Undergrad. Catalog 07: Political Science

Revised May 2007

Department of Political Science

106 Ruby Jones Hall
610-436-2743
Peter Loedel, Chairperson

PROFESSORS: Bernotsky, Loedel, Polsky, Schnell

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS: Kennedy, D. Milne, Sandhu

ASSISTANT PROFESSORS: Stangl, Stevenson

The department offers a bachelor of arts degree in political science with four concentrations. The objective is to provide programs tailored to each student's career goals and still to allow a wide range of options after graduation. All four B.A. programs are intended for students with an interest in government and public service, journalism, business, education, and the law.

The department offers qualified students the opportunity to do internships and earn academic credits for them. The main goal is for students to complement their classroom learning with experiential learning through their work in an organizational setting. To start the process, students should speak with the department chair.

The following rules apply to all B.A. students in political science:

1. Students must complete the last 15 hours of their political science program at West Chester University, including one of the following courses: PSC 400, 401, or 402. Exceptions may only be granted by the chair of the department for compelling personal reasons. (Examples: A student's family has moved a great distance, and he or she needs to complete only one or two courses; the student and/or the student's spouse has been relocated to another state by his/her employer.)

2. Students must have a C average or better in all political science courses, and no more than two grades below C in political science courses. A grade of C- is considered a grade below C.

3. Internal transfers must have an overall cumulative average of 2.0 to enter any political science programs.

PROGRAMS OF STUDY

1. The B.A. POLITICAL SCIENCE is a general liberal arts program exposing the student to the broad areas of political science, including American government, international relations, comparative government, public administration, political behavior, and political theory.

2. The B.A. POLITICAL SCIENCE - APPLIED PUBLIC POLICY is for students who are interested in the practical application of political science in a variety of professional settings.

3. B.A. POLITICAL SCIENCE - INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS is for students with a primary interest in international affairs and includes relevant cognates in several disciplines.

4. B.A. POLITICAL SCIENCE - ELECTIVE SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER CERTIFICATION is designed for students with an interest in earning a political science degree and becoming certified to teach at the secondary education level.

The department also sponsors pre-law advising, the Law Society, and the Political Science Club.

BACHELOR OF ARTS - GENERAL CONCENTRATION

120 semester hours

1. General ed. requirements, see pages 37-41 (48 semester hours)

2. Foreign language/culture cluster (0-15 semester hours)

3. Political science core (12 semester hours)
PSC 100, 200, 213, and 230

4. General concentration core (6 semester hours)
PSC 202 or 240 and one of PSC 400, 401, or 402

5. An additional course from the behavior or American government category (3 semester hours)
Includes PSC 201, 250-259, 301, 320-329, 350-359

6. An additional course from the comparative group (3 semester hours)
Includes PSC 340-349

7. Three PSC courses at the 200 level or above (9 semester hours)

8. Cognates distributed as follows: (9 semester hours)

a. GEO 101 or 103

b. Either HIS 150, 151, or 152

c. Either ECO 101, 111, 112; PSY 100; or SOC 200

BACHELOR OF ARTS - INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS CONCENTRATION

120 semester hours

1. General ed. requirements, see pages 37-41* (48 semester hours)

* Students in the international relations concentration are encouraged to take PSC 240.

2. Foreign language (0-12 semester hours)
(must be completed through the 202 level)

3. Political science core (12 semester hours)
PSC 100, 200, 213, and 230

4. International relations concentration core (6 semester hours)
PSC 240, PSC 401 or 402

5. PSC 320 (3 semester hours)

6. Two additional comparative courses (6 semester hours)
Chosen from among PSC 340-349

7. Two additional international relations courses (6 semester hours)
Chosen from among PSC 310, 311, 312, 317, 318, 319, and 330

8. Additional and cognate courses as follows: (15 semester hours)

a. GEO 101 or 103

b. HIS 101, 102, 150, 151, or 152

c. Nine additional hours selected with advanced approval of adviser which may count up to six additional language hours

BACHELOR OF ARTS - APPLIED/PUBLIC POLICY CONCENTRATION

120 semester hours

1. General ed. requirements, see pages 37-41 (48 semester hours)

2. Foreign language/culture cluster (0-15 semester hours)

3. Political science core (12 semester hours)
PSC 100, 200, 213, and 230

4. Applied/public policy track concentration core (6 semester hours)
PSC 202 or 204, 400 or 401

5. Specific Concentration Requirements (9 semester hours)
PSC 322, 356, 357

6. Two additional PSC courses chosen from the following: (6 semester hours)
PSC 201, 202, or 204 (if not taken above), 301, 323, 324, 355, 358, 359, 375, or up to six hours of internship credit taken under advisement

