Academics

About Christian
Liberal Arts

Academic Programs
and Majors

Academic
Records Office

Adult Degree
Programs

Catalog

Course Descriptions

Faculty List

Learning Resources

Off-Campus
Programs

Office of the
Academic Dean

Web Sites for
Departments

POLS 101 Introduction to Politics (3, F)
Considers nature, goals, and processes of politics in theory and practice; surveys major forms of government; explores key issues of world politics. Satisfies the integrative studies level I requirement in social science. Co-requisite to major. Liberal Arts Foundation - Social Science.

POLS 220 World Regional Geography (3, May)
Study of location and character of major world regions and nation-states. The concept of the region in geography is examined, followed by detailed analysis of nine regions, focusing on political and economic issues and cultural diversity.

POLS 222 The American Political System (3, S)
The foundation course in American politics. Focus is on the basic design of the American political system, including constitutionalism, federalism, and the separation of powers. Includes discussion of political parties, elections, Congress and the President, bureaucracy, and the judiciary.

POLS 224 States, Cities, and Communities: Grassroots Politics (3, TBA)
A view of American politics from the “bottom-up,” focusing on state and local governments, with special attention to New York. Considers urban, suburban, and rural patterns of governance in the framework of American federalism. Includes a focus on judicial process as practiced in state and local courts.

POLS 230 Introduction to International Relations (3, F)
Development of the international system of nation-states; effects of system structure and intrastate elements on international relations; concepts such as power, balance of power, sovereignty, interdependence, and issues such as foreign policy decision making, causes of war, and nuclear arms control.

POLS 240 Comparative Government (3, F06)
Comparative basis for understanding similarities and differences in political systems around the world, focusing on Europe and Asia. Typical issues: historical development, ideology, political parties, interest groups, government, and domestic and foreign policies.

POLS 260 Introduction to Political Thought (3, F)
Introduces students to Western political thought from the ancient to the modern world through a close reading of important thinkers. By considering problems of community, obligation, order, justice, liberty, and freedom, the course equips students for careful normative reflection on public life.

POLS 295 Special Topics (3, F)
(See course description in Off-Campus Programs - Houghton in Adirondack Park.)

POLS 309 Statistics (3, F&S)
Study of descriptive as well as inferential statistics, including analysis of variance and measures of
correlation; application to political, social, and psychological data. Recommended for sophomore year. Does not count for major or minor credit.
Prerequisite for POLS 312 Social Science Research Methods; co-requisite for major.

POLS 312 Social Science Research Methods (3, S)
Basic scientific method, application to social phenomena; procedures (and methodological problems in various types of social research; methods of data analysis. Recommended for junior year after completion of POLS 309.

POLS 316 American Foreign Policy (3, TBA)
Formulation and execution of U.S. foreign policy, especially since World War II. Special attention to foreign policy strategies in light of different conceptions of vital interests, threats to these interests, and appropriate responses.

POLS 320 Community Organization and Development (3, F)
A comparative study of how local communities organize themselves to manage natural resources and provide collective goods and sources. Considers issues related to decentralization and sustainable development. Emphasis on analytic approaches to problem-solving.

POLS 321 Public Organization (3, OD)
Focuses on public administration and delivery of public goods and services at all levels of government. Discussion includes bureaucracy, management, intergovernmental relations, citizen participation, and service delivery. Explores issues of responsiveness, accountability, effectiveness, efficiency, and equity.

POLS 323 Public Policy Analysis (3, TBA)
Examines specific policy problems and the methods used to analyze such problems. Focus is on American domestic policies. Specific issues vary, ranging from national to local and from urban to rural.

POLS 326 American Democracy I: Representation (3, F)
Explores patterns and issues of representation in American democracy. Examines voting, elections, political parties, interest groups, and reform movements.
Prerequisite: POLS 222

POLS 327 American Democracy II: Governance (3, S)
Explores institutions and processes of governance, focusing on Congress and the President, in the context of a federal system. Considers perennial issues, such as the separation of powers, budgetary process, and the rule of law.
Prerequisite: POLS 222

POLS 336 Governance and Politics in Developing Countries (3, TBA)
A study of patterns of governance and politics typical of developing countries with an emphasis in relationships between governance and development.

POLS 355 East Asia: History and Politics (3, TBA)
Introduction to history and politics of East Asia from ancient time to the present, with focus on China and Japan. Emphasis on historical and political developments in 19th and 20th centuries leading to founding of Communist China and the new Japan.

POLS 357 Russia and the USSR: History and Politics (3, TBA)
Introduction to Russian and Soviet history and politics from first records to present, with focus on government, institutions, culture, and society of Imperial and Soviet periods.

POLS 393 Field Experience (Internship) (1-3, OD)
Supervised participation in executive, legislative, judicial, or legal offices in local, state, or federal government when deemed suitable for academic credit and approved by the political science advisor and the chair of the Department of History and Political Science. Usually three hours of credit may be counted toward the major or minor. May be combined with an additional three hours of credit for POLS 391 Independent Study.

POLS 295, 395, 495 Special Topics in Political Science (3, OD)
According to demand and interest, courses will be offered on the Middle East, International Law and Organization, International Relations Theory, Political Economy, and Issues of War and Peace.

POLS 427 American Constitutional Law (3, S)
Development of the Constitution through practice and leading court decisions from 1787 to the present. Emphasis on case studies.

POLS 480 Senior Capstone: Politics Seminar (3, F)
Capstone course of the major in which students integrate concepts, knowledge, skills, methods, approaches, and practical experience in politics and government. Will improve research, writing, analytical, and communications skills by researching, writing, and defending a first-year-graduate-school-quality paper based on original research in both primary and secondary sources.

POLS 191, -2; 292, -2; 391, -2; 491, -2 Independent Study (1, 2, or 3, OD)

POLS 496 Honors in Political Science (3, S)