Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Requirements

This course introduces students to the systematic study of politics and crucial concepts in the discipline, including government, democracy, power, justice, and collective action. Course materials consist of philosophical and theoretical texts, case studies, political analyses, and documentaries. Upon completion, students will better understand the practice of politics on local, national, and international levels. Open to First Year students only.

Offered fall semester. (3 Credits)

Analysis of how the American Government works and why it works the way it does. We will consider what problems we think our government should solve and how it should solve those problems. We will examine the principal institutions of American Government: The Presidency, Congress, the Court system, the media, political parties, interest groups and elections. Each student will pick a current issue of special interest and follow it for the semester.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: None

This course introduces students to the study of foreign governments, foreign political behavior, foreign political economy, and foreign political culture across the globe. It focuses on the objective comparison of how other societies organize their governments, how their people vote, how they solve common problems, and how their cultures influence their political behavior. The course surveys major democracies in the Western world as well as prominent non-Western countries.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

This course introduces students to the concepts, themes, and classic cases in international relations, the highest level of politics. It focuses on the role that states, international organizations, and non-state actors (e.g. Microsoft, al-Qaeda) play in the world arena and the intervening force of globalization.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: Open to junior and senior Political Science majors.

Supervised experience in a legal or governmental agency or organization concerned with political issues. Students may intern in the Rosemont-American University collaborative or a number of other internship possibilities in Washington and other locations across the country. Available during the school year or during the summer. Credit depends on particular internship and school year or summer options. 

Offered fall/spring/summer semester. (1-6 Credits)

The senior seminar is the culminating point of the political science major. Students partake in three critically important tasks: 1) participate in a weekly discussion of a mutually agreed course theme and lead at least one weekly class meeting. 2) Write a term paper related to the mutually agreed seminar theme. 3) Explore career options for political science majors.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: None

Research in Political Science: This course introduces students to the planning and conduct of research in political science. The class, under the direction of the instructor, will devise and execute a small research project. By the end of the term, successful students will have learned the logic of social scientific inquiry, be familiar with political science methodology, and have completed a professional and publishable research project.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: SOC 0100 or SOC 0110 or Permission Of Instructor (POI).

Research Methods in Social Science: An introduction to research methods in the social sciences which includes descriptive and

inferential statistics, qualitative methods, survey methods, research design, document analysis, special interviewing skills, experimental and quasi-experimental approaches to research, and analytical tools. Students complete a research proposal or research project in their major discipline.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

Course Description

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

An introduction to and analysis of the central texts and theories of western political thought. Material will be drawn from the ancient and medieval world, the Renaissance, and modern and contemporary thought. Topics include the nature of justice, equality, liberty, rights, and political obligation. Among the theories covered are conservatism and neo-conservatism, classical liberalism, libertarianism, socialism, and other current political theories.

Offered every other year. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

Course Description

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: None

Course Description

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: None

Course Description

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: None

This course is designed to introduce students to the nonprofit sector and provide them with the foundational knowledge they need to understand the role and purpose of non-profit organizations in contemporary American Society.

Offered fall semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

This course is an examination of the moral foundations of leadership. Topics studied include hindrances to ethical leadership, the temptations of power, the relation between ethics and effectiveness, the moral obligations of leaders and followers, the moral influence of leaders on institutions and society, and leadership and the common good. Methods for ethical decision making and for contributing to the development of ethical groups and organizations are also covered, and students will discuss case studies in which they will apply philosophical concepts of ethics to practical problems and stories of real leaders.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

A consideration of the process of policy making from the formulation of a policy through its success or failure in becoming part of the public agenda and official policy. Students will learn to analyze and write case studies on pressing contemporary political and social issues, e.g. cloning, third world indebtedness, poverty, health care, crime, and education.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

The buck stops here!” read the sign that sat on the desk of President Harry S. Truman. This course studies the evolution of the fundamental powers of the Presidency, the tension among the President, Congress, the Courts, interest groups, and the dynamics of presidential decisions.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

“Being a politician is like being a football coach. You have to be smart enough to understand the game, but dumb enough to think it matters.” Eugene McCarthy. This course is about understanding the election game. Why do people vote, run for office, and work in politics? What are the functions of political parties, of polling, the media, and interest groups? How has technology changed politics? How do local elections differ from national elections? And most importantly, why does it matter?

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: None

An introduction to the economic theories which explain national economic conditions in the United States. Topics include unemployment, inflation, economic fluctuations, productivity, and economic growth in the context of a global economy.

Offered fall semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

An introduction to the economic theories which explain the workings of the marketplace in a capitalist system. Topics include the behavior of consumers, businesses, the public sector, labor market, discrimination, poverty, and pollution. The course emphasizes techniques of analysis
that will continue to be useful in comprehending a changing economic world.

Offered spring semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: None

An introduction to and analysis of the central texts and theories of western political thought. Material will be drawn from the ancient and medieval world, the Renaissance, and modern and contemporary thought. Topics include the nature of justice, equality, liberty, rights, and political obligation. Among the theories covered are conservatism and neo-conservatism, classical liberalism, libertarianism, socialism, and other current political theories.

