Courses Offered
Government
A list of regularly offered courses follows. The indication of when a course will be offered is based on the best projection of the home department and can be subject to change.
Please note the key for the following abbreviations: (A) Arts; (H) Humanities; (S) Social Sciences; (N) Natural Sciences with Laboratory; (LS) Language Studies requirement; (NSP) Natural Science in Perspective; (NW) Non-Western Cultures requirement.
GOV100. American Government. (S) Every Semester
Political power within the framework of American national government. Current governmental and political problems are explored. Staff
GOV130. International Politics. (S) Every Semester
The theory and practice of international politics; the major actors in the international system and their various objectives; the interplay of power and principle in diplomacy; the causes of war and the prospects for peace. Theoretical principles are illustrated with case studies from various historical periods with emphasis on the major conflicts since World War I. Gray, Kibbe
GOV200. Understanding Public Policy. (S) Every Spring
Focus on government activity in a variety of public policy areas, the structural and political contexts of debates over alternative policy strategies and approaches to understanding public policy. Policy areas examined include the national budget and entitlements, science and technology and education. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Karlesky
GOV223. Comparative Politics of Developing Countries. (NW) (S) Every Semester
The scope and nature of social and political change in the so-called "Third World." Examines democratic transitions, the nature of state and society relations and economic reforms in the "Third World"; debates on human rights and development trade-offs, prospects for revolutionary change and what democracy means for non-Western societies are all critically analyzed. Aideyan, McNulty
GOV241. Classical Political Theory. (H) Every Semester
Examines important texts in classical Greek and Roman political thought, including the writings of Plato, Aristotle and other relevant authors. Explores how ancient political theory sheds lights on contemporary politics, including issues of democracy, citizenship, globalization and international relations. Hammer, Whiteside
GOV242. Modern Political Theory. (H) Offered in 2009—2010
Examines the political theories of Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Marx and one contemporary thinker, with emphasis on alternative views of the social contract, liberalism and radicalism. Hendrix
GOV250. Political Research. (S) Every Semester
Empirical investigation in political science; scientific inquiry in political science; problems of logical induction; selecting and formulating a research problem; functions and types of research design; analysis of data, both qualitative and quantitative. Primarily for government majors; should be completed no later than first semester of junior year. Prerequisite: GOV 100, or 130, or 222 or 223. Friedrich, Schousen
GOV305. Public Policy Implementation. (S) Fall 2010
Focus on national government bureaucracy in the implementation of public policy, including exploration of the role of bureaucracies in contemporary political debate, organizational theory in the problems of governing and administrative politics and administrative due process. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Karlesky
GOV308. The American Presidency. (S) Spring 2010
Evolution of the Presidency to an office that is the focal point of politics and leadership in the American political system. Emphasis on the constitutional and political roles played by the chief executive in shaping public policy. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Schousen
GOV309. The Congress. (S) Spring 2011
The informal and formal institutions and processes of the United States Congress, with specific attention to selected public policy issues. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Schousen
GOV310. Campaigns and Elections. (S) Fall 2010
Explores the structure of American campaigns and elections, including the nomination process and general elections. Gives special attention to the elements of the modern campaign, including campaign finance, research, polling, advertising and media use. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Medvic
GOV311. Citizen Politics. (S) Fall 2010
How and why ordinary citizens participate, individually and collectively, in American politics and what difference it makes. Topics include elections and voting, political parties and interest groups, unconventional participation, the institutional and legal context for participation and the impact of participation on public policy. Special attention to contemporary political issues and controversies, such as the decline of civic culture and racially-based redistricting. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Friedrich
GOV314. The American Constitution. (S) Fall 2010
Examines the Supreme Court as a political institution and custodian of the governmental system. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Stephenson
GOV315. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. (S) Spring 2010
Explores civil rights and liberties in the American system, with emphasis on current problems and recent Court decisions. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Stephenson
GOV317. Trial Courts and the Justice System. (S) Every Spring
Examines courts at the trial level, including organization of the judiciary, the selection of judges, the relationship between the public and the courts and the role of trial courts in administering justice in different contexts. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Stengel
GOV318. Media and Public Opinion. (S) Spring 2010
