J. E. Anderson, A.Astorino-Courtois, J. A.
Baer, J. R. Bond, V. Danilovic, W. A. Dixon, J. A. Dyer, G. C.
Edwards III, E. H. Ellis, M. C. Escobar-Lemmon, R. B.Flemming,
N. Geva, G. M. Halter, R. E. Harmel, C. F. Hermann, K.Q.Hill,
M. Hoddie, P. A. Hurley (Head), C. A. Johnson, W. Jones, Jr.,
J. E. Leighley, N. R. Luttbeg, K. J. Meier, A. Mintz, C. J. Nederman*,
A. C. Pacek, D. A. M. Peterson, E. B.Portis, M. F. Rice, J. D.
Robertson, J. R. Rogers, C. L. Silva, C. M. Sprecher, M. M. Taylor-Robinson,
H. J. Tucker, P. P. Van Riper, A. Vedlitz, W. F. West, G. D.
Whitten, C. W. Wiggins, B. D. Wood
* Graduate Advisor
The Department of Political Science
offers graduate study leading to the degrees of the Doctor
of Philosophy and Master of Arts. The Doctor of Philosophy
degree is appropriate for those who wish to pursue careers
as research scholars in institutions of higher education. The
Master of Arts curriculum is appropriate as preparation for
more advanced work in political science.
Students in the PhD program choose
a major and minor field from five areas of specialization:
American politics, comparative politics, international relations,
political theory and public administration/public policy. Students
also select a topical field which may be either interdisciplinary
in nature or related to their major field of interest. All
students are required to complete a common core of methodological
courses.
Requirements for an MA in political
science may be satisfied by completing one of two options.
Option I--the thesis plan--requires a minimum of 30 semester
hours of credit, no more than 6 of which may be for thesis
research (POLS691); a final oral examination is required unless
the student has a 3.5 average or better. Option II--the non-thesis
plan--requires at least 36 semester hours of course work, 24
of which must be in political science plus a minimum of 6 hours
in a supporting field; a comprehensive examination is mandatory.
For both degrees, specific program
formulation is the responsibility of the student, his or her
graduate committee and the graduate advisor. Required methods
courses for the PhD and MA in political science include POLS601
and POLS602. This sequence presumes familiarity with quantitative
research methods in social science. Students without such preparation
may be required to take prerequisite work in quantitative methods
during their first semester of study in the program.
Organizations Affiliated with the
Political Science Program
Four academic areas within the Department
of Political Science provide opportunities for graduate students
to do research in political theory, American politics, cross-national
politics and foreign policy.
Political Theory Convocation. The
convocation provides a forum for critical discussion among
faculty and graduate students with research interests in political
theory. Convocation frequently hosts visiting scholars from
other universities and sponsors an annual conference focused
upon the field of political theory within the discipline of
political science. The coordinator of Convocation is Professor
Edward B. Portis.
The Program in American Politics.
The program supports the intellectual community of scholars
and students interested in American politics. It sponsors faculty
and graduate student research and state-of-the-art conferences
on current debates in American politics.The director of the
Program is Professor James Rogers.
The Program in the Cross-National
Study of Politics. The program supports and promotes cross-national
research and activities of the comparative politics faculty
and students by providing support for conferences and workshops;
acquiring and archiving relevant data sets; establishing and
maintaining a working papers series; and inviting scholars
to conferences and workshops. The director of the program is
Professor Robert Harmel.
The Program in Foreign Policy Decision
Making. The program seeks to promote academic research in the
field of international relations, foreign and security policy,
and international conflict resolution. The program sponsors
interdisciplinary research workshops, colloquia, conferences
and international activities. The director of the program is
Professor Alex Mintz.
Prospective students uncertain as
to prerequisites or opportunities are encouraged to correspond
with the graduate advisor before starting the admissions process.
(POLS)
601. Components of Political
Inquiry. (3-0). Credit 3.
The elements of empirical research
design, techniques of data collection and data analysis.
The evolution of political science as a scientific discipline.
Required for political science majors. Prerequisite: Completion
of or concurrent enrollment in STAT 303 or equivalent.
602. Quantitative Political
Analysis. (3-0). Credit 3.
Theory, techniques and applications
of quantitative analysis in political science. Required for
political science majors. Prerequisite: POLS 601 or equivalent.
603. Quantitative Political
Analysis II. (2-2). Credit 3.
Introduction to advanced applications
of quantitative analysis in political science; critical evaluation
of the use of several advanced statistical techniques in
political analysis. Prerequisite: POLS 602 or equivalent.
