PSCI - Political Science

PSCI 200 Political Violence and Terrorism

An in-depth examination of the causes and patterns of modern terrorism and reactions intended to achieve justice. Students will investigate case studies of recent occurrences of terrorism and responses. Central themes will include retribution vs. reconciliation, state-sponsored terrorism, and/or international tribunals.

Credits

3.0

Offered

Fall Semester and Summer

PSCI 202 Women & Politics

This course examines politics from a gendered perspective with an emphasis on how gender interacts with race, class and sexuality to impact women as political beings and focuses on women’s political participation in radical social movements.

Credits

3.0

Core

Social and Behavioral Analysis

Offered

Fall Semester

PSCI 203 Introduction to U.S. Politics

Credit by exam. An introduction to the U.S. system of government and its policy process. Will explore the foundations and structure of the government, the way in which policy is crafted in the U.S. governmental institutions and other electoral processes including elections.

Credits

3.0

Core

Social and Behavioral Analysis

Offered

Both Semesters

PSCI 205 Methods of Political Inquiry

Prerequisite: MATH 098 or Level 1B placement on Basic Math Skills Inventory; or permission of instructor. For Political Science majors, PSCI 203 or PSCI 210 is recommended. 

This course introduces students to a variety of quantitative and qualitative research methods used to study the political behavior of individuals, groups, and nations. Students learn the tools needed to conduct original research and data analysis, and will practice interpreting and presenting quantitative findings relevant to contemporary politics. 
 

Credits

3.0

Offered

Spring Semester

PSCI 210 Comparative Politics

An introduction to the methods of comparative inquiry with close examination of select western democracies, communist, post-communist and developing countries. Comparisons of historical processes, governmental institutions and current public policy challenges.

Credits

3.0

Core

Global Persp & Social Behav Analysis

Offered

Spring Semester

PSCI 215 International Relations

An introduction to the theories and current issues of international relations. Attention given to tension between nationalism and transnationalism and to modern phenomena such as the international economy and the global environment.

Credits

3.0

Core

Global Perspectives

Offered

Fall Semester

PSCI 219 Model United Nations

The Model United Nations is a national and professional organization that hosts an annual simulation experience in New York City every spring. Participants assume the role of a delegate from another country, craft, and submit position papers. The course provides critical preparation for the simulation experience.

Credits

1.0

Offered

Spring Semester (Even Years)

PSCI 220 Maryland Student Legislature

Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. The MD Student Legislature is a student-run organization that brings together students from Maryland universities to conduct two legislative simulations per semester. Participants assume the role of the legislator, craft and submit legislation and shepherd bills through committee and floor debate. Grading is on S/U basis. May be repeated for a total of 4 credits.

Credits

1.0

Offered

Both Semesters

LWPS 230 Introduction to Law

Law and the legal system in the United States. The impact of legal institutions on society. The law as a reflection of political, economic and social values.

Credits

3.0

Core

Social and Behavioral Analysis

Offered

Both Semesters

AFPS 240 African American Politics

An examination of African-American political activity in the 20th century. African-American participation in the U.S. electoral process and the power structure in African-American communities.

Credits

3.0

Core

Social and Behavioral Analysis

Offered

As Needed

PSCI 299 Special Topics in Political Science

Prerequisite: PSCI 203. This course will be a general topics course in political science allowing faculty and students to study particular special interests in politics.

Credits

3.0

Offered

As needed

AFPS 301 African-American Political Autobiography

Prerequisite: 3 hours in African-American history, literary criticism or politics, or permission of the instructor. This course examines the connections between autobiography, political philosophy, utopian thought and politics in African-American autobiographies analyzing to determine the criticisms authors launched against their societies, the social and political alternatives suggested and the agencies they suggested be mobilized to institute change.

Credits

3.0

Core

Historical Analysis

Offered

As Needed

PSCI 302 9/11 in Global Perspective

Prerequisites: PSCI 200 or PSCI 215 or permission of instructor. This course explores the philosophical motives of Al Qaeda, the U.S. government’s institutional responses and failures, creation of a 9/11 commission, the compromise to constitutional rights and law, the effect on political attitudes and popular culture, the ensuing Afghan and Iraq wars, and the international community’s response to the tragedies of that day.

Credits

3.0

Offered

Spring Semester

PSCI 303 Public Policy Analysis

Prerequisite: PSCI 203 or permission of instructor. Students will explore the public policy-making process and engage in public policy analysis, focusing on the theories of public policy formation and the institutions involved in the policy making process. The course will focus on several case studies of substantive policy areas.

Credits

3.0

Offered

Spring Semester

PSCI 304 Philanthropy and Civic Life

Prerequisites: Successful completion of the Social and Behavioral Analysis or Historical Analysis areas of the Core or permission of the instructor. The course examines the political and practical aspects of philanthropy. Attention is given to the responsibilities of democratic citizenship, the merits of strategies for change and the relationship between scholarly inquiry and direct action. Students will study a community-based organization.

