Political Science

HEALTH COURSES HLT 209: Personal, School, and Community Health (3) A study of contemporary health concepts that have an impact on personal, school, and community health practices. Offered every semester.

HLT 225: Introduction to Community Health (3) Introductory course on public health principles and the current delivery of health services in the United States. The introductory course covers the major area of community health, epidemiology, healthcare management and promotion, environmental, and social health, and current issues along with data and research will be examined. Offered online as needed.

HLT 289: Selected Topics in Health (1–3) A study of selected issues not covered in other courses. May involve field trips and/or travel. Course may be repeated. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. HLT 328: Instructional Techniques in Health K-12 (3) An in-depth study and mini-practicum for the introduction of techniques, organization, and resources for the school health educator. Prerequisite: HLT 209 and admission to Teacher Education Program. Offered every spring.

HLT 333: Nutrition A study of basic nutritional concepts, including the Food Guide Pyramid, the six basic nutrients, proper health and growth as related to nutrition, and the planning of proper diet and exercise habits. Offered every spring (3)

HLT 340: Drug Education Sociological and psychological influences that have an impact on drug use and abuse and methods for intervention and rehabilitation will be presented. Offered every fall. (3)

STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY Political science is the study of power relations in society, the structure of governmental institutions, and interaction between citizens and those institutions as well as the interaction between states at the international level. The subject matter “politics” is crucial to understanding our existence in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. Departmental offerings are designed to strike a balance between an emphasis on critical thinking and analytical skills versus factual and substantive knowledge. Those seeking a career in public service as well as those wanting a traditional liberal arts education and degree will be interested in this major.

PROGRAM GOALS • Students will be skilled in critical thinking, effective communicating, and creative problem solving. • Students will be prepared for a career or graduate study through programs that provide in-depth knowledge, disciplinary methodologies, professional specialization, and experiential learning. • Students will be provided a supportive environment in which the college mission can be accomplished through positive faculty engagement, accessibility, content knowledge and a genuine interest in students’ academic and personal development.

BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE WITH A MAJOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE (33 HOURS) Core Courses (15 hours)

POS 106: Economic History of the United States (3) OR Eco 201: Principles of Macroeconomics (3)

POS 205: American Government and Politics (3)

POS 304: Comparative Politics and International Relations (3)

POS 320: Introduction to Social Research (3)

POS 490: Senior Seminar (3)

Elective Courses (18 hours)

Select either an American Politics Specialization or a focus on International Politics: 9 hours of political science electives 6 hours of history electives

3 hours of sociology electives or The 226: Acting for the non-major (3)

Additional classes from history and sociology can be taken as choices of electives upon consultation with the advisor.

MINOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE (18 HOURS) Core Courses (6 hours)

POS 205: American Government and Politics (3)

OR

POS 304: Comparative Politics and International Relations (3) 3 hours of political science courses

Elective Courses (12 hours) Select 12 hours from among the interdisciplinary elective courses from history, business, economics, and sociology.

POLITICAL SCIENCE COURSES POS 106: Economic History of the United States (3) See ECO 106.

POS 203: Social Problems See SOC 203.

POS 205: American Government and Politics (3) An introduction to the major conceptual tools used to study and analyze the American political system. An emphasis is placed on the history and functioning of the three branches of federal government, plus a thorough examination of the founding documents, election process, and state of the republic is covered. Offered every semester. (3)

POS 209: State and Local Government The federal-state relationship and the structure of state, country, and municipal governments in the United States. Offered every fall. (3)

POS 210: Politics of the Developing World (3) This course focuses on current issues in the developing world through independent student research with instructor guidance. Developing areas are home to 80 percent of the world’s population but produce only 20 percent of the world’s wealth. At the same time, the majority of the world’s natural resources are also located in developing areas, and most of the current armed conflicts occur there as well. The course focuses on a number of competing explanations grouped around themes such as state-building, nationalism, democratization, economic development, civil wars, famine as a political tool, failed states, and the legacy of colonialism. ExL

POS 215: Total War and Beyond The course explores the nature and geopolitics of modern warfare. Many traditional explanations of (3) war and peace are exposed as myths propagated by self-interested governments and perpetuated by an inattentive public.

POS 245: Women in American History See HIS 245. (3)

POS 276: Exploratory Internship (1–3)

in Political Science Internship designed to acquaint students with the field of political science in order to evaluate career choice.

POS 289: Selected Topics in Political Science (1–3) Selected topics not covered in other courses. May involve field trips and/or travel. Course may be repeated. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

POS 299: Study Abroad (1–3) Students will study a variety of topics by combining college classroom activities with travel. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Offered as needed.

POS 304: Comparative Politics and (3) (DW)

International Relations An examination of the methods of comparing and analyzing diverse political regimes. The primary emphasis will be on understanding contemporary political institutions, but the course will include an examination of the historical, cultural, and ideological roots of these regimes. The class focuses on a global perspective on the selection of countries. Offered spring of odd-numbered years.

POS 306: Judicial Process See LAW 306. (3)

POS 320: Introduction to Social Research See CJ 320. (3)

POS 335: Religion and Contemporary American Politics See REL 335.

POS 380: The Age of Revolution: Europe, 1789–1918 See His 380. (3)

(3)

POS 399: Model United Nations (3)

This course will prepare students to participate in a four-day United Nations simulation that takes place in Chicago. Students will learn about the history, organization, and procedures of the UN in addition to UN agenda issues, countries represented, and the policies of UN-member nations. Students will choose a country and prepare to represent it at the model United Nations simulation. The debriefing for this course will take place for a few days during the 3-week term. Offered every fall.

POS 401: Minority People and Race Relations (3) See SOC 401.

POS 410: Political Theory This course focuses on the main theories and theorists in political science. Offered spring of oddnumbered years. (3)

POS 412: American Foreign Relations (3) An examination of the major themes that pervade the history of American foreign relations. The course is intended to go beyond description of events to analyze and explain how changing definitions of “the national interest” affects American foreign policy. The class covers foreign relations from the Colonial Period to the present. A working understanding of American history is assumed for those taking this course. Recommended prerequisite includes one of the following: His 108 or POS 205. ExL

POS 416: Constitutional Law See LAW 416. (3)

POS 425: Public Relations Strategies and Campaigns See COM 425. (3) POS 476: Professional Internship in (1–6)

Political Science Independent internship with a governmental agency, public official, law offices, or selected public and private agencies. ExL

POS 480: Independent Study (1–3) Individual or group projects in political science under the supervision of the instructor. Prerequisites: consent of the instructor and six hours in the field or consent of instructor, academic advisor, division chairperson, and VPAA/Provost.

POS 489: Selected Topics in Political Science (1–3) Selected topics not covered in other courses. May involve field trips and/or travel. Course may be repeated. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

POS 490: Senior Seminar (3) (DW & CE) Required of all Political Science majors, this seminar will focus on the research and writing of the capstone senior thesis in an area of the students’ interests. Students should also discover where their strengths are during this project and learn to harness them for future endeavors. Offered spring of even-numbered years.

POS 498: Global Studies (1)

This course will focus on materials that will enable students to fully engage with the academic content of the immediately following 3-week travel course. This course will also enable travel course leaders to monitor passports, visas, payments, and application document completion. Offered each 12-week session in conjunction with an international travel class being offered in the 3-week session.

POS 499: Study Abroad (1–3) Students will study a variety of topics by combining college classroom activities with travel. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Offered as needed.