The Political Science Program | Academic Requirements
Minor in Political Science | Courses | Faculty
The Political Science Program: Courses
Lower level: 1000–1999 (freshman)
Lower level: 2000–2999 (sophomore)
Upper level: 3000–3999 (junior)
Upper level: 4000–4999 (senior)
Added Spring 2010 (11/24/08):
Modern Political Theory
POL 1100 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
Explores the changes in political thinking, language, and ideas that emerged at the conclusion of the Middle Ages. The “rebirth” of humanism in the Renaissance ushered in what is commonly regarded as the beginnings of modernity, bringing a reconsideration of the relationship between humanity and the divine, the state and the church, the role of women in civil society, and the possibility of justice in a contested world.
Added Fall 2009 (11/24/08):
Introduction to Political Theory
POL 1110 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
The Western political tradition is approached from both a historical and theoretical perspective, with an eye to the concepts that mark the continuous discourse of “things political.” Subjects discussed include power, authority, justice, citizenship, violence, friendship, patriarchy, and the significance of necessity and nature in political discourse.
Added Spring 2010 (11/24/08):
The West Meets the Non-West
POL 1120 / 4 credits / Spring
An examination of historical events, social movements, and intellectual ideas that have shaped modernity from 1500 to the present. The focus is on the evolution of ideas that have influenced both Western and non-Western civilizations.
Introduction to United States Politics
POL 1570 / 3 credits / Fall
An introduction to the institutional and ideological components of the American political system, with an emphasis on the broad spectrum of values and sources of power that, when taken together, support and challenge the foundations of American pluralism. Films, field trips, and guest lectures complement the standard classwork.
Governments and Politics Worldwide
POL 2010 / 4 credits / Spring
An introduction to current political systems. The course examines political structures and processes (e.g., parliaments, political parties, elections, legislation, and formation of governments in different political systems) and analyzes the ideological foundations of these systems (e.g., liberalism, socialism). Discussions include social, economic, and political priorities set in each system; their strengths and weaknesses; and the impact of structural constraints.
Introduction to International Relations
POL 2020 / 4 credits / Fall
Examines contemporary international relations from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. Topics include East-West conflicts and the Cold War; the balance of power; colonialism, the Vietnam War, and the North-South issues; and the emerging new world order.
Women and Politics
POL 2040 / 4 credits / Alternate years
Theoretical, historical, and empirical analyses of the relationship between women’s private roles and socialization, and their integration into politics. Topics include changes in the laws affecting women, the impact of feminism on the quality of political discourse and political action, and the vexing problem of the “gender gap.” Also offered as GND 2040.
West African Politics and Literature
POL 2070 / 4 credits / Fall
Using African novels and social science literature, both the insights of the artist and the analytic models of the social scientist are employed in the discussion of African politics and political systems. Topics include the impact of Western colonialism and imperialism on traditional African societies, the evolution of new African cultures, the widening gulf between elites and masses, and the role of the African storyteller in articulating African issues.
Environmental Justice
POL 2080 / 4 credits / Alternate years
An introduction to the impact of environmental laws and policies on the fair treatment of people of different races and incomes in the U.S. Global climate change, nuclear energy, and public responsibility for the environment constitute the center of a political and legal analysis of the relationship of citizens and government to the environment. Also offered as ENV 2080.
Citizens Living Under Islamic Laws
POL 2105 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
Focusing on South Asia and the Middle East, this course examines how postcolonial Islamic states currently use “Islamic laws” to negotiate power and control with their citizens. Examples include Hudood, Zina, and blasphemy laws, which result in fatwas (religious decrees) that sometimes lead to extrajudicial killings. Also offered as GND 2105.
Islam: Culture and Politics
POL 2115 / 4 credits / Alternate years
Islam, a popular world religion, is not well known or understood in the U.S. In the public mind, it is typically associated with violence, jihad, and terrorism. This course introduces the origin and main principles of Islam and analyzes its development as a civilization and a political ideology. Topics include secularism, women’s rights, social justice, and democratization in relation to the philosophical and political divisions within Islam.