7. Cognates distributed as follows: (9 semester hours)

a. A sociology course selected under advisement

b. An economics course selected under advisement

c. A geography course selected under advisement

BACHELOR OF ARTS - ELECTIVE SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

120 semester hours

1. General ed. requirements, see pages pages 37-41 (48 semester hours)

a. Academic foundations: In addition to other writing requirements, for teacher certification: MAT 103 (recommended) or other MAT 100-level course; and SPK 208 (recommended) or SPK 230

b. Diverse communities: May simultaneously fulfill another degree requirement, so PSC diversity courses recommended, such as PSC 301, 323, 340, or 343

c. Interdisciplinary: An interdisciplinary requirement may not be used to fulfill a general education, distributive, diverse communities, or foreign culture cluster course requirement. Recommended PSC interdisciplinary courses: 204, 318

d. Behavioral and social sciences: PSY 100 and SOC 200 recommended

e. Humanities: HIS 101 and LIT course required

f. For teacher certification, an additional math course required: MAT 104 (recommended) or a second MAT 100-level course

2. Foreign language/culture requirement (0-15 semester hours)

3. Political science core (18 semester hours)
PSC 100, 200, 202 or 240, 213, 230, 401 (research paper must focus on educational issue)

4. An additional course from American or (3 semester hours)
behavioral area
PSC 301, 323 (recommended), or PSC 322, 324-329

5. An additional course from the comparative area (3 semester hours)
PSC 340, 343 (recommended), or PSC 240-249 or 340-349 range

6. Electives (6 semester hours)
Any two additional political science courses at the 200 level or above. Electives should be chosen to reflect the themes from the social studies education standards. It is recommended that these courses simultaneously fulfill another degree requirement, such as the diverse communities or writing emphasis requirements.

7. Cognates distributed as follows (9 semester hours):

a. ECO 101 or 111 and 112

b. GEO 101 or 103

c. HIS 151

8. Other courses required to obtain the social studies teaching certificate

In the social sciences: HIS 102, 152; in education: EDA/EDR 341, EDF 300, EDM 300, EDP 250, 351; EDS 306, 411, 412; and SSC 331 (Contact the Department of Political Science for additional information on course prerequisites and required sequences, timing of Praxis I and II exams, and any other updates in the certificate program.)

9. In order to complete the required 120 credits for graduation, additional free electives may be necessary.

Additional Requirements for Student Teaching and Certification

To apply for formal admission to the Department of Professional and Secondary Education and to register for the last three semesters of education methods and student teaching courses, students must 1) complete at least 48 credits, including the academic foundation requirements of writing, literature, and two math courses; 2) attain an overall GPA of 2.80 or better; 3) successfully pass the reading, math, and writing sections of the Praxis I exams.

To receive the social studies teaching certificate, students must 1) complete all of the required education courses listed above with a "C" or better; 2) complete the required courses for the political science major; 3) attain an overall GPA of 3.0 or better; 4) successfully pass the Praxis II social studies major content exam.

* Students in the international relations concentration are encouraged to take PSC 240.

Minor in Political Science (18 semester hours)

Students may minor in general political science or in one of the subfields such as international relations. Students take PSC 100 plus five courses in a concentrated area, or (at least two) areas under departmental advisement.

This minor may be taken as one of the minors in the bachelor of arts or bachelor of science in liberal studies general degree program.

Minor in Public Management (18 semester hours)

Students take PSC 100 and PSC 202 plus four additional courses in public administration under department advisement. This minor may be taken as one of the minors in the bachelor of arts or bachelor of science liberal studies general degree program.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
POLITICAL SCIENCE

Symbol: PSC, unless otherwise indicated

100 American Government and Politics (3) Devoted to understanding how the system works: political action, elections, interest groups, civil liberties, Congress, the presidency, and the courts are among the topics considered. Seeks to provide a framework in terms of which process and current issues become meaningful.

101 The Politics of Diversity in the United States (3) Uses contemporary issues as a means to investigate the effects of race, class, and gender on the political experiences of citizens while providing an overview of American political institutions.
Diverse communities course

200 Political Analysis (3) Incorporates techniques for analyzing political questions logically and systematically, and introduces basic research design and methodological and library usage skills appropriate to the political science discipline. Required course for B.A. majors in political science, applied/public policy, and international relations, and the B.S. in education with a political science concentration. Optional course for minors in political science, public administration, and international relations. PREREQ: PSC 100.

201 State and Local Government (3) Examination of the organization, functions, and politics of state and local government, including analysis of politics in states, counties, cities, and towns in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Intergovernmental relations in education, transportation, and welfare policy are examined. PREREQ: PSC 100.

202 Elements of Public Administration (3) Considers public administration in the United States as a process of implementing public policy. Uses case studies and projects with texts focusing on organizational theory, human behavior and motivation, budgeting, personnel, and administrative responsibility.

