PS 300

Spring 2011 All Classes

All Classes

Special Topics

Course in Catalog

List of Terms offered

Credit: 3 hours.

Selected readings and research in political science. See Class Schedule for current topics.

May not be repeated. Prerequisite: Six hours of political science, or consent of instructor.

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PS 300 class schedule data for spring 2011
CRN	Type	Section	Time	Day	Location	Instructor	Section Details
54779	Lecture-Discussion	A	5:00PM -7:30PM	MW	429 Armory	Sin, G	Part of Term: B Date Range: 03/14/11-05/04/11 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: Politics of Organizations Section Info: SECOND EIGHT WEEKS CLASS. This course is an introduction to the study of public organizations, with a focus on formal political organizations including parties, legislatures, and bureaucracies. It offers an in depth analysis of two of the main problems confronted by organizations: collective action problems and delegation problems. Students will acquire an understanding of these problems as well as different ways in which they can be addressed. A strong emphasis is also placed on developing the analytical skills necessary for informed analysis of political interactions involving formal organizations. The most prominent characteristic that organizations have in common is the delegation of authority from the individuals to whom power to take action was originally endowed, the principal, to one or more agents. In effect, delegation is key to overcome the problems of collective action. Throughout the development of the course, we will answer questions like (1) Can we assume that subordinates do what's in the superior's best interests? Why? Why not? (2) Is the structure of an organization important? (3) What does the structure of an organization reflect? Not intended for students with Freshman class standing. Students may receive only three hours of credit for PS 300. Restriction(s): Not intended for students with Freshman class standing.
54780	Lecture-Discussion	B	11:00AM -12:20PM	TR	126 Wohlers Hall	Malekafzali, F	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/18/11-05/04/11 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: Human Rights Section Info: This course will be an exploration of the meaning, basis, historical roots, and practical significance of human rights, with special attention given to the questions of the universality of human rights. The course is divided into four parts: Part one sets up the context and the background within which the role of human rights in international relations must be understood. Part two examines and compares human rights in contemporary Global North and Global South with special focus on the relationship between poverty and democracy. Part three will deal with war crimes and crimes against humanity. The meaning of aggressive war and ethnic cleansing will be analyzed in depth and the importance of the International Criminal Court is examined. In part four the course will deal with rights of people under military occupation and the responsibilities of the occupying power under international law. Specific cases will be used to better understand the significance of these four areas of inquiry. These include South Africa, Yugoslavia, Rwanda, the Palestinian territories, Chile, Iran, EU, and the United States.Not intended for students with Freshman class standing. Students may receive only three hours of credit for PS 300. Restriction(s): Not intended for students with Freshman class standing.
55118	Lecture-Discussion	CH	11:00AM -12:20PM	TR	1310 Digital Computer Laboratory	Cho, W	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/18/11-05/04/11 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: Law&Representation Section Info: This course will cover various legal issues related to public policy generally and to electoral representation specifically. We will begin by discussing Constitutional Law, with a focus on equal protection rights. We will then move to the right to vote and examine our equal protection rights in the political realm where we will cover topics such as gerrymandering, the Voting Rights Act, majority minority districts, and vote counting. Not intended for students with freshman standing. Students may receive only three credit hours for PS 300. Restriction(s): Not intended for students with Freshman class standing.
55049	Lecture-Discussion	D	9:30AM -10:50AM	TR	204 Transportation Building	Wong, C	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/18/11-05/04/11 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: Immigration Section Info: This course examines the conceptual issues associated with citizenship and immigration, considering current political debates from a variety of perspectives, empirical, historical, and normative. The majority of the course will focus on the United States, but we will also examine the immigration and citizenship practices of other nations as well. Among the topics to be considered include why people migrate; consequences of migration; efforts to integrate immigrants? socially, culturally, and politically? into their host societies; public opinion about immigration and immigrants; various citizenship traditions and rationales; membership, belonging, and national identity; and postnational citizenship. Not intended for students with Freshman class standing. Students may not receive more than three hours of credit for PS 300. This special topics course lies within the Comparative Politics subfield. Restriction(s): Not intended for students with Freshman class standing.
55173	Lecture-Discussion	H	3:30PM -4:50PM	MW	134 Armory	Hastings, L	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/18/11-05/04/11 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: Intl Org & Regionalism Section Info: Since the post-war period, regional economic institutions such as the European Union, the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement and the Organization of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation have become increasingly important as international players. Will their presence erode the multilateral system, promoting protectionism and conflict, or will regional institutions foster openness and bolster international cooperation? This course explores the political underpinnings of regionalism. Not intended for students with Freshman class standing. Students may receive only three hours of credit for PS 300. Restriction(s): Not intended for students with Freshman class standing.
55121	Lecture-Discussion	TD	2:00PM -3:20PM	TR	30 Wohlers Hall	Dragu, T	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/18/11-05/04/11 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: Law and Politics Section Info: The course consists of two parts. In the first part, we will survey the basic historical developments of the Western legal systems (from pre-Roman legal systems through the legal Renaissance, and Legal Humanism), looking in particular at issues of rights and the relation between government and citizens. In the second part, we will explore the processes of constitution-making and implementation as well as the scope of protection afforded to fundamental rights in contemporary societies. We will look at the political aims of constitutions, the ways in which they are enforced, and the political factors involved in the judicial interpretation of constitutions. Not intended for freshman. Students may receive only three hours of credit for PS 300. Restriction(s): Not intended for students with Freshman class standing.
55119	Lecture-Discussion	TR	5:00PM -7:40PM	TR	123 David Kinley Hall	Dragu, T	Part of Term: B Date Range: 03/14/11-05/04/11 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: Analytical Politics Section Info: SECOND EIGHT WEEKS CLASS. Topic: Analytical Politics. This course introduces the basic concepts of game theory and their application to matters of political importance. The underlying theme of the course is that politics may be described and understood in terms of rational, goal-seeking behavior by individuals in various institutional contexts. The main emphasis is on analyzing political events and phenomena, not judging them. In this course we develop theoretical tools to analyze the following topics: reasons for the existence of government, the collective pursuit of common goals, policy-making in legislatures, reasons for political conflict and war, and reasons for human destruction of environmental resources. Not intended for freshman. Students may receive only three hours of credit for PS 300. Meets 14-Mar-11 to 04-May-11. Restriction(s): Not intended for students with Freshman class standing.
55783	Lecture-Discussion	W	2:00PM -3:20PM	TR	136 Burrill Hall	Weir, B	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/18/11-05/04/11 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: Terrorism