Political Studies Courses
POL104 American National Politics (4)
Critically examines basic commitments, institutions and processes of American politics; engages contemporary political debate; focuses on Constitution, political culture, interest groups, parties, Congress, Presidency and Supreme Court.
POL105 Power and Justice: Perspectives on Political Order (2)
Explores basic political concepts, systems and problems in worldwide context. Encourages development and use of Christian worldview to transcend existing modes of understanding and practicing politics.
POL106 International Relations (4)
Studies relations among nations, politics of war and peace, elements and limits of national power, issues of hunger, development and human rights. Emphasizes American involvement in world affairs; examines Christian options.
POL213/COM213 Political Communication: Votes, Groups and Media (4)
Examines political communication in American politics from empirical and normative perspectives, focusing on campaigns and elections, public opinion, mass media, interest groups and political parties. Prerequisite: POL104 or course in communications, or permission of instructor.
POL214 American Domestic Policy (4)
Examines policy making from agenda setting to implementation and evaluation of policies; students explore specific domestic policy interests. Prerequisite: POL 104 or permission of instructor.
POL217 American Constitutional Law (4)
Surveys development of American constitutional law from historical perspective using case-analysis approach. Emphasizes civil liberties and federal-state relations. Prerequisite: course in American politics or history, or permission of instructor.
POL219 Politics of the Developing World (4)
Explores political-economic situation in countries typically described as "developing." Using case studies, issues related to structures, markets and societal activity are examined. Emphasizes politics of developmental strategies and place of Christian worldviews. Prerequisite: POL106 or permission of instructor.
POL223/PL223 Theories of Politics (4)
Explores major themes in Western tradition from classical and modern political thought. Explores central concepts of state and citizen, and considers major traditions in Christian political thought. Prerequisite: junior standing or permission of instructor.
POL235 Politics of the Middle East (4)
Overview of distinctive character of politics in several Middle East nations; role of religion as factor in region's politics. Considers Arab-Israeli conflict, politics of oil, rise of radical Islam in region. Prerequisite: sophomore standing.
POL240 Politics of Western Europe (4)
Explores political institutions and problems common to democracies of Western Europe; institutions of parliamentary democracy, micro-nationalism, major political forces, electoral systems and European Union; consociational democracy as alternative to Anglo-American majoritarian democracy. Prerequisite: POL104 or 105.
POL246 International Diplomacy: The Model United Nations (2)
Students serve as U.N. representatives of country at National Model United Nations Program at Harvard University; extensive economic, political, social, cultural and scientific reports required on national and international concerns of country delegation represents. Includes intensive preparation in parliamentary procedures and debate. Repeatable for credit. Prerequisite: POL245. Class fee: $300.
POL310 American Foreign Policy (4)
Examines factors shaping international behavior of United States from end of World War II to present; analytical importance of international system, domestic interest groups, governmental actors, public opinion and ideology; dilemma of reconciling moral principles with exercise of world power. Prerequisite: junior standing.
POL315 Politics of Post-Communist Europe (4)
Contrasts Russian and Polish attempts to establish new forms of state and society after collapse of communism in 1989. Examines both continuity and change in public philosophy, political culture and key institutions in former Soviet sphere of influence in Central Europe.
POL320 Women in Politics (4)
Overview of relationship between gender and politics in American and international context. Focuses on role of gender in defining and shaping politics, political behavior and public policy; political socialization, mobilization and participation of women; formation, leadership and efficacy of women's movements (feminist and nonfeminist); and various ways in which women, as political actors and theorists, have challenged and redefined "politics as usual." Prerequisite: a 100-level course in politics.
POL322 American Political Thought (4)
Are all Americans liberals? Examines American political tradition, using primary documents from Colonial period through present, with special emphasis on Federal Convention of 1787 and Christian critique of contemporary liberalism. Prerequisite: POL104.
POL324 Politics of Latin America (4)
Considers development and political governance in unique historical and cultural context of Latin America. Course combines discussion of history and theory with study of individual countries. Included are analyses of regime change, social movements and U.S. foreign policy in region. Prerequisite: POL105 or POL106, or permission of instructor.
POL325 Congress and the Presidency (4)
Examines legislative and executive branches of American national government; includes elections, representation, presidential leadership, congressional reform, role of parties, interest groups and bureaucracy in legislative and executive politics; impact of Constitution on presidential-congressional relations. Prerequisite: POL104.
POL348 Theories of International Relations (4)
Critical analyses of leading schools of thought in international relations and their policy implications for major topics such as war, peace and cooperation. Approaches considered include, among others, realism, Marxism, neoliberalism and constructivism. Prerequisite: POL106.
POL416/EB416 International Political Economy (4)
See course listing under Economics and Business.
POL425 Internship in Government and Politics (4 to 6)
Combined on-the-job work experience and related academic study in variety of public and private sector settings here and abroad. Plan ahead to avoid conflicts with other degree requirements. Prerequisites: permission of instructor, minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 and approval of Registrar's Office. See Off-Campus course descriptions.
POL434 State, Citizen and Civil Society (2)
Primary emphasis on principles of Christian pluralism from Reformed and Catholic traditions. Develop individual projects in application of Christian principles to public policy questions in United States, Europe, developing world, international politics, etc. Senior capstone course in seminar format.
POL471, 472 Research I, II (4, 4)
Individual research for senior honors thesis. Prerequisites: senior standing and permission of instructor.