POLS-POLITICAL SCIENCE -- 2001-03 Catalog
Political Science Department

POLS 112 American and California Government (4) GE D1

Study of governmental institutions, politics, issues and political behavior in the United States and California in constitutional, historical, social and cultural perspectives. Meets the U.S. government and California state/local government requirement. 4 lectures.

POLS 111 California Constitution and Government (1)

Basic aspects of California state government. Satisfies California state and local government requirement for students who have AP credit for American Government or have taken American Government without coverage of California government. 1 lecture.

POLS 180 Political Inquiry (4))

Introduction to the scope, language, concepts and approaches employed in political science and the social sciences. Includes emphasis on basic methodological and research strategies for assessing political issues, events, the dynamics of political change and philosophy of science. 4 lectures.

POLS 200 Special Problems for Undergraduates (1–4)

Individual investigation, research, study, or survey of selected problems under faculty supervision. Total credit limited to 4 units. Prerequisite: Consent of department head.

POLS 225 Introduction to International Relations (4)

Introduction to the evolution, dynamics and substance of the international system; consideration of such subjects of conflict and accommodation, power and weakness, perception and reality, prosperity and poverty, and war and peace in international relations. 4 lectures.

POLS 226 Fundamentals for Understanding Our World (4)

Essentials for understanding major matters within and between countries and regions. Issues, problems, tensions in the relationship of the western and non-western countries, with emphasis on both causes and effects 4 lectures.

POLS 230 Basic Concepts of Political Thought (4)

Introduction to such concepts as: law, justice, community, right, citizen, and constitution, which are fundamental to political discourse, as developed in the works of Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Machiavelli, and other illustrious thinkers from classic to modern times. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 112.

POLS 285 Model United Nations (2) (CR/NC))

Preparation for participation in the campus Model United Nations. Procedure, MUN rules of debate, preparation of country positions, area papers, and policy statements suitable for use in mock United Nations sessions. Total credit limited to 2 units. Credit/No Credit grading only. 2 lectures. Prerequisite: One course in POLS or consent of instructor.

POLS 308 Revolutions and Collective Violence (4)

Causes, methods, outcomes of and authority responses to collective violence and revolutionary movements. Contemporary events including terrorist and other forms of collective violence in industrialized and developing states. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 112.

POLS 310 Politics of Ethnicity and Gender (4) USCP

Analysis of factors that affect the changing role of women and major ethnic groups in American politics. Involvement, organization and role of minority groups in the political process. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 112.

POLS 315 The American Presidency (4)

Nature and problems of contemporary presidential leadership emphasizing the impact of bureaucracy, Congress, public opinion, the courts, interest groups, and the party system upon the presidency and national policy making. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 112.

POLS 316 Political Parties and Interest Groups (4)

Make-up and major functions of political parties. Role of political parties and interest groups in a democracy. Degree of consensus and conflict between present day political parties and interest groups in their attempts to influence public policy. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 112.

POLS 317 Public Opinion and Political Participation (4)

Origins and dimensions of public opinion. Focus on contemporary political campaigns and elections in the U.S. Impact of political ideology, mass media, high technology, pressure groups on electoral outcomes. Voting behavior and other forms of political participation in the U.S. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 112.

POLS 318 Political Behavior (4))

Political behavior of individuals and groups examined in light of biological, economic, psychological and social-psychological theories and research, including emphasis on the relationship between attitudes and behavior. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 112.

POLS 319 Legislative Process (4)

Theory and practice of representative government in the United States and other selected political systems. Organization and procedures in Congress, state legislatures and local legislative bodies. Use of simulations will be encouraged. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 112.

POLS 320 Politics of Global Survival (4)

Consideration of global survival from east-west, north-south and global perspectives. Arms race, development, and the political dimensions of energy, environment, food and population. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 225 or junior standing.

POLS 324 International Politics (4)

International political processes and problems. Foreign policies and politics in relations between states. Conflicts and adjustments. Analyses of selected problems. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 225.

POLS 325 Global Political Issues (4) GE D5

Concepts, theories and contemporary global issues combined so as to better understand the complexities of our modern world. Application of principles of international relations to subjects which affect our lives. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: Completion of GE Area A, and one course from two of the three subfields of Area D1, Area D2, and/or Area D3.

POLS 326 World Food Politics (4)

Social and environmental issues associated with global food production and distribution. Topics include systems thinking, the political system, the agricultural production system, and the politics of change. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: Junior standing.

POLS 328 Politics of Developing Areas (4)

Process of political development in the Third World with appropriate examples taken from particular areas and countries. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 225.

POLS 329 Comparative Politics (4)

Comparative study of the governments of selected Western and non-Western countries. Case studies. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 225 or POLS 112.

POLS 330 Modern Political Thought (4)

Theories of political participation and the relationship between the individual and the state as developed in the works of influential thinkers such as Locke, Rousseau, Mill and Marx. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 230.

