Department of Political Science

POL THRY 1050. Introduction to Political Theory: Freedom, Justice and Power — 3 hrs.

A good politics is guided by ideals such as freedom and justice. But what do those words mean? How does power operate--either to promote or to prevent the achievement of freedom and justice for all people? Readings range from the ancient world to the contemporary, including thinkers such as Socrates, J.S. Mill, Martin Luther King Jr., and bell hooks. (Fall and Spring)

POL THRY 3129. American Political Thought — 3 hrs.

Political ideals have shaped the political institutions, practices, and culture of the U.S., even though our ideals of democracy and freedom have conflicted with realities of exclusion and slavery, and the "American Dream" has at times been undermined by inequality of opportunity. This course explores these tensions, analyzing works of foundational thinkers such as Madison and Jefferson, as well as thinkers aiming to deepen our democracy in the centuries since the founding. (Variable)

POL THRY 3160. Classical Political Theory — 3 hrs.

The nature of justice, arguments for and against democracy, the foundations of political knowledge, and the nature of political communities, as understood by the thinkers of classical Greece. (Variable)

POL THRY 3161. Modern Political Theory — 3 hrs.

Western political thought from Machiavelli to Nietzsche, including the philosophical foundations for the American system of government (liberal and civic republican thought). (Variable)

POL THRY 3162. Power: Political Theories & Applications — 3 hrs.

This course explores contemporary theories of power and their relationships to political events and movements of the 20th and 21st centuries. Students will complete projects to build their familiarity with a particular set of theories and the ways in which those theories respond to or inspire social and political events - from government-sponsored injustices to liberation movements. This course will enable students to develop their capacities for making reasoned judgments about politics and using theory as a tool to develop political meanings that go beyond ideology. (Variable)

POL AMER 1014. Power & Politics in the U.S. — 3 hrs.

Politics is about the exercise of power. This course examines the basic structure, organization, and institutional powers of American government. We will also examine how diverse citizens of the U.S. are linked to government through such things as political parties, interest groups, and elections. (Fall and Spring)

POL AMER 1048. Introduction to Public Administration — 3 hrs.

Most government employees who are making decisions, running programs and spending taxpayer money are not elected officials, but public servants. The purpose of this course is to examine the role of these bureaucrats in American government by developing an understanding of the history of the system, the tension between expertise and democracy, and the related issues that affect the American people and others around the globe. (Fall and Spring)

POL AMER 2131. American State Politics — 3 hrs.

Analysis of organization, functions, and operation of state and local governments. (Fall)

POL AMER 2147. Law, Politics, and Society — 3 hrs.

Law structures our personal, business and civic lives, and when courts resolve disputes about the law their decisions affect our politics and society. This course examines how the legal system works and explores its social and political effects. Includes discussion of topics such as racial and socioeconomic barriers to access to justice, tort reform, policing strategies, and crime policy. (Spring)

POL AMER 3112. Campaigns and Elections — 3 hrs.

Systematic examination of structure and functions of modern electoral campaigns for national, state, and local offices. (Even Falls)

POL AMER 3132. Community Politics — 3 hrs.

Introduction to structure, functions, and policies of American local government in context of economic, social, and intergovernmental forces. (Variable)

POL AMER 3134. Congress: The First Branch — 3 hrs.

Congress is the first branch, by virtue of being specified in Article I of the Constitution. We will think critically about the role of Congress in the American system of government, how we get it, what it does, and what it does not do. Students will assess evidence of whether Congress can properly be viewed as broken, or not. Prerequisite(s): POL AMER 1014. (Odd Falls)

POL AMER 3141. Constitutional Law — 3 hrs.

Analysis of U.S. Supreme Court decisions and changes in doctrine over time and the political forces affecting these changes. Emphasis on the powers and constraints of the federal government, separation of powers, and federalism. Prerequisite(s): POL AMER 1014 or POL AMER 2147 or POL AMER 3146. (Fall)

POL AMER 3144. Civil Rights and Liberties — 3 hrs.

Examines the Supreme Court's role in establishing and protecting individual rights and liberties from government intrusion. Emphasis on the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. Includes issues of free speech, freedom of religion, discrimination, and privacy. (Spring)

POL AMER 3146. Judicial Politics and Policy-making — 3 hrs.

Theoretical and empirical examination of the role of appellate courts, especially the U.S. Supreme Court, within the American political system. Examination of theories of judicial decision making, the influence of politics on law and judges, and the impact of court decisions on public policy. (Even Falls)

POL AMER 3150. Public Opinion and Voting Behavior — 3 hrs.

Theoretical and empirical analyses of public opinion, political attitudes, political socialization, as well as voting behavior and political participation. (Spring)

POL AMER 3151. Modern Presidency — 3 hrs.

