Political Science (PSC)
PSC 100 Current Issues in Politics Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall.
Course Description: The course will explore current issues in a broad context, with an emphasis on actors, institutions/organizations, and processes that shape them, and consider the context of each issue, along with the connections between and across many of these issues. Possible policy solutions will be explored, along with a consideration of the role that government and politics have in shaping and addressing the challenges of these issues.
PSC 101 American National Government Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
Course Description: The American constitutional system, including Congress, the presidency, and the courts; and public issues.
CORE 42: MOTR POSC 101; American Government (attribute MO12)
PSC 110 American State and Local Government Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall (odd-numbered years).
Course Description: Colonial and revolutionary origins of state government; state constitutions; referendum, initiative, and recall procedures; state legislatures; governors; state courts; county and municipal governments. Prerequisite(s): PSC 101.
PSC 111 Understanding the Missouri Constitution Credits: 1
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
Course Description: This course provides students with an overview of the Missouri Constitution. Includes examinations of federalism, the Missouri Constitution's historical development, key constitutional structures, and the Missouri Bill of Rights. This course is designed for college students transferring to Missouri Western to complete the state-mandated graduation requirement for knowledge of the Missouri Constitution. Prerequisite(s): Department Approval.
PSC 200 International Politics Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall (even-numbered years).
Course Description: The nature of politics at the international level; the national state system and state capabilities; foreign policy objectives, formulation, and execution; international organizations and alignments; contemporary world tensions.
CORE 42: MOTR POSC 201; International Relations (attribute MO11)
PSC 210 Comparative Political Systems Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring (odd-numbered years).
Course Description: Structural-functional analysis of major European political systems; comparison and contrast among such systems and with others of contemporary significance.
CORE 42: MOTR POSC 202; Introduction to Comparative Politics (attribute MO11)
PSC 280 Scope and Methods Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring (even-numbered years).
Course Description: The way political scientists work; the scientific basis for the discipline of government; the history, approaches, and major sub-fields of government and the quantitative and qualitative research methods used to analyze politics. Prerequisite(s): MAT 111 or MAT 111E.
PSC 283 Introduction to Research Methods in Government Credits: 1-2
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Introduction to basic research methods in political science. Individual and team projects involving methods for solving government-related research problems. Prerequisite(s): Departmental approval.
PSC 300 Voters and Elections Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Evolution of the American two-party system; place of the interest group in decision making through interaction with executive and legislative branches. Prerequisite(s): PSC 101 and PSC 110.
PSC 310 Political Theory Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Political theories of classical thinkers, Plato and Aristotle; of church fathers, Augustine and Aquinas; and of modern theorists, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Mill; Marxism and Fascism. Same as PHL 310. Prerequisite(s): PSC 101 or any previous course in philosophy or humanities.
PSC 312 Contemporary Political Philosophy Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Political theories since the mid-twentieth century to the present including movements such as libertarianism, neo-conservatism, neo-liberalism, communitarianism, feminism, and environmentalism. Same as PHL 312. Prerequisite(s): PSC 101 or any previous course in philosophy or humanities.
PSC 314 Technology and Society Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Participatory course emphasizing a particular problem and/or issue related to technology and society. Class participants will investigate the semester's theme using currently available technologies. Same as BIO 314, ENG 314, HUM 314, PSY 314.
PSC 317 Gender and Politics Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: This course offers an introduction to feminist analysis and to the consideration of the gender system in a political context and from a political perspective. It invites participants to both read and carry out empirical research and consider the insights and contributions of various paradigms, especially intersectionality.
PSC 320 Public Administration Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Organization theory; bureaucracy; public personnel and policy; issues in American public administration. Prerequisite(s): PSC 101.
PSC 327 Origins of the American Tradition Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: At the intersection of political theory and American politics, this course resembles American Studies in its slightly interdisciplinary focus. It relies on the analysis of early American texts to tease out the lineage of some current political tendencies. It offers useful critical insights to students of American politics, American history, and American society at large. Prerequisite(s): PSC 101
PSC 330 The Politics of the New American City Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: The growth of cities and metropolitan areas; the legal status of local governmental entities; politics and elections and the role of interest groups in governing the metropolis; and the functions and services of urban governments. Prerequisite(s): PSC 101.
PSC 335 Film and Politics Credits: 4
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: An exploration of the connections between the main themes in American political culture and the artifacts of American popular culture. Emphasis on the reading of films as texts of American politics and culture.
PSC 340 Latin American Political Systems Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Comparative approach to Latin American political institutions; investigates causes for political instability, revolution, the new military, socialism vs. communism, and economic development and U.S. policy. Prerequisite(s): PSC 101 and either PSC 200 or PSC 210.
PSC 350 Judicial Process Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: An exploration of the judicial process in the United States, including the institutions and considerations that affect the administration of justice under law in the American political system. Prerequisite(s): PSC 101 and PSC 110.
PSC 355 Interest Group Politics Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: An examination of interest groups and the interest group process in the U.S., both in national and state arenas. Attention is given to the role and function of interest groups in society, the interest group process itself, problems, and the use of case studies to illustrate the process in action. Prerequisite(s): PSC 101.
