The Department of Political Science prepares students for:

• The Legal Profession,
• Government Service,
• The Private Sector
• Media/Journalism, and
• Graduate School.

The curriculum includes courses in American government and politics, political theory and methodology, comparative politics, international relations, and public policy. The pre-law program is designed to prepare students for law school. Students receive counseling and other necessary assistance in making their choice of a law school. They will be able to interview with several law schools that conduct interviews on our campus. In addition, the department offers assistance with the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

DEPARTMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
Students must pass a minimum of 30 semester hours; have a GPA of 2.0 or higher, and complete the courses outlined below. Students who wish to minor in Political Science must complete a minimum of 21 semester hours (see courses listed below under “courses required for Minor”), as well as the required courses for a major in their respective departments.


Required Department Courses

1. Core Courses. Students must make a C or better in the following major courses: 2100; 2110; 2115; 2120; 3000; 3310; 4110 or 4120; and 4400.

2. Electives. Students may choose any two of the following: 3020; 3030; 3040; 3120; 3130; 3210; 3320; 3410; 3500; 3510; 3560; 3600; 3700; 3710; 3800; 3810; 3990; 4000; 4100; 4200; 4310; 4330; 4340; 4500; 4520; 4600; 4880; 4900; 4995.

3. Non-departmental requirements. Students must make a C or better in either ECON 2200 or ECON 2300.

COURSES REQUIRED FOR MINOR

1. Students must make a C or better in the following department courses: 2100; 2110; 2120; 3310; 4110.

2. Electives: Any two courses at the 3000 level or above.

Political Science Course Descriptions (for undergraduates):
HIST 1320 World Societies (3) An interdisciplinary study of patterns in history since 1450 integrating the disciplines of political science, economics, anthropology, sociology, art and literature.

POLS 2100. Introduction to American Government (3) A study of the legislative judicial and executive branches of the national government, with emphasis on the changing interpretation of the Constitution.

POLS 2110. Introduction to Comparative Politics (3)
Prerequisite: POLS 2100.
A survey course that examines and compares institutions, cultures, and philosophies in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, with a special emphasis on European democracies.

POLS 2115. Introduction to International Politics (3)
Prerequisite: POLS 2100.
A survey course that examines the interactions among states (countries), nations, and international institutions in the global arena in regard to military, political, economic, and environmental issues.

POLS 2120 State Government In the United States (3)
Prerequisites: POLS 2100.
A study of the relationship of state government to national and local government, and the problems and operation of state government, particularly state government in North Carolina.

POLS 3000. Scope, Method and Writing (3)
Prerequisite: POLS 2100.
A study of practical application techniques and methods used in collection, analysis and written presentation of political data.

POLS 3020. Major Powers and Asia. (3)
Prerequisite: POLS 2100.
A survey of the inter-relatioinship of the global interests of the major powers (U.S., Russia, Peoples’s Republic of China) and the regional interests of Asian nations.

POLS 3030. Foreign Policy of Major Afro-Asian Nations(3)
Prerequisite: POLS 2100.
An analytical review of the trends and goals of the foreign policies of Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, India, Indonesia, and Japan.

POLS 3040. Major Powers and Africa. (3)
Prerequisite: POLS 2100.
A survey of the inter-relatioinship of the global interests of the major powers (U.S., Russia, Peoples’s Republic of China) and the regional interests of African nations.

POLS 3120. Governments of the Far East (3) A study of present-day Chinese, Japanese and Indian governments, with emphasis upon the relation of governmental structure to the historical and philosophical development of these nations.

POLS 3131. Nuclear War (3) A study of the relationship between domestic and foreign policy making in terms of nuclear war and weapons, as well as peace theory.

POLS 3210. Public Opinion and Propaganda (3)
Prerequisite: POLS 2100
A study of the nature, formation and content of public opinion and the uses and characteristics of propaganda in the modern state.

POLS 3310. The American Constitutional System (3)
Prerequisite: POLS 2100.
A study of judicial interpretation of the Constitution, the separation of governmental powers, federal-state relations, the control of interstate commerce and the role of the federal courts in the development of the concepts of due process and equal protection.

POLS 3320. American Political Parties and Pressure Groups (3)
Prerequisite: POLS 2100.
A study of the purposes, history and organization of major parties and pressure groups.

POLS 3410. Municipal Government (3)
Prerequisite: POLS 2120.
A study of the history and types of city and town government, problems of metropolitan area governments and federal-local relations.

POLS 3500 Practicum in Political Science (3) An introduction to the theory and practice of the community political process. Students entering the course will spend a minimum of two hours per week in a particular field under the guidance of an instructor.

