For some courses, a more detailed description may be available, accessible by clicking on the course number.
All course descriptions are updated periodically.
PL SC 001 (GS) Introduction to American National Government (3) Introduction to development and nature of American political culture, constitutional/structural arrangements, electoral/policy processes; sources of conflict and consensus.
Effective: Spring 2002
PL SC 001H (GS) Introduction to American National Government (3) Introduction to development and nature of American political culture, constitutional/structural arrangements, electoral/policy processes; sources of conflict and consensus.
Effective: Spring 2008 Ending: Spring 2008
PL SC 002 American Public Policy (3) Examination of selected areas of public policy in America. Analysis of policy content, alternatives, and impact.
Effective: Fall 1983
Prerequisite: PL SC 001
PL SC 003 (GS;IL) Introduction to Comparative Politics (3) Introduction to study of comparative government and politics: normative/ empirical theories; government functions in modern societies; representative structures and processes.
Effective: Fall 2007
PL SC 003U (GS;IL) Introduction to Comparative Politics (3) Introduction to study of comparative government and politics: normative/ empirical theories; government functions in modern societies; representative structures and processes.
Effective: Fall 2008 Ending: Fall 2008 Future: Fall 2008
PL SC 007 (GS) Contemporary Political Ideologies (3) Critical analysis of contemporary political ideologies such as liberalism, conservatism, socialism, anarchism, fascism, feminism, and environmentalism.
Effective: Fall 2004
PL SC 014 (GS;IL) International Relations (3) Characteristics of modern nation-states and forces governing their international relations; nationalism; imperialism; diplomacy; current problems of war and peace. Credit will not be given for both this course and INT U 200.
Effective: Fall 2007
PL SC 014H (GS) International Relations (3) Characteristics of modern nation-states and forces governing their international relations; nationalism; imperialism; diplomacy; current problems of war and peace. Credit will not be given for both this course and INT U 200.
Effective: Spring 2008 Ending: Spring 2008
PL SC 017 (GS) Introduction to Political Theory (3) Introduction to basic issues in political theory through analysis of selected major political thinkers.
Effective: Spring 2003
PL SC 017W (GS) Introduction to Political Theory (3) Introduction to basic issues in political theory through analysis of selected major political thinkers.
Effective: Spring 2001
PL SC 020 (GS;IL) Comparative Politics--Western Europe (3) Comparative analysis of political cultures, interest groups, parties, and decision-making processes in principal Western European political systems.
Effective: Fall 2007
PL SC 022 (IL) Politics of the Developing Areas (3) The impact of colonialism, nationalism, and development policy on the political culture, structure, and transformation of post-colonial regimes.
Effective: Fall 2007
PL SC 060 (GS;IL) (ANTH 060, J ST 060, SOC 060) Society and Cultures in Modern Israel (3) An introduction to the society and cultures of the State of Israel from 1948 to the present.
Effective: Summer 2006
PL SC 083S (GS) First-Year Seminar in Political Science (3) Exploration of current topics of interest in political science, international relations, and/or political theory.
Effective: Summer 1999
PL SC 083T (GS) First-Year Seminar in Political Science (3) Exploration of current topics of interest in political science, international relations, and/or political theory.
Effective: Fall 2008 Ending: Fall 2008 Future: Fall 2008
PL SC 110 (GS;US) Rights in America (3) This course explores the historical and contemporary struggles of particular groups within American society to expand their rights.
Effective: Summer 2006
PL SC 123 (GS;US;IL) Ethnic and Racial Politics (3) Political movements among United States ethnic and racial groups; government policies on race and ethnicity; comparison to other culturally diverse countries.
Effective: Fall 2007
Prerequisite: PL SC 001 or PL SC 003
PL SC 125 Pennsylvania Government and Politics (3) Pennsylvania political processes; executive, legislative, judicial decision- making, and electoral behavior; selected public policies.
Effective: Fall 1984
PL SC 130 (GS;US) American Political Campaigns and Elections (3) Methods and strategies of American political campaigns: polls, political consultants, parties, and the media.
Effective: Fall 2007
PL SC 132 (GS;IL) The Politics of International Intolerance (3) Introductory course emphasizing psychological, historical, and political aspects of global intolerance towards minorities.
