POLITICAL SCIENCE (POLS)
College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Political Science
John Roach Center for the Liberal Arts (JRC) 432, (651) 962-5720
High-Pippert (chair), Buhr, Goltz, Lynch, Mazumdar
Political Science Department Web Site
The Department of Political Science is dedicated to political inquiry and analysis, as well as teaching excellence. Our curriculum promotes a broad understanding of how politics affects both our individual and collective lives while also focusing on the specialized knowledge of particular subfields in the discipline.
We emphasize not only substantive knowledge about politics and governments but also the development of skills necessary to understand and analyze political phenomena in a complex world. Our faculty’s range of expertise provides our students with a rich understanding of political science while preparing them for a life of active citizenship.
As one of the liberal arts, political science enables students to develop and strengthen research and writing skills, as well as skills in analysis and communication. A major in political science prepares students for many types of careers, including those in law, government, political campaigns, non-profit organizations, and the corporate sector.
Students graduating with a major in political science will have a broad overview of the discipline, including coursework in Political Theory and Research Methods, as well as substantive familiarity with at least two of the following subfields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Judicial Politics.
Students majoring in political science must take a minimum of twenty-eight credits in political science at St. Thomas. No more than eight of the credits taken outside of the department shall be numbered 300 or above.
Students minoring in political science must take a minimum of sixteen credits in political science at St. Thomas.
POLS 104: Government and Politics is a Writing Intensive course that fulfills the Social Scientific Analysis component of the core curriculum.
Political Science Honor Society
Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society, established the Chi Theta chapter at St. Thomas in 1999. The purpose of Pi Sigma Alpha is to acknowledge superior performance in the study of political science, to forge closer links between faculty and political science majors and minors, and to stimulate political interest in the St. Thomas community.
Pi Sigma Alpha is open to juniors and seniors who meet the following qualifications for membership. Students must have completed at least three political science courses and be currently enrolled in or have taken a fourth. Two of the four courses must be UST political science courses, and one of the four must be at least a 300-level course. Additionally, students must have a grade point average of at least 3.00 in political science courses and be within the top third of their graduating class.
Major in Political Science
- POLS 104: Government and Politics (4 credits)
- POLS 205: U.S. Policymaking (4 credits)
- POLS 225: World Politics (4 credits)
- POLS 240: Research Methods in Political Science (4 credits)
- POLS 370: Explorations in Political Theory (4 credits)
Plus:
- Sixteen credits in POLS 300-level courses (completed in at least two of the four subfields of American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, or Judicial Politics)
Plus:
- One POLS 400-level seminar
Prerequisites:
- POLS 104 is a prerequisite for all other required courses within the major (POLS 205, POLS 225, POLS 240, and POLS 370).
- POLS 205 is a prerequisite for 300-level courses within the subfield of American Politics.
- POLS 225 is a prerequisite for 300-level courses within the subfields of Comparative Politics and International Relations.
- POLS 104 is a prerequisite for 300-level courses within the subfield of Judicial Politics. Junior or senior standing and prior completion of POLS 312 is strongly recommended for POLS 313 and POLS 314.
- Juniors and seniors may enroll in a 400-level seminar once they have completed a 300-level course within that subfield, or with permission of the instructor. Typically, two seminars are offered per semester, so you need to work with your advisor and plan ahead.
Strongly Recommended:
- It is strongly recommended that students take POLS 240 before enrolling in 300-level courses.
- It is also strongly recommended that students either complete POLS 313 or POLS 314 before taking POLS 414, or be concurrently enrolled in POLS 313 or POLS 314 along with POLS 414.
Minor in Political Science
- POLS 104 Government and Politics (4 credits)
- POLS 205 U.S. Policymaking (4 credits)
- POLS 225 World Politics (4 credits)
Plus:
- Twelve credits in 300-level courses (completed in at least two of the four subfields of American Politics, Judicial Politics, International Relations, or Comparative Politics). POLS 370 may also be completed as a 300-level course for the minor.
- One 400-level seminar (with appropriate prerequisites) may be completed in place of a 300-level course.