Examination of constitutional, electoral, administrative, and political aspects of the modern American presidency as they have evolved from FDR to the present. Prerequisite(s): POL AMER 1014. (Spring)

POL AMER 3153. Leadership and Management in Public Service — 3 hrs.

This course provides students the opportunity to study the political nature, characteristics and operation of American public organizations. You will analyze the internal and external factors that explain how public organizations operate, including theories and models of leadership and internal dynamics of public organizations and their role in the American political system. (Fall)

POL AMER 3166. Political Parties and Interest Groups — 3 hrs.

The history and evolution of political parties and interest groups in the American political system with a focus on their impact on the policy process. This course emphasizes how changes in the political environment including the rise of Super PACs, increased polarization and the use of social media for political mobilization are influencing the role each plays in elections and policy adoption. Prerequisite(s): POL AMER 1014. (Variable)

POL AMER 3172. Public Budgeting — 3 hrs.

Historical development of current budgeting practices; politics of budgetary process at federal, state, and local levels; current methods of budgeting for public agencies, focusing on integration of budgeting into program planning. (Spring)

POL AMER 3174. Management of Public Human Resources — 3 hrs.

Development of current government personnel practices; contemporary issues in personnel administration; techniques of job analysis; recruitment and selection of employees; and problems of supervision and evaluation. Prerequisite(s): POL AMER 1014; POL AMER 1048. (Variable)

POL AMER 4130/5130. Iowa Politics — 3 hrs.

Emphasis placed on the origins of Iowa's governmental structure, the three branches of government, and its unique role in presidential politics. Will examine some of the perennial issues facing the state. Prerequisite(s): junior standing. (Spring)

POL AMER 4142/5142. Problems in Juvenile and Family Law — 3 hrs.

Aspects of juvenile and family law; how legislature and courts have developed juvenile and family law, including marriage and divorce, adoption, and competency of minors. Prerequisite(s): junior standing. (Fall and Spring)

POL AMER 4143/5143. Citizen Participation and Civic Engagement — 3 hrs.

Introduces the key issues and problems affecting citizen participation and engagement at the community and national levels. Prerequisite(s): junior standing. (Variable)

POL AMER 4160/5160. Political Communication — 3 hrs.

Study of the elements of national and/or local political communication, including the rhetoric of political campaigns, and/or the rhetoric of elected officials. Prerequisite(s): junior standing. (Same as COMM 4216/5216) (Fall)

POL AMER 4173. Politics and Public Policy — 3 hrs.

Can we predict public policy? The short answer is "no." Public policies are the result of human decisions, a process which is not always rational. This course will examine why by focusing on biases in human decision making and how such biases can help improve our understanding of the policy process. Prerequisite(s): POL AMER 1014; POL AMER 1048; junior standing. (Fall)

POL AMER 4176/5176. Topics in Public Policy — 3 hrs.

Explores the latest developments in the field of public policy research. Ongoing policy issues may be used as examples to illustrate theoretical developments or to introduce applications of course material. May be repeated under different topics. Prerequisite(s): junior standing. (Variable)

POL AMER 4177/5177. Political Psychology — 3 hrs.

Explores the connections between psychology and political phenomena, including leadership, decision making, intergroup relations, and persuasion. Prerequisite(s): junior standing. (Variable)

POL AMER 4188/5188. Seminar in Public Administration — 3 hrs.

Advanced topics in public administration, such as essential and nonessential service delivery, fiscal administration, and community development. Introduces students to issues not covered in other public administration courses. Prerequisite(s): POL AMER 1048; junior standing. (Spring)

POL AMER 5154. Public Service Leadership and Management — 3 hrs.

This course focuses on the theories and practice of leadership and management in the public and nonprofit sectors. Particular attention will be paid to the history behind the theories and concepts used in the analysis and discussion of leadership and management to understand their development, to what degree they may be applicable to other settings, and their strengths and weaknesses. The course will enable students to understand variations in different organizational settings, alternative bases of authority, diverse communication styles, as well as the exercise of leadership and its connection with management. (Variable)

POL AMER 5171. Public Budgeting and Financial Management — 3 hrs.

This course provides students the opportunity to study the local budgetary process and to explore with the following topics: budget document and budget process; the budget cycle; operating and capital budget; evolution of budget; the balanced budget; functions of the budget office; planning, adopting, implementing and controlling the budget; performance measures for public budgeting and budgeting for capital improvements. (Variable)

POL COMP 1040. Comparative Politics — 3 hrs.

Examination of theory, methods, and problems of comparative politics with emphasis on cross-regional analysis. Use of case studies to look at such issues as political culture, parties, participation, dictatorship and democracy, economic policies and class, and racial, ethnic or religious conflict. (Fall and Spring)

POL COMP 1042. Becoming Global Citizens — 3 hrs.

