WCSU Undergraduate Catalog 2018-19 : Macricostas School of Arts & Sciences

Political Science

Political Science

PS 100 Introduction to Political Science 3 SH
A study of the nature and manifestations of power and ideology in the modern world. This course seeks to present a broad but selective introduction to government and politics, to develop the capacity to think in terms of political concepts and to aid the student in acquiring greater political awareness. Every semester. General Education: Social Sciences.

PS 102 American Government 3 SH
A study of the institutional, theoretical and functional features of American national government with special attention to contemporary trends and problems. Every semester. General Education: Social Sciences.

PS 104 World Governments, Economies and Cultures 3 SH
Political, historical, economic and sociocultural perspectives are used to examine the problems and prospects of the contemporary world. Course topics will be selected in terms of current global issues and developments. Every semester. General Education: Social Sciences.

PS/ECO 110 Introduction to Political Economy 3 SH
See ECO/PS 110.

PS 200 International Relations 3 SH
A study of those factors underlying international politics and determining foreign policies of national governments. Topics discussed include geographic and economic influences, international law, psychological bases of war and peace, nationalism and sovereignty. Various international organizations are examined as to purpose, structure and achievement. The contemporary international scene is utilized as a frame of reference. Not open to freshmen. Fall semester of odd-numbered years. General Education: Social Sciences.

PS 201 Political Theory 3 SH
A study of the nature of politics, ideological and intellectual movements and the contributions of concepts and ideas to an understanding of the political process. From a historical, empirical and contemporary perspective. Spring semester of odd-numbered years. General Education: Social Sciences.

PS 212 Policy-Making Process in American Government 3 SH
Selected case study approach to government decision-making, including both domestic and foreign policy issues, emphasizing such factors as history, intelligence, resources, leadership and the political culture in defining the realities of influence and power in the policy-making process. Offered periodically. Prerequisite: PS 102. General Education: Social Sciences.

PS 213 Politics and the Court 3 SH
A study of the origins, growth and scope of the Supreme Court in relation to American politics and institutional developments. Emphasis will be on contemporary problems of constitutional interpretation. Spring semester of even-numbered years. General Education: Social Sciences.

PS 216 The American Presidency 3 SH
A critical examination of the constitutional, institutional, historical and contemporary aspects of presidential power, leadership and accountability. Spring semester of odd-numbered years. Prerequisite: PS 102. General Education: Social Sciences.

PS 217 The Legislative Process 3 SH
The analysis of the legislative process from an institutional and behavioral standpoint, with special emphasis on the contemporary context of the structure, organization and functions of the legislative systems in relation to American government. Spring semester of even-numbered years. Prerequisite: PS 102. General Education: Social Sciences.

PS 218 American State and Local Government 3 SH
A study of the structure and functions of state and local government in the United States, with particular emphasis upon socioeconomic problems that confront effective government today. Relevant state and local government resources available on the world wide web will be integrated into this course. Fall semester of even-numbered years. Prerequisite: PS 100 or PS 102 or permission of the instructor. General Education: Social Sciences.

PS/HIS 262 The History of the American Constitution 3 SH
See HIS/PS 262

PS/COM 273 Politics in Film 3 SH
This course examines the connections between films/movies and the political environment in which they are produced and viewed. The course will use American and international films to explore various perspectives of a broad range of political issues. Summer Session. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. General Education: Humanities/Communication/Social Sciences.

PS/GEO 290 Geopolitics in the 21st Century 3 SH
This course will explore how geopolitics has been transformed in the post-Cold War world. It will examine the declining importance of nation states, both politically and culturally, and investigate what impact this has had on international relations. How does the “war on terror” fit into the new world order? Is it a traditional military war or more of a cultural war? Classes will be a mixture of lectures and discussion. Prerequisite: GEO 100 or PS 100 or PS 104 or permission of the instructor.  General Education: Social Sciences.

