Political Science Department

Ramona Grey, Chair

Political Science is the systematic study of politics. Politics influence how people and institutions exercise and resist power. Political Science, therefore, is concerned with how nations and communities are governed and who governs them. The departmental faculty members have as their mission the engagement and enlightenment of their students, professional colleagues, and fellow citizens about the nature of politics.

The department offers a varied undergraduate curriculum covering domestic, foreign, and international politics. By meeting the requirements outlined below, a student may earn a bachelor's degree in political science or in political science-history; a minor in political science or global public health; or a bachelor's degree in political science with an option in one of the following: American politics, international relations and comparative politics, public administration, non-profit administration, international development studies, 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 Europe, Russia, Africa, Central Asia, India, the Far East and Latin America, as well as in Montana and Washington, D.C. 

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, 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.

Undergraduate Degrees Available

Subject Type Option Track
Global Public Health Minor
Nonprofit Administration Minor
Political Science-History Bachelor of Arts Teaching Social Studies
Political Science Bachelor of Arts
Political Science Bachelor of Arts Teaching Government
Political Science Bachelor of Arts American Politics
Political Science Bachelor of Arts Internat Rel & Compar Politics
Political Science Bachelor of Arts Public Administration
Political Science Bachelor of Arts Public Law
Political Science Minor
Political Science Minor Teaching Government

Faculty

Professors

  • Jeffrey Greene, American Government & Public Administration
  • Paul Haber, Comparative Government & Politics & International Relations
  • Peter Koehn, Comparative Government & Politics & Public Administration
  • Terry Weidner, International Relations & Comparative Politics

Associate Professors

  • Karen Ruth Adams, Associate Professor, International Relations
  • Ramona Grey, Chair & Co-coordinator of the Grad Program
  • Christopher Muste, American Politics, Public Opinion, Political Psychology, News Media & Co-coordinator of the M.A. Program
  • Robert Saldin, American Government & Politics

Assistant Professors

  • Abhishek Chatterjee, International & Comparative Politics, International Political Economy
  • Sara Rinfret, Assistant Professor Political Science and Public Adminstration

Adjunct Faculty

  • Eric Hines, Adjunct Assistant Professor
  • Jesse Munro, Adjunct Instructor
  • Patrick Peel, Visiting Assistant Professor

Affiliates

  • Andrea Vernon, Director of Office of Civic Engagement

Emeritus Professors

  • Forest Grieves, Comparative Government & Politics & International Relations
  • Louis Hayes, Comparative Government & Politics & International Relations
  • James Lopach, American Government & Public Law
  • Jon Tompkins, American Government & Public Administration

Course Descriptions

Political Science

  • PSC 475X - Tribal Sovereignty

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered Spring. Same as PSCI 475. 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.
    Course Attributes:
    • Indigenous and Global
    • Cross List

Political Science

  • PSCI 191 - Special Topics

    Credits: 1 TO 6. Level: Undergraduate. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

  • PSCI 191S - Special Topics

    Credits: 1 TO 6. Level: Undergraduate. (R 6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one time offerings of current topics.
    Course Attributes:
    • Internships/Practicums
    • Social Sciences Course

  • PSCI 192 - Independent Study

    Credits: 1 TO 6. Level: Undergraduate. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Course material appropriate to the needs and objectives of the individual student.

  • PSCI 210S - Intro to American Government

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. 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.
    Course Attributes:
    • Social Sciences Course
    • American and European

  • PSCI 220S - Intro to Comparative Govt

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. 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.
    Course Attributes:
    • Social Sciences Course

  • PSCI 227 - Global Health Issues

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered spring. Treats current public-health challenges in industrialized and low-income countries, including chronic and infectious illnesses.  In comparative perspective, the course explores the individual, environmental, resource, and governance context of public-health policy, interventions, and outcomes and address questions of human rights and ethics, health equity and justice, regional problems  and contributors, and the concerns of vulnerable populations along with possibilities for health advocacy.

