Politics and Government Requirements
Politics touches all our lives, hence the study of politics is of enduring importance. But to understand politics is no simple matter. Politics has been puzzling some of the best minds throughout history. The study of politics necessarily concerns not only how we live, but also how we ought to live. To understand politics, it is not enough to know current events in some detail; rather, it also is necessary to know the frameworks of value and action, past as well as present, which give current events their often contradictory meanings and which allow one to engage with current events in a deliberate and conscientious fashion. To understand politics, it is necessary to learn how to recognize phenomena in their political aspects and how to analyze their roots, their characteristics and connections, and their possible consequences. To understand politics, we thus are required to observe the present, to remember the past and to enter into conversation with those, living and dead, who have concerned themselves with the ways in which decisions affecting the direction and fate of societies have been explored, contested, determined, enforced, challenged and altered. Ideally, by the time they graduate, students who major in Politics and Government will have developed an understanding of the nature and significance of politics, some understanding of the problems which trouble their own and other societies, and some understanding as to how to engage with these problems with a sense of responsibility and efficacy qualified by an appreciation of human limits.
Communicating Plus: Politics and Government. Politics and Government majors address the four Communicating Plus skills areas - written and oral communication, problem-solving and critical thinking - throughout the major. Politics is about the search for answers to problems affecting society; thus, political science seeks to identify and propose solutions to these problems. In all Politics courses, the often volatile and emotional issues of political life are subjected to rigorous rational analysis - that is, critical thinking is applied to the “stuff” of politics. Because political effectiveness depends on the ability to communicate accurately and persuasively, written and oral communication are significant components of most departmental courses. The culmination of the program is a yearlong senior seminar, in which students identify, research and analyze a contemporary political problem and draft, revise, and publicly present and defend their conclusions. In this process, they utilize the Communicating Plus skills to demonstrate the knowledge they have gained throughout their study of politics and government.
Requirements for a major in politics and government: 110 and 220; five elective
courses meeting the following criteria: 1) at least four of the electives must be numbered 300 or higher; 2) up to two of the electives may be pre-approved courses in other departments or in off-campus programs such as the Washington Semester program; 3) at least two of the total of nine courses taken for the major must be primarily concerned with American politics and government; 4) at least two of the total of nine courses taken for the major must be primarily concerned with comparative or international politics. 501 and 502.
Requirements for a minor in politics and government: 110 and 220; three electives at the 300-level or above; 501.
Requirements for a teaching major in politics and government: Politics and Government 110, 160, 220, 270 or 280, 320, 381, 501-502; and History 401.
Requirements for a teaching minor in politics and government: Politics and Government 111, 160, 220, 270 or 280, 320; History 401; and other courses agreed upon by student and adviser to total 22 hours, excluding History 401.
Requirements for a minor in National Security Studies: 22 credits chosen from courses listed below (12 credits required, 2 credits of independent study and 8 credits elective). The 2 credits of independent study will be at the senior level in a topic in national security conducted in an appropriate department such as Politics and Government, Philosophy, Religion, History or Economics. Students electing a major in politics and government may count no more than eight credits hours from the Department of Politics and Government toward a national security studies minor.
Required Course for all: Politics and Government 343, U.S. National Security Policy, 4 credits
Required: 8 credits chosen from the following:
Politics and Government 381, United States Foreign Policy, 4 credits
Religion 322, Religion and Politics in Comparative Perspective, 4 credits
Politics and Government 385, Terrorism and Intelligence, 4 credits
Elective: 8 credits chosen from the following:
History 362, Modern Middle East, 4 credits
Anthropology 222, Anthropology and Contemporary Global Issues, 4 credits
Religion 383, Ethics in International Affairs, 4 credits
Politics and Government 380, Topics in International Politics/International Relations, 4 credits
History 351, World War I (additional offerings in history dealing with diplomacy, war and politics also will be considered).
Politics and Government 372. Development and Change in Latin America, 4 credits
Philosophy 353, Human Rights, 4 credits
Politics and Government 373, China in Transition, 4 credits
History 282, World History- 1500 to Present, 4 credits
Politics and Government 376, Politics of Contemporary Europe, 4 credits
Economics 481, International Economics, 4 credits
Economics 361/461 Development Economics, (choose one) 4 credits
Any two Military Science courses depending on offering with consent of the National
Security Studies Adviser and ROTC Commander as long as said courses were concerning military policy, history, organization or role. Examples of such courses are:
Military Science 304, Military History, 3 credits
Military Science 305, U.S. Army Campaign History, 3 credits
Or other courses related to National Security and Security studies
Requirements for broad field social studies: A teaching major in politics and government (minimum of 36 credits) plus 12 credits and eight credits in two of the following: history, anthropology, economics, psychology and/or sociology.
