POLS 102 COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT (3)
Three hours lecture/discussion per week
This course introduces the student to the contemporary study of comparative politics. The theme for the course will be democratization and democracy. Topics will include political institutions (constitutions, executives, legislatures, courts, and political parties), political behavior (voting, group activism, and other modes of political participation), and political ideas (political culture, socialization, status of women, and political economy).
GenEd: D
POLS 103 INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL POLITICS (3) [top]
Three hours lecture/discussion per week
This course offers an overview of current theory, topics, and research in the Political Science subfield of International Relations. Emphasis will be placed on the role of power in international affairs, the structure of the international system, the meaning of security, and the importance of economic relations between nations and regions.
GenEd: D聽聽
POLS 140 CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS (1)
One hour of lecture per week
Introduction to the structure and function of California state government. Satisfies California state and local government requirement for students who have taken American Government without a California component or who receive Advanced Placement credit for American Government
POLS 150 AMERICAN POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS (3) [top]
Three hours lecture per week
Examines the major American national and state political institutions and processes, including the presidency, congress, the federal court system, political parties, the electoral system, and major institutions of state government. This course emphasizes how these institutions and processes function within changing American Constitutional principles of the role of law, federalism, shared power, and individual and civil rights. Meets Title 5 US Constitution and State and Local Government requirement.
POLS 300 POLITICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH METHODS (3)
Three hours lecture per week
Prerequisite: SOC/POLS/PSY 303 Statistical Applications in the Social Sciences
Introduction to research methods commonly used in political science. Topics include: research design, literature reviews, measurement and observation. Covers quantitative as well as qualitative methods of inquiry.
POLS 301 POLITICAL THEORY (3) [top]
Three hours lecture/discussion per week
Political Theory is devoted to assessing the authority, legitimacy, and justification of various kinds of political arrangements. How should people live together in society? Is democracy really the best form of government? Can a society legislate morality? What do individuals owe their government? What does their government owe them? This course will consider these and related questions through an introductory survey of works by major political philosophers such as Plato, Hobbes, Locke, Mill, and Marx. Ramifications for issues such as freedom of speech, religious liberty, affirmative action, women's rights, economic inequality, criminal punishment, civil disobedience, and revolution will also be explored.
POLS 303 STATISTICAL APPLICATIONS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES (3)
Two hours lecture and two hours activity per week
Prerequisites: MATH 105 or equivalent
This course introduces students to quantitative methods as used in social science research and prepares them for statistical literacy. Students will learn to use descriptive and inferential statistics to test hypotheses. Basic topics covered in the class include graphical representations, central tendency and variability, chi-squared and other nonparametric techniques, correlation and regression, and mean difference tests as applied to research methods and data commonly used in the social sciences. Measurement and psychometric issues unique to social science data will be covered. Students will use SPSS to analyze data.
Same as SOC 303,PSY 303
POLS 305 GENDER AND POLITICS (3) [top]
Three hours lecture per week
Examines the role of women as political actors in the United States. Also explores the impact of public policies on women in America.
POLS 306 THE POLITICS OF RACE & ETHNICITY (3)
Three hours lecture per week
Examines the politics and policy consequences of racial and ethnic identity in the United States. Special attention will be paid to issues of race and politics in contemporary southern California.
GenEd: C3B聽聽
POLS 315 CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENCY (3) [top]
Three hours lecture/discussion per week
This course will examine the ongoing struggle between the President and Congress to enact public policy. Students will study the two institutions singly and in their interaction. Particular attention will be placed on the electoral incentives of members of each institution and the inherent difficulties of cooperation in a system of separation of powers.
POLS 316 STATE AND LOCAL POLITICS & POLICY (3)
Three hours lecture per week
Examines the structures, functions, policies, politics and administration of subnational governments in the United States. Satisfies the California State and local government requirement for students who have taken American Government without a California component or who have received Advanced Placement credit for American Government.
POLS 317 JUDICIAL POWER AND PROCESS (3) [top]
Three hours lecture per weekStudy of the American court system, including study of the history, organization, politics and policymaking of the judicial branch.
POLS 318 THE ELECTORAL PROCESS (3)
Three hours lecture per week
Explores political parties, campaigns, elections and voting behavior in the American context.
POLS 320 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (3) [top]
Three hours lecture/discussion per week
This course is an introduction to public administration in the United States at the national, state and local levels of government. It will explore the various trends in American public administration, examine the unique circumstances involved in administering public organizations and look at different techniques of public management. Topics of study include: the structure and function of the American system of federalism, organizational theory and behavior, public budgeting and finance, public human resources management and the role of women in public administration.
POLS 321 PUBLIC BUDGETING (3)
Three hours lecture per week
Examines the major concepts of public budgeting and finance in the United States. Key topics of study include: expenditure estimation, revenue forecasting, capital budgeting, budget reform and financial management. The politics that characterizes the budgetary process will be emphasized throughout.
