Political Science
Political Science (POLS) Professor: Gregory S. Sanjian Associate Professors: Michael R. James, Tansa G. Massoud, Amy R. McCready, Andrea Stevenson Sanjian (Chair) Assistant Professors: John Doces, John A. Grummel (visiting), Richard Hecock, Robin D. Jacobson, Scott R. Meinke, David M. Mitchell Political science is the systematic study of all aspects of collective decision making in human society. This includes questions of right and wrong, law, power, and justice. Political scientists deal with politics in the United States (American politics and policy), other societies around the world (comparative politics), global issues (international politics), and questions of political fairness (political theory). For undergraduates, the study of political science, like other programs for the bachelor of arts degree, is intended to contribute to the acquisition of skills and knowledge that form the foundation of a liberal arts education. The study of political science may provide background for careers in law, journalism, government service, international organizations, teaching, or business. A major in political science consists of a minimum of eight courses. A core of four courses is required to provide a grounding in the traditional subfields of the discipline: American Politics (POLS 140); International Politics (POLS 170); Comparative Politics (POLS 205); and Political Theory (POLS 210). In addition, at least one of the eight courses must be a seminar at the 300 level or a political science Capstone. Upon declaration of a major in political science, students consult with the chair to determine assignment of an appropriate faculty adviser. Students and their adviser then prepare a prospectus for fulfilling major requirements. Individual interests and special capabilities of the student, as well as the scope of the discipline, are considered in preparing the prospectus. Courses initially proposed in the prospectus may be revised upon approval of the adviser. In planning their academic program, students intending to major in political science are encouraged to complete the core courses as early as practicable. Normally majors will have completed the subfield core course before electing other 200-level courses within the same subfield, and a core course may be prerequisite for some courses. In choosing a 300- or 400-level course to fulfill the major requirements, students must have had at least the core course in the subfield. For seminars, permission of the instructor is required at the time of registration. Capstone courses carrying political science credits also may be counted toward the major and the seminar requirement. Subfield coursework is distributed as follows: • American Politics: POLS 140, 230-249, 330-339, 370-379 • Comparative Politics: POLS 205, 211-229, 300-309, 350-359 • International Politics: POLS 170, 270-289, 320-329, 380-389 • Political Theory: POLS 210, 250-269, 310-319, 360-369 • General and Cross-subfield: POLS 290-299, 390-399 Political science majors are encouraged to study off-campus. No more than two course credits earned off-campus from non-Bucknell staff may be used to meet the major requirements. Students planning to undertake off-campus or nontraditional study are expected to consult closely with their adviser. Transfer students should consult with the department chair to determine how prior coursework will be evaluated to meet major requirements. Courses in other departments crosslisted with political science in the annual Class Schedule may be used toward the major requirement on consultation with the student’s adviser. Qualified seniors are invited to pursue honors in political science by writing and defending an honors thesis. Interested juniors should consult with their adviser, with the department chair, or with another member of the department. Interested students also may pursue independent study (POLS 395 or 396) under a plan worked out with a member of the department. The department encourages students to take related courses in other disciplines to complement and strengthen the political science major. Recommendations may be obtained from the adviser. Questions concerning the major are to be directed to the department chair. Five minors are available in political science: - American Politics: five courses in political science, including POLS 140 and at least two courses drawn from the American Politics subfield (see above)
- Comparative Politics: five courses in political science, including POLS 205 and at least two courses drawn from the Comparative Politics subfield (see above)
- International Politics: five courses in political science, including POLS 170 and at least two courses drawn from the International Politics subfield (see above)
- Political Theory: five courses in political science, including POLS 210 and at least two courses drawn from the Political Theory subfield (see above)
- General: five courses in political science, including one course from each of the four subfields (see above).