Offered every other year. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

This course examines the role of ethics in International Relations. International politics is ripe with ethical and normative issues, including when is the use of force justified? Should human rights be important for state behavior? Who should be responsible for environmental protection? This course will ask students to address these and other important questions, as well as think about the consequences and responsibilities that follow for us, our political leaders, and the world.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

Course description coming soon.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: One social science course or Permission Of Instructor (POI).

This course introduces students to the way that Americans make foreign policy and pays close attention to the uniqueness of the American method in comparison with other countries. Along the way, students will study contemporary American foreign policy issues related to trade, national security, and transnational problems like the HIV/AIDS epidemic or climate change.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

Students make decisions of war and peace in real time by role-playing as leaders of the major European nations from 1908 to 1914. Thrust into a simulation of the tense pre-war international scene, students will be forced to respond to the crises that led up to the war and in the process discover the role of diplomacy and nationalism played in the coming of Great War. Ultimately, students will come to some conclusions as to how wars are started and who is “at fault” for starting them.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

A survey of the political, social, and economic trends that have shaped the present European community. Topics studied include post-war reconstruction, the rise of the common market, unity and diversity on both sides of the “Iron Curtain,” the cultural upheavals of the 1960s and 1970s, and the collapse of communism.

Offered every other year, fall semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

This course explores the social and political dimensions of sustainability. Students will study the common problems created by environmental degradation and the depletion of nonrenewable resources; the solutions to these problems proposed by governments, businesses, and non-governmental organizations; and the processes by which competing preferences over these different solutions are reconciled. This course includes theoretical readings and case studies in order to provide an accurate survey of the rapidly changing politics of sustainability. At the conclusion of the course, student will have an increased awareness of what actions society must take in order develop in a sustainable manner.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

This course examines the security-seeking behavior of governments and studies the impact it has on international relations as a whole. Specific topics include terrorism, civil-military relations, peacekeeping, weapons of mass destruction, arms races, interstate war, civil war, ethnic violence, and defense policymaking.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

This course examines changing roles for women and men during times of war. Through a close examination of masculinity and femininity during military conflicts, students will explore the role of gender in both warfare and pacifism.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: One social science course or Permission Of Instructor (POI).

Should local governments be able to take one’s property, using eminent domain and turn it over to a private developer? Can the federal government pass laws to punish violence against women? Can states legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes? Using legal opinions and political science analysis, we will answer these and other questions about the fundamental principles of the American political structure, including the relationship amongst the three branches of government. Students will choose cases and topics to research and make presentations to the class.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: One social science course or Permission Of Instructor (POI).

How have Supreme Court decisions concerning freedoms of speech, press and religion; the rights of the accused; civil rights for women and minority groups, and the right of privacy changed our lives and the political system? We will use legal opinions and political science analysis to answer this question. Students will research cases and topics and make presentations to the class.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

This course is an introduction to the theory and practice of legal, ethical, and policy arguments. We will study traditional and contemporary views on the nature of law and the nature of morality. Topics covered include theories of justice and legitimacy, natural law and natural rights, legal positivism and various applied topics including legal protection of basic rights, equal protection under the law, and civil disobedience. Offered occasionally.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

This course introduces students to international organizations. We study the importance and effectiveness of international organizations in such areas as peace and security, economic globalization, protection of the environment, and human rights.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

How do people, groups, and governments resolve their differences? This course asks and answers this deceivingly simple, yet intellectually complex, question. Over the term, the class will examine the sources of conflict across three levels of analysis (individual, group, and international) and study cases of successful conflict resolution therein. Subsequently, students will have the opportunity to develop conflict resolution techniques through theoretical study, case studies, and role-playing.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

Theories and practices of dispute resolution. Social problems amenable to mediation include domestic issues; cohabitation; divorce; child custody; employer-employee conflicts; educational services; and other areas. Topics covered: theories of social conflict / mediation; identifying the social context; ethical knowledge; techniques for building collaborations; identifying impasses; updating professional training; integration of other professionals (lawyers, religious professional, therapists, and human resources); drafting a mediation document. Guest speakers will share their knowledge and experiences. 

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*This course fulfills the Critical Thinking requirement in the Undergraduate College’s General Education program.

Prerequisite: None

The history, traditions, social philosophies, practices, and procedures of the civil and criminal systems. The court’s importance and impact on society from arrest to case dispositions. Site visits to observe the workings of the courts. The application of sociological theory, methods, and interventions.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

This course presents a survey of major social movements in the United States during the 20th Century. This course is intended to provide students with an understanding of the significance of social movements in U. S. history, as well introduce students to different theoretical approaches to studying social movements.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: WRT-0110 or equivalent.