POLS 334 Jurisprudence (4)

Normative and analytical problems concerning law. Nature of law and legal systems. Justification of law and the obligation to conform. Analysis of liberty and justice and their relevance to such mundane issues as affirmative action, discrimination, and free speech. 3 lectures, 1 activity. Prerequisite: POLS 112 and POLS 230.

POLS 337 American Political Thought (4)

The central political ideas of America's leading thinkers from the Puritans to the present. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 112, POLS 230.

POLS 338 Critical Issues in American Politics (4) GE D5

Examination of significant social, legal, economic and political issues that face the country and how the basic institutions of government–national, state, local–are responding to them; assessment of policies to correct these problems. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: Completion of GE Area A, one course from Area D1, and one course from either Area D2 or D3.

POLS 339 Comparative Political Systems (4) GE D5

Use of different methodologies to help understand western and non-western settings. Particular attention paid to the political, economic and social institutions which create distinctive politics. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: Completion of GE Area A and one course from two of the three subfields of Area D1, D2, and/or D3.

POLS 341 American Constitutional Law (4)

United States Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court. Decisions in the areas of taxation, separation of powers, nature of congressional presidential powers. Emphasis on social, economic and political factors. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 112.

POLS 343 Civil Rights in America (4) USCP

Case-based examination of race, ethnic and gender discrimination in the United States. The course emphasizes the response of the Supreme Court to issues of equality including affirmative action and abortion. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 112.

POLS 344 Civil Liberties (4)

Role of Supreme Court as interpreter of Constitutional rights and liberties, freedom of expression, religion and the press, search and seizure, due process of law. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 112.

POLS 345 Judicial Process (4)

Examines legal processes, emphasizing political influences on law. Topics may include: types of law, legal culture, state and federal courts, criminal trials, the role of police, judges, attorneys in the legal system. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 112.

POLS 346 Politics in Literature (4)

Political concepts and values examined, based on literary sources. Recent topics include: power, justice, violence and social responsibility. Authors whose works have been examined include: Brecht, Camus, Dostoevesky, Miller, Vonnegut, and Dorfman. Both plays and novels are used. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 112 or consent of instructor.

POLS 351 Public Administration (4)

Development of the management functions in government. Survey of administrative concepts and cases. Attention given to national, state and local administrative systems. Case studies and simulations. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 112.

POLS 360 Political Analysis (4)

Introduction to methodology research design and quantitative methods used in survey research and political analysis. Bi-variate inferential statistics and SPSS statistical computer programs will be used to analyze political phenomena. 3 lectures, 1 activity. Prerequisite: POLS 180 and STAT 221 or STAT 217 or equivalent.

POLS 375 California State and Local Politics (4)

Political culture, processes, behavior, institutions, public policy and distribution of power in California state and substate governments. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 112.

POLS 384 Citizenship, Society and Self (4) GE D5

Development of the skills and competencies that form the basis for an informed, responsible, and active citizenry. The meaning of democracy, community, and civic responsibility, and self-identification and examination as active participants in the community. Fieldwork and field research based on service involvement in the community. 3 lectures, 1 activity. Prerequisite: Completion of GE Area A, one course in Area D1, and one course in Area D3.

POLS 385 Advanced Model United Nations (2)

Participation in the campus Model United Nations. Procedure, MUN rules of debate, preparation of country positions, area papers, and policy statement for use in mock United Nations sessions. Total credit limited to 6 units. 2 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 285 or consent of instructor.

POLS 386 Government Internship (2–12) (CR/NC)

Supervised work experience in a government or related public agency. Intern will function as an employee subject to all the duties and responsibilities of employees engaged in comparable work. 30 hours of work experience per unit of credit. Credit/No Credit grading. Recommended preparation: Junior standing with a minimum 2.5 GPA.

POLS 388 Field Study (1) (CR/NC)

Field study experience visiting government facilities, museums, and cultural places as part of the London Study Program or other off-site Cal Poly programs. May include films, discussions, and lecture by Cal Poly faculty. Credit/No Credit grading only. Total credit limited to 6 units. 1 activity. Prerequisite: POLS 112 or equivalent.

POLS 400 Special Problems for Advanced Undergraduates (1–4)

Individual investigation, research, study, or survey of selected problems. Total credit limited to 4 units. Prerequisite: Consent of department head.

POLS 420 Contemporary U.S. Foreign Policy (4)

Formulation and conduct of U.S. foreign policy. Analysis of the theory and elements of U.S. strategy; diplomacy, propaganda, economic operations, psychological warfare, and military strategies. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 225.

POLS 426 Globalization (4)

Transnational politics and economics, and strategies supporting and opposing different dimensions of globalization. Topics include the evolution of a transnational political economy, challenges to the primacy of the nation-state, and movement toward a global culture. Emphasis on sustainability. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 225, POLS 226, or POLS 324.

POLS 441 Voting Behavior and Elections (4)

Empirical scholarship on voting behavior in modern elections, with the findings placed in a normative and theoretical context. Includes theories of vote aggregation, spatial and non-spatial models of a citizen's vote decision, and empirical analyses of modern voting patterns. 3 lectures and a research paper. Prerequisite: POLS 112 or equivalent.

