Political
Science
Courses
Courses
|
|
Political
Science
Courses |
SOU CATALOG HOME : SCHOOLS AND DEPARTMENTS : POLITICAL SCIENCE : COURSES
See Course Prerequisites Policy.
PS 110 Introduction to Politics
3 creditsIntroduction to the nature of politics, power, and the operation of political institutions. Classroom activities may include political games and simulations. Chief attention is given to the politics and government of the United States. A survival course for citizens in the twenty-first century.
Credit to be arranged
3 creditsStudy of American state and local governments, their policies and problems.
3 creditsExamines the relationships between laws, courts, and lawyers. Students make extensive use of Internet legal resources. Designed to assist pre-law students in evaluating their career choice early in their academic planning.
3 creditsInterdisciplinary social science introduction to current international relations and global issues. Emphasis is on why nations go to war and how war might be prevented. Introduces students to changing world affairs as we approach the twenty-first century. (Cross listed with IS 250.)
4 creditsExplores the role of feature film as an expression of prevailing political culture. Students gain a better understanding of how film serves simultaneously as a political archive and a potential agent of social propaganda or social change.
PS 310 American Government
3 creditsInvestigates American political institutions and their relevance to society. Students come to understand the American political system and the influence of media, political parties, corporations, and other organizations.
3 creditsExamines the difference between a "parliament" and a "congress" and between a "president" and a "prime minister." Systematically compares political systems around the world and evaluates our own political system by measuring it against the systems of other countries.
3 creditsStudies the difference between public and private organizations. Evaluates how bureaucracy helps or hinders such organizations. Focuses on case studies that deal with leadership and decision making, personnel administration, and the ethics of management.
3 creditsExamines the development of the Constitution primarily through analysis of judicial opinions. Explores a wide range of separation of powers and federalism issues including the president's authority to make war without the approval of Congress, and Congress's authority to impose speed limits on state roads. Analyzes the Supreme Court's role in resolving these and many other questions.
3 creditsThe nature and structure of the modern international state system; studied with reference to theory and practice. The United Nations system and international law are also emphasized. (Cross listed with IS 350.)
3 creditsStudents learn the basic techniques of political science research and writing, use of the Internet, and study government documents. Meets the computer literacy requirement for political science and international studies majors. (Cross listed with IS 398.)
Credit to be arranged
Credit to be arranged
Credit to be arranged
Credit to be arranged
Credit to be arranged
Credit to be arranged
3 creditsThe techniques of opinion gathering and measurement. Students explore the literature of survey research and conduct actual polls of their campus and community. Essential course for students seeking a career in politics, management, or business. Prerequisites: PS 110 and 310, or consent of instructor.
3 credits eachThe following and other topics are offered as needed: political parties; interest groups; political campaigns; presidency; congress; politics and media; Oregon politics; Rogue Valley politics; public policy; and political scandal. Repeated credit given for distinct topics. Prerequisites will be determined by topic.
3 credits eachThe following and other topics are offered as needed: Europe; Asia; Latin America; Middle East; Africa; Third World politics; revolution; terrorism; and political violence. Repeated credit given for distinct topics. Prerequisites will be determined by topic.
3 creditsPublic leadership and communication require an understanding of the different types of organizational structures found in public organizations. Provides a conceptual framework for examining bureaucracy, scientific management, human relations, and open-systems types of organizations. Leadership style, job characteristics, and performance goals are also studied. Undergraduate prerequisite: PS 330.
3 creditsExamines the process of policy formation and implementation. Students learn quantitative and qualitative methods of analyzing public policy and evaluate alternative solutions in terms of their political, economic, legal, and administrative feasibility. Undergraduate prerequisites: PS 330, 398, or equivalent courses.
3 creditsProvides the management skills of financial and budget analysis needed for careers in public management and consulting, or for service as an elected or appointed official, or board member. Includes the study of financial theory, which is concerned with the sources and uses of public funds (e.g., taxing, borrowing, the cost of capital). Undergraduate prerequisites: PS 330, 398, or equivalent courses.
3 creditsExamines how managers can maximize employee performance and satisfaction through job design and analysis, recruitment and selection, compensation models, conflict management, and employment law issues. Undergraduate prerequisite: PS 330.
3 creditsExamines the law of public agencies. Topics include the scope of an agency's authority, decision making (including the use of discretion), tort claims, and freedom of information and open meeting requirements. Undergraduate prerequisite: PS 240 or 340.
3 creditsStudies how social and political issues converge in the area of health care and how insurance and pharmaceutical companies, doctors, and state and local officials all have a stake in the outcome of health care policy decisions. Briefly reviews international health care policy. Undergraduate prerequisite: PS 330.
3 creditsStudents learn and practice the skills necessary for developing policies that will be presented to government bodies. Covers how to take an idea from the conceptual stage to implementation.
3 creditsManagement techniques and practices widely employed in the non profit organizational environment. Emphasis is on organizational structure, personnel management, budget and finance, board development, planning and decision making, grant and RFP procedures, and liability issues as they pertain to the not-for-profit enterprise.
3 credits eachThe following and other topics are offered on the basis of need: intergovernmental relations; environmental policy; global environmental policy; international public management; public resources policy; water law; and comparative public policy. Repeated credit is allowed for varying topics. Prerequisites are determined by topic.
4 creditsHow to find "the law," make sense of it, and communicate your findings and conclusions coherently and persuasively to other people. Emphasizes research strategies, problem solving, and analysis. Print and online sources are used. Undergraduate prerequisite: PS 240.
3 creditsSurveys major environmental laws. Primary focus is on the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and Endangered Species Act. Lays out the regulatory tools used to address environmental problems. Special attention is given to economic, social, and political barriers that prevent efficient regulation of the environment.
3 credits eachThe following and other topics are offered as needed: constitutional law; international law; First Amendment; free speech; separation of church and state; and affirmative action. Repeated credit given for distinct topics. Prerequisites will be determined by topic.
3 creditsStudy of the formulation and conduct of U.S. foreign policy, especially from World War II to the present. Prerequisite: PS/IS 350. (Cross listed with IS 450/550.)
3 credits eachThe following and other topics are offered as needed: superpowers; Model United Nations; issues of war and peace; international organizations; and human rights. Repeated credit given for distinct topics. Prerequisites are determined by topic.
3 credits eachExamines selected concepts, themes, ideologies, and theorists in the study of politics. The following and other topics are offered as needed: modern political theory; political ideologies; critical theory; equality and freedom; and American political thought. Repeated credit given for distinct topics: Prerequisites are determined by topic.
3 creditsA capstone experience for majors that offers the opportunity to apply the concepts, principles, and theories of political science to a practical simulation of political action. Senior standing or permission of instructor required.