Requirements for broad field social studies certification: first, a student must have a teaching major in either Economics, History, Politics and Government, or Psychology. Second, a student must complete (earning a grade of C- or higher) two courses each in three social studies subjects other than the major. (One course
with significant content in Geography is recommended. See your adviser.) Third, a student must pass the Social Studies content exam to demonstrate proficiency in the Wisconsin Model Academic Standards. And, fourth, a student must pass a portfolio review in her/his content major and a review of the Model Standards in History 401 Social Studies Methods.
300- and 400-level courses typically are offered in alternate years.
Courses
110. Introduction to Politics (Colucci)
Four credits. An introduction to the study of political ideas, institutions and procedures. Provides the theoretical foundation for the discipline in the works of thinkers including Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Montesquieu, the American framers, Marx and Mill. Important contemporary applications of these ideas also are considered.
111. Global Political Culture (Farrell)
Four credits. Defines political culture and examines its dynamics at various levels in today’s world, from the local to the global. Specifically examines ways in which history, language, religion, literature, ethnicity and tradition affect identity-formation and its correlates in today’s world. Counts toward the Global and Cultural Studies requirement. Same as Global Studies 111.
112. Global Political Economy (Farrell)
Four credits. Defines political economy and examines its manifestations in today’s increasingly interdependent world. Specific issues include population, resources, environmental protection, trade and development, trends toward democratization, human rights, and new and enduring sources of conflict and cooperation. Same as Global Studies 112.
180. Survey of World Cinema (Farrell/Katahira)
Two credits. An introduction to contemporary trends in international feature films. The craft of film criticism also will be studied and practiced. Requirements include viewing all films in the International Film Series, attending weekly 50-minute discussion sessions and writing a critique of each film. May be repeated for credit. Counts toward the Global and Cultural Studies requirement. Same as Global Studies 180.
220. American Politics and Government (Colucci/Farrell)
Four credits. Examines the theoretical and empirical operations of American politics and government today. Primary emphasis is placed on national government, with some attention devoted to state and local issues.
280. Introduction to International Relations (Colucci)
Four credits. Examination of the problems, theories and methods of international politics. The course explores various ways of understanding the interactions among nation-states and other trans-national interactions. Both the interpretation of historical and philosophical/theoretical accounts and the computer analysis of quantitative data will be featured.
312. Introduction to Law (Sorenson)
Four credits. Examines the role of legal institutions in contemporary society. Topics include private law, criminal law and social deviance, civil rights and liberties, and theories of justice.
320. Topics in American Politics (Schubert)
Four credits. Special subjects in American politics not covered by regular courses. Topics are announced as courses are offered. This course may be repeated for credit when topics change. Prerequisite: Politics and Government 220 or consent of the instructor.
331. American Political Thought (Colucci)
Four credits. Historical and contemporary meanings of democracy, its assumptions and implications; tensions between theory and practice, majority rule and minority rights, civil disobedience, economic-political democracy, institutionalization of democratic procedures and the future of democracy. Prerequisite: Politics and Government 110 or 220, or consent of the instructor.
341. Public Policy Analysis (Colucci)
Four credits. Students are challenged to use various critical-thinking tools and skills to understand and evaluate specific public policies in American governments. This course focuses on what public policies governments pursue, why governments pursue the policies they do and what the consequences of these policies are. Prerequisite: Politics and Government 220 or consent of the instructor.
343. U.S. National Security Policy (Colucci)
Four credits. Provides an overview of U.S. national security policy, with special attention to the sources of threats to U.S. national security, approaches to national security strategy, the role of conventional military force and nuclear weapons and actors in the policy-making process. In addition, we will investigate several current debates affecting national security policy making in the United States. Prerequisite: Politics and Government 280 or consent of the instructor.
370. Topics in Comparative Politics (Staff)
Four credits. Exploration and analysis of problems of contemporary concern in comparative politics. Students may repeat the course for credit when topics change. Some topics may count toward the Global and Cultural Studies requirement.
372. Development and Change in Latin America (Farrell)
Four credits. Individual countries considered as examples to illustrate or contradict overall patterns of politics and government in Latin America. The course stresses the influence of particular forms of political development, foreign economic dependence, frequent military interventions and a revolutionary heritage. Student politics and inter-American relations also are considered. Counts toward the Global and Cultural Studies requirement.
373. China in Transition (Farrell)
Four credits. Not offered 2007-08. Begins with analysis of the traditional Chinese system and its breakdown, leading to four decades of political strife and the victory of the Communist party in 1949. The bulk of the course examines politics since the death of Mao, with specific reference to the contradictions between economic reform and political stagnation. Concludes with an assessment of the prospects for a democratic transition in the 1990s. Counts toward the Global and Cultural Studies requirement.
375. Religion and Politics in Comparative Perspective (Smith)
Four credits. Offered in spring 2008 and alternate years. An analysis of the interaction between religious beliefs and practices (Christian, Islamic, Hindu), with political dynamics in various countries in the 20th century. Regional areas will include Central and South America, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Southern Asia and the United States. Same as Religion 322. Prerequisite: Politics and Government 280 or Religion 221.