Effective: Fall 2007
PL SC 135 (GS) (S T S 135) The Politics of the Ecological Crisis (3) The political implications of the increasing scarcity of many of the world's resources.
Effective: Spring 2001
PL SC 137 United States Intelligence and Policy Making (3) The policy making process in the United States foreign intelligence and security policy; emphasis on the period following World War II.
Effective: Spring 2001
PL SC 150 The North-South Challenge (3) Analysis of issues which separate the Northern and Southern hemispheres, and their importance for U.S. relations with the Third World.
Effective: Spring 2005
PL SC 155 Understanding Tyranny (3) Exploration of the rationales, methods, and consequences of highly repressive political regimes through novels, films, and memoirs.
Effective: Summer 1996
PL SC 155H Understanding Tyranny (3) Exploration of the rationales, methods, and consequences of highly repressive political regimes through novels, films, and memoirs.
Effective: Spring 2008 Ending: Spring 2008
PL SC 177 (GS) Politics and Government in Washington DC (1-3) The course centers on a Spring Break trip to Washington DC, with students meeting on campus before and after the trip.
Effective: Fall 2007
PL SC 197 Special topics (1-9) Formal courses given infrequently to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrowsubject that may be topical or of special interest.
Effective: Spring 1995
PL SC 199 (IL) Foreign Studies (12) Courses offered in foreign countries by individual or group instruction.
Effective: Summer 2005
PL SC 294 Research Project (1-12) Supervised student activities on research projects identified on an individualor small-group basis.
Effective: Summer 1994
PL SC 296 Independent Studies (1-18) Creative projects, including research and design, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses.
Effective: Fall 1983
PL SC 296A European Union in the Internet Age (1-6) Will explore and analyze how EU advances its agenda and image via the internet.
Effective: Spring 2008 Ending: Spring 2008
PL SC 296B Foreign Policy/Model United Nations (3) Promote and encourage awareness, understanding, tolerence, and acceptance of the world's people, cultures, beliefs, values, and attitudes by modeling the UN and other international organizations.
Effective: Spring 2008 Ending: Spring 2008
PL SC 297 Special Topics (1-9) Formal courses given infrequently to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrow subject which may be topical or of special interest.
Effective: Fall 1983
PL SC 299 (IL) Foreign Studies (12) Courses offered in foreign countries by individual or group instruction.
Effective: Summer 2005
PL SC 300H Honors Seminar: Critical Reasoning in the Study of Politics (3) Introduction to research design, principles of social science research, and development on honors theses research proposal.
Effective: Fall 2007
PL SC 301 Introduction to Political Analysis (3) An introduction to the discipline, subject matter, and methods of political science.
Effective: Spring 2001
Prerequisite: PL SC 001, PL SC 003 or PL SC 014
PL SC 306H Senior Thesis Writing Workshop (1 per semester, maximum of 3) This seminar supports the writing and editing of senior honors theses.
Effective: Fall 2005
PL SC 395 Internship (1-18) Supervised off-campus, nongroup instruction including field experiences, practica, or internships. Written and oral critique of activity required.
Effective: Summer 1996
Prerequisite: prior approval of proposed assignment by instructor
PL SC 397 Special Topics (1-9) Formal courses given infrequently to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrowsubject that may be topical or of special interest.
Effective: Fall 2007
PL SC 399 (IL) Foreign Studies (12) Courses offered in foreign countries by individual or group instruction.
Effective: Summer 2005
PL SC 403 The Legislative Process (3) Analysis of the policy process within the legislative system; the effects of environmental factors on policy alternatives and legislative decision making.
Effective: Spring 2001
Prerequisite: PL SC 001 or PL SC 003
PL SC 404 Topics in International Politics (3) An examination of the geographical factors underlying and affecting the relationships between states.
Effective: Fall 2007
PL SC 405 The American Presidency (3) An examination of the selection methods for, and powers of, the American presidency, as well as other chief executives.
Effective: Fall 1983
Prerequisite: PL SC 001
PL SC 408 Introduction to Political Research (3) Introduction to conceptualization, research design, and measurement in political research.
