-400-level American Politics courses | 6 | 3 |
| Two other 300-400-level PSC courses | 3 | 3 |
| Five electives | 6 | 9 |
| 15 | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | A | S |
| Two 300-400-level American Politics courses | 3 | 3 |
| Two other 300-400-level PSC courses | 3 | 3 |
| Six electives | 9 | 9 |
| 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 | A | S |
| Three 300-400-level International and Comparative courses | 6 | 3 |
| Two other 300-400-level PSC courses | 3 | 3 |
| Five electives | 6 | 9 |
| 15 | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | A | S |
| Three 300-400-level International and Comparative courses | 6 | 3 |
| One other 300-400-level PSC course | 3 | - |
| Six electives | 6 | 12 |
| 15 | 15 | |
Political Science with Public Administration Option:
| First/Second Year: same for all options | ||
|---|---|---|
| Third Year | A | S |
| 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 |
| 15 | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | A | S |
| 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 |
| 15 | 15 | |
Political Science with Public Law Option:
| First/Second Year: same for all options | ||
|---|---|---|
| Third Year | A | S |
| 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 |
| 15 | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | A | S |
| Two 300-400-level Public Law courses | 3 | 3 |
| Two other 300-400-level PSC courses | 3 | 3 |
| Six electives | 9 | 9 |
| 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. Credits beyond this maximum do not count toward a degree.
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 instructor. Constitutional principles, structures, and the political processes of the national government.
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 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.
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.
325 Politics of Latin America 3 cr. Offered autumn. Latin American politics from both historical and contemporary perspectives.
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.
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.
328H Politics of China 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. Institutions and political development in China.
329H Politics of Japan 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. Institutions and political development in Japan.
U 333 International Security 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. Theories about the causes, conduct, and consequences of war. The historical record of war from World War I to the present. Contemporary security issues, including terrorism, proliferation, disarmament, and the rise and fall of great powers
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.
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.
U 337 Model United Nations 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. History and structure of the UN. Contemporary global problems, and the UN’s role in addressing them. Class has both active learning and service learning dimensions. Students plan, organize and run the annual Montana Model UN high school conference.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
U 381 Special Topics: Comparative Politics Variable cr. (R- 6) Offered intermittently. Experimental or one-time offerings in the subfield of comparative politics.
U 382 Special Topics: International Relations Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental or one-time offerings in the subfield of international relations.
U 383 Special Topics: American Government Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental or one-time offerings in the subfield of American government.
U 384 Special Topics: Political Theory Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental or one-time offerings in the subfield of political theory.
U 385 Special Topics: Public Administration or Policy Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental or onetime offerings in the subfield of public administration or policy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
433 International Law and Organizations 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. Introduction to classical principles and contemporary issues of the law of nations and the organizations created to facilitate international cooperation
444 American Political Participation 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Prereq., PSC 100S. Examination of the individual and institutional factors affecting voter turnout, the influences on voter decision making, and non-electoral forms of participation in the United States
450 Utopianism and Its Critics 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Examination of classic and contemporary utopias, from Plato’s Republic to Barbara Goodwin’s Justice by Lottery as well as their critics.
451E 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.
453E 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.
460 Human Resource Management 3 cr. Offered spring. Study of the essential elements of human resource management, including analysis and evaluation of work, and the selection, management, and evaluation of public employees.
461 Administrative Law 3 cr. Offered autumn. 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.
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.
466 Nonprofit Administration and Public Service 3 cr. Offered autumn. Investigation of the aspects involved in nonprofit management and public service and the complexity of the role of nonprofit organizations in society.
467 Advanced Nonprofit Administration 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., PSC 466. In-depth exploration of the special issues related to nonprofit management including fund raising, budgeting, and program planning.
468 Public Policy Cycle 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Follows specific policy problem through each stage of the public policy cycle, including how policy is formulated in the legislative branch, implemented by the executive branch and reviewed by the judicial branch.
471 American Constitutional Law 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. Survey of U.S. Supreme Court’s interpretation of the U.S. Constitution’s provisions on separation of powers, federalism, civil rights, and civil liberties.
472 Civil Rights Seminar 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., PSC 471 or consent of instr. Intensive analysis, discussion, and writing about key U.S. Supreme Court constitutional cases on expression, religion, privacy, criminal justice, and discrimination.
475 Tribal Sovereignty 3 cr. Offered alternate years. An examination of the evolution of tribal governments from a historical and political perspective. Particular attention is devoted to the issues of tribal sovereignty and tribal state conflicts.
481 Special Topics: Comparative Politics Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental or one-time offerings in the subfield of comparative politics.
482 Special Topics: International Relations Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental or one-time offerings in the subfield of international relations.
483 Special Topics: American Government Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental or one-time offerings in the subfield of American government.
484 Special Topics: Political Theory Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental or one-time offerings in the subfield of political theory.
485 Special Topics: Public Administration or Policy Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental or onetime offerings in the subfield of public administration or policy.
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 Internship 1-6 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 Internship Services office. Offered credit/no credit only. A maximum of 6 credits of Internship (198, 298, 398, 498) may count toward graduation.
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 Globalization 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 527 Performance Measurement 3 cr. Offered intermittently. Focus on the process by which organizations routinely and systematically gather data to assess progress in achieving their goals.
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 586 MA Research Project 1-4 cr. (R-6) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instructor. Offered as Credit/No Credit only.
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 598 Internship Variable cr. (R-6) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr. Offered credit/no credit only.
G 599 Thesis Variable cr. (R-6) Offered every term.
Faculty
Professors
- Jeffery D. Greene, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1992
- 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 (Chair)
- Jonathan R. Tompkins, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1981
Associate Professor
- Karen Adams, Ph.D., University of California,Berkeley, 2000
- Ramona Grey, Ph.D., University of California, Riverside, 1991
Assistant Professors
- Christopher P. Muste, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 2001
- Robert P. Saldin, Ph.D., University of Virginia, 2007
Emeritus Professor
- Forest L. Grieves, Ph.D., University of Arizona, 1967