204 Introduction to Urban Studies (3) An examination of the breadth of urban studies from the perspectives of many social science disciplines. Philadelphia is emphasized as an object of perception, as a place of life and livelihood, and as an example of continual change in the urban environment. PREREQ: WRT 200.
Approved interdisciplinary course

213 International Relations (3) Politics among nations, including politics carried on through international organizations. Examines power politics, techniques of diplomacy, and methods of current international organizations. Special attention to U.S. interests and policies.

230 Introduction to Political Thought (3) Great political thinkers of Western civilization from Plato to the present. Historical background of Western thought and its relevance to the present political world.

240 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3) An introduction to the comparative study of political systems at various stages of cultural, social, economic, and political development.

301 Gender and Politics (3) Examines the role of women in politics and examines how the perspectives of marginalized groups gives access to new interpretations about the U.S. political system. Specific topics include socialization, the media, political campaigns, elections, and public policy.
Diverse communities course

310 The United States and Latin America (3) This course examines U.S. relations with the nations of Latin America. Emphasis is on understanding the goals of U.S. policies and the real impact of those policies. U.S. views of Latin America, both contemporary and historical, are explored as are Latin American attitudes and views toward the United States. The extent to which the United States has been motivated in its dealing by great power hegemonic concerns, economic self interests (dollar diplomacy), cultural imperialism, human rights, and desire to champion democratic governance are all examined. Contemporary concerns with promoting market economics, narcotic trafficking, and immigration are also considered.

311 Russian Foreign Policy (3) Emphasis on Russian and Soviet-American relations since 1945. Topics treated include the influence of Marxism, Great Russian nationalism, and historical experience on Soviet and Russian foreign relations. PREREQ: PSC 213 or permission of instructor.

312 Politics of Modern Nationalism (3) An analysis of political processes in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and the Middle East. The role of nationalism in these countries after the demise of communism. The rise of nationalism in the Middle East and Western Europe.

317 Contemporary International Relations (3) Recent issues and problems with special emphasis on superpower behavior around the world. Also, third world revolutions, international terrorism, human rights, international law and the United Nations, and the changing international economic order.

318 International Political Economy (3) The focus is the politics of international economic relations. Alternative analytical and theoretical perspectives will be examined for their value in helping to understand and evaluate the historical developments and current operation of the global economy. Special attention is given to system governance (international regimes such as the World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund) and the ability of the nations of the world to provide stability to the international political economy. The primary objective of this course is to develop analytical and theoretical skills in the application of various international political economy perspectives (liberalism, mercantilism, Marxism/structuralism) which examine the interrelationship between states and markets.
Approved interdisciplinary course

319 Middle Eastern Politics (3) Topics include the Arab-Israeli conflict, the politics of the Persian Gulf, the role of OPEC, and the superpower conflict in the region.

320 American Foreign Policy (3) Cultural, political, economic, and psychological influences on policy; process of decision making. Special attention to a few policy areas such as relations with allied, underdeveloped, revolutionary, or Communist countries. Possible response to threats of war, population growth, resource shortages, and pollution may be examined.

322 Public Opinion, Propaganda, and Political Behavior (3) The dynamics of opinion formation and change, and the role of public opinion in policy formation. Political socialization, survey research and political socialization, survey research, and propaganda techniques also are considered.

323 The Politics of Race, Class, and Gender (3) This course examines the relationship among race, class, and gender as they relate to people's political behavior and experiences. Also examines the American political system's response to them in terms of its public policies.
Diverse communities course

324 American Political Parties (3) Patterns, functions, and history of the American political party system at national, state, and local levels. Theoretical and empirical studies of political interest groups, public opinion, and voting behavior.

325 Campaigns and Elections (3) This course analyzes American elections and voting behavior, with an emphasis on recent presidential elections. Course objectives include understanding American voting patterns in elections.

329 Judicial Behavior (3) A behavioral approach to the law, with specific reference to conceptual, methodological, and ideological considerations. Depending on the availability of information, role-playing simulations will be used with students portraying judges and attorneys.

330 The Politics of the Holocaust and Genocide (3) This course examines the political causes of the Holocaust and genocide both in a historical and current context. Case studies include the Jews in Europe as well as the Armenians and Cambodians.

339 Contemporary Political Thought (3) Consideration of major political thinkers since Marx, including Berlin, Rawls, Dworkin, Nozick, and rational choice theorists.

340 Latin-American Culture and Politics (3) Comparative analysis of contemporary Latin-American systems. Political cultures, decision making, ideologies, and political processes. Emphasis is on Mexico and Central America. Offered each semester.
Culture cluster

342 Government and Cultures of Western Europe (3) Primary attention focuses on France, Germany, and Great Britain; secondary attention is on other European systems. Political cultures, popular participation, political parties, and formal institutions of government.
Culture cluster

343 Culture and Politics of Asia (3) Study of cultural, philosophical, and political systems of modern Asia with special emphasis on China, Japan, and India.