  • PSCI 230X - Intro to International Rel

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. 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.
    Course Attributes:
    • Indigenous and Global

  • PSCI 250E - Intro to Political Theory

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. 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.
    Course Attributes:
    • Ethical & Human Values Course

  • PSCI 320 - Exp Offering: Comp Politics

    Credits: 1 TO 6. Level: Undergraduate. (R- 6) Offered intermittently. Experimental or one-time offerings in the subfield of comparative politics.
    Course Attributes:
    • 15 cr grad limit/Spec Topics

  • PSCI 321 - Post-Communist Politics

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered spring. Prereq junior standing or consent of instructor. Historical and contemporary analysis of politics in post-communist states with an emphasis on Eastern Europe and Russia.

  • PSCI 322 - Politics of Europe

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered autumn. Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. Comparative analysis of parliamentary forms of government and politics with emphasis on Great Britain, France and Germany.

  • PSCI 324 - Climate Policies: China & U.S.

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered every other year.  Prereq., CCS 203 or consent of instructor.  Explores historic, current, and future greenhouse-gas emissions of the United States and China, reasons why both are the two largest C02 emitters, and prevailing national and subnational government policies and nongovernmental actions that affect emissions mitigation and adaptation.

  • PSCI 325 - Politics of Latin America

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered autumn. Prereq., junior standing. Latin American politics from both historical and contemporary perspectives.

  • PSCI 326 - Politics of Africa

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. 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.

  • PSCI 327 - Politics of Mexico

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered spring. Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. A review of contemporary politics of Mexico from the Revolution to the present.

  • PSCI 328 - Politics of China

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. Institutions and political development in China.
    Course Attributes:
    • Historical & Cultural Course
    • Non-Western Course

  • PSCI 329 - Politics of Japan

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered autumn. Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. Institutions and political development in Japan.

  • PSCI 330 - Exp Offering: Intrnt Relations

    Credits: 1 TO 6. Level: Undergraduate. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Prereq., junior standing. Experimental or one-time offerings in the subfield of international relations.
    Course Attributes:
    • 15 cr grad limit/Spec Topics

  • PSCI 332 - Global Environmental Pol.

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered fall. Prereq. PSCI 230X and junior standing or consent of instructor. This course focuses on the unique set of collective action problems faced by global actors in the governance of the environment and the institutions they use to overcome those problems. Themes include the tragedy of the commons, climate change, and environmental security.

  • PSCI 334 - International Security

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered Spring. Prereq. PSCI 230 and junior standing or consent of instr. Explores the meaning, sources, and future of human, national, and international security. Considers a range of historical and contemporary threats (interstate war, civil war, terrorism, crime, natural disaster, human accident, disease, and deprivation), assesses the vulnerability of individuals and states to each threat, and evaluates national and international strategies to reduce them.

  • PSCI 335 - American Foreign Policy

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Prereq., PSCI 230X and junior standing or consent of instr. American diplomatic, economic and defense policies since World War II and their significance in international politics.

  • PSCI 336 - European Union

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered spring. Prereq junior standing or consent of instructor. Historical and contemporary analysis of political and economic integration in Europe with a focus on the political system of the European Union.

  • PSCI 337 - Model United Nations

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered autumn. Prereq., sophomore 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.

  • PSCI 340 - Exp Offering: American Govt

    Credits: 1 TO 6. Level: Undergraduate. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental or one-time offerings in the subfield of American government.
    Course Attributes:
    • 15 cr grad limit/Spec Topics

  • PSCI 341 - Political Parties and Election

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered spring even-numbered years. Prereq., PSCI 210S and junior standing. Political party organization, nominations, campaigns and elections in the United States.

  • PSCI 342 - Media, Public Opinion, Polling

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered intermittently. Prereq., PSCI 210S. Study of the role played by mass media in shaping public opinion, policy agendas, and governmental institutions.

  • PSCI 344 - State and Local Government

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered intermittently. Prereq., PSCI 210S 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.

  • PSCI 346 - American Presidency

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered autumn. Prereq., PSCI 210S. The constitutional foundation and evolution of the executive branch, the structure of the office and executive functions and powers.

  • PSCI 347 - U.S. Congress

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered spring. Prereq., PSCI 210S. Structure, processes, and politics of U.S. Congress and state legislatures. During legislative years, special emphasis will be devoted to the Montana Legislature.

