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.
100. American Government. (S) Every Semester
Political power within the framework of American national government. Current governmental and political problems are explored. Staff
120. Comparative Politics. (S) Every Semester
Introduction to the theory and method of comparative politics. The course analyzes the government and politics of both developed and developing countries, encouraging students to apply the comparative method to draw conclusions about political processes and phenomena across nations and continents. McNulty, McSherry
130. 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, Hasunuma, Kibbe
200. Understanding Public Policy. (S) Spring 2013
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
208. The American Presidency. (S) Fall 2012
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 Schousen executive in shaping public policy. Prerequisite: GOV 100.
211. Citizen Politics. (S) Fall 2013
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: GOV100. Friedrich
219. City and State Government. (S) Fall 2012
This course will focus on the interrelationships between the political, historical, legal, economic, social and demographic aspects of governing cities. In addition, the relationship of state governments to city governments will be explored in some depth. Particular attention will be paid to the problems facing cities, and possible solutions to those problems will be discussed. Among the many issues we will examine will be the ways in which state governments can be of assistance to city governments. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Shultz
231. National Security Policy. (S) Fall 2012
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
241. Classical Political Theory. (H) Spring 2013
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 light on contemporary politics, including issues of democracy, citizenship, globalization and international relations. Hammer
242. Modern Political Theory. (H) Fall 2012, Spring 2013
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. McCarty, Whiteside
250. 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, 120, or 130. Ciuk, Friedrich, Medvic, Shousen, Yost
305. Public Policy Implementation. (S) Fall 2012
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
309. The Congress. (S) Spring 2013
The informal and formal institutions and processes of the United States Congress, with specific attention to selected public policy issues. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Ciuk
310. Campaigns and Elections. (S) Fall 2012
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
314. The American Constitution. (S) Fall 2012
Examines the Supreme Court as a political institution and custodian of the governmental system. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Stephenson
315. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. (S) Spring 2013
Explores civil rights and liberties in the American system, with emphasis on current problems and recent Court decisions. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Stephenson
317. 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
318. Media and Public Opinion. (S) Spring 2013
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
320. Environmental Law. 2013 – 2014
The course provides an overview of current U.S. environmental laws, beginning with the National Environmental Policy Act (1969). Students will be introduced to the origin and implementation of major environmental laws that safeguard public health and protect the environment, including the Clean Air and Water Acts, Safe Drinking Water Act, and the 1980s legislative agenda developed to address hazardous waste, including the Superfund, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Toxic Substance Control Act, and the Community Right-to-Know Act. Students study original legislation and explore landmark court cases by way of which political and economic pressures have influenced subsequent amendments to the original intent of these laws. Same as ENV 320. Pepino
326. African Politics. (NW) (S) 2013 – 2014
An exploration of the socio-economic and political challenges facing Sub-Saharan Africa since independence. This course will focus specifically on the prospects for socio-economic development and democracy in Sub-Saharan Africa, with an investigation into foreign aid, corruption, and NEPAD. Prerequisite: GOV 224 or permission of the instructor. Same as AFS 326. McSherry
Fall 2013 327. Latin American Politics. (NW) (S)
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
330. Foreign Policy Analysis. (S) Spring 2013
Explores how U.S. 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
343. American Political Tradition. (S) 2013 – 2014
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
388. Public Health Research: Pregnancy Outcomes in American Women. (S) Spring 2013
This interdisciplinary seminar will explore women’s health and pregnancy outcomes 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. Prerequisite: any course that includes methods of data analysis or permission. Same as PUB/STS/WGS 388. Flaherty, Kibler, Miller, Yost
391. 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.
410. Health Policy. (S) Fall 2012
This seminar focuses on the health care system in the United States with attention to political structures shaping public policy on health and to substantive areas of health policy debate. The seminar explores the role of the presidency and the executive branch, Congress, and the states in the evolution of health policy. Biotechnology, health care disparities, and political struggles over providing health care are among the substantive areas the seminar examines from the perspectives of cost, access, and quality. Permission of the instructor required. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Karlesky
411. Presidential Character. (S) 2013 – 2014
This course examines the role that individual politicians, particularly American presidents, play in American politics. We examine concepts such as presidential leadership and presidential character. A primary goal of the course is to understand what types of individuals are likely to become president and which individual traits successful presidents are likely to possess. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Schousen
420. Secrets, Spies, Satellites. (S) Fall 2013
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
2015 – 2016 425. Human Rights, Human Wrongs. (S)
This course is structured as a senior seminar. It focuses on human rights and human wrongs in general, emphasizing political asylum in the United States. The major component of the course, aside from the weekly seminar readings and discussions, centers on the political asylum project. Students work on a political asylum case in the context of a community partnership. Students work in groups and compile evidence, testimony, and detainee affidavits that are used in an immigration court of law for the political asylum detainee’s case. Students have direct hands-on experience working with asylum seekers currently incarcerated in an INS detention facility. Students present and evaluate individual cases in a mock trial. Permission of the instructor required. Dicklitch
427. Citizenship Seminar. (S) (NW) Fall 2012
This community-based learning seminar undertakes a broad and interdisciplinary examination of the concept and practice of citizenship. We begin by exploring the historical development of citizenship in the United States. What does it mean to be a “good” citizen, and “engaged” citizen, a “2nd class” citizen? What rights, responsibilities and obligations do citizens have? Does this vary according to nation? What happens when you lose your citizenship or are born stateless? We examine philosophic bases of civil rights and civic obligations in our liberal democracy and explore some current issues surrounding citizenship in both a national and a global context. Students will work with resettled refugees and permanent refugees naturalizing in Lancaster County. The community-based learning component of this class will introduce students to the challenges of losing citizenship in another country and being resettled in the United States. Permission of the instructor required. Dicklitch, Trachte
445. Hannah Arendt: Terror, Identity, Politics. (S) 2015 – 2016
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
490. Independent Study.
Independent study directed by the Government staff. Permission of chairperson.
270, 370, 470. 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.
271, 371, 471. 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.
272, 372, 472. Topics in Comparative Politics.
An exploration of specific aspects of comparative politics. Topics will vary from year to year. Prerequisite: GOV 224.
273, 373, 473. Topics in International Relations.
An exploration of specific aspects of international relations. Topics will vary from year to year. Prerequisite: GOV 130.
274, 374, 474. Topics in Political Theory.
Close reading of leading texts in political philosophy; readings vary from year to year. Prerequisite: GOV 241 or 242.
275, 375, 475. Research Topics in Government.
A seminar designed to give students experience in researching specific problems currently under discussion in the political science literature. Topics will vary from year to year. Prerequisite: GOV 250 or permission of the instructor.
Topics Courses Expected To Be Offered In 2012 – 2013
Asian Politics.
Ideology and Contemporary American Politics.
Islam and Politics.
Liberal Political Thought.
