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Detailed Course Information

 

Summer 2021
Mar 29,2024
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Information Select the desired Level or Schedule Type to find available classes for the course.

POLI 390 - TOPICS:
The descriptions and topics of this course change from semester-to-semester as well as from instructor-to-instructor. Prerequisite: varies with the topic offered. POLI 390 POLITICS AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFRICA. This course critically examines Africa's increasing influence and importance in the context of its many challenges of democratic governance, human rights, armed conflicts, poverty and development, and how it manages and utilizes its vast resources. Students will analyze how Africa and its leading states such as South Africa and Nigeria, addresses contemporary political and human rights challenges. The analyhsis reflects the context of relevant pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial developments that have influenced and continue to influence how Africa deals with its political and human rights challenges. POLI 390 POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN AFRICA. This course is designed to provide students with an in-depth analysis of political violence on the African continent. Students will explore the following questions: What makes violence political? What motivates people to use violence? Why do some regions of the world seem more violent-prone than others? The course will cover theories of political violence, as well as several specific cases of political violence in African countries. The cases will examine different types of political violence including genocide, separatist movements, and natural resource wars. POLI 390 OPERATION IRAQUI FREEDOM. The class will examine how and why the United States decided to invade Iraq. The policies, programs, strategies and tactics utilized to realize its goals will also be analyzed. We will evaluate the current situation, and prospects for near term success or failure. POLI 390 RELIGION AND POLITICS. This course will review the history of one of the founding principles of the United States: separation of church and state. We will explore the relationship between religion and politics in the US from the time of the Puritans through the rise of the Christian Right. POLI 390 TERRORISM AND COUNTER-TERRORISM. This course will critically examine the causes and characteristics of terrorism today as well as counter-terrorist strategies. Themes to be explored will include: terrorists and weapons of mass destruction, religion and terrorism, the media and terrorism, domestic terrorists in the US, and future terrorists scenarios. Each student will do a case study of a specific terrorist group. POLI 390 POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS. This course will examine the organization, strategy and outcomes of political campaigns on the national, state and local level. Practical as well as theoretical and historical aspects of campaigns will be emphasized. Guest speakers will include campaign managers as well as former and current political officials. POLI 390 CIVIC ACTION. Grassroots democracy as practiced by civic groups; this course will focus on how voluntary associations of citizens address issues at the community to international levels, with emphasis on developing research, communication, organizing, and advocacy skills. POLI 390 CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS. This course focuses upon the dynamics, processes, and actors involved with democratic elections, particularly in US Presidential elections. The first half deals largely with individual voters (psychology, partisanship, turnout, etc.) while the second concentrates on campaigns, candidates, interest groups, fund raising and spending, and the media. POLI 390 THE POLITICS OF IMPEACHMENT. To what extent is the impeachment trial of William Jefferson Clinton a reflection of long-standing historical forces which have been characterized as the "puritan legacy" and to what extent does it reflect unique modern currents of American politics? What are the political, moral and institutional/constitutional challenges raised by this crisis? This course will focus on these questions and utilize both historical and social scientific texts to analyze these issues. POLI 390 SELF AND OTHERS. Through readings and discussion we will explore the complexity of individual and group identity in order to better understand group relationships in American society. We will also evaluate the role identity should play in politics and possible resolutions of inter-group conflict. POLI 390 POLITICAL BEHAVIOR. This course investigates the actions and attitudes of individuals within the American political system: How potential voters act and think, and why. Part one focuses on the political stimuli facing citizens, including topics such as political psychology, decision-making, political attitudes, partisanship and ideology. The second part shifts to the sources of political stimuli (media, issues, campaigns, and social setting) resulting in electoral turnout, campaign contributions, vote choices, etc. This course has relevance to the study of democracies in general. POLI 390: GENDER, PUBLIC POLICY AND LAW -- This course will focus on gender, as it appears in US public policies and laws. This course sets out to address the following questions: how do policy and law construct and/or reflect gender norms? How do legal decisions impact policy? How has judicial and public policy contributed to greater gender equality? Do U.S. policies adequately provide equality to all citizens? What does equality mean? As the U.S. Supreme Court has taken a particularly prominent role in gender-related cases, this course also encourages a familiarity with landmark Supreme Court decisions on such issues as reproductive rights, sexuality, workplace equality, military service, bodily integrity, pornography, sex work, and violence. Additionally, this course applies an intersectional analysis to expose underlying constructions of gender, race, class, and sexuality in the cases and policies studied. The course consists of readings and discussions, and culminates with a series of academic panels on contemporary gender issues. POLI 390: SEX AND REPRODUCTION -- This course is designed to analyze the politics and policies of the body, specifically around sex and reproduction. In this course, we will take a deep look at the court cases, and public phenomenon that shape our "corporeal" politics - from issues of the legalization of prostitution, to assisted reproductive technologies (in vitro), to the criminalization of pregnant drug addicts, to abortion access. We will discuss and uncover how the state envisions the "ideal" forms of reproduction, and who the state wants creating its future citizens. We will also discuss the heavy role that sex and reproduction play in society at large. This course will focus on these various policies and issue areas with a specific focus on race, gender, and sexuality. POLI390 - WII INTERNSHIP: This seminar is designed to assist students as they experience the stages of their Washington Internship Institute internships by helping them to examine their roles in complex organizations and explore the professional skills needed to transition from undergraduate coursework into career-intensive learning. Students will examine how the values of a liberal education—active engagement, critical thinking, respect, problem solving, openness to new experience and different viewpoints— connect to professionalism, citizenship and personal growth. Co-requisites: POLI 389 and LAWS 390; Credits: 4
0.000 TO 4.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 4.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Undergraduate
Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Online Course

Political Science Department

Restrictions:
Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels:     
      Undergraduate

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