POLITICAL SCIENCE - COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Listed here are the courses offered and a brief description.
POLS 1010 - American Government
(3) Credit Hours
The foundations, institutions, processes and policies of American national government with attention to the Constitution and such topics as elections, political and civil rights and liberties, federalism, public policy, public opinion, political culture, interest groups, and the role of citizens in governance. Every semester.
POLS 1020 - World Politics
(3) Credit Hours
The evolution, nature, and operation of the contemporary world political system with attention to the behavior of states, the impact of ideology, culture, and domestic politics on foreign policy, the behavior of transnational political and economic actors, the effects of international competition, and the impact of international institutions on promoting cooperation. Every semester.
POLS 1030 - Controversies in Public Policy
(3) Credit Hours
Contemporary policy issues in American politics with attention to current problems, proposed solutions, and competing viewpoints.
POLS 1040 - Politics, Culture and Society: Non-Western Views
(3) Credit Hours
A study of culture, politics, and society in the non-western world with emphasis on significant intellectual contributions, modes of inquiry, value systems, structures of belief and practices of everyday life.
POLS 1999r - Special Projects
(1-9) Credit Hours
Individual or group projects. On demand. Prerequisite: department head approval.
POLS 2000 - Research Methods
(3) Credit Hours
Basic models and skills for research in political science and public administration. Required for political science majors. Prerequisite: One course from MATH 2100, PSY 2010/2040, SOC 2500, or PANM 2050 or department head approval.
POLS 2020 - Political Behavior
(3) Credit Hours
Political attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors; their sources and effects. Emphasis primarily on the United States with selected examples from Western European democracies. On demand.
POLS 2030 - Public Opinion
(3) Credit Hours
Sources, content, and impact of public opinion on the political process. On demand.
POLS 2130 - American Political and Constitutional Thought
(3) Credit Hours
A study of the major political and constitutional ideas that have influenced the development of the United States since its founding. On demand. Recommended for prelaw majors.
POLS 2210 - Introduction to Judicial Process
(3) Credit Hours
An examination of the role, operation and decision-making processes of the U.S. Supreme Court and lower federal courts. On demand. Recommended for pre-law majors.
POLS 2240 - Justice and the American Trial Process
(3) Credit Hours
An in-depth analysis of the modern trial process in the United States. Emphasis on assessing the weak points of the American judicial system and on preparing an actual mock trial case for argument. Recommended for pre-law majors.
POLS 2260 - Introduction to Public Policy
(3) Credit Hours
Introduction to core public policy concepts, theories, models, and processes.
POLS 2330 - State and Local Government
(3) Credit Hours
Tennessee state and local government and politics with comparisons to government and politics in the other states. On demand.
POLS 2340 - The Presidency
(3) Credit Hours
The nature of the presidency as an institution. Presidential decision-making and relations with other branches of government. On demand.
POLS 2420 - International Relations
(3) Credit Hours
An examination of the theoretical, historical and behavioral causes of war and peace. Focus on the role of power, sovereignty, and international law on world politics. On demand.
POLS 2440 - Comparative Public Policy
(3) Credit Hours
The formation and implementation of social welfare policies in developed and developing nations. On demand.
POLS 2460 - Comparative Latin American Politics
(3) Credit Hours
An introduction to the study of Latin American politics with emphasis on alternative theoretical explanations for patterns of development involving the roles of elected leaders; the Church; military and economic elite; and workers and peasants.
POLS 3020 - Political Psychology
(3) Credit Hours
Psychological bases for political action. On demand.
POLS 3030 - Politics and Communication
(3) Credit Hours
Propaganda and other means of political and social control. On demand.
POLS 3140 - Contemporary Political Ideas
(3) Credit Hours
The competing ideologies of the 20th century with emphasis on contemporary political and social thought including Marxism and Fascism. On demand.
POLS 3160 - Theories of Politics
(3) Credit Hours
An introduction to such theoretical concerns of Western political science as sovereignty, rights, justice, property, liberty, and equality. Readings from Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Montesquieu, Mill and Marx. On demand.