Iraq and the Arab World
POL 2117 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
The U.S. involvement in Iraq raises important questions that mirror those faced by the broader Arab world. Can democracy be brought to the Arab world? Can a people overcome deep, violent divisions to form one nation? Is it possible to have a democratic and pro-Western Arab government? Why is the region characterized by authoritarian regimes and economic stagnation? Why has political Islam taken hold with such force? Why are the U.S. and militant Islamic groups locked in an increasingly violent struggle? In this course, students explore answers to these questions and analyze the complex forces at work in the Arab world today.
Race and Politics
POL 2130 / 4 credits / Alternate years
Decades after the civil rights movement of the 1960s, the United States remains a nation beset by racial inequalities, divisions, and tensions. This course examines some of the major issues in U.S. race relations today and their political expression. Also offered as SOC 2130.
Political Theory I: Plato to Machiavelli
POL 2170 / 4 credits / Alternate years (Fall)
The first half of a two-course survey of Western political thought. The course concentrates on the classical and medieval contributors to political discourse like Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas, and concludes with early modern thinkers like Machiavelli and Calvin.
Political Theory II: Hobbes to the Present
POL 2180 / 4 credits / Alternate years (Fall)
The second half of a two-course survey of Western political thought. Themes characteristic of the last 500 years of political theory include liberalism, feminism, nationalism, and revolution. Theorists typically read are Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Mill, Marx, and a 20th-century theorist.
Immigration: Policies, Problems, and Politics
POL 2190 / 4 credits / Alternate years (Fall)
The United States prides itself on being a nation of immigrants, but has never made it easy for the newly arrived. This course examines the policies, problems, and politics affecting immigration to the U.S. today. Topics include causes of immigration, immigration law and the undocumented, and patterns of assimilation. Much of the focus is on issues affecting Westchester County: housing, employment, day laborers, education, and access to social services.
Politics and the Media
POL 2210 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
An examination of the media’s impact on political life in the U.S. and its role in shaping public opinion. Both electronic and print media are surveyed and analyzed in terms of their impact on power, legal rights, and ethical obligations. Attention is also given to the media’s influence on political parties and how it shapes political attitudes and influences elections.
The Dominican Republic:
Between Latin America and the United States
POL 2230 / 4 credits / Alternate years (Spring)
The Dominican Republic was repeatedly invaded by Haiti in the 19th century, occupied by the U.S. in the 1910s and 1920s, and ruled by a brutal dictator for a generation. Today it is building the institutions of a democratic society. This course is divided into three parts: (1) Dominican history, from colonization to the 1980s; (2) contemporary issues like relations with Haiti, human rights, and economic development; and (3) Dominican migration and the U.S.
New York State Politics
POL 2320 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
An introduction to the way things work in New York local and state government. Topics include running for office, serving as an elected official, the public and the press, grassroots politics and interest group lobbying, constituent service, framing issues, and the nuts and bolts of making law and policy.
Russia and the Former Soviet Union
POL 2440 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
Examines the creation of the Soviet Union by revolutionary means in 1917, prospects and problems throughout its 74-year life, the fall of Communism, and the collapse of the Soviet state in 1991. The emergence of Russia and other Eastern European nations, ethnic strife, and post–Cold War politics are also addressed.
Courts, Judges, and Politics
POL 2600 / 4 credits / Alternate years
The judicial process and the function of the courts in a modern democratic system. Using Supreme Court cases, documents, and readings from academic journals, the course examines how judges, lawyers, and litigants act and react to create both law and public policy.
America on Film
POL 2610 / 3 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
Examines American social and political history during the last half of the 20th century. Three distinctive and overlapping periods are scrutinized: the Cold War era, the civil rights and cultural revolutions of the 1960s, and the post–New Deal era of the Reagan and Clinton years. Each period is examined through readings and the prism of films, often made contemporaneously with or shortly after the events portrayed. Also offered as SOC 2610.