Credits

3.0

Core

Philosophical Inquiry

Offered

Spring Semester

PSCI 305 U.S. Foreign Policy

Prerequisite: PSCI 203 or PSCI 215. Review of the contemporary U.S. foreign policy-making process. Emphasis on the history of the U.S. foreign policy, the conflict between the executive and the legislative branches, the role of interest groups and recent foreign policy crises.

Credits

3.0

Offered

Fall Semester (Even Years)

PSCI 307 American Constitutional Law

Prerequisite: CJ 230, LW 230 or PSCI 203 or permission of the instructor. The powers of the state and national governments as interpreted by leading decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States. The development of modern constitutional doctrines.

Credits

3.0

Offered

Fall Semester

PSCI 309 Grants Writing and Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations

Prerequisite: PSCI 304 or permission of the instructor. Introduction to the basic concepts of grant writing and fund-raising in the corporate and public sectors for nonprofits.

Credits

1.0

Offered

Spring Semester

PSCI 313 Great Political Trials

Prerequisite: LW 230 or permission of the instructor. This course analyzes great political trials that have reflected the political controversies of their time. Western tradition of law and legal analysis through trials held in the United States, France and England will be examined and contrasted and compared with trials held under socialist, Islamic and indigenous political systems.

Credits

3.0

Cross Listed Courses

Also offered as HON 313

Offered

(As Needed)

PSCI 317 Urban Politics

Prerequisite: PSCI 203. The course examines the politics of urban areas theoretically and considers some of the classical explanations used to explain how they are governed. The course also examines cities historically, with consideration paid to the growing divide between the haves and the have-nots in U.S. cities and the growing inequalities that are based on race, gender and class.

Credits

3.0

Offered

Spring Semester (Odd Years)

PSCI 320 The American Presidency

Prerequisite: PSCI 203 or permission of the instructor. This course analyzes the development of the modern presidency in the United States, the structure of the institution, and presidential elections. It assesses how presidents make decisions and shape policy and their relationships with Congress, the courts, and the public.

Credits

3.0

Offered

As needed

PSCI 323 Politics of the Developing World

Prerequisite: PSCI 210 or PSCI 215. Political regimes in the developing nations of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.

Credits

3.0

Core

Global Perspectives

Offered

Spring Semester (Odd Years)

PSCI 324 U.S. Campaigns and Elections

Prerequisite: PSCI 203 or permission of the instructor. An analysis of U.S. campaigns and elections. Emphasis on the role that parties, interest groups and media play in our electoral system.

Credits

3.0

Offered

Fall Semester (Even Years)

PSCI 325 Field Work in Politics

Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Designed to acquaint the student with political activity. Supervised work with political campaign of student’s choice.

Credits

2.0 - 3.0

Offered

As needed

PSCI 327 Frederick, MD: From Colony to Suburb

Prerequisites: Completion of the Social and Behavioral Analysis area of the Core. Open to political science majors or with permission of the instructor. Frederick City will be studied from the perspectives of art, demography, economics, history, literature, race, politics and sociology. The evolution of Frederick City from a frontier colony to a suburb of Washington, DC will be examined in the light of regional, national and global forces,

Credits

3.0

Offered

As Needed

PSCI 331 US Democracy in Crisis-How We Got Here

Prerequisite: Fulfillment of Social/Behavioral Analysis Core or Permission of Instructor

The overall aim is for students to reflect on various theories of democracy, through the lens of primary historical writings on the topic, in order to cultivate their own deeply theoretically informed definition. Students read about definitions of democracy as a word, a political theory, and in terms of political values, practices, and institutions. Students reflect on and evaluate classical theories of liberal democracy and democratic republicanism as well as contemporary theories, such as participatory democracy, before considering related critiques from postmodernism, postcolonialism, and theories of identity.

Credits

3.0

Core

Philosophical Inquiry

Offered

Offered Fall or Spring Semester

PSCI 332 Ancient Medieval Political Thought

Prerequisite: Fulfillment of the Historical Analysis section of the Core or permission of the instructor. A critical examination of the political writings of classical and medieval philosophers. Emphasis will be on the development and evolution of concepts such as democracy, justice, citizenship, community and the relationship between church and state.

Credits

3.0

Offered

As Needed

PSCI 333 Modern Political Thought

Prerequisite: PSCI 203 or permission of the instructor. Open to juniors and seniors. Development of political ideas from Machiavelli to the present day. Analysis of the great political traditions in the context of contemporary problems. Democratic liberalism, socialism, fascism and communism.

Credits

3.0

Offered

Spring Semester

PSCI 335 Teaching Assistantship in Political Science

Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing, PSCI 203 and permission of the department. The assistant attends classes, tutor students, show films and participates in periodic conferences with the instructor and other teaching assistants, and may. include assisting in other class-related projects, such as organizing field trips, speakers and discussion sessions. May be taken only once. Grading is on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

Credits

1.0

Offered

Either Semester

PSCI 336 Gender and the Law

Prerequisite: PSCI 203, PSCI 307 or permission of the instructor. A study of the various areas of sex-based legal discrimination and an examination of the relevant cases and statutes.