In Social Justice and Contemporary Literature, students will explore literary representations of some of the most challenging and important cultural, historical, and moral issues of our time. Students will study and debate the role of literature in recording and challenging issues in social
justice, as well as tensions surrounding inequalities due to race, class, gender, citizenship, war, genocide, (post) colonialism, and/or environmental concerns. The thematic focus will vary.

Offered spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

An introductory survey of philosophical approaches to contemporary moral and social problems. Emphasis will be on theories about how we ought to act and about goals, rights and responsibilities appropriate to human beings. Topics may include capital punishment, equality and discrimination, economic justice, globalization, and terrorism, among others.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

This course examines the development and key elements of the Catholic Social Justice tradition. Tracing Catholic revelation, reason, tradition, and experience, this course will approach key issues of contemporary concern including peace and violence, hunger, racism, the dignity of work, care for creation, and other critical issues.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

An introduction to the areas of anthropology; archaeology, physical anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistics. Topics include methods of dating archaeological finds; origins of humankind; theories of culture; relationship between language and culture, modern societies and anthropological concepts.

Offered spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: WRT 0110 or Permission Of Instructor (POI).

Do words really hold power in today’s climate? What does it mean to be a writer-activist? How can we use our writing to advocate for and enact social change? These are questions we will seek to answer in this creative writing course. This class will be equally focused on both the craft of writing for social action (and reading) and the practice of workshopping your own work through fiction writing, poetry, creative nonfiction, and community writing. The hybrid format allows for both in class and digital writing, collaboration, and production.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: None

Course description coming soon.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

In 2017, women hold 104 of the 535 seats in the 115th US Congress. Why don’t more women run? Why don’t more women win? Does it matter? Topics will include the fight to get the vote, the gender gap in voting and what it means; the leadership styles of women. Students are expected to engage in off-campus activities that connect them to women who work in the political sphere, broadly defined.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

This course introduces students to the interdisciplinary field of Africana Studies and to the foundational concepts and institutional experience upon which the field is built. Intro to Africana Studies provides a basic understanding of the history of the field and how various American interest groups fought to establish and develop academic programs that focused on the study of Africa and is diaspora populations. People of African descent have played a central role at every stage of development and expansion of what became the United States. Class sessions will be composed of lectures, discussions, exercises, film screenings, media, and textual analysis.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: None

This course serves as an introduction to the field of intercultural communication. Students will develop an understanding of the intercultural communication process, learn to appreciate diverse ways of communicating in different cultures, and increase their understanding of cultural issues – both at home and abroad – that influence communication effectiveness.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

This course will address the role the media has played in creating images and understandings of “Blackness” in the United States, particularly where it converges with popular ideologies about gender.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

A study of the writers who have enriched and illuminated the American literary experience from the perspective of African American writers from its earliest inception to 1900. Poetry, slave narratives, autobiographies, speeches, short and long fiction, and the vernacular tradition in its myriad forms will be studied in conjunction with social, political, and religious movements of the time. Representative authors will include Olaudah Equiana, Phyllis Wheatley, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglas, Booker T. Washington among others.

Offered every other fall semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

This course explores African American history from 1865 to the present with particular emphasis on political, economic, and social forces. Particular attention will be paid to how African American history has been represented both in written histories and in literature, film, museums, and public history sites.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

This course will use the experiences of women through the lens which we examine the history of America from settlement by Europeans to the Civil War. Topics to be covered include changing conditions and ideas about unpaid housework and paid work; relations between different groups of women and the way relations of power have shaped these interactions; the ongoing political struggle to gain increased civil and political rights; and changing notions of “proper” roles for women, especially regarding sexuality. We will consider which ideas and assumptions within American culture have changes and which have stayed the same.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

What is Latino? What is Latina? What historical forces in the American experience have brought together peoples and communities as diverse as, for instance, Chicanas from Los Angeles, Cuban Americans from Miami, and Dominican Americans and Puerto Ricans from New York City? Beginning in the sixteenth century and stretching to the present, this course will map the varied terrains of Latina/o history, exploring the Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Cuban American, and Dominican American experiences in New Mexico, California, Texas, New York, the Midwest, and Florida.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

An introduction to the areas of anthropology; archaeology, physical anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistics. Topics include methods of dating archaeological finds; origins of humankind; theories of culture; relationship between language and culture, modern societies and anthropological concepts.

Offered spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

This course is an introduction to critical thinking about the construction of gender and the intersections of gender with race, ethnicity, class and sexual orientation. Drawing on material from a wide range of fields and media, the students will examine the ways in which these construction and intersections shape people’s lives. This interdisciplinary course will highlight multicultural perspectives in U.S. society.

Offered fall semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

This course takes an interdisciplinary and multicultural approach to studying the impact race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation and religion play in shaping the lives of women and men living in the US today. We will explore such areas as education, work, the media, and the family. We will incorporate feminist approaches from disciplines including psychology, sociology, history and religion for this discussion base course.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.

Prerequisite: None

Course description coming soon.

Offered fall/spring semester. (3 Credits)

*Easily add a minor: This course can be applied toward more than one requirement.