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 |
Department Faculty
Professors
- Jeffrey Greene, American Government & Public Administration
- Ramona Grey, Chair & Co-coordinator of the Grad Program
- Paul Haber, Globalization, Latin America, Environmental Politics, Social Movements
- Peter Koehn, Comparative Government & Politics & Public Administration
Associate Professors
- Karen Ruth Adams, Associate Professor, International Relations
- 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, Political Science and Public Administration
Adjunct Faculty
- Eric Hines, Adjunct Assistant Professor
- Patrick Peel, Visiting Assistant Professor
Affiliates
- Abraham Kim, Director
- Brock Tessman, Dean, Davidson Honors College
- 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
- Terry Weidner, International Relations & Comparative Politics
Course Descriptions
Political Science
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PSCI 151 - Intro to Civic Engagement
Credits: 2. This course is an extensive service learning course that requires students to conduct at least 55 hours of volunteer work. Students participate in community needs analysis, organization analysis, and long term volunteer work. -
PSCI 191 - Special Topics
Credits: 1 TO 6. (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. (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
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PSCI 192 - Independent Study
Credits: 1 TO 6. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Course material appropriate to the needs and objectives of the individual student. -
PSCI 210S - Intro to American Government
Credits: 3. 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
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PSCI 220S - Intro to Comparative Govt
Credits: 3. 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
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PSCI 227 - Global Health Issues
Credits: 3. 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. 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
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PSCI 250E - Intro to Political Theory
Credits: 3. 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
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PSCI 320 - Exp Offering: Comp Politics
Credits: 1 TO 6. (R- 6) Offered intermittently. Experimental or one-time offerings in the subfield of comparative politics.Course Attributes:
- 15 cr grad limit/Spec Topics
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PSCI 321 - Post-Communist Politics
Credits: 3. 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. 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. Offered every other year. Same as CCS 324. 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. Offered autumn. Prereq., junior standing. Latin American politics from both historical and contemporary perspectives. -
PSCI 326 - Politics of Africa
Credits: 3. 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. 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. Prereq., junior standing or consent of instr. Institutions and political development in China. -
PSCI 330 - Exp Offering: Intrnt Relations
Credits: 1 TO 6. (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
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PSCI 332 - Global Environmental Pol.
Credits: 3. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental or one-time offerings in the subfield of American government.Course Attributes:
- 15 cr grad limit/Spec Topics
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PSCI 341 - Political Parties and Election
Credits: 3. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental or one-time offerings in the subfield of political theory.Course Attributes:
- 15 cr grad limit/Spec Topics
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PSCI 352 - American Political Thought
Credits: 3. 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. (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 357 - Ancient & Medieval Pol Phil
Credits: 3. Offered autumn. 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. -
PSCI 360 - Exp Offering: Public Admin
Credits: 1 TO 6. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental or onetime offerings in the subfield of public administration or policy.Course Attributes:
- 15 cr grad limit/Spec Topics
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PSCI 361 - Public Administration
Credits: 3. 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. 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. 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. (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
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PSCI 400 - Adv Writing in Pol Science
Credits: 1. (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-Advanced
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PSCI 401 - Nonprofit Hum Resource Mgt
Credits: 2. 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. 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. 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. On-line course offered every year. Explores and reviews the role of nonprofit organizations in advocacy. -
PSCI 406 - Nonprofit Board Management
Credits: 2. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental or one-time offerings in the subfield of comparative politics.Course Attributes:
- 15 cr grad limit/Spec Topics
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PSCI 422 - Revolution & Reform in China
Credits: 3. 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. (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
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PSCI 431 - Politics of Global Migration
Credits: 3. 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. 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. 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. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental or one-time offerings in the subfield of American government.Course Attributes:
- 15 cr grad limit/Spec Topics
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PSCI 442 - Environmental Policy
Credits: 3. Prereq., PSCI 210S. This course surveys environmental politics and policy, primarily in the United States. We will examine the nature and scope of environmental, energy, and natural resource problems; contrasting perspectives on their severity and policy implications; the goals and strategies of the environmental community and its opponents; public opinion on the environment; scientific, economic, political, and institutional forces that shape policymaking and implementation; approaches to environmental policy analysis; and selected issues in environmental policy both within the U.S. and globally. -
PSCI 443 - Politics of Social Movements
Credits: 3. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental or one-time offerings in the subfield of political theory.Course Attributes:
- 15 cr grad limit/Spec Topics
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PSCI 452 - Utopianism and its Critics
Credits: 3. 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. 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.Course Attributes:
- Co-Convened Course
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PSCI 460 - Exp Offering: Public Admin
Credits: 1 TO 9. (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
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PSCI 461 - Administrative Law
Credits: 3. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 and the Climate
Credits: 3. 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. Offered spring. Focuses on the ethical challenges faced by public servants in government agencies. -
PSCI 471 - American Constitutional Law
Credits: 3. 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. 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 480 - Research Goals and Strategies
Credits: 3. 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 481 - Origins of Democracy and Authoritarianism