Examines the interrelationship between the mass media (including print, broadcast and new media), public opinion and American politics, giving particular attention to ways in which the media and public opinion both help influence and are influenced by the political process. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Same as TDF 318. Medvic
GOV327. Latin American Politics. (NW) (S) Spring 2010
This course introduces students to Latin American government and politics. The course provides a brief overview of the region's history and a discussion of some of the key issues shaping the region's politics, including: authoritarianism and democracy; development and dependency; and revolution. The rest of the course will be dedicated to a survey of the politics of several countries from different areas of Latin America. McNulty
GOV330. Foreign Policy Analysis. (S) Spring 2010
Explores how US foreign policy is made. Examines the roles played by the foreign affairs bureaucracy, Congress, public opinion, the media and individual policy makers in shaping foreign policy and then applies that information in analyzing past and present foreign policy decisions. Prerequisite: GOV 130. Kibbe
GOV331. National Security Policy. (S) Every Fall
American national security policy since World War II with special attention to presidential decisions to use force. Other topics include humanitarian crises, international law affecting national security, ethical perspectives on the use of force, causes of war and current problems facing the United States. Prerequisite: GOV 130. Gray
GOV343. American Political Tradition. (S) Every Spring
The texts and ideas that have shaped the ideological basis of political institutions and the role of government in American life. Examines founding principles and how these principles have been challenged by the forces of industrialization, urbanization and immigration and by the emergence of issues of race and gender in political discourse. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Hammer
GOV388. Public Health Research: Pregnancy Outcomes in American Women. (S) Spring 2011
This interdisciplinary seminar will explore women's health and pregnancy outcome through the lenses of both science and social analysis. In addition to reading and discussion on influences on pregnancy outcomes, students will examine results of surveys of Amish women in Lancaster County, African-American and Hispanic women in Lancaster City and women of child-bearing age in central Pa. This course is supported by funds from the PA Dept. of Health. (Any course that includes methods of data analysis or permission.) Same as PUB/STS/WGS 388. Miller, Yost
GOV391. Directed Reading. (S)
Exploration of a chosen topic in government, with reading directed by Government department staff. Assignments are typically short analytical papers. Permission of chairperson.
GOV420. Secrets, Spies, Satellites. (S) Spring 2010
This seminar highlights some of the major debates about the role, practices and problems of national intelligence and explores the issues facing the U.S. intelligence community in the 21st century. Topics include the role intelligence plays in support of policymaking, the sources of past intelligence "failures," and the questions of congressional oversight and intelligence reform. Prerequisites: GOV 330 or GOV331. Permission of the instructor required. Kibbe
GOV425. Seminar: Human Rights/Human Wrongs. (NW) (CBL) (S) Every Spring
What is a "well-founded fear of persecution"? Who deserves to live in the U.S.? Students, in teams of two will work with a political asylum seeker, under the supervision of PIRC (Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center) a non-profit legal organization. The teams will compile evidence, testimony, detainee affidavits and a legal brief that will be used in immigration court. Permission of the instructor required. Dicklitch
GOV445. Hannah Arendt: Terror, Identity, Politics. (S) Fall 2009
Seminar exploring the life and work of Hannah Arendt, who remains one of the most controversial and important political thinkers of the 20th century. Examines how her personal experience as a Jewish émigré extended to an exploration of identity, to a critique of contemporary culture and politics and to a revived sense of politics that emphasizes human distinctiveness rather than anonymous group processes. Same as JST 445. Hammer
GOV490. Independent Study.
Independent study directed by the Government staff. Permission of chairperson.
GOV270, GOV370, GOV470. Topics in American Politics.
Exploration of specific aspects of American politics. Topics will vary from year to year. Prerequisite: GOV 100; GOV 250 may be required for certain topics.
GOV271, GOV371, GOV471. Topics in Public Law.
Exploration of specific aspects of public law. Topics will vary from year to year. Prerequisites: GOV 100 and permission of the instructor.
GOV272, GOV372, GOV472. Topics in Comparative Politics.
An exploration of specific aspects of comparative politics. Topics will vary from year to year. Prerequisites: GOV 222 or 223.
GOV273, GOV373, GOV473. Topics in International Relations.
An exploration of specific aspects of international relations. Topics will vary from year to year. Prerequisite: GOV 130.
GOV274, GOV374, GOV474. Topics in Political Theory.
Close reading of leading texts in political philosophy; readings vary from year to year. Prerequisite: GOV 241 or 242. Hammer, Whiteside
GOV275, GOV375, GOV475. Research Topics in Government.
A seminar designed to give students experience in researching specific problems currently under
TOPICS COURSES EXPECTED TO BE OFFERED IN 2009—2010
Health Policy.
Citizenship Seminar.
Political Parties.
City and State Government. (Topics will vary from year to year. Prerequisite: GOV 250
or permission of the instructor.)