POLS 3510. Black Politics in America. (3)
Prerequisite: POLS 2100.
A study of the history and impact of African- Americans’ participation in government and politics in the United States.

POLS 3550. Oil Politics (3) An examination of the politics of oil producing areas of the world.

POLS 3560. Media Politics (3) An examination of the relationship of the media and the electoral process.

POLS 3600. American Foreign Policy (3). An examination of U.S. foreign policy in the modern era, with emphasis on the process and mechanics of policy formulation and execution, and on economic and military implication in conducting American foreign policy.

POLS 3700 The U.S. Congress:People, Power and Politics (3). A study of the U.S. Congress, focusing on both its internal functions and policy processes, with special emphasis on the issues of representation and responsiveness.

POLS 3710. The American Presidency: Office and Occupants. (3) An examination of presidential leadership and decision making, as well as the sources of and obstacles of presidential influence. Particular attention is paid to the problems and prospects of the modern presidency.

POLS 3800. Junior Thesis (3) Independent study and research course under the guidance of the instructor.

POLS 3810. Independent Study in Political Science (3)
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. The course allows students to do independent study and research in a specialized area of political science.

POLS 3990. Behavioral Research Methods in Political Science (3)
Prerequisite: POLS 3000. This course will introduce students to advanced political analysis.

POLS 3995. Environmental Politics (3) A review of the history, principles, and issues in American environmental politics, with a focus on both governmental institutions and organizations.

POLS 4000. Political Economy (3)
Prerequisite: POLS 2100 and ECON 2200 or ECON 2300.
This course is designed to be an advanced level introduction to a range of theoretical and applied concerns regarding political economy. It is an exploration of the fundamental questions about government, policies, and the relationship between global market systems.

POLS 4100. Internship in Political Science (3-12)
Prerequisites: POLS 2100, 2120, 3000, 3310.
Advanced junior classification or permission of the chair. (This course can be taken multiple semesters for a maximum of 12 credit hours.) The course is designed to give students the opportunity to gain practical experience in political science with a law firm, a government agency, interest group or other political organization.

POLS 4110. Political Theory I (3)
Prerequisite: POLS 2100.
An examination of the development of political philosophy from Plato to the early eighteenth century, to the advent of the modern state system.

POLS 4120. Political Theory II (3)
Prerequisite: POLS 2100.
A continuation of POLS 4110. An examination of political thought from the post-feudal period to modern times.

POLS 4200. Contemporary Black Political Thought (3)
Prerequisite: POLS 2100, 3510, and 4110 or 4120.
This course will study developing types of political strategy based on the analysis of various black political movements.

POLS 4310. International Organization (3)
Prerequisite: 2100 or permission of the instructor.
A study of the United Nations, the European ventures into international cooperative organization and the Organization of American States.

POLS 4330. Politics of Developing Nations (3)
Prerequisites: 2110 or 2115.
A study of complex processes and forces involved with political integration and economic modernization in selected African countries.

POLS 4340. Civil Rights: Problems in Administration and Compliance (3)
Prerequisite: POLS 3310 or permission of the instructor.
An advanced study of public administration and constitutional problems in the context of civil rights laws.

POLS 4400. Problems of Contemporary Governments (3)
Prerequisites: Advanced standing and a minor or major in the social sciences.
A careful study of selected governmental problems facing our nation today. These problems all include both domestic and international areas.

POLS 4500. Revolution and Ideology in the Third World (3)
Prerequisite: POLS 2110 or 2115.
A study designed to offer students a representative cross-section of political movements, ideas and “currents” in the new nations in ferment.

POLS 4520. Middle Eastern Politics (3)
An analysis of formal power structures of Middle Eastern countries and examination of political forces impinging upon and under girding the foreign policy of these nations.

POLS 4600. Workshop in International Affairs (3)
Prerequisite: POLS 2100 or permission of the instructor.
An examination of major problems in international affairs with emphasis upon the factors which generate tensions among nations, and examines interlocking and interdependent relationships of both major and minor nations in world politics.

POLS 4880. Special Topics in Political Science (3)
Prerequisite: 2100 or permission of the instructor.
This course will examine special topics in political science.

POLS 4990. Senior Honors I. (3)
Prerequisite: Advanced standing and permission the instructor or department chairman.
Honors course offered for senior political science majors with a 3.0 grade

POLS 4995. Senior Honors II. (3)
Prerequisite: Advanced standing and permission the instructor or department chairman.
Honors course offered for senior political science majors with a 3.0 grade. This course offers additional readings beyond Senior Honors I and independent research.