Credits

3.0

Offered

Spring Semester

AFPS 353 Contemporary African Political Thought

Prerequisite: HIST 246 or AFPS 350 or completion of the Philosophical Inquiry section of the Core. An introduction to African political thought from the pre-colonial period to the present. Emphasis will be given to the impact of Islam, cultural nationalism, nationalism, revolutionary theories, democracy, African socialism and Marxism of major African political theorists.

Credits

3.0

Core

Global Perspectives

Offered

As Needed

PSCI 354 African Political Autobiography

Prerequisite: HIST 246, AFPS 353, or completion of the Philosophical Inquiry section of the Core. This course explores the connections between autobiography, political philosophy and politics in African autobiographies. Selections from the 17th to the 21st centuries will be analyzed by authors from East, North, Central and Southern Africa to determine how they criticized their societies, suggested social and political alternatives and promoted social change

Credits

3.0

Core

Global Perspectives

Offered

As Needed

PSCI 356 Jamestown: Commemoration and Interpretation

Prerequisites: Completion of the Social and Behavioral Analysis category of the Core. Open to political science majors. This course will explore the ways in which national historical events are commemorated with specific reference to the 2007 Jamestown celebrations. The issues of race, politics, and gender will be examined as well as the ways in which the founding of Jamestown is represented in film and literature.

Credits

3.0

Offered

Fall Semester (As Needed)

PSCI 375 Independ Study in Political Science

Prerequisite: Permission of the department. A readings course to supplement the regular offerings of the department. Conferences and written reports.

Credits

1.0 - 3.0

Offered

Both Semesters and Summer

PSCI 397 Special Topics

An upper-level special topics course offered at the discretion of the department. The content and methods vary with the interest of students and faculty members

Credits

3.0

Offered

As needed

PSCI 399 Internship in Political Science

Prerequisites: 18 credits in political science and permission of the instructor. Note: only 3 credits from PSCI 399 count toward the 30 credits of political science required for majors. An introduction to political behavior in a legal or policy-making setting through supervised full- or part-time work for a complete semester or an equivalent summer term (14 weeks). Students may be placed in a variety of settings: governmental or legislative offices, the court system, interest groups or research organizations. Grading is S/U.

Credits

3.0 - 15.0

Offered

Both Semesters and Summer

PSCI 399C Internship Colloquium in Political Science

Co-Requisite: PSCI 399. The class will meet on a regular basis, read the assigned materials, process the internship experience with reference to the courses they have completed in the discipline, and present their experiences at the end of the semester. This course is mandatory for all students taking an internship for the first time. For a second internship, it is optional. Grading is S/U.

Credits

1.0

Offered

Both Semesters

PSCI 405 Civil Liberties

Prerequisites: 12 credits of political science, history and sociology, including PSCI 203 and SOC 101, or permission of the instructor. The theory and history underlying civil liberties in contemporary American culture. Cases and readings. Freedom of expression and association, freedom of religion, fair trial and rights of the accused.

Credits

3.0

Cross Listed Courses

Double-numbered course; offered with graduate-level PSCI 505

Offered

Fall Semester

LWPS 406 International Law

Prerequisites: PSCI 215 or LWPS 230 or PSCI 307, or permission by instructor This course will investigate the basic question underlyingthe debate over the utility of international lawThe influence of global civil society, multinational corporations, and other non-state actors in the development and application of international law will be examined

Credits

3.0

Offered

As Needed

ECPS 414 Environmental Policy

Prerequisites: PSCI 203, PSCI 210 or PSCI 215 and ECON 310 or permission of the instructor. This is a comparative course on the making and implementing of environmental policies in developed and developing countries. The focus is on the evolution of environmental policymaking and on the problems associated with implementing environmental policies in different political and institutional contexts.

Credits

3.0

Cross Listed Courses

Double-numbered course; offered with graduate-level ECPS 514

Offered

Spring Semester (Even Years)

PSCI 470 Seminar on Politics

Prerequisites: PSCI 205 and senior standing or permission of the department. This is the capstone course required of all political science majors. It is an intensive study of political topics which will vary each year. Presentation of oral reports and preparation of research papers.

Credits

3.0

Offered

As Needed

PSCI 499A Departmental Honors

Prerequisite: By invitation of the department. The departmental honors paper is a two-semester senior-year program designed for students who wish to pursue intensive research or special projects in close coordination with faculty advisers. Departmental honors students are known as the Christine P. Tischer Scholars and receive 6 credits for this work.

Credits

3.0

Offered

Both Semesters and/or Summer

PSCI 499B Departmental Honors

Prerequisite: By invitation of the department. The departmental honors paper is a two-semester senior-year program designed for students who wish to pursue intensive research or special projects in close coordination with faculty advisers. Departmental honors students are known as the Christine P. Tischer Scholars and receive 6 credits for this work.

Credits

3.0

Offered

Both Semesters and/or Summer