Political Science
Introduction
The Political Science program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to become active, useful citizens in modern democratic polities. For students who concentrate in Political Science or who take only occasional courses, this means that the Political Science program develops capacity to understand political organizations and political processes, to analyze the forces affecting political decisions, and to form judgments about obligations and rights as a citizen. It also means that the Political Science program will provide the skills necessary to begin a career in business, public service, consulting, and other areas of private endeavor, or to continue education in graduate studies or law school.
Learning Objectives
Students majoring in Political Science at LaGrange College will acquire basic knowledge of these areas:
- the values, processes, institutions and global influences that affect collective decision-making and contemporary politics in the United States;
- the comparative analysis of the values, processes, institutions and global influences that affect collective decision-making and contemporary politics in other countries;
- the relations between and among states, especially those affecting international conflict and international cooperation;
- the ethical dimensions of public policy issues, political practices, and constitutional and legal questions.
Students majoring in Political Science at LaGrange College will also acquire the basic skills necessary to comprehend and perform modern political analysis. These include:
- the ability to analyze the foundations of and differences between normative, quantitative, and qualitative inquiry;
- knowledge of the basic elements of research design and methods in quantitative and qualitative studies of politics;
- knowledge of basic data management and analysis and of the use of computers in quantitative and qualitative studies of politics;
- the ability to convey findings in both written and oral presentations.
Assessment of Learning Objectives
Assessment of the objectives of the program in Political Science is based on demonstration of mastery of the skills the program requires students to acquire. This demonstration is based on an assessment by the faculty of student performance in completing a research project for POLS 4430: Senior Seminar in Political Science or in completing a research project associated with their internship during a full semester term in the Capitol Hill Internship Program. Evaluation of the projects is determined by instruments ranking students according to their proficiency in each required skill. In special circumstances, these requirements may be waived or altered by permission of the faculty of the program.
Special Opportunities
LaGrange College is a charter member of the United Methodist College Washington Consortium that sponsors the Capitol Hill Internship Program (CHIP) in Washington, D.C., for students of political science and other disciplines. The program in Political Science also supervises a variety of internships in local and state government and in Georgia's legal community. Students interested in pursuing one of these opportunities should consult with the program faculty. The program also includes service learning opportunities in several of its courses. Again, students should consult with program faculty concerning these courses prior to registration. Students may also earn credit for courses taken in conjunction with the European Union Certificate Program. See the entry for the program in this Bulletin for details.
Course Descriptions (POLS)
A seminar course on a major subject of national or international concern, based on individual research and assigned readings.Majors and Minors
Major Minor
B.A. in Political Science Minor in Political Science Pre-LawCourses
An introduction to political science through an analysis of the political system of the United States. Topics considered include basic concepts of political science, federalism, civil liberties and civil rights, basic governmental institutions, elections and public opinion, political parties and groups, and domestic and foreign public policy.
An introductory course that focuses on the nature of the discipline of political science and deals with the way political scientists study politics through an overview of the major topics of the discipline.
Introduction to Law, which would be offered alongside POLS 3313 American Judicial Institutions, is a course for Political Science majors. It would explain for students a number of basics, from the differences between civil and criminal trials, similarities and differences between state and national courts, selection of judicial nominees, structures of courts, the appellate court system, and an overview of the legal profession. We will also look at an overview of the Supreme Court history, landmark decisions, and judicial philosophies from John Marshall to the 2000s.
An introduction to comparative analysis of political systems. Topics considered include basic concepts of comparative theory, modern political history in developed and developing areas, the interaction of political and economic factors in developed and developing areas, politics and state institutions in selected countries, and comparative aspects of domestic and foreign public policy.
An introduction to the interaction of nation-states in the global system. Topics considered include war and power, economic and social interdependence, and problems specifically associated with developing nations.
A survey of sustainability as a political, economic and socio-cultural part of our lives. The course is divided into three (3) major segments. First, it assays how our lives are conducted and considers the ecological cycles and processes that make life possible. Second, it examines the ground solutions to the issue of a sustainable lifestyle and attempts to implement this goal. Finally, it surveys the arena of ecological politics in order to engage the issue of how can we achieve this as a society.
A study of basic social science research methods as applied in political science. Topics considered include research design and data collection, measurement and causality, fitting models to data with various methods, graphic analysis, and the use of statistical software.