Teacher Licensure
Elementary Education with a Specialty in Social Studies (5-8)
Co-major in Social Studies (5-12) and a Co-major in Secondary Education
See Education
Political Science Undergraduate Courses
| Course Number | Title | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| POLS 104 | Government and Politics | 4 | |
| Description of course Government and Politics : | An introduction to the concepts basic to an understanding of politics and government with an emphasis on the political systems of the United States. A comparative examination of political processes, decision making institutions and policy issues relevant to the contemporary world. An introduction to basic research methods used in the discipline. | ||
| POLS 115 | Legal Research and Writing | 4 | |
| Description of course Legal Research and Writing : | This course introduces students to techniques of legal writing and research. Students analyze legal texts, use both primary and secondary sources to do research, and practice techniques and forms of written language unique to legal documents. | ||
| POLS 205 | U.S. Policymaking | 4 | |
| Description of course U.S. Policymaking : | This course focuses on public policymaking within the United States, with an emphasis on what governments do, why they do it, and what difference it makes. It examines aspects of the policy process, such as agenda-setting and issue attention cycles, before covering substantive public policy issues such as education, civil rights, health care, energy and the environment, defense, and immigration. The ways in which people influence the public policy process through elections, interest groups, and measures of public opinion will also be considered. Prerequisite: POLS 104 or permission of instructor. | ||
| POLS 225 | World Politics | 4 | |
| Description of course World Politics : | This course serves as an introduction to international relations. It introduces a range of divergent theories and perspectives concerning world politics and the nature of the contemporary global political system. It also focuses on the interactions between states and the impact of both states and non-state actors (such as international organizations and multinational corporations) on domestic and international outcomes. Themes will likely include globalization and international trade, international security, foreign policy, international law and organizations, and the developing world. Prerequisite: POLS 104 or permission of instructor. | ||
| POLS 240 | Research Methods Poli Sci | 4 | |
| Description of course Research Methods Poli Sci : | POLS 240: Research Methods in Political Science This course provides an introduction to empirical research methods in political science. Central topics include logic of the scientific method, measurement of political concepts, research design and methods of data collection, statistical techniques for describing data, and principles of statistical inference. Particular attention will be paid to methods for analyzing quantitative data and the use of SPSS. Prerequisite: POLS 104 | ||
| POLS 301 | Pol. Identity & Participation | 4 | |
| Description of course Pol. Identity & Participation : | This course focuses on how and why people participate in politics in the United States, with an emphasis on how intersecting identities of citizens affect measures of political behavior, including partisanship, voting, and other forms of political involvement. Relevant identities include those rooted in race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, and religion. Prerequisite: POLS 205 or permission of the instructor. | ||
| POLS 302 | Gender and Politics | 4 | |
| Description of course Gender and Politics : | An intersectional examination of the impact of gender within American politics, with a focus on representation. Campaign strategies and styles of candidates, election to local, state, and national office, and the impact that women make in public office will be emphasized. Differences between political lives across the gender spectrum will also be explored. Potential explanations for the political underrepresentation of women will be evaluated. Prerequisite: POLS 205 or permission of the instructor. | ||
| POLS 305 | Congress and the Presidency | 4 | |
| Description of course Congress and the Presidency : | The institutions of Congress and the Presidency will be examined in this course, both independently and in the larger policymaking context of repeated interactions. Concepts such as representation, elections, cooperation, and what “success” looks like will be discussed, both in the contemporary context and with an eye towards the institution’s historical development. Prerequisite: POLS 205 or permission of the instructor. | ||
| POLS 306 | Campaigns and Elections | 4 | |
| Description of course Campaigns and Elections : | This course focuses on the connection between the people and their government by exploring mechanisms for selecting representatives in the United States. Features of the system are leveraged to forecast and explain electoral results and the implications for policymaking. The likelihood of reform proposals being adopted and achieving intended goals are also assessed. The findings are synthesized to assess the contributions of campaigns and elections to the state of democracy in America. Prerequisites: POLS 104 and POLS 205 | ||
| POLS 309 | Environmental Policy | 4 | |
| Description of course Environmental Policy : | An examination of environmental policy outcomes generated by institutions and organizations, including legislation, court decisions and administrative decisions. Additional focus is on the nature of the decision-making process and those methods commonly used to assess public policy. Prerequisite: POLS 104 or permission of instructor | ||
| POLS 312 | Judicial Process | 4 | |
| Description of course Judicial Process : | This course delves into both criminal and civil judicial process, and also considers the politics of law and justice. Concepts relating to achieving legal justice are emphasized throughout this course. Additionally, many different players in the process, such as lawyers, judges, juries, and witnesses, and their influence on a case’s outcome, are considered. Prerequisite: POLS 104 or permission of the instructor. | ||
| POLS 313 | Constitutional Powers of Gov't | 4 | |
