POLS-POLITICAL SCIENCE – 2005-07 Catalog
Political Science Department
POLS 111
Basic aspects of
POLS 112 American
and
Study of governmental
institutions, politics, issues and political behavior in the
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 basic
concepts, issues, and theories surrounding the study of international politics.
Changes in the nature of conflict, power, and national interests in the
post-Cold War era. Role of states, non-governmental actors, and international
organizations in the global arena. 4 lectures.
POLS 229
Introduction to Comparative Politics (4)
Introduction to basic
concepts, issues, and theories in comparative politics. Use of the comparative
method. Legitimacy, political culture and socialization, parliamentary and
presidential institutions, judicial structures, electoral laws, party systems,
federal and unitary governance, corporatism and pluralism. 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 (4)
Introduction to the United
Nations and major issues that confront it. Preparation for participation in
collegiate Model United Nations conferences. Rules of procedure and debate,
preparation of country position papers, and resolution writing. 4 lectures.
Prerequisite: One course in POLS or consent of
instructor.
POLS 308 Collective
Violence and Conflict Resolution (4)
Causes, methods, and consequences
of non-state groups that use violent means to pursue revolutionary, separatist,
or ideological goals both domestically and internationally. Dynamics of ethnic
conflict, terrorist movements, paramilitary groups, insurgencies, and narco-trafficking. Processes of conflict resolution in
divided societies through military responses, negotiated settlements,
democracy, and peacekeeping missions. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 112, or consent of instructor.
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, or consent of
instructor.
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, or consent of instructor.
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, or consent of
instructor.
POLS 317 Campaigns
and Elections (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, or consent of instructor.
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, or consent of instructor.
POLS 319
Theory and practice of
representative government in the
POLS 324
International Relations Theory (4)
Survey of theoretical
approaches to the study of international political processes and problems.
Foreign policies and politics in relations between states. Conflicts and
adjustments. Analyses of selected problems to elucidate differences between
realist, liberal, socialist, constructivist, and other theories. 4 lectures.
Prerequisite: POLS 225, or consent of instructor.
POLS 325 Global
Political Issues (4) GE D5
POLS 328 Politics
of Developing Areas (4)
A detailed survey of the
domestic politics of developing countries from a comparative perspective. Assessment
of theories of development with appropriate examples taken from particular
areas and countries. Regional focus may alternate among
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, or
consent of instructor.
POLS 333 World Food
Systems (4) GE Area F
Integrated,
interdisciplinary study of the technologies of global food production,
environmental and social issues related to the application of those
technologies, and moral and ethical issues associated with global food
production and distribution. Emphasis on the politics of change. 4 lectures.
Prerequisite: Junior standing and completion of GE Area B, or consent of
instructor.
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 issues such as affirmative action, discrimination, and free
speech. 3 lectures, 1 activity. Prerequisite: POLS
112 and POLS 230, or consent of instructor.
POLS 337 American
Political Thought (4)
The central political ideas
of
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, or consent of instructor. Political Sciences majors will not
receive GE Area D5 credit.
POLS 339
Comparative Political Regimes (4) GE
D5
A comparative examination
of governing institutions used throughout the world. Emphasis on the diversity
of governmental designs found within both authoritarian and democratic regimes.
4 lectures. Prerequisite: Completion of GE Area A and one course from two of
the three subfields of Area D1, D2, and/or D3, or consent of instructor.
Political Sciences majors will not receive GE Area D5 credit.
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, or consent of instructor.
POLS 343 Civil
Rights in
Case-based examination of
race, ethnic and gender discrimination in the
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, or consent of instructor.
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, or consent of instructor.
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 347 Politics
and Popular Culture (4)
Intersection of politics
and mass media. How political actors use popular culture to establish issue
agendas, convey political concepts, symbolism, rhetoric and values. 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, or consent of instructor.
POLS 360 Political
Analysis (5)
Introduction to methodology
research design and quantitative methods used in survey research and political analysis.
Multiple regression analysis, non-linear techniques, and diagnostics used to
analyze political phenomena. SPSS statistical computer programs used to work on
statistical application. 4 lectures, 1 activity. Prerequisite: POLS 180 and STAT 221 or STAT 217 or equivalent with
minimum grade of C-, or consent of instructor.
POLS 375
Political culture,
processes, behavior, institutions, public policy and distribution of power in
POLS 381 Peace and
War (4)
Dynamics of interstate
peace and war. Topics include: military strategy, the military-industrial
complex, arms races and disarmament, diplomacy, deterrence and pre-emption,
collective security and alliance behavior, civil-military relations,
post-conflict reconstruction, and the role of international law and
organizations. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 225 or
consent of instructor.
POLS 382
Comparative Foreign Policy (4)
Systematic analysis of the
international and domestic pressures leading different states to take
particular foreign policy stances, with appropriate examples taken from
different regions of the world. Discussion of contemporary foreign policy
issues and responses. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS
225 or consent of instructor.