  • PSCI 348 - US Multicultural Politics

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered intermittently.  Examines the politics of diversity in the U.S., including national community, identity, citizenship, immigration, assimilation, and racial issues such as voting rights, affirmative action, segregation and integration, and public opinion.

  • PSCI 350 - Exp Offering: Political Theory

    Credits: 1 TO 6. Level: Undergraduate. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental or one-time offerings in the subfield of political theory.
    Course Attributes:
    • 15 cr grad limit/Spec Topics

  • PSCI 352 - American Political Thought

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered spring. Prereq., PSCI 250E 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.

  • PSCI 354 - Contemp Issues in Pol Theory

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. (R-6) Offered intermittently in autumn. Prereq., PSCI 250E or consent of instr. and junior standing. Topics variable. Research and assessment of current political and social issues through the study of a representative text and related literature.

  • PSCI 355 - Theories of Civil Violence

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. 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.

  • PSCI 357 - Ancient & Medieval Pol Phil

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. OOffered autumn. Prereq., PSCI 250E 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.
    Course Attributes:
    • Ethical & Human Values Course

  • PSCI 360 - Exp Offering: Public Admin

    Credits: 1 TO 6. Level: Undergraduate. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental or onetime offerings in the subfield of public administration or policy.
    Course Attributes:
    • 15 cr grad limit/Spec Topics

  • PSCI 361 - Public Administration

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered autumn. Prereq., PSCI 210S and junior standing. Legal and institutional setting of the administrative system; dynamics of organization and processes of public management.

  • PSCI 365 - Pub Policy Issues and Analysis

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Examines a variety of public policy issues including economic, social welfare, health care, environmental and criminal justice policy.  Emphasis is placed on substantive policies and policy analysis.

  • PSCI 370 - Courts and Judicial Politics

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered spring. Prereq., PSCI 210S and junior standing. Introduction to American courts with emphasis on judicial policy making.

  • PSCI 391 - Special Topics

    Credits: 1 TO 9. Level: Undergraduate. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
    Course Attributes:
    • 15 cr grad limit/Spec Topics

  • PSCI 400 - Adv Writing in Pol Science

    Credits: 1. Level: Undergraduate. (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.
    Course Attributes:
    • Writing Course-Upper-Division

  • PSCI 401 - Nonprofit Hum Resource Mgt

    Credits: 2. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. On-line course offered every year.  Addresses human resource needs specific to nonprofits, including payroll, employment law, and other legal issues.

  • PSCI 402 - Nonprofit Volunteer Mgt

    Credits: 2. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. On-line course offered every year.  Addresses the process of recruiting and retaining volunteers at a nonprofit organization, including case studies and hands-on projects.

  • PSCI 403 - Nonprofit Prog Plan & Eval

    Credits: 2. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. On-line course offered every year.  Explores program planning for nonprofits from top-to-bottom, including needs assessment and evaluation.

  • PSCI 405 - Nonprofit Advocacy

    Credits: 2. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. On-line course offered every year.  Explores and reviews the role of nonprofit organizations in advocacy.

  • PSCI 406 - Nonprofit Board Management

    Credits: 2. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Online course offered every year.  Explores policymaking and fundraising roles and responsibilities of the board; strategies for board recruitment, orientation, and evaluation; and executive director/board relationships. 

  • PSCI 410 - Nonprofit Strategic Plan

    Credits: 2. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Online course offered every year.  This course explores the importance of visionary leadership and strategic planning to the success of nonprofit agencies.

  • PSCI 411 - Nonprofit Grant Writing

    Credits: 2. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Online course offered every year. Students learn how to write the essential parts of a grant proposal and how to search for appropriate funding sources. 

  • PSCI 412 - Nonprofit Fundraising

    Credits: 2. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Online course offered every year.  The course will cover all major aspects of a fundraising plan including: annual fund, major gifts, capital campaigns, planned giving, grants and special events. The course will also give students the foundation and tools needed to implement these plans into action.

  • PSCI 413 - Nonprofit Financial Mgt

    Credits: 2. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Online course offered every year.  This course explores special issues related to nonprofit financials including accounting basics, budgeting, financial statement ratios, management controls and nonprofit income tax reporting processes.

