Department of Political Science
Courses
- General Education Course

This course will engage students in critical thinking as they explore the American federal government system, with emphasis on constiutionalism, governmental structure, and the political process.

General survey introducing the study of politics, its major concepts, processes, institutions, and fields of concern, with attention to the place of political science in the larger context of social science inquiry.

Study of the institutions, processes, and significance of this level of political life in America.

Introduction to the field of comparative politics, stressing comparative concepts and approaches to the cross-national study of politics and government, with examination of political systems, ranging from democratic to non-democratic types.

Survey of major concepts and approaches in the study of international relations and analysis of processes, institutions, strategies, and trends in world politics.

Study of the development of political science as a distinct science and discipline, and of the fundamentals of research in political science, such as bibliographic techniques, uses of scientific method, textual and case-study approaches and data analysis.
Pre-req: ENG 201 with a minimum grade of C or ENG 201H with a minimum grade of C or YGS 161 with a minimum grade of C or IST 201 with a minimum grade of D or ENG 202 with a minimum grade of D or ENG 102 with a minimum grade of C or ENG 200H with a minimum grade of C.

Basic concepts and skills in the analysis of public policy problems. Use of policy as an instrument for solving problems. Application to selected fields, for example, environmental policy and urban policy.
To offer a course on some special topic not adequately treated in the regular course offerings.
To offer a course on some special topic not adequately treated in the regular course offerings.
To offer a course on some special topic not adequately treated in the regular course offerings.
To offer a course on some special topic not adequately treated in the regular course offerings.
Examination of the American party system, its origins, development and characteristics. Emphasis also on party organization, political ambition and recruitment, party impact on public policy, campaigns, elections, and voting behavior.
Study of the processes by which individuals acquire politi- cally relevant information, attitudes, values, and opinions; the consequences of these processes for political stability and conflict; and the linkage of mass opinions to elite be- havior. (Same as Sociology 307)
A course devoted to a special topic of interest in the policy field, such as energy, health care, transportation, environmental concerns, etc.
Introduction to modern theories of administration; the re- lation of administration to the political system and pro- cess; and analysis of administrative organizations and functions, including planning, personnel, and finance.

Study emphasizing power structures in black communities, dissent and protest, problems and trends, and the uni- queness of black politics as compared with the politics of other ethnic groups.
Structure and behavior of American national and state legislative systems; the impact of constituencies, parties, interest groups, interpersonal relations, and other factors on the legislative policymaking process; the role of the legislature as a subsystem in the larger political system; and problems and trends.
One week of intensive legislative observation designed to provide selected students an understanding of the organiza- tion and processes of the West Virginia legislature and its role in the making of public policy.
Study of governmental executives in the American political system, with emphasis on the president, including analysis of constitutional status and powers, recruitment, admini- strative responsibilities, political and legislative leader- ship, accountability, and problems and trends.

An exploration of evolving depictions of political violence in film, television, graphic novels, video games, and popular music.

Study of world and regional organizations as reflections of world politics, as instruments of foreign policies, and as forces for change and order, with emphasis on their role as channels for management of cooperation and conflict.

Study of major issues in world politics, with emphasis on theoretical approaches, problems of war and peace, and contemporary trends.

Study of such nations as India, China, Japan, and Korea in the contemporary setting.

Study of the Arab States and such nations as Israel, Iran, and Turkey in the contemporary setting.

Study of such nations as Canada and those of Western Europe, particularly Great Britian and France.

Study of the politics of Russia and the former Soviet Union. Study of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

Study of Latin American politics by sectors, such as landed elites, the military, the church, etc. Various styles of governance are considered. Case examples illustrate con- cepts discussed.
This course will examine the evolution and structure of the global economic system with emphasis on the development of the Liberal International Economic Order.

Study of theories, origins, sources, development, present state, and trends of international law as a factor in various aspects of international politics.

A survey of major theories of development and modernization and issues confronting developing nations around the world.
An examination of the policy issues involved in protecting the U.S. homeland from terrorist and other threats, with special attention to the impact such policies have on individual liberties.
This course is a detailed examination of the philosophical and historical roots of American politics from Reconstruction through the present with emphasis on original texts.
This course examines how women were conceptualized in the history of political philosophy and how women then began conceptualizing themselves and their relation to politics.

An intensive study of specific world or regional problems, such as the politics of world hunger, the role of multi- national corporations, imperialism, Third World Communist movements, etc.
This course is a detailed examination of the philosophical and historical roots of American politics from the Colonial era through the Civil War with emphasis on original texts. Study of the development and influence of American Political Thought with an emphasis on the linkage of ideas to political and ecomomic forces.

The study of political systems of selected countries, blocs, or regions.