Effective: Spring 1998
Prerequisite: 6 credits in political science
PL SC 409 Quantitative Political Analysis (3) Data analysis and statistical applications in political research, including data processing; inferential statistics; contingency analysis; correlation and regression; multivariate analysis.
Effective: Spring 2001
Prerequisite: 6 credits in Political Science
PL SC 410 Game Theory in International Relations (3) Game theoretic approaches to the study of international relations.
Effective: Spring 2005
Prerequisite: PL SC 014
PL SC 411W Principles of International Cooperation (3) An exploration of the forces that make conflict, or cooperation, more likely in international relations.
Effective: Summer 2006
Prerequisite: PL SC 014
PL SC 412 International Political Economy (3) The transnational politics of trade, investment, aid, raw materials, and the environment; nation-states, multinational corporations, and the U.N.
Effective: Fall 2007
Prerequisite: ECON 002, ECON 004, ECON 014, I B 303 or BUS 364
PL SC 413 The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union (3) Background, organization, and operation of the Communist Party and the government of the Soviet Union.
Effective: Spring 2001
Prerequisite: 3 credits from: PL SC 003, PL SC 014, PL SC 155 or RUS 100
PL SC 415 International Organization: Political and Security Functions (3) Theory and evolution of international organization; political and security functions of the United Nations and regional organizations.
Effective: Spring 2003
Prerequisite: PL SC 014
PL SC 416 International Negotiations (3) The study of international negotiations from a strategic perspective.
Effective: Summer 2005
Prerequisite: PL SC 014
PL SC 417 American Local Government and Administration (3) Organization, powers, functions, and problems of American cities and metropolitan areas; modern trends and developments.
Effective: Winter 1978
Prerequisite: PL SC 001
PL SC 418 International Relations Theory (3) A survey of traditional and contemporary conceptual frameworks and theoretical approaches for the analysis of international relations.
Effective: Winter 1978
Prerequisite: PL SC 014
PL SC 418W International Relations Theory (3) A survey of traditional and contemporary conceptual frameworks and theoreticalapproaches for the analysis of international relations.
Effective: Spring 1999
Prerequisite: PL SC 014
PL SC 419 The Bureaucratic State (3) Overview of structural, technological, decision-making, behavioral, and political subsystems of bureaucracy; emphasis on bureaucratic dynamics within larger environmental, interorganizational contexts.
Effective: Fall 2007
Prerequisite: PL SC 001, PL SC 002 or PUBPL 304W
PL SC 422 Comparative Urban Politics (3) Relationships between structure and evolution of city systems and patterns of political behavior.
Effective: Spring 2001
Prerequisite: PL SC 003, PL SC 020, PL SC 022 or PL SC 417
PL SC 423 Post-Soviet Politics (3) Aspects of political transition and institutions of the fifteen Soviet successor republics; emphasis on Russia and republican confederation.
Effective: Fall 2007
Prerequisite: PL SC 003, PL SC 155 or RUS 100
PL SC 424 Topics in Comparative Government and Institutions (3) Topics in the comparative analysis of representative contemporary Western and non-Western governmental institutions.
Effective: Fall 2007
Prerequisite: 3 credits from PL SC 003, PL SC 020, PL SC 022
PL SC 425 Government and Politics of the American States (3) Comparative analysis of political processes; executive, legislative, and judicial decision making and behavior; examination of systems functioning; selected public policies.
Effective: Winter 1978
Prerequisite: PL SC 001
PL SC 426 Political Parties and Interest Groups (3) Interest group basis of American politics, analysis of party and group behavior in electoral politics and the policy process.
Effective: Fall 1983
Prerequisite: PL SC 001
PL SC 427 Political Opinion (3) Nature and development of mass attitudes and opinions; political socialization; voting behavior; relation between opinions and public policy.
Effective: Spring 2001
Prerequisite: PL SC 001
PL SC 428 (US;IL) (WMNST 428) Gender and Politics (3) Gender in politics in the United States and around the world; major areas of women and politics research.
Effective: Fall 2007
Prerequisite: 3 credits in political science or women's studies
PL SC 429 Analysis of Electoral Politics (3) The new politics, its technology, and the strategic perspectives that underlie it.
