Courses: Political Science

POL 102-F&4 - Introduction to American Government
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None

What the informed citizen and specialist should know about the organization of American government, including the Constitution and what it means today, the Congress, political parties, pressure groups, growth of the Presidency, the Supreme Court, judicial review, federalism, separation of powers, and the Bill of Rights. May not be taken for credit in addition to POL 105.

POL 105-F&4 - Honors Introduction to American Government
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: Permission of department; priority given to students in the University’s honors programs

An enriched introduction to American government. Topics covered include political participation, public opinion, voting and elections, parties, interest groups, federalism, Congress, the Presidency, the bureaucracy, the judiciary, and public policy formation. This course requires more reading and more written work than does POL 102. May not be taken for credit in addition to POL 102.

POL 319 - Business Law
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: Prerequisite: U3/U4 standing or New Transfer student

A study of the legal environment of business operations, covering such topics as the principle of contracts, commercial papers, partnerships, corporations, real property, estates, bankruptcy, antitrust laws, and environmental and civil rights regulations.

POL 325-F - Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Credits: 3
Prerequisit: Prerequisite: U3 or U4 standing. Advisory Prerequisite: POL 320

A systematic treatment of leading Supreme Court decisions in such areas as freedom of speech, the press, and religion; the rights of criminal defendants; voting rights; the right to privacy; and discrimination on grounds of race, sex, poverty, illegitimacy, and alienage.

POL 359-F - Public Policy Analysis
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: POL 102 or 105; U3 or U4 standing

A course analyzing the connection between the administrative processes of government in the United States and the public policy process. It focuses on the analysis of policy formulation and the broader connections between public policy and the American political process.

POL 364-F - Organizational Decision Making
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: U3 or U4 standing

Decision processes are examined in public and private organizations to understand common problems arising from limited decision-making capabilities, conflicts among organizational members, and uncertainty and ambiguity in the organization’s environment. Several concepts are introduced to analyze normative and behavioral issues arising from the organizational context of political life.