Political Science Courses | 2024-2025 Graduate Catalog | SIU

(See PHIL 441)

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as PHIL 405) An examination of various aspects of democratic thought, including the liberal tradition and its impact upon the United States. Fulfills the CoLA Writing-Across-the-Curriculum (WAC) requirement. Prerequisite: POLS 114 or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

This course is an advanced seminar in American political thought. The course focuses on the founding ideals and practices of the American republic and how these ideals functioned in subsequent social movements, political struggles, and ideological conflicts in American political history. Fulfills the CoLA Writing-Across-the-Curriculum (WAC) requirement.

Credit Hours: 3

This course will examine reproductive rights and reproductive health, domestically and globally. Though other perspectives will be considered, the primary lens employed in the course will be reproductive justice. Reproductive justice refers to a broad conception of reproductive rights as a component of social justice, including the rights to prevent or terminate a pregnancy, to have children and parent, and to raise children in safe and healthy communities. Thus, the course will examine reproductive rights in relation to gender, racism, ableism, environmentalism, poverty, violence, law, policy, and medicine. Specific topics will include abortion, birth control, sterilization abuse, population control, and more.

Credit Hours: 3

An examination of the process by which judges in both trial and appellate courts at federal and state levels are selected and of the ways in which they make decisions. Attention to the structure of the courts. Study of the communication and impact of judicial decisions. The course provides some insight into the methods used to study judicial behavior. Fulfills the CoLA Writing-Across-the-Curriculum (WAC) requirement. POLS 114 and 230 recommended prerequisites.

Credit Hours: 3

The procedural law of public agencies, particularly the regulatory commissions but also executive branch agencies exercising regulatory functions. The exercise of discretion and its control through internal mechanisms and judicial review. POLS 114 and 230 recommended. Fulfills the CoLA Writing-Across-the-Curriculum (WAC) requirement.

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides an examination of the major schools in legal thinking. We will investigate classic jurisprudential questions, including: theories of how judges decide cases, the role of morality and natural rights in determinations of law, and the role of legislative and judicial actors in the creation of law. POLS 114 and POLS 230 are recommended prerequisites. Fulfills the CoLA Writing-Across-the-Curriculum (WAC) requirement.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as WGSS 438) This course is an advanced seminar in public law with a focus on gender, law and society. The course will engage with issues in feminist legal practice and the development of legal theories regarding gender. We will interrogate the relationship between theory and practice and the ways in which feminist jurisprudence has taken shape in the dynamics of this relationship. POLS 114 and 230 recommended prerequisites.

Credit Hours: 3

In the United States, topics ranging from abortion to gay rights and government surveillance are inevitably "solved" by the Supreme Court. Yet for many years the Supreme Court stood alone in the world in being able to overturn government policy. Increasingly, courts all over the world-often prodded by social actors-have begun developing their own unique solutions to these constitutional questions, in many cases challenging accepted social values and mores along the way. In this course we will investigate the development of courts and constitutional rights around the world, including both national rights and international human rights.

Credit Hours: 3

An examination of transitions to democracy from authoritarian rule in countries around the world. Emphasis is on understanding from a comparative perspective on the social, economic, institutional, political, cultural and international circumstances that promote, inhibit and even reverse the spread of democratic forms of government. Fulfills the CoLA Writing-Across-the-Curriculum (WAC) requirement.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as WGSS 446) An advanced course examining gender systems and women's situations across cultures and countries. This course also studies the impact globalization has had on gender issues by looking at women's activism at international and transnational levels. Topics covered include women's political representation, gender and culture, women's social movements, gender and development, and gendered policy issues. POLS 250 recommended.

Credit Hours: 3

This course examines political developments in Russia and the other fourteen Soviet successor states that gained (or regained) independence following the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991. Particular attention is paid to the degree to which Soviet legacies of communist political institutions, state socialist economic policies and ethno-federalism continue to shape the politics and economics of these countries in the post-independence period. Fulfills the CoLA Writing-Across-the-Curriculum (WAC) requirement.

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides students an overview of European integration and a better understanding of the functioning of the European Union. The course opens with a survey of historical developments in both Eastern and Western Europe from 1914 to 1989. After this historical overview, the institutions and policies of the European Union are studied in detail. Fulfills the CoLA Writing-Across-the-Curriculum (WAC) requirement.

Credit Hours: 3

An in-depth analysis of specific problem areas in Latin American political processes as well as comparative study of selected Latin American nation-states. Fulfills the CoLA Writing-Across-the-Curriculum (WAC) requirement.

Credit Hours: 3

This course is designed to examine the regional politics and security of the Middle East and North Africa in a historical and comparative context. This course discusses the historical evolution of the modern states in the region, the dynamics of inter-Arab and Arab-Israeli politics and security, the role of ethnicity and religion in domestic and regional politics, and great powers' penetration of the region.