Effective: Spring 2007
Prerequisite: PL SC 001
PL SC 430 Selected Works in the History of Political Theory (3) Detailed examination and analysis of a selected major work, thinker, or tradition in the history of political theory.
Effective: Spring 1998
Prerequisite: PL SC 017 or PL SC 007
PL SC 430W Selected Works in the History of Political Theory (3) Detailed examination and analysis of a selected major work, thinker, or tradition in the history of political theory.
Effective: Spring 2008
Prerequisite: PL SC 017 or PL SC 007
PL SC 431 Ancient, Medieval, and Renaissance Political Theories (3) Political theories of Plato and Aristotle; selected Greek, Roman, medieval, and Renaissance theorists through Machiavelli.
Effective: Spring 2003
Prerequisite: PL SC 017 or PL SC 007
PL SC 432 Modern and Contemporary Political Theories (3) Political theories of the seventeenth through the twentieth centuries, including Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Marx, Mill, Mosca, Weber, and selected theorists.
Effective: Spring 2003
Prerequisite: PL SC 017 or PL SC 007
PL SC 434 (IL) (AAA S 434) War and Development in Africa (3) This course will examine the relationship between war and development in sub-Saharan Africa in the post colonial era.
Effective: Spring 2008
Prerequisite: PL SC 114, PL SC 003, AAA S 110
PL SC 435 Foundations of American Political Theory (3) Political theories of colonial, revolutionary, and constitutional periods presented through works of selected thinkers and analysis of particular political problems.
Effective: Spring 2001
Prerequisite: PL SC 001, PL SC 017 or PL SC 007
PL SC 435W Foundations of American Political Theory (3) Political theories of the revolutionary and constitutional periods presented through works of selected political thinkers and political issues.
Effective: Spring 2001
Prerequisite: PL SC 001, PL SC 017 or PL SC 007
PL SC 437 War in World Politics (3) Causes, resolution, and consequences of crises and wars; testing theories of conflict using both case and statistical studies.
Effective: Summer 1997
Prerequisite: PL SC 014
PL SC 438 National Security Policies (3) Impact of national security on U.S. government and foreign policy; roles and interaction of President, Congress, government agencies, interest groups.
Effective: Spring 2001
Prerequisite: PL SC 001 or PL SC 014
PL SC 439 (CRIMJ 439) The Politics of Terrorism (3) Analysis of political terrorism as a violent alternative for peaceful change and traditional warfare in the nuclear age.
Effective: Spring 2008
Prerequisite: CRIMJ 100 or PL SC 014 or permission of program
PL SC 440 (US;IL) (AAA S 440, I B 440) Globalization and Its Implications (3) This course explores the socioeconomic implications of globalization.
Effective: Spring 2008
Prerequisite: AAA S 100 or AAA S 110 or PL SC 003 or PL SC 014 or PL SC 020 or PL SC 022
PL SC 441 Transnational Corporations and Other Organizations in International Relations (3) Analysis of the effects of transnational actor behavior on international relations.
Effective: Fall 2007
Prerequisite: ECON 333, I B 303, PL SC 014 or BUS 364
PL SC 442 American Foreign Policy (3) Principles of American foreign policy; processes of policy formulation; roles of the President, Congress, the State Department, and other government agencies.
Effective: Spring 2001
Prerequisite: PL SC 014
PL SC 443 (IL) (AAA S 443) Ethnic Conflict in Africa (3) This course explores the various causes and impacts of ethnic conflicts in the African context.
Effective: Spring 2008
Prerequisite: AAA S 100, AAA S 110, PL SC 001, PL SC 003, PL SC 007, PL SC 014, PL SC 017, PL SC 020
PL SC 444 Government and the Economy (3) Interactions of governmental and economic activity in American life. Survey of governmental (national, state, local) promotional, regulatory, and ownership policies.
Effective: Winter 1978
Prerequisite: 3 credits in political science or economics
PL SC 445Y (US) (AAA S 445Y, LER 445Y) Politics of Affirmative Action (3) Examines history, politics, and economics of the use of special programs to advance racial interests in the U.S.