PSC 360 The American Presidency Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: The place of the president in decision making in the American federal system, constitutional roles, the legal and extra-legal checks on presidential power. Prerequisite(s): PSC 101.
PSC 365 Selected Topics in Peace and Conflict Studies Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Specialized course work in interpersonal and/or international conflict studies. May be repeated as content varies for a maximum of 9 credits.
PSC 370 American Public Policy Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: A survey of the policy process and specific policies or issues in government selected from a variety of areas, such as crime and punishment, health and welfare, bioethic, education, energy, environment, spending, taxation, civil liberties, immigration, and homeland security. Prerequisite(s): PSC 101.
PSC 374 Exploring War and Peace in the Modern World Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: This class provides an interdisciplinary survey of the root causes of conflicts and methods by which societies can build peace. There is a specific emphasis on the multiple meanings of peace in society and the challenges embedded in contemporary, applied peace-making. Same as PAX 374.
PSC 375 Seminar on Terrorism and Homeland Security Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: This class is a survey of domestic and international terrorism focusing on major terrorist groups and their actions throughout the world. Root causes of terrorism will be examined and domestic and international reactions to terrorism will be explained and evaluated. There is a special emphasis in this class on the U.S. Homeland Security response to terrorism. Prerequisite(s): PSC 101.
PSC 380 Asian Politics Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Comparative approach to Asian politics and culture. This course pays special attention to Japanese governance, culture and leadership as well as emerging governments and economies in Southeast Asia. Relations with the United States are also examined. Prerequisite(s): PSC 101.
PSC 390 International Organizations Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: An examination of the role of international organizations in constituting and reconstituting world order with a focus on providing governance under conditions or anarchy. Covers a range of organizations with special attention given to the role of the United Nations in maintaining international peace and stability.
PSC 400 American Foreign Policy Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Policy making, the role of the public in decisions, formulation and implementation of national policy, U.S. policy goals in various areas of the world, decision making in crisis situations. Prerequisite(s): PSC 101 and PSC 200.
PSC 410 Congressional Politics and Process Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: An examination of the American Congress including its organizations, rules, the legislative process, and oversight. Additional topics such as the role of interest groups, and its intersection with American political institutions. Prerequisite(s): PSC 101.
PSC 420 Law and Politics Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: An examination of the intersection of law with American politics with an emphasis on the Constitution as a living document, the evolution of judicial review, theories and process of constitutional interpretation and legal decision making, and specific analysis of Supreme Court decisions in crucial subject areas of American politics. Prerequisite(s): PSC 101.
PSC 426 Peace and Justice in Post-Conflict Societies Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: This course addresses issues of building peace in war-torn societies by focusing on a range of political, military, economic, and social challenges and how they intersect with institutions of the state. Emphasis on four separate sectors around which institutionalizing peace are organized: security, justice and reconciliation, governance and participation, and social and economic issues. Special attention is given to connecting the theoretical literature on conflict transition to the applied challenges of post-war societies. Course content is equivalent to PAX 426. Prerequisite(s): PSC 101 and PSC 200.
PSC 450 Independent Research/Project Credits: 1-5
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Investigation of a research problem, project, or topic on an individual conference basis. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s): A minimum of 2.5 GPA and departmental approval.
PSC 490 Capstone Practicum in Political Science Credits: 3-12
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
Course Description: An integrative, research-based capstone experience for senior political science majors. Students arrange an internship with a public agency, governmental organization, or private group or agency that interacts with government subject to the approval of the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities via its political science faculty. The field work will provide first-hand experience with the operations, institutions, and policy concerns of cooperating agencies, organizations, and groups in addition to providing data necessary to complete the original research component of the practicum. Student internship positions in a state or local government setting require PSC 110. Internships must be arranged and approved by the department in the semester preceding the internship. Supervised internships are not offered during summer session. For more details contact the Coordinator of the Internship Practicum in the SSH department. Prerequisite(s): Senior standing and PSC 280.
PSC 491 Political Science Capstone I Credits: 2
Typically Offered: Fall.
Course Description: This course serves to connect students' experiences in their studies to conceptualizing a research project. Each student will design their own original research. Prerequisite(s): Grades of C or better in the following courses: PSC 101, PSC 110, PSC 200, PSC 210, PSC 280, PSC 310.
PSC 492 Political Science Capstone II Credits: 1
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: This course is the culmination of the independent, original research project students begin in PSC 491. After completing the research project, students are required to go through an oral defense of their work. Oral defenses for PSC 492 are public and open to faculty and students in SSH and other cognate disciplines. Prerequisite(s): PSC 491.
PSC 493 Applied Learning Experience Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
Course Description: This course offers an applied learning experience in public service. Students arrange an applied learning experience with a public agency, governmental organization, or non-profit that interacts with government subject to the approval of the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities via its Applied Learning Director. The field work will provide first-hand experience with the operations, institutions, and policy concerns of cooperating agencies, organizations and groups. Applied learning experiences must be arranged with and approved by the Applied Learning Director in the semester preceding the internship. For more details contact the Director of the Public Service Applied Learning Experience in the SSH department. Prerequisite(s): Junior Standing; PSC 110: State and Local Government