The study of descriptive, analytical, and normative aspects of United States foreign policy with emphasis on contempor- ary problems and issues.

Application of the comparative method to foreign policy decision-making and outputs. Comparisons within or between geographic regions.
Selective study of classics of Western political theory from earliest times through the 15th century, such as that of Plato, Aristotle, the Romans, Augustine, and Aquinas.
Selective study of classics of Western political theory from the 16th century through the 19th century, such as that of Machiavelli, Bodin, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hume, Burke, Mill, and Marx.
A study of political leaders who have shaped and defined the American constitutional tradition.

Study of Islamic political ideas, practices, and institut- ions and their impact on the rise and development of con- temporary Islamic movements, organizations, and states.

Study of major theories of conflict and revolution with em- phasis on cross-national explanations and outcomes.
This course examines modern political ideologies including Liberalism, Conservatism, Anarchism, Socialism, Facism, Feminism, and Environmentalism with emphasis on the original texts.
An examination of terrorism globally, both in its development and its current manifestations, with attention to its attractions, the difficulties of confronting it, and its implications for democratic society. Draws upon both classic and contemporary sources of politi- cal theory to address basic political issues inherent in public problems.
This course examines the principles and applied practices of nonprofit administration including theories of nonprofit formation, fundraising appeals, executive leadership, marketing, budgeting, and strategic management.
Examination of alternative theoretical approaches to the study of policy and administration and their implications for the use of policy to shape administrative practice.
An introduction to the institutions and processes of the U.S. Intelligence Community, with an emphasis on the vital role of intelligence in national security.
Detailed examination of the Harry Potter book series through the lens of various theories and theorists of power, with emphasis on scholarly argumentation and writing.
Structure and behavior in American national and state judi- cial systems, including analysis of their decision making and policy making functions, their procedures and administ- ration, and problems and trends.
Examination of some of the major theoretical approaches - pluralistic, elitist, etc. - to the study of power. A major concern is the relationship between the distribution of political resources and the performance of political systems. Efforts to transform political systems are exam- ined on the basis of cross-national research.
A comparative course examining the political institutional methods states use to assist citizens who are poor, primarily women and children. It also addresses behavioral concerns that shape welfare policy.
An investigation of the strengths of democracies relative to dictatorships with regard to such dimensions as economic growth, income equality, health and welfare of citizens and war reductions.
This course examines multiple prespectives on the relationship between humans and nature, focusing on how particular interpretations of this relationship determine how we translate environmental concerns into political problems.
A study of politics as an order shattering, order restructuring force during some of America's most transformative moments.
A study of the basic legal framework of administrative or- ganization, including the problems of administrative dis- cretion, rule-making and adjudication, regulatory agencies, and administrative responsibility in the democratic state.
Survey of Public Personnel Administration with particular attention to various facets of the merit system concept. Psychological and human relations aspects of the work situation and supervisor-subordinate interaction emphasized.
Study of organization, administration, and accountability in the management of public funds, with emphasis on the political decision-making processes of budget formulation, presentation and execution.
A study of the contributions of the behavioral sciences to the study of organizations with stress on such concepts as leadership, motivation, power conflict, organizational design and decision making.
Pre-req: PSC 104 or PSC 104E.
Study of policy problems of metropolitan areas in terms of structures, alternatives, and outcomes.
Explores Appalachia as both a geographical region and a political construct, focusing on how politics shapes regional identity and the region's relationship to the United States.
An exploration of the power dynamics and politics at play in video games, the video game industry, and gaming culture.
To offer a course on some special topic which is not ad- equately treated in the regular course offerings.
To offer a course on some special topic which is not ad- equately treated in the regular course offerings.
To offer a course on some special topic which is not ad- equately treated in the regular course offerings.
To offer a course on some special topic which is not ad- equately treated in the regular course offerings.
Introduction to the principles of American constitutional law and analysis of constitutional issues, emphasizing leading Supreme Court cases.
Pre-req: PSC 104E or PSC 104.
These numbers are reserved for tutorials, directed and in- dependent readings, directed and independent research, problem reports, etc.
These numbers are reserved for tutorials, directed and in- dependent readings, directed and independent research, problem reports, etc.
These numbers are reserved for tutorials, directed and in- dependent readings, directed and independent research, problem reports, etc.
These numbers are reserved for tutorials, directed and in- dependent readings, directed and independent research, problem reports, etc.

This course is designed as a culminating experience for seniors. Students will engage in a service learning project that combines scholarly interests with real life skills. Course offered only in Fall Semester. This course is designed to integrate political theory with politics by considering the relevance of political phil- osophy to contemporary political questions. Capstone ex- perience must be completed in the senior year.
Pre-req: PSC 211 with a minimum grade of D.