346 Russian Government and Politics (3) Analysis of the Russian political system with a strong emphasis on the old Soviet system. Some focus on Russian foreign policy.
Culture cluster

348 African Culture and Politics (3) The political nature and practices of individuals, organizations, and governments of Black Africa are examined in the cultural context of the contemporary independent period. PREREQ: PSC 100 or equivalent.

350 American Constitutional Law (3) The development of the American constitutional system as reflected in leading decisions of the United States Supreme Court. Emphasis on national powers, federalism, and the Bill of Rights. PREREQ: PSC 100 or permission of instructor.

351 Energy and the Political Process (3) Stresses the process of policy making and implementation in the field of energy. Emphasis also is given to foreign policy and national security implications.

352 Civil Liberties and Civil Rights (3) A survey of the sources of civil liberties and civil rights in the United States with an inquiry into contemporary problems and their solutions through statutory and constitutional developments.

353 Latino Politics (3) This is a "hands-on" course for upper-level social science students, as research methods are explored and put into practice in coordination with local organizations working with Latinos. Service-learning projects with Latinos in the region are required. Content material includes demographics of Hispanics in the United States, critical theories from Latino perspectives, interdisciplinary immigration studies, and Hispanic perspectives in relation to social welfare, education, employment, crimes and justice, and politics.

355 Congressional Politics (3) Deals with the internal and external factors that influence Congressional behavior, including the roles of constituents, pressure groups, parties, the committee system, rules, and the leadership. Their relationships to the president and court structure and their impact on electoral politics also are considered. Comparisons with state legislatures.

356 American Public Policy (3) Policy formation and execution. Policy areas considered vary from semester to semester. May include role-playing. PREREQ: PSC 100 or 101 or permission of instructor.

357 Advanced Political Analysis (3) Discussion and application of research design, conceptualization, measurement, operalization, research models, sampling, and data analysis for political science.

358 Applied Public Policy Analysis (3) An examination of public policy issues of state or national concern. Both analysis of current policy and research resulting in new policy recommendations will be included.

359 The American Presidency (3) In-depth analysis of the nature and significance of the American presidency, including constitutional development, presidential roles and customs, the recruitment process, the executive branch, and the politics of the presidency.

372 Organization and Management (3) Introduction to public and nonprofit organization management. Broad coverage of key elements of organizational functions and structure for potential managers. Uses both macro sociological and micro psychological levels of analysis. Case studies integrated into conceptual frameworks.

373 American Intergovernmental Relations (3) Designed to familiarize students with the complex network of conflict, cooperation, and interdependence among national, state, and local government units. Topic areas, among others, include an analysis of the continuing evolution of American federalism, an examination of this relationship from state and city government perspectives, and a description of specific intergovernmental fiscal programs and policies.

375 Public Policy and Budgeting (3) Introductory course to public fiscal management applicable to local, state, and national levels of government. Focus on the three major aspects of fiscal management: public services in a free market/mixed economy; revenue/taxation theory and practice; and governmental budgeting systems and concepts. PREREQ: PSC 202.

399 Political Science Symposium (3) Nature of research in political science. Construction of a research design. Extensive reading in an area of political science.

HBI 400, 401, 402 Harrisburg Internship Seminar (15) A full-semester internship in Pennsylvania state government. Student intern is placed in cabinet-level or legislative office. Placement (9 cr.); Policy Research Project (3 cr.); Policy Seminar (3 cr.). The internship is open to any junior or senior student, regardless of major, who has a minimum GPA of 3.5. Stipend involved.

400 Senior Seminar in Political Science (3) Research in political science. Methodology, bibliography, and presentation, both oral and written. The research paper for the seminar must be acceptable as a required departmental senior research paper.

401 Senior Project in Political Science (3) Execution of the research design constructed in PSC 399. Involves completion of a major senior paper under supervision of a staff member. Extensive independent effort.

402 Seminar in International Relations (3) Theme centered with capstone paper. Senior I.R. majors only.

410 Independent Studies in Political Science (1-3) Research projects, reports, and readings in political science. Open to seniors only. PREREQ: Permission of instructor.

412 Internship in Political Science (3-15) Upper-level student field placement learning. Short-term, 3- to 6-hour experiences in political settings under faculty advisement; and 9- to 15-hour placements in state, federal, local government or public service agencies. Learning contracts and faculty advisement create a whole experience from exposure to government administration and politics. Offered each semester.
This course may be taken again for credit.

414 International Theory (3) General theory applied to specific case studies. Advanced readings.