POLS 3200 - Philosophy of Law
(3) Credit Hours
A study of law and legal reasoning with emphasis on the nature and sources of law, moral theory and its relation to law, definitions of rights and justice, and the nature of legal and moral obligation. Recommended for prelaw majors.
POLS 3210 - American Constitutional Law
(3) Credit Hours
Case studies of key Supreme Court decisions affecting the distribution of power in American society. On demand. Recommended for prelaw majors.
POLS 3220 - Civil Liberties
(3) Credit Hours
Case studies of key Supreme Court decisions affecting the rights and freedoms of the individual in American society. On demand. Recommended for prelaw majors.
POLS 3230 - Law and Politics
(3) Credit Hours
Lawyers, judges, police, and the political process. On demand. Recommended for prelaw majors.
POLS 3250 - American Public Policy
(3) Credit Hours
Examination of policy making and policy in the United States. Prerequisites: POLS 2260 or department head approval.
POLS 3300 - Urban Public Policy
(3) Credit Hours
An introduction to the different approaches, ideas and programs advanced to address public policy urban problems. On demand.
POLS 3310 - Urban Politics
(3) Credit Hours
An examination of political competition and relations among groups, institutions and classes in urban areas. Particular attention is given to how economic and fiscal concerns impact the political process. On demand.
POLS 3330 - Political Parties and the Election Process
(3) Credit Hours
An examination of America’s two-party system, political machines, third parties, modern campaign techniques, electoral behavior, and election administration. On demand.
POLS 3350 - Congress
(3) Credit Hours
The contemporary Congress. The roles of congressmen and women, the distribution of power within Congress, relations with other branches of government, and prospects of reform. On demand.
POLS 3360 - Women in Politics
(3) Credit Hours
An examination of the role and status of women in the American political system. Special emphasis given to the impact of selected public policies upon women. On demand. May be registered as WSTU 3360. Credit not allowed in both POLS 3360 and WSTU 3360.
POLS 3410 - Inter-American Relations
(3) Credit Hours
Historical and contemporary relations between the United States and Latin America with emphasis on U.S. hegemonic rule; economic relations; the war on drugs; national security issues; democracy and human rights; and the impact of Latin America on U.S. politics and policy.
POLS 3430r - Comparative Government and Politics
(3) Credit Hours
The study of the governmental structures, processes, and ideologies of different regions of the world, comparing their political, economic, and social policies. May be repeated to focus on different regions of the world. On demand.
POLS 3450 - American Foreign Policy
(3) Credit Hours
The basic foreign policy problems confronting the United States. On demand.
POLS 3460 - Comparative Politics: China
(3) Credit Hours
A study in comparative culture, history and politics as applied to the current government in the People’s Republic of China with an emphasis on the factors which have shaped the government and politics of China since World War II. On demand.
POLS 3470 - Politics of the Middle East
(3) Credit Hours
A study of the contemporary politics in the Middle East with emphasis on the evolution of the Arab State System after World War II, the creation of Israel, the Arab-Israeli and other regional conflicts, and the peace process from Camp David on.
POLS 3480 - Politics of Immigration
(3) Credit Hours
An examination of immigration policy in the United States with an emphasis on historical patterns, policy debates, legal ramifications, and rules and regulations of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
POLS 3500 - Technology, Politics and Society
(3) Credit Hours
An examination of the impact of technology on politics and society, with special focus on public policy shifts resulting from changes in technology. On demand.
POLS 4010r - Advanced Topics in Political Behavior
(3) Credit Hours
Selected topics in political behavior. May be repeated once. On demand. Prerequisite: POLS 2000 or department head approval.
POLS 4110r - Advanced Topics in Political Theory
(3) Credit Hours
Selected topics in political theory. May be repeated once. On demand. Prerequisite: POLS 2000 or department head approval.
POLS 4210r - Special Topics in Public Law
(3) Credit Hours
Selected topics in public law. On demand. Recommended for pre-law majors. Prerequisite: POLS 2000 or department head approval.