Open-topic courses (POLS 290, 390) may be counted toward a minor where the topics are appropriate. Off-campus and nontraditional courses in political science may be used as one of the non-specified courses in a minor. Core Courses (Required for Major) 140. American Politics (I and II; 3, 0)
A critical examination of the principles, structures, and processes that shape American politics. An emphasis on political behavior and institutions with application to contemporary political issues. 170. International Politics (I and II; 3, 0)
Introduction to major dynamics of international politics; the international system, decision making, perceptions, cooperation, conflict, and policy instruments, such as diplomacy and war. Analysis is linked to specific international events and issues. 205. Comparative Politics (I and II; 3, 0)
Politics and policy outside the United States; concepts for the comparison of political systems. Democracy, Third World politics, revolution, political stability and change, international effects on political processes. 210. Political Theory (I and II; 3, 0)
Examination of the moral dimensions of politics. Authors include Plato, Aristotle, Milton, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Marx. Major concepts include justice, freedom, rights, and authority. Comparative 211. Third World Politics (I or II; 3, 0)
Politics in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The Third World in the modern world system. Politics and economic development. Instability, militarism, and democracy. 219. Latin American Politics (II; 3, 0)
The dynamics of politics in Latin American social, economic, and cultural context, with use of general comparative concepts of politics. 222. Russian Politics (I; 3, 0)
The politics of transition in Russia, from authoritarianism toward democracy with a market economy. 223. European Politics (AII; 3, 0)
Comparative analysis of institutions and policy-making in European political systems, including the European Union. 224. Government and Politics of the Middle East (I or II; 3, 0)
This course provides the student with an understanding of the internal political process of the area. Topics include political institutions/groups, the state, culture, Islam, and revolution. 229. Women and Politics (AII; 3, 0)
An analysis of women and politics generally with specific focus on feminism and its relationship to political discourse and political action. American 231. Introduction to Public Policy (I; 3, 0)
Course introduces students to theories of the policy-making process in America, and also provides an overview of the major policy areas in American politics. 232. American Public Policy Analysis (II; 3, 0)
Learn to conduct policy analysis through in-depth exploration of policy issues such as health care, criminal justice, immigration, and art policy. Specific topics will vary. 234. State and Local Internship Program (II; 3; 0)
Participants explore politics and policy at the state and local level through integrated class work, independent research, and real world work experiences. 237. American Political Parties (AI; 3, 0)
Analysis of American political parties in terms of democratic, organizational, electoral and governmental functions. 240. The American Congress (I or II; 3, 0)
Examination and evaluation of representative government in America. Detailed investigation of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. 241. Constitutional Law: Civil Rights (I or II; 3, 0)
An introduction to civil rights under the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments, focusing on discrimination based on race, sex, sexual orientation, class and alien status. 242. Civli Liberties and the Constitution (I or II; 3, 0)
Examination of civil liberties policies in the U.S. through a study of U.S. Supreme Court decisions. 243. The American Presidency (I; 3, 0)
Origins and development of the presidency and an analysis of the sources and nature of executive power in American national government. 244. American Judicial Politics (II; 3, 0)
Survey of the process and substance of policymaking in the Federal court system, with an emphasis on Supreme Court decision making and the policy impact of court decisions. 246. Race and American Politics (I or II; 3, 0)
Looks at the connections between race and power through various forms of political behavior including electoral, policymaking, and citizen participation. Explores the mutually constitutive relationship between politics and race. 249. Power, Protest, and Political Change (AI; 3, 0)
Explores the life cycle of social movements. Looks at mobilization, tactic selection, and the legacies of "passionate politics" through specific cases of social movement activity. Crosslisted as SOCI 269. 332. Public Opinion (I; 3, 0)
Structure and origins of public opinion, public opinion polling, political psychology, and implications for democracy. Political Theory 254. Sex and Social Order (I or II; 3, 0)
Analysis of connections between sex and social structure to determine how our understanding of sexuality is implicated in our political system, economy, and cultural ideology. 256. Topics in Social and Political Ethics (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Study of the types of argument and analysis used in social and political ethics, in part through an examination of contemporary social issues. 260. Topics in Legal Thought (I or II; R; 3; 0)
Subjects will vary, e.g., morality and the legal process; religion and law; contemporary jurisprudence. 261. Twentieth-Century American Legal Thought (I or II; 3, 0)
Analysis of dominant and critical trends through the century including legal realism, liberalism, law and morality, feminist legal theory, law and economics, and critical race theory.