  • PSCI 420 - Exp Offering: Comp Politics

    Credits: 1 TO 9. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental or one-time offerings in the subfield of comparative politics.
    Course Attributes:
    • 15 cr grad limit/Spec Topics

  • PSCI 422 - Revolution & Reform in China

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. A history of the rise and fall of the Maoist regime and the complicated impact of the epochal post Mao reform movement.

  • PSCI 430 - Exp Offering: Intrnt Relations

    Credits: 1 TO 9. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., junior standing. Experimental or one-time offerings in the subfield of international relations.
    Course Attributes:
    • 15 cr grad limit/Spec Topics

  • PSCI 431 - Politics of Global Migration

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. 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.

  • PSCI 432 - Inter-American Relations

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered intermittently. Prereq., PSCI 325 or consent of instr. Examination of problems, issues and concepts in the international relations of nations of the western hemisphere.

  • PSCI 433 - International Law & Org

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered fall. Prereq. PSCI 230 and 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.

  • PSCI 440 - Exp Offering: American Govt

    Credits: 1 TO 9. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental or one-time offerings in the subfield of American government.
    Course Attributes:
    • 15 cr grad limit/Spec Topics

  • PSCI 443 - Politics of Social Movements

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. 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.

  • PSCI 444 - Am Political Participation

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered intermittently. Prereq., PSCI 210S. 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.

  • PSCI 445 - Political Psychology

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered intermittently.  Applies psychological theories such as personality, emotion, cognition, and social influence to political attitudes and actions, including political opinion formation, conformity, prejudice, genocide, and political leadership.

  • PSCI 448 - Health Care Policy

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. offered autumn. Focuses on sociopolitical environment influencing health policy in the United States including health politics and policy development, political structure and process, health care financing, public opinion and special interest groups, political leadership, policy reform and global health. 

  • PSCI 449 - Environmental Health Policy

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. Focuses on environmental health policy in the U.S., its evolution, current status, and areas of change.

  • PSCI 450 - Exp Offering: Political Theory

    Credits: 1 TO 9. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental or one-time offerings in the subfield of political theory.
    Course Attributes:
    • 15 cr grad limit/Spec Topics

  • PSCI 452 - Utopianism and its Critics

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered intermittently. Prereq., junior standing. Examination of classic and contemporary utopias, from Plato's Republicto Barbara Goodwin's Justice by Lottery as well as their critics.

  • PSCI 453 - Modern Political Theory

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. Prereq., PSCI 250E 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.

  • PSCI 460 - Exp Offering: Public Admin

    Credits: 1 TO 9. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., junior standing. Experimental or onetime offerings in the subfield of public administration or policy.
    Course Attributes:
    • 15 cr grad limit/Spec Topics

  • PSCI 461 - Administrative Law

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. Prereq., PSCI 210S and junior standing. The legal foundations of public administration with emphasis on legislative delegation, administrative rulemaking and adjudication, judicial review, and public participation.

  • PSCI 462 - Human Resource Management

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. 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.

  • PSCI 463 - Development Administration

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. 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.

  • PSCI 466 - Nonprofit Adm & Pub Svc

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. Prereq., junior standing. Investigation of the aspects involved in nonprofit management and public service and the complexity of the role of nonprofit organizations in society.

  • PSCI 467 - Adv Nonprofit Adm

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. Prereq., PSCI 466. In-depth exploration of the special issues related to nonprofit management including fund raising, budgeting, and program planning.

  • PSCI 468 - Public Policy Cycle

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. 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.

  • PSCI 469 - Ethics and Public Policy

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. Focuses on the ethical challenges faced by public servants in government agencies.

  • PSCI 471 - American Constitutional Law

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. 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.

  • PSCI 474 - Civil Rights Seminar

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. Prereq., PSCI 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.

  • PSCI 475X - Indian Sovereignty & Policy

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered alternate years. Same as NAS 400. 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.
    Course Attributes:
    • Indigenous and Global

  • PSCI 480 - Research Goals and Strategies

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. We explore the main methods used in political science research, focusing on research design, best research practices, and pitfalls in research. Students develop their own research design as the final course project.

