University Catalog 2024-2025

Political Science - General (POLS)

POLS 1010  Introduction To Politics  (3)  

An introduction to the principles and practice of political life in a variety of domestic and international contexts. Open to freshmen only. Each 1010 section has a limited enrollment of no more than 20 students. A paper is required and is assigned on a tutorial basis with individual student-instructor conferences.

POLS 2010  Scope/Methods Poli Sci  (3)  

This course is intended to introduce advanced students to the concepts and methods of political science research. Substantive fields of interest--such as American politics, IR, Comparative, etc.--are all bound by similar skills and techniques inherent to the discipline of political science. Students will be introduced to these techniques in an effort to train them to become producers, not merely consumers of knowledge. This course is fundamentally about how to conduct research in political science, and what makes political science a science. The course covers both introductory quantitative methods (univariate, bivariate, and some multivariate analyses), as well as some of the most often used qualitative methods in the discipline. The course is not meant to be exhaustive of all political science methods.

POLS 3010  Special Projects  (3)  

Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

POLS 3011  Special Projects  (3)  

Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

POLS 3030  Special Projects  (3)  

Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

POLS 3910  Independent Study  (1-3)  

Independent study on a suitable topic, with consent of instructor. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

POLS 3920  Independent Study  (1-4)  

Independent study on a suitable topic, with consent of instructor. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

POLS 4010  Special Projects  (3)  

Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

POLS 4560  Internship  (1,3)  

An experiential learning process coupled with pertinent academic course work. Open only to juniors and seniors in good standing. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

POLS 4920  Independent Study  (1-3)  


Maximum Hours: 99

POLS 4990  Honors Thesis  (3)  

POLS 5000  Honors Thesis  (4)  

For especially qualified seniors with approval of the faculty director and the Office of Academic Enrichment. Students must have a minimum of a 3.400 overall grade-point average and a 3.500 grade-point average in the major.

Prerequisite(s): POLS 4990.

POLS 5190  Semester Abroad  (1-20)  

Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

POLS 5380  Junior Year Abroad  (1-20)  

Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

POLS 5390  Junior Year Abroad  (1-20)  

Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

POLS 6010  Conduct of Research  (4)  

This course is intended to introduce advanced students to the concepts and methods of political science research, and to show how those methods can be applied to concrete problems.

POLS 6910  Independent Study  (1-3)  

POLS 6960  Spec offerings Pol Sci  (4)  

For description, consult department. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

POLS 7040  Independent Study  (1-3)  

POLS 7111  Scope & Methods for Poli Sci  (3)  

POLS 7112  Quantitative Methods I  (3)  

In recent decades, political scientists have used quantitative methods more and more frequently in their research. While econometric analysis is not the only analytic tool available for researchers assessing causal claims, it is imperative that any student of the discipline be able to digest and interpret the language of statistics. It is rare to pick up a journal in the discipline these days that is completely devoid of statistical analysis. Students must be able to understand this language at a minimum, and successful publication strategies (which in turn are important for successful careers) will involve the production of independent results. The trend towards econometric analysis (alongside formal theory) is unmistakable, and occurs in all subfields with the possible exception of political theory. Statistical literacy is simply indispensable for political scientists. Theoretic development is important as well, and can work hand in hand with empirical testing in important political science research. Some of you may not have had learning statistics in mind when you decided to attend graduate school. Some of you may have little mathematics or statistics background, perhaps dating back to high school. However, you should not be intimidated or afraid of integrating this language into your research interests. Moreover, if you don’t learn this material and takes steps to produce your own results, you will miss out on what is going on in your field. Even if you do not end up producing copious amounts of data and analysis, you will at a minimum need to become a competent consumer of quantitative political science research. This course, along with its partner course next semester, will allow you to recognize the foundations of econometric analysis in political science and give you the tools to accurately discern its meaning. You will also begin to produce your own conclusions based on careful analysis and interpretation. The emphasis in this course is on understanding the building blocks of quantitative research in political science.

POLS 7113  Qualitative Methods II  (3)  

Qualitative Methods II

Prerequisite(s): POLS 7112.

POLS 7114  Qualitative Methods  (3)  

POLS 7116  Dissertation Prospectus Seminar  (3)  

This is a workshop-style PhD seminar that has one central aim: namely, to help you develop a draft of your dissertation prospectus. The dissertation prospectus represents a piece of original research on an important question in the field of political science that is approximately 35-40 pages in length, inclusive of references. The prospectus should clearly state the puzzle of the dissertation; its theoretical importance; and the research hypotheses that will be evaluated. In addition, students should explicitly articulate the specific empirical evidence and methodological techniques that they will use to assess the validity of the research hypotheses. A strong proposal does more than just summarize existing research on the question that the dissertation plans to investigate – it constitutes a promise to produce a PhD dissertation that will advance the state of the field.

POLS 7210  Political Development I  (3)  

POLS 7211  Political Development II  (3)  

POLS 7225  Sustainable Human Development: Theory and Practice  (3)  

The purpose of this course is to gain an in-depth understanding of the origins, evolution, and characteristics of Sustainable Human Development (SHD) both in terms of formulation and implementation.

POLS 7311  Sem Political Economy  (3)  

POLS 7312  Pol Inst of Rights  (3)  

POLS 7750  Special Topics  (3)  

Special Topics in Political Development.

POLS 7751  Special Topics  (3)  

Special topics in Comparative Politics.


Maximum Hours: 99

POLS 7752  Special Topics  (3)  

Special topics in International Relations.

POLS 7910  Research  (3)  

POLS 7920  Research  (3)  

POLS 7950  Special Projects  (3)  

POLS 7951  Special Projects  (3)  

POLS 7952  Special Projects  (3)  

POLS 7960  Special Projects  (3)  

POLS 9980  Masters Research  (0)  

Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

POLS 9990  Dissertation Research  (0)  

Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99