200
Surveys the institutions of the U.S. national government-the Congress, presidency, federal courts, and the federal bureaucracy-federalism, elections and voting, interest groups, the provisions of the U.S. Constitution and the principles embodied in it, and the historical, philosophical, and political background of our national institutions. Some current public policy questions may also be considered. Required of all political science majors.
Examines, with copious examples from history, the various principles and practices characteristic of the relations among nations. Particular emphasis is given to the centrality of the struggle for power among nations and the importance of diplomacy. Also considered are the following: the morality of warfare and other international actions; the nature of communism; arms limitation and disarmament; the morality of warfare; the problem of terrorism; papal encyclicals on international questions; and geopolitics. International law and organizations may also be touched on, and current international issues are considered. Required of all political science majors.
Political Philosophy I, and its companion course, Political Philosophy II, provide a basic foundation in and study the history of political philosophy, which is essential for the study of the rest of the discipline of political science. It briefly examines the philosophical foundations for political authority and studies the writings of the greatest political thinkers of the classical and medieval periods, such as Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, St. Augustine of Hippo, and St. Thomas Aquinas.
It is recommended that
POL 101 be taken before this course, but is not a prerequisite. Required of all political science majors.
Continues the study of the history of political philosophy started in POL 291. It studies the writings of the major political thinkers of the modern and contemporary periods, such as Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Burke, J.S. Mill, Marx, Nietzsche, Dewey, and Rawls.
It is recommended that
POL 101 and
POL 291 be taken before it, but these are not prerequisites. Required of all political science majors.