Political Science Course Descriptions

POL 149 American Political Systems 3 hours
General Education option. Prerequisites: None; Term: 1, 2, 3
Description, analysis, and explanation of the American political process will be developed through the study of interest groups, political parties, the court, the Executive Branch, and Congress; the potential power and effectiveness of the individual and the responsiveness of the governmental system will be studied.

POL 301 Public Administration 3 hours
General Education option. Prerequisites: None
Description, analysis, and application of the organizational dynamics of government. Emphasis will be placed on organizational behavior, the bureaucracy, public budgeting and finance, and personnel management.

POL 303 Political Reality and Public Policy 3 hours
General Education option. Prerequisites: SOC 201 and ECN 202 recommended;
Term: 1, 2
Systematic application of pertinent concepts and principles of political science to the public policy process. Examination of selected contemporary policy issues introduced in SOC 201 and ECN 202. Third course of the social science sequence. Writing intensive course.

POL 305 Introductory Statistics 4 hours
Prerequisites: MTH 100 or equivalent; Term: 1, 2, summer
Fundamental principles of descriptive and inferential statistics with applications to social sciences.

POL 306 Ethnic and Racial Diversity 3 hours
Prerequisites: Introduction to Sociology or SOC 201; Term: 1, 2
Analysis of the social, economic, and political aspects of racial/ethnic relations in the U.S. Effects of diversity on various racial and ethnic groups.

POL 307 Introduction to Ethnic and Cultural Studies 3 hours
This course will define race, ethnicity and culture, gender and enculturation. The student will learn the components of our social structure and the bias inherent in a socially stratified society where power and authority is vested in one dominant group. The use of stereotypes to reinforce the inferiority of minority groups will be explained. Race as a scientific concept will be a topic for discussion.

POL 308 Contemporary Indian Issues 3 hours
The course will look at issues affecting American Indians today; environmental, land, burial, sovereignty, and treaty rights issues will be analyzed and discussed.

POL 309 Ethnicity in Urban America 2 hours
Identifies and develops the concepts of urbanization and ethnicity within the context of American society as well as specific intergroup relations.

POL 310 Metro Detroit Through Three Centuries 3 hours
Prerequisites: ENG 108; HIS 252 or 253 recommended. Fee: yes
The history of Detroit and its metropolitan area from 1701 to the present.

POL 315 Third World Politics 3 hours
Prerequisites: One course in political science or social science
An analysis of 20th-century issues such as power and justice, elite and mass, the role of bureaucracy, and evolutionary and revolutionary change. Emphasis on Latin America, Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

POL 316 Liberalism, Communism and Fascism 3 hours
Prerequisite: ENG 108, HIS 256 recommended
The intellectual, political, and social origins and development of modern ideologies.

POL 318 Global Women’s Issues and Policies 3 hours
Term: 2
A survey course on the political and social status of women around the world; the course will involve cross-cultural comparisons.

POL 319 Sovereignty and U.S. Public Policy 3 hours
The status of Native American sovereignty and self-determination today; the impact of U.S. government on American Indians

POL 320 African-American Politics 3 hours
Historical and contemporary analysis of the origins, development, and currency of African-American politics, from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Emphasis will be placed on the sociopolitical behavior of the black electorate as well as the roles and behaviors of black candidates and officeholders in the United States.

POL 325 American Foreign Policy 3 hours
Prerequisites: ENG 108‚ introductory course in HIS or POL; Term: 2
Analysis and evaluation of the goals and instruments of U.S. foreign policy in the post World War period.

POL 330 Michigan: History and Politics 3 hours
Prerequisites: ENG 108‚ one previous course in social science; Term: 1;
Offered alternate years
Development of sub-federal political institutions: states, counties, municipal corporations, school districts, and regional governments. Emphasizing the Michigan experience, the political system will be experienced within the framework of major historical eras, population patterns, and economic developments.

POL 347 Methods of Teaching Political Science 2-3 hours
Prerequisites: Admission to teacher certification; permission of department and instructor Introduction to the theories, goals, and techniques of teaching Political Science at the secondary level.

POL 358 Law and Society 3 hours
Prerequisite: Introductory course in political science or social science; Term: 2
A study of American law as seen through the United States Constitution and interpreted by the federal and state court systems. Also a brief examination of the roots of American civil and criminal law.

POL 359 History of Civil Rights 3 hours
Prerequisites: ENG 108‚ HIS 253 recommended
This course focuses on one of the most crucial decades in American history: the Civil Rights Movement (1954-1965). Historical, political, social and religious aspects of the movement are examined in documentary material. The course considers events preceding and succeeding the Civil Rights Movement and discusses strategies to achieve social justice. The human effects of social change and the relationship between the black freedom movement and all Americans are explored.

POL 377 Transnational Politics 3 hours
General Education option. Prerequisites: None; Term: 1; Offered alternate years
Study and analysis of the foundations for world peace with justice. Exploration of alternative futures in several critical areas. Concepts include determinants of power in a multi-polar world, transnational organizations, nationalism, anti-nationalism and intervention, new forces in world politics, arms control and disarmament.

POL 385 Community and Organizational Change 3 hours
General Education option. Prerequisites: SOC 201 and ECN 202; Term: 1, 2
Analysis of communities and organizations as social systems, including examination of critical problems. Also examines intervention and change strategies that appear to be effective and how they can be applied. A service-learning component may be included.

POL 387 U.S., Chinese, Russian Relations 3 hours
Prerequisites: Introductory course in social science; Term: 2; Offered alternate years
Historic, cultural and geo-political determinants of U.S. positions on Chinese and Soviet foreign policy; the role of ideology; Soviet-American and Chinese-American relations; the role of the U.S., Soviet Union and China in the Third World.

POL 388 Cooperative Field Work Experience 2-6 hours
Prerequisite: Departmental approval; Term: 1, 2
Supervised work experience in activity related to area of specialization, planned in
consultation with advisor, co-op supervisor and employer. Recording, reporting, and evaluating of experience will be required.

POL 395 Comparative Politics 3 hours
General Education option. Prerequisites: Introductory course in political science; Term: 1; Offered alternate years
Study of issues in comparative politics with analysis of contemporary political systems in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

POL 400 Special Topics in Political Science 3 hours
Prerequisites: POL 149
Analysis of specific policies, institutions, and actors in domestic and international politics. Offered on a rotating basis according to special demands and needs of students.

POL 491 Independent Study 1-4 hours
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor; Term: 1, 2, summer
In-depth advanced research on student selected topic in consultation with faculty.

POL 496 Senior Seminar 3 hours
Prerequisites: Senior Standing; Political science major or permission of instructor
In-depth research of special topic or group topics.

POL 498 Field Work 2-6 hours
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor; Term: 1, 2, and 3
Practical application of theory and skills in a related urban work experience.