604. Conceptualization and
Theory in Political Analysis. (3-0). Credit 3.
Exploration of the function
of general theoretical assumptions in social scientific research
and a critical analysis of some of the most influential general
conceptualizations of political phenomena. Prerequisite:
POLS 601 or equivalent.
606. Advanced Research Methods
for Political Scientists. (3-0). Credit 3.
Advanced techniques for specialized
problems in empirical political analysis, including voter
choice models, longitudinal data, elite interviewing, problems
of formal theory and others. May be taken three times. Prerequisites:
POLS 601 and 602 or equivalents.
620. Comparative Political
Systems. (3-0). Credit 3.
Comparative study of national
political systems; cross-national relationships and comparative
analysis.
623. Seminar in Cross-National
Topics. (3-0). Credit 3.
Cross-cultural investigation
of the manner in which selected political processes manifest
themselves in various political systems. May be taken for
credit up to three times as content varies.
624. Seminar in Regional
Studies. (3-0). Credit 3.
Political behavior or institutions
within a specified country, region or cultural area. May
be taken for credit up to three times as content varies.
630. International Politics.
(3-0). Credit 3.
Survey of international politics;
security politics, the development of nations, international
law, organization and integration.
632. Theory and Method in
International Relations. (3-0). Credit 3.
Theory, techniques and applications
of quantitative analysis in international relations. Prerequisites:
POLS 602 and 630 or approval of instructor.
633. Seminar in Foreign
and Security Policy. (3-0). Credit 3.
Selected aspects of the formation
and conduct of foreign and defense policy. May be taken for
credit up to three times as content varies.
641. Seminar in Public Administration.
(3-0). Credit 3.
Literature and research problems
of a selected aspect of public administration. May be taken
three times.
642. Seminar in Public Policy.
(3-0). Credit 3.
Literature and research problems
of a selected aspect of public policy. May be taken three
times.
643. Theory and Practice
of Public Administration. (3-0). Credit 3.
Theory, process and structure
of management in the public sector. Internal management and
behavior in federal, state or local agencies in a political
setting.
645. Politics, Policy and
Administration. (3-0). Credit 3.
Relationship
of politics and administration with reference to the influence
of administration and bureaucracy, legislative bodies,
parties, interest groups and other forces in the formation
and execution of public policy in various levels of, primarily,
American government.
646. Public Policy Theory.
(3-0). Credit 3.
Major theories and classifications
of public policies, and general explanations of policy formation
and impact; recent research testing major theories.
650. Normative Political
Theory. (3-0). Credit 3.
Examination of the most influential
approaches, concepts and political arguments of classical
and contemporary political theory.
654. Seminar in Theories
of Political Legitimacy, Order and Obligation. (3-0). Credit
3.
Intensive examination of contending
theories of political authority, obligation and justice.
May be taken up to three times for credit as content varies.
Prerequisites: Graduate classification and approval of instructor.
670. American Political
Institutions. (3-0). Credit 3.
Explores the major issues and
controversies in the study of American political institutions;
topics include executive, legislative and judicial branches
of government, as well as formal organizations such as parties
and interest groups. May be taken for credit up to three
times as content varies.
671. American Political
Behavior. (3-0). Credit 3.
An introduction to core theories
and controversies about American mass political behavior;
topics include public opinion, political culture, political
socialization, party identification and political participation.
May be taken for credit up to three times as content varies.
672. Seminar in American
Political Institutions. (3-0). Credit 3.
Relevant literature and research
problems of selected aspects of American political institutions
at the national level; emphasis on original student research.
May be taken for credit up to three times as content varies.
Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.
675. Seminar in American
Political Processes and Behavior. (3-0). Credit 3.
Relevant literature and research
problems of selected aspects of mass political behavior in
the United States; emphasis on original student research.
May be taken for credit up to three times as content varies.
Prerequisites: Approval of instructor.
681. Seminar. (1-0). Credit
1.
Topics of interest to political
scientists with emphasis on professional norms, opportunities
and teaching strategies. Prerequisite: Approval of graduate
advisor.
685. Directed Studies. Credit
1 to 6 each semester.
Individual instruction in selected
fields of political science. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.
689. Special Topics in...
Credit 1 to 4.
Selected topics in an identified
area of political science or public policy. May be repeated
for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.
691. Research. Credit 1
or more each semester.
Thesis research. Credit will
be given only upon acceptance of completed thesis. Prerequisite:
Approval of graduate advisor.