Credits: 3. Prereq., PSCI 220S. This course will examine in some detail the meaning of the terms "democracy" and "authoritarianism" in a way that permits measurement and analysis, and then seek to explain conditions under which regimes or political systems that can be given the respective appellations emerge. -
PSCI 482 - Politics of the World Economy
Credits: 3. Prereq., PSCI 220S and PSCI 230X. This course is an introduction to some basic concepts, tools, and problems in international political economy. Particularly, it seeks to examine the implications of the ‘economic’ relations among ‘states’ (the terms are in quotes because we will further examine these concepts in some depth throughout the class). -
PSCI 491 - Special Topics
Credits: 1 TO 3. (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
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PSCI 492 - Independent Study
Credits: 1 TO 3. (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
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PSCI 498 - Intern/coop education/omnibus
Credits: 1 TO 6. 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
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PSCI 501 - Public Administration
Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Advanced analysis of processes of public management; examination of public administrators' involvement in policy making. Level: Graduate -
PSCI 503 - Policy Analysis
Credits: 3. Offered spring. The role of public administrators in the policymaking process with emphasis on methods of policy analysis and program evaluation. Level: Graduate -
PSCI 504 - Organization Theory
Credits: 3. Offered spring. Concepts and theories relevant to the administration of complex organizations, including administrative structure, behavior, process and functions. Level: Graduate -
PSCI 505 - Budgeting & Finance
Credits: 3. Offered spring. Seminar focusing on principles of public finance and analysis of budgeting as a primary tool of public sector management. Level: Graduate -
PSCI 520 - Comparative Government
Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Prereq., consent of instr. Concentrated reading and examination of selected subject areas in the field of comparative government. Level: Graduate -
PSCI 521 - Globalization
Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., senior or graduate standing or consent of instr. Critical examination of contemporary globalization topics from a number of theoretical and political perspectives. Topics include but are not limited to international political economy, security, social movements, democratization, international development, climate change, immigration, and global governance. Level: Graduate -
PSCI 522 - Human Resource Management
Credits: 3. 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. Level: Graduate -
PSCI 523 - Administrative Law
Credits: 3. Offered autumn. The legal foundations of public administration with emphasis on legislative delegation, administrative rulemaking and adjudication, judicial review, and public participation. Level: Graduate -
PSCI 524 - Management Skills
Credits: 3. 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. Level: Graduate -
PSCI 525 - Strategic Planning
Credits: 3. Focus on the means by which public and nonprofit agencies can carry out their missions effectively. Level: Graduate -
PSCI 526 - Issues in State Government
Credits: 3. 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. Level: Graduate -
PSCI 527 - Performance Measurement
Credits: 3. Offered intermittently. Focus on the process by which organizations routinely and systematically gather data to assess progress in achieving their goals. Level: Graduate -
PSCI 529 - Intro to Nonprofit Orgs
Credits: 3. This course is one of the core courses required for MPA students completing the Nonprofit Administration Track. The course provides an introduction to nonprofit organizations and the nonprofit sector within which they are embedded. It investigates such topics as the nature of the nonprofit sector, the diverse kinds of nonprofits in existence, the phenomenon of charitable giving, philanthropy, and volunteering, and the legal framework that establishes nonprofit organizations and regulates their activities. This course is appropriate for graduate students from many disciplines in addition to MPA students due to the diverse nature of the nonprofit sector in fields such as environmental studies, communication studies, sociology, social work and law. Level: Graduate -
PSCI 530 - International Relations
Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Prereq., consent of instr. Concentrated reading and examination of selected subject areas in the field of international relations. Level: Graduate -
PSCI 540 - American Government
Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., consent of instr. Concentrated reading and examination of selected subject areas in the field of American government. Level: Graduate -
PSCI 547 - Legislative Relations
Credits: 3. Online course offered every other year. Focuses on the methods and issues involved in establishing effective working relationships between agencies and the legislative process. Level: Graduate -
PSCI 550 - Political Theory
Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., consent of instr. Concentrated reading and examination of selected subject areas in the field of political theory. Level: Graduate -
PSCI 553 - Political Theory
Credits: 3. This co-convening course with PSCI 453 covers political thinkers from the 16th c., beginning with Thomas Hobbes, to the early 20th century, ending with Marx. Graduate students will consider a fundamental question: what is the purpose of political inquiry? A fundamental question precisely because what people take to be the purpose of political theory determines what they study, who they study, and how they study it. Additionally, we will consider: what is ‘classical’ about classical political thought? What is ‘modern’ about modern political thought? And is there one, two, or more than two approaches to reading and writing political theory tracts?Course Attributes:
- Co-Convened Course
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PSCI 561 - Ethics in Public Admin
Credits: 3. Online course offered every other year. Explores the role of ethics and integrity in public administration and the moral obligations of citizenship. Level: Graduate -
PSCI 563 - Improving Work Culture
Credits: 3. 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. Level: Graduate -
PSCI 582 - Politics of the World Economy
Credits: 3. This course is a graduate-level introduction to some basic concepts, tools, and problems in international and comparative political economy. Particularly, it seeks to examine the implications of the ‘economic’ relations among ‘states’ (the terms are in quotes because we will further examine these concepts in some depth throughout the class). -
PSCI 586 - MA Research Project
Credits: 1 TO 4. (R-6) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instructor. Offered as Credit/No Credit only. Level: Graduate -
PSCI 594 - Seminar
Credits: 1 TO 9. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Topic varies. Level: Graduate -
PSCI 595 - Special Topics
Credits: 1 TO 9. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics. Level: GraduateCourse Attributes:
- Internships/Practicums
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PSCI 596 - Independent Study
Credits: 1 TO 6. (R-6) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr. Course material appropriate to the needs and objectives of the individual student. Level: GraduateCourse Attributes:
- Service Learning/Volunteer
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PSCI 598 - Internship
Credits: 1 TO 6. (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. Level: GraduateCourse Attributes:
- Internships/Practicums
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PSCI 599 - Thesis
Credits: 1 TO 6. (R-6) Offered every term. Preparation of a thesis or manuscript based on research for presentation and/or publication. Level: Graduate -
PSCI 875X - Tribal Sovereignty
Credits: 3. 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