The Department of Political Science has great courses for great students – with plenty of open seats.  Courses with open seats include:

PS 101 U.S. Government and Politics (CRN:45114). This social sciences general education course examines the organization and development of national, state, and local governments in the U.S.; the federal system; the U.S. Constitutions; civil and political rights; the party system; and the nature, structure, powers, and procedures of national political institutions. The course gives students the opportunity to participate as a subject in research. This class meets 9:00-9:30, MWF.

PS 241  Comparative Politics in Developing Countries. This social sciences and non-western general education course provides comparative and historical insights into the problems affecting the developing world by examining social, economic and political changes in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The main lecture meets Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30-10:20.

PS 270: Introduction to Political Theory.  This humanities general education course introduces the nature, structure, and purposes of political theory; examines major works on the problems of political order, obedience, justice, liberty, and representation to distinguish and clarify different theoretical approaches. Suggesting to students that they read Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes and so has been great advice for hundreds of years. The main lecture for this class meets Mondays and Wednesdays, 10:00-10:50

PS 282: Governing Globalization. This advanced composition course examines the historical, socio-economic, political, and moral dimensions associated with the rise of a global society and its governance. The main lecture for this class meets 12:00 to 12:50, MW.
PS 300: Big Data, Math and Politics. (CRN: 54781) This special topics course is taught by Professor Cho.  Students may repeat PS 300 once. This class meets 12:30-1:50, MW.

PS 300: Chinese Foreign Policy. (CRN: 54818) This special topics course introduces students to competing views and arguments about the implications of China’s rise for international security. It focuses on the causes, dynamics, and direction of Chinese foreign policy, which will be analyzed critically and comprehensively. Students may repeat PS 300 once. This class meets 11:00-12:20, MW.

PS 302: U.S. Constitution II (CRN: 38227) This advanced course analyzes issues involved in free speech, freedom of religion, rights of the criminally accused, and government’s responsibility to protect persons from discrimination based on race or sexual preference. It pays special attention to the role of law and judges. Juniors and seniors only. The class meets MWF 10-10:50.

PS 303: U.S. Congress (CRN:39223) This course taught by Professor Sin examines the legislative function in government; the structure and organization of Congress; legislative procedures; pressure groups and lobbying; the relation of legislature to other branches of government; and problems of legislative reorganization. This particular section will employ a simulation on the life of legislators. The class meets MW 9:30 to 10:50.

PS 317: Asian American Politics (CRN: 47992) This course taught by Professor Cho provides an overview of the role of Asian Americans in the American political system. Topics include: the international context of emigration, the history of different Asian groups in the U.S., demographic patterns, issues of identity, classification, and pan-ethnicity, voting behavior, minority representation, and public policy. This class meets 11-12:20 MW.

PS 341: Government and Politics of Africa (CRN: 43215) This course taught by Professor Bowen, Director of the Center for African Studies, examines contemporary economic, social, and political processes in Africa, focusing on three basic explanatory themes: historical patterns of development; emerging patterns of class and interest; and leadership strategies. This course meets Mondays from 2:00 to 4:00.

PS 376: American Political Theory (CRN: 38252) This course surveys American political thought from colonial times to the present. Readings include writings by Franklin, Madison, Hamilton, Webster, Taney, Lincoln, Dewey, Holmes, Wilson, Niebuhr, Lippmann, Hartz, Friedan and many others. Class meets 2:00-3:20, MW.

PS 377: Truth, Lies and Politics (CRN: 38252) This course in contemporary political thought explores the relationship between the accuracy and sincerity of the claims about the world, on the one hand, and political judgment and ethics on the other. Topics include: meaningful differences between true and false matters; the proper relationship in between that distinction and politics; different phenomena or conditions relevant to that relationship, such as hypocrisy, ideology, or information technology, to test and criticize assumptions and ideas about truth and political life. Class meets 2:00-3:20, MW.

PS 452: Normative Perspectives on  American Politics (CRN: 48886). This course is an examination of American democracy from normative perspectives. It provides value-based perspectives on the societal, economic, and political problems facing the US in the 21st Century. It considers alternative political and governmental solutions to these problems by exploring the value judgments involved in choosing among these alternatives, and discussing the appropriate role of political leaders in making those choices in a context of democratic processes and institutions. This course meets 11:00 to 12:20 Tuesdays and Thursdays.

PS 453: Ethics, Leadership & Democracy (CRN: 43711) This course is an examination of the relations between strong political leadership and democracy. It draws on both empirical and normative studies of political leadership, and gives special attention to the ethical challenges of democratic leadership. Topics include: the idea of the “dirty hands dilemmas” confronted by decision-makers, whether different political offices generate different ethical obligations, and how these obligations are related to a general commitment to democratic practices and values. This class meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30-4:50.

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