Credit Hours: 3

Rules and practices governing states in their relations in peace and war. Prerequisite: POLS 270 recommended. Fulfills the CoLA Writing-Across-the-Curriculum (WAC) requirement.

Credit Hours: 3

This course surveys the conduct, goals and evolution of American foreign policy since World War II. It analyzes such issues as the role of institutions, culture and individuals in the formulation of American foreign policy, the interaction between domestic and foreign politics, and the debate over American grand strategy. Prerequisite: POLS 270 recommended.

Credit Hours: 3

Discussion-based course analyzing empirical and normative (ethical) issues in the study of international relations. Particular emphasis is placed on developing students' critical thinking skills. Fulfills the CoLA Writing-Across-the-Curriculum (WAC) requirement. Prerequisite: POLS 270 recommended.

Credit Hours: 3

Seminars in empirical research methods (A) Research Design. Course covers quantitative and qualitative empirical studies of politics.

Credit Hours: 3

Seminars in empirical research methods (B) Statistical Data Analysis in Political Science I. Provides a foundation in univariate and bivariate descriptive statistics; inferential statistics including hypothesis testing about population parameters, bivariate and multivariate relationships, measures of association, and correlation; and an introduction to linear regression. Lab fee: $50.

Credit Hours: 3

Seminars in empirical research methods. (C) Statistical Data Analysis in Political Science II. Provides in-depth instruction in multiple regression including assumptions of linear model, diagnostics and corrections for violation; estimating models using categorical dependent variables, nonlinear relationships, interactions, and extensions to advanced techniques as time allows. Prerequisite: POLS 500B (or permission of instructor). Lab fee: $50.

Credit Hours: 3

Advanced seminar in empirical research methods. Topics will vary by instructor. Lab fee: $50.

Credit Hours: 3-6

Topic will vary with instructor. Student should see director of graduate studies for advanced syllabus.

Credit Hours: 3

An overview of the study of political behavior in American and comparative politics.

Credit Hours: 3

Provides an introduction to the academic study of media and politics. The primary objective is to introduce graduate students to seminal theory and research and contemporary contributions in the study of media, politics, and political communication.

Credit Hours: 3

Provides an overview of survey methodology. Students will learn how to administer surveys for use in political science and public administration. Topics include psychology of asking and answering questions; constructing questions and questionnaires; evaluating surveys; criteria for survey modes; sampling frames and sampling designs; and ethics for survey research methods.

Credit Hours: 3

A survey of the major literature in the field of public law at the graduate level.

Credit Hours: 3

An examination of legal systems around the world.

Credit Hours: 3

Advanced seminar in public law. Topics will vary by instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Survey of the major literature in comparative politics at the graduate level.

Credit Hours: 3

Advanced seminar in comparative politics. Topics will vary by instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Survey of the major literature in international relations at the graduate level.

Credit Hours: 3

Examines empirical studies of religion and politics, including research on behavior, institutions, and movements. Topics include theories of religion, case studies of religious traditions, church and state relations, measurement of religion, and other topics on the intersection of religion and politics.

Credit Hours: 3

Advanced seminar in empirical international relations. Topics will vary by instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Selection, investigation and writing of a research paper under the personal supervision of a member of the department graduate staff. Prerequisite: completion of the appropriate pro-seminar for the field in which readings or individual research is to be done.

Credit Hours: 1-9

Supervised readings in "classics" of the discipline.

Credit Hours: 3

Supervised readings in "classics" of the discipline.

Credit Hours: 3

Supervised readings in "classics" of the discipline.

Credit Hours: 3

Supervised readings in "classics" of the discipline.

Credit Hours: 3

Designed to give the student an introduction to the major professional roles in the discipline. The requirements of teaching, research, publication and service are covered with discussion of where each fits into the professional role requirements and examples of how each is accomplished. Required of all Ph.D. and M.A. students in political science and other teaching assistants in political science. Graded S/U only.

Credit Hours: 1

Workshop in dissertation topic selection and prospectus writing; enrollment required prior to completing preliminary examinations.

Credit Hours: 1

Maximum of six hours to be counted toward a degree. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 1-6

Minimum of 24 hours to be earned for the Doctor of Philosophy degree.

Credit Hours: 1-12

For those graduate students who have not finished their degree programs and who are in the process of working on their dissertation, thesis, or research paper. The student must have completed a minimum of 24 hours of dissertation research, or the minimum thesis, or research hours before being eligible to register for this course. Concurrent enrollment in any other course is not permitted. Graded S/U or DEF only.

Credit Hours: 1

Must be a Postdoctoral Fellow. Concurrent enrollment in any other course is not permitted.

Credit Hours: 1