A study of state and local government in the United States. Topics considered include the political cultures and social environments of American states and communities, political processes in states and communities, the structure of state and local political institutions, and policy issues facing states and communities.
A study of the institutional interactions of the executive and legislative branches of the United States government. Topics considered include the President and policymaking, Congress and policymaking, institutional constraints on executive and legislative policymaking, foreign policy, civil rights policy, economic policy and budgeting, and social welfare policy.
An introduction to the study of public administration and public policy. Topics considered include theoretical approaches to the study of public administration; the historical and constitutional basis for public administration in the United States; the organization and management of public institutions; the social, political, and legal environments of public institutions; the role of political processes in public administration; the analysis and evaluation of public policy; and the ethical basis of public administration.
A study of judicial institutions in the United States. Topics considered include the functions of legal and judicial institutions, the structure and powers of national and state court systems, the legal profession, judicial selection, judicial procedure, court administration, and policy formation by judicial institutions.
An introduction to the study of constitutional law as it applies to government institutions in the United States. Topics considered include basic concepts of constitutional analysis, historical development of present legal institutions and regimes, judicial policy decisions in different areas of law, and the social, political, and economic factors affecting those decisions.
An introduction to the constitutional liberties and rights accorded American citizens. Topics considered include basic concepts of constitutional analysis; historical development of present legal interpretations and regimes; judicial decisions in different areas of law; the social, political, and economic factors affecting those decisions; and their effect on governing in the United States.
An introduction to how structures, institutions, outside actors, and political culture produce American foreign policy. Topics covered include recent history of U.S. foreign relations; the roles played by both the President and the Congress; the roles, functions and structures of U.S. State Department, the Defense Department, intelligence agencies, and the National Security Council; the policy making process and the measurement of outcomes; roles played by the public, interest groups, and other actors. Current major foreign policy issues will be discussed and examined as case studies.
A study of international economics and trade through the analysis of the factors influencing past and present changes. Topics covered include current and past international finance systems and mechanisms of exchange; the role of the state and other actors; an examination of comparative advantage; various strategies states employ, such as import substitution or export promotion; the nature and impact of formal and informal barriers to trade; the GATT and WTO; the problems, failures, successes, and prospects of the international economic system; and its impact on domestic politics.
A study of the current international system. Topics covered include the nature of “systems”; the recent history of global affairs and the evolution of the international system to its present state; selected theoretical analyses of international systems; the nature, roles, and functions of the various actors in the system; how advances in technology have fundamentally changed the world; and the evolving roles of both states and supranational institutions.
A study of the conditions that produce war and peace in international relations. Topics considered include an examination of recent conflicts in the international system, theories concerning the potential sources and determinants of war (with an emphasis on the theory of realism and competing theories), and theories of war settlement and potential sources of future interstate tension.
An introduction to the basic ideas of political philosophy. Topics considered include the social and historical context of political theory; the development of major ideas in political philosophy; critical analysis of theoretical arguments; and the relation of political theory to contemporary politics. This course is also cross-listed as PHIL3420.
An overview of liberalism, communism, and fascism, the three primary political ideologies that have shaped contemporary history.
A comparative study of the political systems in developing countries. Topics considered include basic comparative political theory, modern history of developing societies, and an overview of theories explaining economic and political change in developing countries.
A comparative study of the political systems of developed societies. Topics considered include basic comparative theory, modern history of developed societies, political systems of selected states, and the interaction of political and economic factors in developed societies. (This course can be taken for credit toward the European Union Certificate.)
A comparative study of political systems in Latin America. Topics considered include basic comparative political theory, modern history of Latin American societies, politics of selected Latin American states, and the interaction of economic and political factors in Latin America. This course is also cross-listed as LAST3210.
A comparative study of political systems in Africa. Topics considered include basic comparative political theory, modern history of African societies, politics of selected African states, and the interaction of economic and political factors in Africa.
A supervised internship opportunity for students to work for approved public or private organizations. Credits may vary.
This course examines particular issues related to topics in political science selected by program faculty.
A supervised course of independent study available to selected students. The course provides an opportunity for close cooperation between program faculty and students on research projects and presentations.
A seminar course on a major subject of national or international concern, based on individual research and assigned readings.