| Description of course Constitutional Powers of Gov't : | This course uses Supreme Court decisions primarily involving the first three articles of the Constitution to learn about the powers of both the federal and state governments in the United States. Questions of power, authority, and legitimacy are addressed throughout the course, both with respect to individual branches of government as well as interactions between the branches. Prerequisite: POLS 104 or permission of the instructor. Junior or senior standing strongly recommended. | ||
| POLS 314 | Constit Rights & Liberties | 4 | |
| Description of course Constit Rights & Liberties : | This course examines individual freedoms protected in the U.S. Constitution through the lens of Supreme Court precedent. While many political hot button issues are discussed throughout the semester, understanding and analysis of the varying interpretations of the Constitution and Supreme Court precedents are emphasized. Prerequisite: POLS 104 or permission of the instructor. Junior or senior standing strongly recommended. | ||
| POLS 320 | American Foreign Policy | 4 | |
| Description of course American Foreign Policy : | This course will examine both the history and politics of U.S. foreign policy. As the United States developed from a small post-colonial government to a world power, its foreign policy philosophies, goals, and behaviors changed markedly. By outlining important periods in U.S. history, then examining the role of certain political actors such as the President, Congress, the bureaucracy, and the American public, we can gain a better understanding of the forces that have shaped U.S. foreign policy in the past and will continue to shape it into the distant future. Prerequisite: POLS 225 or permission of the instructor. | ||
| POLS 321 | Comparative Foreign Policy | 4 | |
| Description of course Comparative Foreign Policy : | Examines the various theoretical approaches and frameworks that inform foreign policy decisions and behavior. Emphasis is placed upon the analysis of the domestic and external determinants of foreign policy in a comparative context. The theoretical approaches and frameworks are applied to the study of foreign policy of countries like Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, and South Africa. Prerequisites: POLS 225 or permission of the instructor. | ||
| POLS 326 | Intl Law & Organization | 4 | |
| Description of course Intl Law & Organization : | This course examines the ways in which state behavior is affected by international norms, international legal documents, and international organizations like the United Nations. It also looks closely at the ways in which states, individuals, and power relations shape the nature and objectives of international law and organizations. International law and organizations can be a force for good in the world; however, there is also the potential for “pathological behavior” to emerge in international organizations and their member states. This course aims to look beyond the simple explanations for IO pathologies and into the deeper causes and potential remedies for those pathologies. Prerequisite: POLS 225 or permission of the instructor. | ||
| POLS 328 | International Security | 4 | |
| Description of course International Security : | This course allows students to develop a deeper understanding of theories, cases and concepts in security studies. Students examine “traditional” security topics such as IR theory, regime security, and WMD technology/proliferation. Students will also examine a number of topics that have been added to this subfield in the post-Cold War era, including ethnic conflict, democratic peace theory, terrorism and human security. A better understanding of all of the topics included in security studies, both traditional and contemporary, will allow students to be better consumers of U.S. security policy and will set the stage for those students who choose to study national security at the graduate level. Prerequisite: POLS 225 or permission of the instructor. | ||
| POLS 350 | Comparative Politics of Europe | 4 | |
| Description of course Comparative Politics of Europe : | This course provides a deeper understanding of both the international relations and comparative politics aspects of politics in Europe. Topics include the evolution and role of the EU in European economics, governance, and reactions to crises. Additional topics focus on domestic politics and challenges faced by European states such as issues of national identity and discrimination, state “fragility” and persistent macroeconomic problems. Students will have ample opportunity to develop critical thinking skills, acquire the knowledge needed to be an informed consumer of news about Europe, and develop advanced theoretical and empirical knowledge that would prove useful for graduate-level study. Prerequisite: POLS 225 or permission of the instructor. | ||
| POLS 352 | Politics of Developing World | 4 | |
| Description of course Politics of Developing World : | A survey of the politics and economy of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Focuses on issues such as colonialism, democratization, human rights, gender, population, poverty, environment, political leadership, economic development and relations between developed and developing countries. Prerequisites: POLS 225 or permission of the instructor. | ||
| POLS 354 | Politics of Post-Soviet States | 4 | |
| Description of course Politics of Post-Soviet States : | This course provides an in-depth understanding of the dynamics of political change in general and of the history of the Soviet Union and the fifteen post-Soviet states. General topics include revolution, totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, and problems of democratic transition experienced by many states both in and outside of the post-Soviet space. These topics are illustrated with case studies from the former Soviet Union, including Russia, East European and Central Asian states. Prerequisite: POLS 225 or permission of the instructor. | ||
| POLS 356 | Pol: India, Pakistan, S. Asia | 4 | |