Effective: Spring 2008
Prerequisite: AAA S 100 level course and PL SC 001 or PL SC 007
PL SC 452 Government and Politics of Central Europe (3) Politics and society in the Communist Era, the revolutions of 1989, and problems of adjustment to democracy and market.
Effective: Fall 2007
Prerequisite: PL SC 003, PL SC 020, PL SC 022 or PL SC 155
PL SC 453 (IL) Political Processes in Underdeveloped Systems (3) Comparative analysis of the political, social, and economic problems characteristic of underdeveloped systems.
Effective: Fall 2007
Prerequisite: PL SC 003, PL SC 020 or PL SC 022
PL SC 454 (IL) (AAA S 454) Government and Politics of Africa (3) Contemporary African politics, institutions, and ideologies; patterns of change, social forces, and nation building in selected African states.
Effective: Summer 2005
Prerequisite: 3 credits from: AAA S 110, PL SC 003, PL SC 020 or PL SC 022
PL SC 455 Governments and Politics of Western Europe (3) Comparative analysis of political and governmental structures of major West European nations; main functions and processes of such structures.
Effective: Spring 2001
Prerequisite: PL SC 003 or PL SC 020
PL SC 456 Politics and Institutions of Latin-American Nations (3) Social forces and processes, governmental institutions, foreign policies of major states of Latin America.
Effective: Spring 2001
Prerequisite: HIST 179, PL SC 003, PL SC 020 or PL SC 022
PL SC 457 International Politics of Latin America (3-6) Relationships among the nations of Latin America and the social forces which determine and shape their direction.
Effective: Spring 2001
Prerequisite: HIST 179, PL SC 003, PL SC 014, PL SC 020 or PL SC 022
PL SC 458 Government and Politics of East Asia (3-6) Examination of political institutions, democratic and communist revolution, political leadership, political processes of major states of East Asia.
Effective: Summer 1996
Prerequisite: 3 credits from PL SC 003, PL SC 020, PL SC 022
PL SC 459 (IL) (AAA S 459) Culture and World Politics (3) Role of culture in world politics.
Effective: Summer 2006
PL SC 460 (S T S 460) Science, Technology, and Public Policy (3) The all-pervasive importance of science and technology policy in modern societies and mechanisms and processes by which it is made.
Effective: Spring 1995
Prerequisite: 3 credits in natural sciences or engineering 3 credits in social and behavioral sciences
PL SC 462 Marxist and Socialist Political Theory (3) Analysis of major problems and key works in the Marxist and Socialist tradition; dialectical materialism, alienation, class warfare, etc.
Effective: Spring 2001
Prerequisite: PL SC 017, PL SC 007, PL SC 413 or PL SC 452
PL SC 467 International Relations of the Middle East (3) The international relations of the Middle East, stressing national security policies of regional and outside actors, and major contemporary conflicts.
Effective: Spring 1985
Prerequisite: PL SC 014 or HIST 181
PL SC 470W Legal Brief Writing (3) Writing of legal briefs as practiced in American courts.
Effective: Spring 1998
Prerequisite: PL SC 001
PL SC 471 American Constitutional Law (3) The origins of judicial review, landmark decisions of the Supreme Court, and their impact on the American form of government.
Effective: Fall 2007
Prerequisite: PL SC 001
PL SC 472 The American Legal Process (3) Analysis of the roles, procedures, and policies characterizing the American legal system.
Effective: Spring 2001
Prerequisite: PL SC 001
PL SC 473 American Judicial Behavior (3) Analyzes behavior of judges and other participants in the legal process; examines how and why courts function as policymaking bodies.
Effective: Fall 2007
Prerequisite: PL SC 001
PL SC 474 Civil Liberities and Due Process (3) Fundamental problems relating to civil liberities and due process.
Effective: Fall 2007
Prerequisite: PL SC 001
PL SC 480W Congress and the Presidency (3) Basic characteristics and processes of the national legislature and executive; roles and interaction of these institutions in the policy process.
Effective: Fall 2007
Prerequisite: PL SC 001
PL SC 481 Global Political Economy (3) This course examines states, markets, power, production, and the relations between the various transnational agents who act in these areas. Students may not receive credit for PL SC 481 and PL SC 412.