  • PSCI 491 - Special Topics

    Credits: 1 TO 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., consent of instr. and junior standing.Experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
    Course Attributes:
    • 15 cr grad limit/Spec Topics

  • PSCI 492 - Independent Study

    Credits: 1 TO 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. (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.
    Course Attributes:
    • 7 cr grad limit/In Stdy/Intern

  • PSCI 498 - Intern/coop education/omnibus

    Credits: 1 TO 6. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. 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.
    Course Attributes:
    • Internships/Practicums
    • Internship graduation limit 6
    • 7 cr grad limit/In Stdy/Intern

  • PSCI 501 - Public Administration

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. Advanced analysis of processes of public management; examination of public administrators' involvement in policy making.

  • PSCI 503 - Policy Analysis

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. The role of public administrators in the policymaking process with emphasis on methods of policy analysis and program evaluation.

  • PSCI 504 - Organization Theory

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. Concepts and theories relevant to the administration of complex organizations, including administrative structure, behavior, process and functions.

  • PSCI 505 - Budgeting & Finance

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. Seminar focusing on principles of public finance and analysis of budgeting as a primary tool of public sector management.

  • PSCI 520 - Comparative Government

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. Prereq., consent of instr. Concentrated reading and examination of selected subject areas in the field of comparative government.

  • PSCI 521 - Globalization

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. 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.

  • PSCI 522 - Human Resource Management

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. 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.

  • PSCI 523 - Administrative Law

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. The legal foundations of public administration with emphasis on legislative delegation, administrative rulemaking and adjudication, judicial review, and public participation.

  • PSCI 524 - Management Skills

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. 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.

  • PSCI 525 - Strategic Planning

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Focus on the means by which public and nonprofit agencies can carry out their missions effectively.

  • PSCI 526 - Issues in State Government

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. 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.

  • PSCI 527 - Performance Measurement

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered intermittently. Focus on the process by which organizations routinely and systematically gather data to assess progress in achieving their goals.

  • PSCI 528 - Strategic Hum Res Mgt

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered online alternate summers.  This course explores the value of strategic human resource management as a means for enhancing agency performance.

  • PSCI 530 - International Relations

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered autumn. Prereq., consent of instr. Concentrated reading and examination of selected subject areas in the field of international relations.

  • PSCI 540 - American Government

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. Prereq., consent of instr. Concentrated reading and examination of selected subject areas in the field of American government.

  • PSCI 547 - Legislative Relations

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Online course offered every other year. Focuses on the methods and issues involved in establishing effective working relationships between agencies and the legislative process.

  • PSCI 550 - Political Theory

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Offered spring. Prereq., consent of instr. Concentrated reading and examination of selected subject areas in the field of political theory.

  • PSCI 561 - Ethics in Public Admin

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Online course offered every other year.  Explores the role of ethics and integrity in public administration and the moral obligations of citizenship.

  • PSCI 563 - Improving Work Culture

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. Online course offered every other year.  Focuses on the complexity of the core components of strategic management: program culture and work process management and the considerations necessary to institutionalize positive change.

  • PSCI 586 - MA Research Project

    Credits: 1 TO 4. Level: Graduate. (R-6) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instructor. Offered as Credit/No Credit only.

  • PSCI 594 - Seminar

    Credits: 1 TO 9. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Topic varies.

  • PSCI 595 - Special Topics

    Credits: 1 TO 9. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
    Course Attributes:
    • Internships/Practicums

  • PSCI 596 - Independent Study

    Credits: 1 TO 6. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. (R-6) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr. Course material appropriate to the needs and objectives of the individual student.
    Course Attributes:
    • Service Learning/Volunteer

  • PSCI 598 - Internship

    Credits: 1 TO 6. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. (R-6) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr. Offered credit/no credit only. Directed individual research and study appropriate to the back ground and objectives of the student.
    Course Attributes:
    • Internships/Practicums

  • PSCI 599 - Thesis

    Credits: 1 TO 6. Level: Undergraduate, Graduate. (R-6) Offered every term. Preparation of a thesis or manuscript based on research for presentation and/or publication.

  • PSCI 875X - Tribal Sovereignty

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered alternate years. Same as NASX 475X. 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.
    Course Attributes:
    • Indigenous and Global