| Description of course Pol: India, Pakistan, S. Asia : | An examination of the politics, economy, and society of India, Pakistan, and other countries of South Asia, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Involves comparison between these countries utilizing themes such as political culture, political institutions, government structures and processes, political economy, and political development and transitions. Prerequisite: POLS 225 or permission of the instructor. | ||
| POLS 358 | Comp Pol of Asia: China India | 4 | |
| Description of course Comp Pol of Asia: China India : | This course examines the government, politics, economy, and international relations of three major Asian countries - China, India, and Japan. It will use a comparative approach to examine their history, political culture, political institutions, government structures and processes, political economy, political development and transitions, and international interactions. Prerequisites: POLS 225 or permission of the instructor | ||
| POLS 370 | Exploration in Poli Theory | 4 | |
| Description of course Exploration in Poli Theory : | POLS 370: Explorations in Political Theory This course explores the central role of political theory in determining the meaning of concepts such as democracy, citizenship, justice, power, equality, and identity. Themes and topics may vary. Emphasis on methods of analysis and critique, through the development of skills in reading, critical thinking, and writing. Prerequisite: POLS 104 | ||
| POLS 395 | Topics | 2 OR 4 | |
| Description of course Topics : | The subject matter of these courses will vary from year to year, but will not duplicate existing courses. Descriptions of these courses are available in the Searchable Class Schedule on Murphy Online, View Searchable Class Schedule | ||
| POLS 396 | Topics | 2 OR 4 | |
| Description of course Topics : | The subject matter of these courses will vary from year to year, but will not duplicate existing courses. Descriptions of these courses are available in the Searchable Class Schedule on Murphy Online, View Searchable Class Schedule | ||
| POLS 397 | Topics | 2 OR 4 | |
| Description of course Topics : | The subject matter of these courses will vary from year to year, but will not duplicate existing courses. Descriptions of these courses are available in the Searchable Class Schedule on Murphy Online, View Searchable Class Schedule | ||
| POLS 398 | Topics | 2 OR 4 | |
| Description of course Topics : | The subject matter of these courses will vary from year to year, but will not duplicate existing courses. Descriptions of these courses are available in the Searchable Class Schedule on Murphy Online, View Searchable Class Schedule | ||
| POLS 400 | Signature Work Capstone | 2 | |
| Description of course Signature Work Capstone : | This course is intended to give political science majors and those in related fields an opportunity to reflect and to look forward. A number of class sessions will be dedicated to particular subfields of political science. POLS faculty will discuss the opportunities and challenges in their respective subfields, and will provide you with opportunities to think critically about crucial, timely issues that those subfields are uniquely positioned to address today and into the future. Other sessions will provide you with guidance and time to work on an interdisciplinary portfolio of work and accompanying integrative essay reflecting on your liberal arts training at UST. Prerequisites: Completion of at least two 300-level POLS courses or permission of instructor and 80 completed credits. | ||
| POLS 404 | Seminar in American Politics | 4 | |
| Description of course Seminar in American Politics : | Seminars in political science provide an opportunity for students to synthesize and further develop knowledge gained in previous courses and enhance their critical and analytical skills. Students will engage in reading and discussion and undertake a major research project pertinent to the seminar's topic. Specific topics or themes of each seminar will vary. Seminars are offered in each of the sub-fields of the discipline. Prerequisite: Juniors and seniors may enroll in a seminar once they have completed at 300-level course within that subfield, or with permission of the instructor. | ||
| POLS 414 | Seminar in Judicial Politics | 4 | |
| Description of course Seminar in Judicial Politics : | Seminars in political science provide an opportunity for students to synthesize and further develop knowledge gained in previous courses and enhance their critical and analytical skills. Students will engage in reading and discussion and undertake a major research project pertinent to the seminar's topic. Specific topics or themes of each seminar will vary. Seminars are offered in each of the sub-fields of the discipline. Prerequisite: Juniors and seniors may enroll in a seminar once they have completed at 300-level course within that subfield, or with permission of the instructor. | ||
| POLS 424 | Seminar in Int'l Relations | 4 | |
| Description of course Seminar in Int'l Relations : | Seminars in political science provide an opportunity for students to synthesize and further develop knowledge gained in previous courses and enhance their critical and analytical skills. Students will engage in reading and discussion and undertake a major research project pertinent to the seminar's topic. Specific topics or themes of each seminar will vary. Seminars are offered in each of the sub-fields of the discipline. Prerequisite: Juniors and seniors may enroll in a seminar once they have completed at 300-level course within that subfield, or with permission of the instructor. | ||
| POLS 454 | Sem in Comparative Politics | 4 | |
| Description of course Sem in Comparative Politics : | Seminars in political science provide an opportunity for students to synthesize and further develop knowledge gained in previous courses and enhance their critical and analytical skills. Students will engage in reading and discussion and undertake a major research project pertinent to the seminar's topic. Specific topics or themes of each seminar will vary. Seminars are offered in each of the sub-fields of the discipline. Prerequisite: Juniors and seniors may enroll in a seminar once they have completed at 300-level course within that subfield, or with permission of the instructor. | ||
| POLS 495 | Individual Study | 2 OR 4 | |
| Description of course Individual Study : | No description is available. | ||