Women in Developing Countries
POL 3000 / 4 credits / Fall
Examines the values, structures, and policies that shape the political attitudes and behavior of women and toward women in developing countries. Women’s contributions to social and political change, as well as the impact of such changes on their lives, are discussed. The primary goals are to develop insight into the lives of women in developing countries, and to understand the determinants of their problems and achievements, including the legacy of colonialism. Also offered as GND 3000.
Law, Energy, and the Environment
POL 3020 / 3 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
Modern technology and labor-saving devices depend on the power released from burning hydrocarbons, while electricity is central to ending poverty in less developed countries. However, the poisonous byproducts of hydrocarbon combustion compromise the planet’s present health and future sustainability. This course examines legal and economic issues implicated in a hydrocarbon society’s dilemma: oil politics, regulatory limitation, and environmental legislative activism. Also offered as ENV 3020.
Recommended: An introductory course in environmental science or law
Environmental Policy
POL 3030 Refer to ENV 3030 in Environmental Studies Courses for description.
Contemporary Revolutions
POL 3040 / 4 credits / Spring
Drawing on several historical cases and theoretical works, the course examines in detail the underlying causes of revolution, revolutionary strategies, and the aftermath of revolutions in the Third World.
Sex, Politics, and Health
POL 3045 / 4 credits / Spring
Though people think of health as having biological roots, health and illness actually have social and political origins. This course examines women’s health policy, the women’s health movement, and the differences between the health care needs of men and women. Topics like access to the health care system, poverty, Medicaid/Medicare, managed care, breast cancer, women and violence, HIV/AIDS, and medical research are investigated. Also offered as SOC 3045 and GND 3045.
American Constitutional Law
POL 3050 / 4 credits / Alternate years
Introduces the historical and political debates that resulted in the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. Case law and collateral readings relevant to the construction of the U.S. constitutional government are used to explore theories of jurisprudence, structures of courts, aspects of litigation, the nature and scope of judicial review and constitutional adjudication, and the role of the judiciary in the maintenance of national power.
Prerequisite: POL 1570
U.S. Foreign Policy Since 1945
POL 3070 / 4 credits / Spring
A study of American foreign policy since the end of World War II. U.S. involvement in Vietnam serves as a case study for studying the Cold War, the war in Iraq, and the issue of terrorism, and analyzing how foreign policy has been formulated. Topics include the powers of the president vis-à-vis Congress in the formulation of foreign policy and the role of public opinion.
Race, Gender, and the Law
POL 3090 / 4 credits / Fall
The legal dimensions of race and sex discrimination are examined. Fourteenth Amendment decisions of the Supreme Court and related federal antidiscrimination law are the focus of study. Also offered as GND 3090.
Prerequisite: POL 2040 or 3050
Politics of the European Union
POL 3110 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
The European Union (EU) is the world’s most complex experiment of a new political order. With the political integration of 25 nation-states, a common market, and a common currency, the EU is also the world’s largest trading bloc. The course explores the creation of the EU; its institutional structure; different visions, projects, and problems of the EU; and current debates about its future.
Women’s Rights as Human Rights
POL 3125 / 4 credits / Alternate years (Spring)
This course focuses on definitions of human rights and ways in which women’s experiences of human rights violations are gendered. It examines the roles of custom and law, international human rights, the shortcomings of international human rights structures in protecting women’s rights, and strategies that women have employed to promote their rights, with an emphasis on the U.N. convention on women’s rights. Also offered as GND 3125.
Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
POL 3160 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
An introduction to the constitutional doctrines of rights and liberties as they have been articulated through First Amendment decisions of the Supreme Court. Relevant political analyses of the impact of court decisions and federal legislation on individual rights are included.