376. Politics of Contemporary Europe (Farrell)
Four credits. Examination of the governments and politics of Europe today. Domestic issues and trends are linked to regional and global developments, especially in the post-Cold War context. Trans-national institutions such as the European Union are examined with respect to Europe’s providing an alternative to Pax Americana. Counts toward the Global and Cultural Studies requirement.
380. Topics in International Politics (Staff)
Four credits. Exploration and analysis of problems of contemporary concern in international politics. Special emphasis on how to go about conducting research and writing a research paper in international politics. Students may take the course for credit when topics change. Counts toward the Global and Cultural Studies requirement
381. United States Foreign Policy (Colucci)
Four credits. United States foreign policy-making and policy in the aftermath of the Cold War and in historical perspective, including topical, regional and global problems.
383. Ethics and International Affairs (Smith)
Four credits. The central question addressed in this course is whether or not ethically motivated action in international affairs is possible. Do the absence of global consensus on moral values and the lack of a world government to impose sanctions mean that nations and trans-national organizations will engage in pursuit of political and economic interests without ethical restraints? The first part of the course will deal with contrasting arguments by political theorists on the role of morality in international relations. The second part focuses on specific issues in contemporary international relations that have moral implications - 1) new forms of international warfare; 2) international intervention inside nation states to stop genocide; 3) the protection of human rights; 4) the legitimacy of international tribunals to punish crimes against humanity; and 5) economic justice for developing countries. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing, and Politics and Government 111, 112 or 280. Same as Religion 321.
385. Terrorism and Intelligence (Colucci)
Four credits. Focuses on the misunderstood topic of terrorism and the neglected area of intelligence. The first half of the course deals with the issue of terrorism. This section identifies the fundamental
and underlying reasons why America is a target for terrorists as it compares and contrasts various international terrorist groups and their respective ideologies. The second section will deal with intelligence, exploring the organization and functions of the U.S. Intelligence Community, its interaction with national security policy makers, key issues about its workings and the challenges it faces in defining its future role. Prerequisite: Politics and Government 280 or consent of the instructor.
390. Politics of World Cinema (Farrell)
Four credits. Weekly screenings of contemporary international films are supplemented with four hours of classroom time devoted to lectures, discussions, readings, independent research and screenings
of classic international films. The course provides an introduction to film history and to the major approaches to film theory and criticism, with special emphasis on the political aspects of film production, distribution and interpretation. Students produce weekly film critiques after consulting professional film criticism. A major independent research project also is required. Same as Global Studies 321. Counts toward the Global and Cultural Studies requirement.
412. Constitutional Law I: Landmark Decisions (Schubert/Sorenson)
Four credits. An introduction to the United States Constitution and issues of federal constitutional law as developed in landmark Supreme Court decisions. Major topics will be judicial review; the scope of federal legislative and presidential powers under the Constitution; and the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. Focus also will be placed on current cases and controversies before the Supreme Court. Prerequisite: Politics and Government 220 or Politics and Government 312 or consent of instructor.
413. Constitutional Law II: The Bill of Rights (Schubert)
Four credits. An examination of constitution law focusing on the Bill of Rights and its interpretation as reflected in landmark decisions. Strong emphasis will be placed on the study of the freedoms contained in the First Amendment and their development throughout United States history. Significant attention will be devoted to current civil liberties cases and controversies. Prerequisite: Politics and Government 220 or 312, or consent of instructor.
501-502. Senior Seminar (Farrell)
Three credits. Discussion of and research into selected topics. In the fall semester, in addition to general readings, students prepare a complete final draft of a senior essay, of 25-30 pages, on a topic chosen by themselves in consultation with their thesis supervisor. In the spring semester, students revise their essays into final form and present the results of their research. Required of all majors in their final year. Those on the Washington Semester or, with departmental permission,
on other off-campus programs during the first semester of their final year, may present a paper incorporating substantial independent research undertaken in connection with the off-campus program as their senior essay draft, but they remain responsible for the fulfillment of the second-semester requirements.
541, 542. Independent Study (Staff)
Two to four credits each semester. Supervised investigation of problems in politics and government of special interest to the student. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing, consent of the supervising faculty member and the chair, and 12 credits toward the major including Politics and Government 130, 160 and whichever of 220, 270 or 280 is most appropriate to the proposed project.
551, 552. Independent Study: Internship (Staff)
Two to four credits. Supervised field study involving participant observation of day-to-day work in a politically relevant office or agency. A brief paper which explains and analyzes the work experience will be required. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing, consent of the supervising faculty member and the chair, and 12 credits toward the major including Politics and Government 130, 160 and whichever of 220, 270 or 280 is most appropriate to the proposed project. Grading is S-U.
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