POLS 383 Politics
of the European Union (4)
History and development of
the European Union in the context of theories of regional integration. Overview
of institutional and policymaking machinery of the EU.
Current issues facing member states. Impact of EU on
US interests and world politics more generally. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 225 or consent of instructor.
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, or consent of instructor. Political Sciences
majors will not receive GE Area D5 credit.
POLS 385 Advanced
Model United Nations (2) (CR/NC)
Preparation for
participation in collegiate Model United Nations conferences. Rules of
procedure and debate, preparation of country position papers, and resolution
writing. Discussion of current issues of concern to the United Nations.
Credit/No Credit grading only. 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 chair.
POLS 419 Social
Movements and Political Protest (4)
Selected
POLS 420
Contemporary
Formulation and conduct of
POLS 426
International Organizations and Law (4)
Transnational politics and
strategies supporting and opposing different dimensions of globalization.
Topics include international law and the use of force, challenges to the
primacy of the nation-state, and movement toward a global culture as expressed
in the development of human rights law. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 225 or POLS 324, or consent
of instructor.
POLS 427 Politics of
the Global Economy (4)
Political conflicts
surrounding the trading, financial, and security structures of the
international economy. Motivations, resources, and responses of states,
international organizations, multinational corporations and other nonstate actors as they address economic, political,
environmental, and security issues within these structures. Desirability and
inevitability of globalization. 3 lectures and a research paper. Prerequisite: POLS 225, completion of GE D2, or consent of instructor.
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, or consent of instructor.
POLS 456 Politics
and Economic Policy (4)
Goals of economic policy,
based on efficiency, equity, and other values. Theories of market failure and
government regulation. Influence of electoral calculations, bureaucracy, and
interest group pressures on government approaches to address market failures.
Government intervention in the marketplace, and intervention by economic
interests into politics, and how this challenges democracy 3 lectures and a
research paper. Prerequisite: POLS 112, completion of
GE D2; or consent of instructor .
POLS 457 The
Politics of Reproductive Policy (4)
History, development,
implementation and the relative success of various reproductive policies.
Critical evaluation of these policies using a feminist theoretical framework
and political science perspective. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 112, completion of GE Area D, and junior standing; or
consent of instructor.
POLS 459 The
Politics of Poverty (4)
Analysis of the politics
and policies associated with the American welfare state, focusing particularly
on welfare and homelessness policies. Questions addressed concerning the causes
of poverty and how social policy responds to poverty. 4 lectures. Prerequisite:
POLS 112 and junior standing, or consent of
instructor.
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, or consent of instructor.
POLS 461, 462
Senior Project I, II (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 courses on timely
issues and topics for advanced students. Open to undergraduate and graduate
students. Class Schedule will list
topic selected. Total credit limited to 12 units.
1–4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 112, junior
standing, or consent of instructor. Change effective Winter 2007.
POLS 471
Urban Politics (4)
Theoretical approaches,
concepts, and politics associated with urban governments. Urban power
structures, the relationship between urban society and politics, and
inter-governmental relations. 3 lectures and a research paper. Prerequisite: POLS 112, or consent of instructor.
POLS 481 Senior
Project Seminar (4)
Selection, preparation and
completion of senior project, focusing on current developments in the field of
political science, with primary attention to American politics, public policy,
international relations, or public administration. Project results presented in
a formal paper. 3 seminars and a research paper. Prerequisite: POLS 112 and POLS 360, or consent
of instructor.
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 515 Public
Policy (4)
Public policy making and
contemporary policy issues, including markets; regulation; criminal justice;
housing; environment; poverty; health care and education. 4 lectures.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing, or consent of instructor.
POLS 516 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. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 515,
or consent of instructor.
POLS 517
Administrative Theory and Behavior (4)
Theories, concepts and case
studies related to organizations and to the individuals and groups that work in
them. Case studies and applications of concepts to public and non-profit
organizations. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 515, or
consent of instructor.
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. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: CRP 501, POLS
360 or consent of instructor.
POLS 519 Public
Personnel Policy (4)
Concepts, techniques, and
issues related to human resource administration. Techniques and concepts for
public and nonprofit organizations. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: POLS 515, or consent of instructor.
POLS 550
Development Administration (4)
Administration in
developing areas of the world. Tools for sustainable development. 4 lectures.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing, or consent of instructor.
POLS 560
Quantitative Methods (5)
Social science methodology
focusing on research design and quantitative methods used in policy and
political research: multi-regression, non-linear techniques, diagnostics and
time series. Advanced computer packages used to analyze challenging data sets.
4 lectures, 1 activity. Prerequisite: POLS 360, STAT
322, or STAT 512, or consent of instructor.
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. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: POLS 560,
advancement to candidacy, consent of academic program chair.