POLS 4230 - Crime and Punishment
(3) Credit Hours
An examination of the nature and implications of the major philosophies of punishment with emphasis on their ramifications for assessing the legitimacy of capital punishment. Recommended for prelaw majors. Prerequisite: POLS 2000 or department head approval.
POLS 4240 - Jefferson
(3) Credit Hours
An examination of the political and social ideas of Thomas Jefferson with attention to their influence on American politics and public policy. Prerequisite: POLS 2000 or department head approval.
POLS 4250 - Policy Issues in Aging
(3) Credit Hours
An introduction to the political, economic, social and health policy questions raised by the phenomenon of an aging population. On demand. Prerequisite: POLS 2000 or department head approval.
POLS 4260 - Philosophy of Punishment
(3) Credit Hours
An examination of the major philosophies of punishment with attention to principles of sentencing and to three strikes legislation. Prerequisite: POLS 2000 or department head approval.
POLS 4270 - Religion, Liberty, and the Law
(3) Credit Hours
An examination of the theory and practice of religious liberty in the United States with attention to theories of toleration and religious liberty and to key free exercise cases decided by the Supreme Court of the United States. Prerequisite: POLS 2000 or department head approval.
POLS 4280 - First Amendment
(3) Credit Hours
An examination of the case law, rules and regulations emanating from the specifications of the first amendment. Prerequisite: POLS 2000 or department head approval.
POLS 4290r - Advanced Topics in Public Policy
(3) Credit Hours
Selected topics in public policy. On demand. Prerequisite: POLS 2000 or department head approval.
POLS 4310r - Advanced Topics in American Institutions and Processes
(3) Credit Hours
Selected topics in American institutions and processes. On demand. Prerequisite: POLS 2000 or department head approval.
POLS 4320 - Southern Politics
(3) Credit Hours
A study of the South’s role in national politics with an emphasis on the demographic, economic, social and political forces which give shape to the political values and partisan preferences of the region’s electorate. On demand. Prerequisite: POLS 2000 or department head approval.
POLS 4340 - Politics of Child Care
(3) Credit Hours
An examination of child care policy in the United States and its implications for public policy making in general. Prerequisite: POLS 2000 or department head approval. May be registered as WSTU 4340. Credit not allowed in both POLS 4340 and WSTU 4340.
POLS 4360 - Presidential Leadership
(3) Credit Hours
An examination of the dynamics of presidential leadership in domestic and foreign affairs with emphasis on historical examples of executive leadership in times of crisis in the post-World War II period. Prerequisite: POLS 2000 or department head approval.
POLS 4410r - Advanced Topics in International Relations and Foreign Policy
(3) Credit Hours
Selected topics in international relations and foreign policy. May be repeated once. On demand. Prerequisite: POLS 2000 or department head approval.
POLS 4420r - Advanced Topics in Comparative Government
(3) Credit Hours
Selected topics in comparative government. On demand. Prerequisite: POLS 2000 or department head approval. May be repeated once.
POLS 4610r - Political Science Internship
(1-12) Credit Hours
Internship in a public agency or nonprofit organization, providing students the opportunity to integrate and extend classroom learning with practice. Prerequisites: Minimum 2.75 cumulative grade point average and prior approval of department head. No more than 6 credit hours may apply toward the major degree requirements in the department.
POLS 4995r - Departmental Thesis
(1-3) Credit Hours
Every semester. Requires University Honors approval. Department may have additional prerequisite requirements. Student must submit an Individual Studies/Research Contract to the Records Office at the time of registration.
POLS 4997r - Research
(1-9) Credit Hours
Every semester. Prerequisite: department head approval. Department may have additional prerequisite requirements. Student must submit an Individual Studies/Research Contract to the Records Office at the time of registration.
POLS 4998r - Individual Studies
(1-9) Credit Hours
Every semester. Prerequisite: department head approval. Department may have additional prerequisite requirements. Student must submit an Individual Studies/Research Contract to the Records Office at the time of registration.
POLS 4999r - Group Studies
(1-9) Credit Hours
On demand. Prerequisite: department head approval. Department may have additional prerequisite requirements.
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