PS 298 Faculty Developed Study 1–6 SH

PS 299 Student Developed Study 1–6 SH

PS 305 Comparative Government and Politics 3 SH
A behavioral, institutional and theoretical study of selected governments in the post-industrial world, emphasizing contemporary problems and issues in domestic and foreign policy. Spring semester of even-numbered years. Prerequisite: PS 104 or PS 110. SS 201 recommended with permission of the instructor. General Education: Social Sciences.

PS 306 Comparative Communist and Post-Communist Systems 3 SH
The course examines the political and cultural institutions, as well as the performance of communist and post-communist states. The dramatic changes since the end of the Cold War will be emphasized, along with current issues and relations with the non-communist world. Instruction may include a focus upon Russia and the former Soviet Republics and/or China and others. Course topic varies depending on staffing. Fall semester of odd-numbered years. Prerequisite: PS 104 or PS 110; SS 201 recommended or permission of instructor. General Education: Social Sciences.

PS/JLA 322 Constitutional Law 3 SH
See JLA/PS 322

PS/HIS 382 Contemporary Middle East 3 SH
See HIS/PS 382

PS 401 Global Conflict Resolution 3 SH
The course reviews global resolution in many settings and includes informal efforts by private interveners and scholar-practitioners, formal interventions by individual, regional, transnational and international organizations. It also looks at conflict resolution within small and large states. The roots of some of the major current and recent conflicts in the world and the efforts to resolve them will also be examined. The theory and practice of conflict resolution, including the role of the United Nations and other inter-governmental organizations, the impact of unilateral actions by governments, and efforts by non-government organizations will also be discussed. The class will also consider the various approaches to conflict resolution in the post-Cold War world in light of the heightened urgency for workable means to resolve such conflicts. Learning approaches include discussions, case study analysis and simulation. Fall semester of odd-numbered years. Prerequisite: PS 100 or PS 104 or SS 401, or permission of the instructor. General Education: Social Sciences.

PS 402 Violent and Nonviolent Conflict Resolution 3 SH
The course examines the major theories of violent and nonviolent conflict resolution and their applications in the Twentieth and Twenty-First centuries, including a variety of conflict management perspectives and the techniques of dispute intervention that flow from them. Case studies may include the works of Mahatma Gandhi, Johan Galtung, and Martin Luther King, Jr. for nonviolent and Niccolo Machiavelli, Karl Marx and Hans Morgenthau for violent conflict resolution. The outcomes of these two forms of government and citizen action will be analyzed based on their impact on individual, group and state objectives. Learning approaches include discussions, lecture, case study and analysis and simulation. Spring semester of odd-numbered years. Prerequisite: PS 100 or PS 104 or SS 401 and Junior standing, or permission of the instructor. General Education: Social Sciences.

PS 403 International Institutions 3 SH
This course explores the structures, processes, and impacts of international institutions, such as the World Trade Organization and the United Nations, on world politics. The class reviews the contending theoretical perspectives regarding the effect(s) that international institutions have on both interstate relations and political economic discourse within states. Case studies in issue areas such as international security and economics will be used to examine the successes and failures of international institutions. Alternate years. Prerequisite: PS 100, PS 104 or PS/ECO 100, PS 200 and Junior standing.  General Education: Social Sciences.

PS/COM 411 Politics and the Media 3 SH
This course will focus on the inter-relatedness of the American political system and the sociological, electoral, economic, and psychological aspects of a multifaceted media. An analytic, critical and practical examination of the ways in which the media and its technology strengthen and weaken the aspects of contemporary politics. Prerequisite: PS 100 level course or COM 190 or permission of instructor plus junior standing or higher. Alternate spring semesters. General Education: Social Science. 

The following courses also have been approved and are offered periodically:
PS/MGT 202 Introduction to Public Administration
PS 267 Recent American Thought
PS/SOC 310 Political Sociology
PS 315 Environmental Issues in International Relations
PS 400 Advanced Topics in Political Science