263. Race and Ethnicity in American Legal Thought (II; 3, 0)
An examination of legal theories on race and ethnicity, including race-based citizenship, affirmative action, school desegregation, busing, voting rights, racial gerrymandering, tribal sovereignty, and immigration. 266. Nationalism East and West (I or II; 3, 0)
Examination of the theory and practice of nationalist movements in Europe, the United States, India, and the Middle East. 268. Contemporary Democratic Theory (I or II; 3, 0)
Analysis of the moral foundations of democracy and the institutional means for achieving it, including voting systems, political parties, alternative representation, and workplace democracy. International 271. American Foreign Policy (I; 3, 0)
Analysis of American foreign policy institutions and decision-making processes; examination of the history and of current issues and problems of U.S. foreign policy. 272. U.S. National Security Policy (II; 3, 0)
The evolution of U.S. national security policy since World War II. Topics include defense in the nuclear area, strategic doctrine, arms control, budgeting, WMDs, policy making. 273. The Atlantic Alliance (I; 3, 0)
This course concerns North Atlantic political and security relations and uses the NATO alliance as its vehicle. The course examines binding and dividing intra-alliance issues during and after the Cold War. 274. Race, Nation-state and International Relations (II; 3, 0)
The course examines the processes by which states as expressions of social relations that are embedded in political institutions have been used by social forces, nationally, and transnationally, to racialize nations, societies, and global politics. Crosslisted as HIST 260 and IREL 245. 275. Global Governance (I; 3, 0)
This course explores the rationales, processes, and institutions of multilateral governance in a globalized world. We examine the U.N., nongovernmental organizations, conflict resolution, economic development, environment, human rights, and international law. Not open to first-year students. Crosslisted as IREL 275. 277. International Political Economy (I or II; 3, 0)
This course examines the politics of international economic relations including trade, finance, and development. 278. International Law (II; 3, 0)
The nature, historical development, and sources of international law; substantive and procedural international law and its role in international relations. Crosslisted as IREL 255. 280. War (I; 3, 0)
This course focuses on the causes of wars. Theories from many disciplines are examined in relation to interstate and civil or internal wars. Applying these theories to different wars, through the use of case studies, will comprise a large part of the course. 281. Peace Studies (AI or II; 3, 0)
This course provides an introduction to the field of peace studies. A number of topics are examined including pacifism, conflict resolution techniques and approaches, and finally actual case studies to illustrate peacemaking in two contexts: interstate wars and internal or civil strife. Crosslisted as UNIV 219. 284. International Relations of Europe (II; 3, 0)
This course will examine the foreign policies of European countries, individually and collectively through the European Union, toward each other, regional and global intergovernmental organizations, and other regions/countries. Crosslisted as IREL 218. 286. International Relations of the Caribbean (I; 3, 0)
Study of the domestic and external sources of foreign policy and of foreign policy issues of Caribbean states, including regional integration and U.S.-Caribbean relations. Crosslisted as IREL 230. 287. United States and the Middle East (AII; 3, 0)
This course examines U.S. foreign policy towards the Middle East. The focus is on the economic, security, and political interests of the United States in the region. 288. French Foreign Policy Since 1945 (I or II; 3, 0)
Analysis of French foreign policy, institutions, and decision-making processes in the Fourth and Fifth Republics. Current issues and problems of French foreign policy. Prerequisite: Bucknell en France students only. 289. The Arab-Israeli Conflict (AI or II; 3, 0)
This course examines the roots and transformation of the conflict, role of outside actors, and how it can be resolved. Seminars 350. Seminar in Comparative Politics (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Selected topics. Prerequisite: POLS 205 or permission of the instructor. 360. Seminar in Political Theory (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Selected topics. Prerequisite: POLS 210 or permission of the instructor. 370. Seminar in American Politics (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Selected topics. Prerequisite: POLS 140 or permission of the instructor. 380. Seminar in International Politics (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Selected topics. Prerequisite: POLS 170 or permission of the instructor. General and Cross-Subfield 290. Topics in Politics (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Attention will focus on specific thinkers, problems, concepts, or issues of recurring and continuing significance in political analysis. Topics will vary. 295. Internship (I or II; 3, 0)
Reserved for nontraditional study. 390. Advanced Topics in Politics (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Advanced study of concerns not addressed in standing courses. Topics will vary. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 391. Research Methods in Political Science (AII; 3, 0)
This course is a survey of the various research methods used by political scientists. Students will critically analyze different approaches to research and construct original research designs for topics of their choice. 395 and 396. Independent Study (I and II; R, 3, 0)
Open to qualified students who wish to pursue individual programs of advanced study in political science. Prerequisite: approval of a proposal submitted to the department, normally at least two weeks prior to registration. 397. Honors Thesis (I and II; R; 3, 0)
Independent research on some topic approved as honors work by the department and Honors Council. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Courses offered occasionally: 250 History of Western Political Thought I: Ancient and Medieval, 251 History of Western Political Thought II: Machiavelli to Bentham, 252 History of Western Political Thought III; Burke to Rawls, 285 International Relations of the Western Hemisphere
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