Effective: Spring 2007
Prerequisite: PL SC 014 or INTST 100
PL SC 482 American State and Urban Politics (3) Explores basic characteristics and processes of American state and urban politics; nature of intergovernmental relations involving these governmental levels.
Effective: Fall 2007
Prerequisite: PL SC 001
PL SC 484W The Foreign Policy of Soviet Successor States (3) Relations between Russia and The Newly Independent States (NIS); Russia's relations with selected foreign states and political Institutions; regional impact of the NIS in Baltic, Asian, and Central Asian areas.
Effective: Fall 2007
Prerequisite: PL SC 003
PL SC 487 International Law and Organizations (3) Major topics and issues of international law with special attention to institutional arrangements (international organizations) through which that law operates.
Effective: Fall 2007
Prerequisite: PL SC 003 or PL SC 014
PL SC 488 Comparative Public Policy (3) Comparative methodology and public policy implementation in postindustrial societies; selected case studies of policy output.
Effective: Fall 2007
Prerequisite: PL SC 003
PL SC 489 Public Administration (3) A survey of the major approaches to the management of most governmental agencies.
Effective: Fall 2007
Prerequisite: PL SC 001
PL SC 490 Policy Making and Evaluation (3) Advanced analysis of public policy, emphasizing policy evaluation and the factors that determine policy success and failure.
Effective: Fall 2007
Prerequisite: PL SC 001, PL SC 002 or PUBPL 304W
PL SC 494 Research Project (1-12) Supervised student activities on research projects identified on an individualor small-group basis.
Effective: Summer 1994
PL SC 494H Research Project (1-12) Supervised student activities on research projects identified on an individualor small-group basis.
Effective: Fall 2007
PL SC 495 Political Science Internship (1-6) Combining experience in government offices, related agencies, or law firms, with appropriate readings and a research paper/report.
Effective: Fall 2007
Prerequisite: prior consent of supervisor adviser or department head; applicable departmental internship requirements such as satisfactory completion of required 300- or 400-level courses appropriate for the internship program selected
PL SC 496 Independent Studies (1-18) Creative projects, including research and design, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses.
Effective: Fall 1983
PL SC 496A Political Science Web Development and Research (1-6) Creative projects, including research and design, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses.
Effective: Spring 2008 Ending: Spring 2008
PL SC 496H Thesis Writing (1-6) Creative projects, including research and design, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses.
Effective: Spring 2008 Ending: Spring 2008
PL SC 497 Special Topics (1-9) Formal courses given infrequently to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrow subject which may be topical or of special interest.
Effective: Fall 1983
PL SC 497A The Politics of International (3) The course aims to give students overall exposure to questions of development in a global perspective.
Effective: Summer 2008 Ending: Summer 2008 Future: Summer 2008
PL SC 497A Politics in France and the United States (3) This course will focus on France's current political system, ranging from it's historical roots, social and partisan bases, it's controversies and it's current institutional structure.
Effective: Spring 2008 Ending: Spring 2008
PL SC 497B Protest, Social Movements, and Public Policy: A Research Seminar (3) This course is an exploration of the success of social movement organizations and those engaging in social protest in affecting public policy.
Effective: Spring 2008 Ending: Spring 2008
PL SC 497C Global Security (3) This course explores some key global security issues, with an emphasis on the post-Cold War international scenario. Topics covered: interstate and intrastate conflict, globalization, human security, forced migration, and terrorism.
Effective: Spring 2008 Ending: Spring 2008
PL SC 497D Political Parties and Service Delivery in Metropolitian Latin America (3) This course examines how traditional political parties and parties and movements that captured the loyalty of urban voters.
Effective: Spring 2008 Ending: Spring 2008
PL SC 497G Political Economy of Civil War (3) This course examines the factors that lead to the onset, duration, and end of civil Wars.
Effective: Spring 2008 Ending: Spring 2008
PL SC 497H Quantitative Analysis of International Law (1-3) Formal courses given infrequently to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrow subject which may be topical or of special interest.
Effective: Spring 2008 Ending: Spring 2008
PL SC 499 (IL) Foreign Study--Government (1-12) Study, in selected foreign countries, of political institutions.
Effective: Summer 2005
Prerequisite: PL SC 003 3 credits in economics history political science or sociology