A responsibility of citizens in democracies is to be politically active. How can we be politically active as citizens of the world? Without global elections, we have to find other ways of influencing the key social issues of our time. This class helps students think about how to be politically active on the most important global issues. (Variable)

POL COMP 3121. Unconventional Warfare — 3 hrs.

Focus on terrorism, insurgency, and guerrilla warfare. Examination of theoretical, practical, and policy issues related to the law, ethics, motivations, conduct, and resolution of conflict between unequal and unlike groups. (Variable)

POL COMP 3123. Nationalism — 3 hrs.

Analysis of causes, forms, and consequences of nationalist movements. Consideration of experiences of nation-states and multi-national states. Evaluation of major theoretical approaches to study of nationalist movements and application to several specific cases. (Variable)

POL COMP 3125. Politics of Nonviolence — 3 hrs.

Analyzes theories and concrete examples of nonviolence in politics. Examines nonviolent power as a part of daily politics in most political systems and as a component of many successful movements for political change. (Variable)

POL COMP 3135. Politics in Europe — 3 hrs.

Examination of the development of European political institutions, issues, and policies. Social democracy, the European Union, and challenges to democracy are addressed. (Variable)

POL COMP 3162. Politics of East Asia — 3 hrs.

Comparative analysis of major East Asian countries; examination of state and nation-building processes, political institutions, and processes and policies, with emphasis on China and Japan. (Variable)

POL COMP 3164. Russian Politics — 3 hrs.

Analysis of regimes and regime changes in Russia and Eurasia generally. Examination of institutions, contemporary issues, and policies in comparative context. (Variable)

POL COMP 3165. African Politics — 3 hrs.

Examination of African politics from a political economy perspective. (Variable)

POL COMP 3167. Latin American Politics — 3 hrs.

Analysis of democracy, authoritarianism, economic development, and social movements in the region. Emphasis on Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, and Cuba. Examination of influence of U.S. hegemony and the prospects for economic integration. (Variable)

POL GEN 1020. Political Problems in the U.S.: (topic) — 3 hrs.

This course addresses topical political problems in the U.S. with a focus on problems related to human differences and diversity. Examples of topics may include wealth and income inequality, inequities in the criminal justice system, disparities in education policy, or the partisan divide. As part of addressing these problems, the course also covers different theoretical perspectives for thinking about politics, and supports students in developing skills for critically assessing information sources. Offered on specific topics listed in the Schedule of Classes. May not be repeated on different topics. (Fall and Spring)

POL GEN 1041. Global Challenges: (Topic) — 3 hrs.

This course will help students investigate the effect of politics and power by studying how people around the world respond to political problems. Students will learn about political science concepts related to government rules and institutions, political behavior and social movements, public policy, ideas and ideology, or others and apply them to current political problems that people are wrestling with around the world. May not be repeated on different topics. (Fall and Spring)

POL GEN 1060. B.S. Detection — 3 hrs.

This course seeks to give students the tools to understand what is happening in the world and decide what they should do about it. It is not about what to think, but about how to think. We often talk about critical thinking but what, exactly, does that mean? This course will help students learn to slow down and critically analyze information to help them improve their understanding of current events and develop the habits of mind that contribute to a life of active citizenship. (Fall)

POL GEN 2010. Analyzing Politics — 3 hrs.

Political issues can be divisive, but it is necessary to develop the skills and habits of rigorous analysis in order to understand the political phenomena around us. Students will explore various approaches to the scientific study of politics. (Fall and Spring)

POL GEN 3111. Politics and Statistics — 3 hrs.

Political science is, by definition, a science and as such is based on empirical research. The purpose of this course is to give students the necessary tools to study politics using quantitative methodology. Emphasis will be placed on the use of quantitative estimation techniques commonly used by political scientists. (Fall)

POL GEN 3181. Internship in Politics — 3-8 hrs.

Student serves as intern with government official or in public or private agency: (1) Federal; (2) State; (3) Local; (4) Intergovernmental; (5) Legal; (6) Interest Group; (7) International; and (8) Electoral. Prerequisite(s): POL GEN 2010; 15 hours of political science; Political Science, Political Communication, or Public Administration major; junior standing and consent of department. (Fall, Spring, Summer)

POL GEN 3184. Senior Seminar in Political Science — 3 hrs.

Examination of specific topics through application of theories and methods of political science analysis. Research papers required. Prerequisite(s): 24 credit hours of Political Science. (Fall and Spring)

POL GEN 4175/5175. Women in Politics — 3 hrs.

Theoretical, historical, and empirical studies of the role of women as political actors, policy issues affecting women, and the role of gender in shaping political attitudes and perceptions, with particular emphasis on the U.S. experience. Prerequisite(s): junior standing. (Variable)

POL GEN 4189/5189. Readings in Political Science — 1-3 hrs.