POLS 451 Technology and Public Policy (4)

Techniques for performing technical assessment and impact analysis in communication, transportation, health technologies, aerospace, electronics and other new technologies. Case studies on contemporary problems stemming from the relationship of technology and politics. 3 lectures and a research paper. Prerequisite: POLS 112.

POLS 452 Public Finance (4)

Economic and political factors affecting federal, state and local governments. Intergovernmental relations and policy considerations in finance, debt management and tax administration. 3 lectures and a research paper. Prerequisite: POLS 112.

POLS 453 Administrative Theory and Behavior (4)

Theories, concepts and case studies related to organizations and to the individuals and groups that work in them. Application of concepts to public and non-profit organizations. 3 lectures and a research paper. Prerequisite: POLS 112 and POLS 351.

POLS 454 Public Personnel Policy (4)

Concepts, techniques, and issues related to human resource administration. Techniques and concepts for public and nonprofit organizations. 3 lectures and a research paper. Prerequisite: POLS 112 and POLS 351.

POLS 455 Public Policy (4)

Public policy making and contemporary policy issues, including markets; regulation; criminal justice; housing; environment; poverty; health care and education. 3 lectures and a research paper. Prerequisite: POLS 112.

POLS 460 Intermediate Political Analysis (4)

Intermediate social science methodology focusing on stochastic model specification and estimation. Enhancements and generalizations of the basic approaches with applications to multivariate, nonlinear and large sample settings. Increased use of computer packages and data analysis. 3 lectures, 1 activity. Prerequisite: POLS 360.

POLS 461, 462 Senior Project (2) (2)

Selection and completion of a project under faculty supervision. Project results presented in a formal paper. Prerequisite: Senior standing (completion of 135 quarter hours), completion of required core courses and concentration. May not be taken CR/NC.

POLS 470 Selected Advanced Topics (1–4)

Directed group study of selected topics for advanced students. Open to undergraduate and graduate students. Class Schedule will list topic selected. Topics rotated among: African politics, Asian politics, European politics, inter-American relations, and Middle Eastern politics. 1–4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 112, junior standing.

POLS 471 Municipal Government (4)

Concepts, policies and politics in urban governments and organization and power-structure issues of modern American municipalities. Inter-governmental relations, finance, and planning problems in city government. 3 lectures and a research paper. Prerequisite: POLS 112.

POLS 472 State and Local Government (4)

Theoretical approaches to and structure, function and problems of state, county and local governments, including case studies, simulations and/or computer research exercises. 3 lectures and a research paper. Prerequisite: POLS 112.

POLS 481 Undergraduate Seminar (4)

Preparation and presentation of current developments in the field of political science, with primary attention to American politics, or international relations, or public administration. 3 seminars and a research paper. Prerequisite: Junior or senior in Political Science.

POLS 484 Community Research Seminar (2)

Participation in small groups performing action research requested by one or more community agencies. May include surveys, interviewing, on-site evaluations and computer data analysis. Total credit limited to 6 units. 1 seminar, 1 activity. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing.

POLS 495 Cooperative Education Experience (12) (CR/NC)

Full-time work experience in business, industry, government, and other areas of student career interest. Positions are paid and usually require relocation and registration in course for two consecutive quarters. Formal report and evaluation by work supervisor required. Total credit limited to 16 units. Credit/No Credit grading only. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing and consent of instructor.

POLS 500 Independent Study (1–4)

Individual research, studies, or surveys under the supervision of the faculty. Total credit limited to 4 units. Prerequisite: Graduate standing with minimum of 12 core units.

POLS 518 Public Policy Analysis (4) (Also listed as CRP 518)

Analysis of the social, economic, environmental, political contexts of public policy decisions. Public policy issues and use of concepts and tools related to monitoring and assessment. 3 lectures and a research paper. Prerequisite: CRP 501, POLS 360 or consent of instructor.

POLS 550 Development Administration (4)

Administration in developing areas of the world. Tools for sustainable development. 3 seminars and a research paper. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

POLS 560 Advanced Political Analysis (4)

Advanced social science methodology focusing on stochastic model specification and estimation. Topics include maximum likelihood estimation, event count models, time series data, nonparametric analysis, Resampling techniques, and Bayesian Methods. Advanced computer packages will be used to analyze challenging data sets. 3 lectures, 1 activity. Prerequisite: POLS 360 or STAT 322.

POLS 586 Policy Internship (4–8) (CR/NC)

Supervised work experience in a government or related public agency. Intern will function as an employee engaged in comparable work. Credit/No Credit grading only. Total credit limited to 8 units. Prerequisite: Completion of 12 units of core courses in the Master of Public Policy Program.

POLS 590 Graduate Seminar (4)

Seminar designed as a culminating component to the Master of Public Policy Program. Individual research under the supervision of the faculty within a small discussion environment, leading to a graduate project or paper. Total credit limited to 8 units. 3 seminars and a research paper. Prerequisite: POLS 560, advancement to candidacy, consent of academic program chair.