Same as FIN 321聽聽
POLS 325 AMERICAN PUBLIC POLICY (3) [top]
Three hours lecture per week
A study of how public policy is formulated and implemented, using several policy areas such as health, transportation, housing, energy, and welfare policy as areas for specific examination. The course will review several contemporary perspectives on policy making.
POLS 326 GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF SELECTED NATIONS (3)
Three hours lecture per week
An intensive study of the politics and government of a nation or group of nations. Topics will include study of the government structure, political processes, political behavior and public policies. Areas of focus vary by semester. Repeatable based on topic.
POLS 327 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF SELECTED AREAS (3) [top]
Three hours lecture per week
Examination of the international political and economic relations among nations of a particular area of the world. Area of focus varies by semester. Repeatable by topic.
POLS 328 UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY (3)
Three hours lecture per week
Examines the process of foreign policy making by the United States from several theoretical perspectives.
GenEd: D聽聽
POLS 330 POLITICAL SOCIOLOGY (3) [top]
Three hours lecture per week
Examines power and power structures at all levels of society. The roles of social classes, movements, and institutions in shaping the political process and social influences on political behavior are explored.
Same as SOC 330
GenEd: C3B,D,Interdisciplinary聽聽
POLS 331 NARRATIVES OF THE WORKING CLASS (3)
Three hours lecture per week
Examines the lives of working people using various thematic approaches and disiplinary methodoligies. Materials included literature, film, and case studies.
Same as ECON 331,ENGL 331,SOC 331,HIST 331
GenEd: C2,D,Interdisciplinary
POLS 335 POLITICS AND FILM (3) [top]
Two hours lecture and two hours activity per week.
Explores the themes, issues and processes of politics through an in depth study of selected films. Area of focus varies by semester.
GenEd: Interdiscplinary
Same as COMM 335
GenEd: D,Interdisciplinary
POLS 340 POLITICS AND THE ENVIRONMENT (3)
Three hours lecture per week
Exploration of environmental politics in both the international and domestic contexts.
GenEd: Interdisciplinary
Same as ESRM 340
GenEd: D,Interdisciplinary聽聽
POLS 345 SCIENCE AND PUBLIC POLICY (3) [top]
Three hours lecture per week
Examines the relationship between science, politics, and public policy and prepares students to make informed decisions concerning the societal implications of many rapidly advancing avenues of scientific research.
Same as BIOL 345
GenEd: D,Interdisciplinary聽聽
POLS 401 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW (3)
Three hours lecture per week
Explores how the U.S. Constitution creates and allocates power within the American structure of government. Examines the role of the U.S. Supreme Court in the political struggles over the distribution and uses of power in the American Constitutional system.
POLS 402 CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES (3) [top]
Three hours lecture per week
Examines the scope of rights and liberties under the United States Constitution. Includes a study of the leading decisions of the United States Supreme Court in this area.
POLS 430 POLITICAL COMMUNICATION (3)
Three hours lecture per week
An analysis of the relationship between mass media and political decision-making. Topics covered include: political communication theories and trends, the relationship between political institutions and the press in the US and in other countries, elections, debates, political campaigning and advertising, new media and politics, political socialization, education, politics and popular culture.
GenEd: Interdiscplinary
Same as COMM 430
GenEd: D,Interdisciplinary聽聽
POLS 431 EDUCATION POLICY AND POLITICS (3) [top]
Three hours lecture per week
Prerequisites: POLS 150 for POLS students or Consent of Instructor
Examines the roles of political institutions in education policy making, the political factors that shape policy formulation and implementation, the values and assumptions of different types of policies, and the links between policy and local-level implementation. Analyzes current and pending policies' effect on schools and classrooms to illustrate how education policy reflects American politics.
Same as EDUC 431
GenEd: D,Interdisciplinary聽聽
POLS 490 SPECIAL TOPICS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE (3)
Three hours lecture per week
In depth analysis of current topics in Political Science. Topics vary each semester. Repeatable by topic
POLS 492 SERVICE LEARNING IN POLITICAL SCIENCE (3) [top]
One hour lecture per week and two hours activity per week
Community based service combined with course work and reflection on a topic with political or policy significance.
POLS 493 INTERNSHIP IN POLITICAL SCIENCE (3)
Three hours lecture per week
Prerequisites: Consent of Instructor
Community based internship in political science.
POLS 494 INDEPENDENT RESEARCH (1-3) [top]
Prerequisite: Senior standing or consent of the instructor
Independent research in Political Science conducted under the supervision of a faculty member.
POLS 499 CAPSTONE (3)
Three hours lecture per week
Integrating and culminating experience in which students work in teams to analyze political or policy issues in a community-based setting.