May be repeated only with consent of department. Prerequisite(s): 12 hours in political science; junior standing; consent of department. (Fall, Spring, Summer)

POL GEN 4198. Independent Study.

(Fall, Spring, Summer)

POL INTL 1024. International Relations — 3 hrs.

Survey of various approaches to international relations with special emphasis on application to historical and contemporary cases. (Fall and Spring)

POL INTL 3119. Politics of the Global Economy — 3 hrs.

Analysis of how the pursuit of power and the pursuit of wealth interact in international relations. Emphasis on trade policy, monetary and financial policies, economic development, and the politics of globalization since 1945. (Variable)

POL INTL 3120. International Security — 3 hrs.

Survey of the nature and causes of war, and the methods states use to achieve security. Examination of such issues as arms races, alliances, military technology, and military strategy and their relation to the politics of international relations. Analysis of methods for resolving conflicts and promoting peace. (Variable)

POL INTL 3125. Politics of International Development — 3 hrs.

Since the end of the Cold War, the international community has become more concerned with poverty, hunger, deprivation, the spread of disease and violence in all forms. This course studies the political dynamics that lead to action or that perpetuate inaction. (Variable)

POL INTL 3126. Human Rights — 3 hrs.

Examination of the origins and development of the concept of Human Rights. Review of the major challenges to global human rights, including genocide, racism, political repression, national/religion oppression, and gender discrimination. Emphasis on the international institutions, norms, and policies of states and non-state actors to define and promote human rights. (Variable)

POL INTL 3127. United States Foreign Policy — 3 hrs.

Historical and theoretical examination of the individual, domestic, and systemic factors which affect formulation of United States foreign policy. (Variable)

POL INTL 3143. International Law — 3 hrs.

Survey of international law from its development to contemporary issues. (Variable)

POL INTL 3145. International Organizations — 3 hrs.

Description of international governmental and nongovernmental organizations, and analysis of their roles in international politics. (Variable)

PUBPOL 6201. Politics and Public Policy — 3 hrs.

Defining and focusing on the non-linear aspect of the policy process, including an emphasis on non-rational decision making. Analysis of legislative, executive, and bureaucratic influences. Understanding how policy images and public perception shape the formation of public policy and evaluation techniques. (Odd Falls)

PUBPOL 6204. Program Evaluation in Public Policy — 3 hrs.

Theory and practice of program evaluation and evaluative research from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives. (Even Falls)

PUBPOL 6220. Public Policy, Advocacy and Public Funding — 2 hrs.

Policy context of philanthropy and nonprofit development; the role of nonprofits in policy development and advocacy. Prerequisite(s): admission into the Philanthropy and Nonprofit Development graduate program. (Variable)

PUBPOL 6230. Ethics in Public Policy — 3 hrs.

Examination of widely accepted moral philosophies and non-rational approaches to ethical judgments; application of ethical principles and analytic methods to decision-making in public policy. Specific topics will vary, in accordance with current events. (Variable)

PUBPOL 6260. Policy Analysis: Methods and Approaches — 3 hrs.

Research methods and approaches for analyzing and evaluating public policy choices and impacts. Understanding the context and purposes of policy analysis. Defining policy research questions and developing research designs. Selecting and applying appropriate research methods to policy problems. Prerequisite(s): enrollment requires admission to the graduate program in Public Policy, or consent of Director of Graduate Program in Public Policy. (Odd Falls)

PUBPOL 6275. Quantitative Methods for Politics and Policy — 3 hrs.

Statistical methods appropriate to study of political science and public policy, including hypothesis testing using parametric and nonparametric tests, correlation and bivariate regression, experimental methods, logistic regression and multiple regression. (Even Springs)

PUBPOL 6276. Advanced Methods for Public Policy — 3 hrs.

Introduction to advanced statistical methods appropriate to the study of public policy, including correlation, bivariate and multiple regression. Students will have the opportunity to explore real world data sets using the tools and analytical skills learned throughout the course to produce policy memos informed by data analysis. (Even Falls)

PUBPOL 6280. Capstone: Policy Practicum — 3 hrs.

Provides students with an opportunity to apply the data analytic and program evaluation skills learned throughout the program by partnering with selected organizations in surrounding communities to engage in policy analysis and decision making. (Odd Springs)

PUBPOL 6281. Internship in Public Policy — 3 hrs.

Field experience for students enrolled in Master of Public Policy degree program. Students may be given credit for extensive career experience at the discretion of the Program Director. (Even Summers)

PUBPOL 6285. Readings in Public Policy — 1-3 hrs.

Registration requires written consent of Program Director. May be repeated. (Odd Summers)