Prerequisite: POL 1570 or 3050
The Nature and Function of Law
POL 3180 / 4 credits / Alternate years (Fall)
The study of law from a liberal arts perspective, emphasizing the role that law and the legal order play in the institutional arrangements and human relations of a society. The course examines the basic concepts, language, institutions, and forms of law that characterize the American legal order.
Prerequisite: POL 1570 or 2600
Presidential Politics
POL 3230 / 4 credits / Alternate years
An examination of the institution of the American presidency, its relationship to the other branches of government, and the significance of particular presidents’ “stamp” on the office and U.S. policy. Topics include the impact of the media on the presidency, executive privilege, psychological explanations of presidential character, and the changing role of the president’s spouse.
Globalization, Development, and Poverty
POL 3235 / 4 credits / Alternate years (Spring)
People produce enough food to feed the world’s population, yet thousands of children die every day due to malnutrition and other poverty-related factors. This course studies the scope and distribution of global poverty. Topics include political and cultural factors that cause or aggravate the problem in developing countries; economic and political aspects of globalization; and the impact of international organizations, development strategies, and relief efforts.
Gender Politics and Islam
POL 3240 / 4 credits / Alternate years (Spring)
Changes in the status of women in Islamic societies are examined, with an emphasis on the diversity of both Muslim communities and the interpretation of sacred texts. Topics include the dominance of the male voice in interpretation; the “gendered” approach to Islam in Western societies; the economic and political impact of colonialism, the Cold War, globalization, and the Muslim elite; and the struggle by feminists and other women’s rights groups. Also offered as GND 3240.
Gender and Health: International Issues
POL 3245 / 4 credits / Fall
Examines health concerns on an international scale and analyzes how gender is interwoven with these concerns. The roles of international agencies are explored, with emphasis on their support (or lack thereof) of the health needs of various populations. The role of the U.S. in the implementation of programs through funding issues, restrictions on the use of funds (the “global gag rule”), and other strategies is also analyzed. Also offered as GND 3245.
The Islamic State, Gender, and Sexuality
POL 3255 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
An examination of how notions of gender and sexuality are defined in the postcolonial Islamic state. Laws, customs, and cultural practices that enforce control are investigated in South Asian and Middle Eastern contexts. Also offered as GND 3255.
The Islamic State, Heresy, and Freedom of Speech
POL 3257 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
An examination of heresy in the modern Islamic state. Students read materials from law, culture, and the humanities to evaluate state control through heresy laws. The course also explores the impact of such laws on citizenship, human rights, and freedom of speech. The theme of exile is a special point of focus. Also offered as GND 3257.
Political Protest and Ideologies
POL 3290 / 4 credits / Alternate years (Fall)
A survey of major political upheavals and belief systems that have shaped and shaken the modern world. In addition to the origins, social foundations, and variants of liberalism, socialism, communism, anarchism, fascism, and feminism, discussions include examples of anti-imperialist, antiracist, and nationalist movements and ideologies from Third World countries and ethnic minorities in the West.
Development and Politics of Latin America
POL 3300 / 4 credits / Spring
An overview of major political structures, problems, and ideologies, concentrating particularly on South America. The first half of the semester discusses problems of land tenure, industrialization, and urbanization. The second half examines contemporary politics in detail, using one South American country as a case study.
Constitutions and Rights: U.S. and China
POL 3315 / 4 credits / Alternate years
Focuses on the origins of rights in the U.S., with emphasis on judicial review and the judicial construction and interpretation of individual and human rights. Constitutional theories and practices used in U.S. constitutional courts and scholarship are examined. A comparative approach to constitutions and the development of transnational theories of human rights are then considered in the context of current changes in Chinese legal and political institutions and discourse.
Recommended prior course: POL 1570
United States/Latin American Relations
POL 3340 / 4 credits / Spring
It is difficult to understand the culture and politics of Latin America, in particular the Caribbean basin, without examining the role of the U.S. While the U.S. has generally seen its role in Latin America as that of a protector, many Latin Americans have perceived the U.S. as a heavy-handed superpower. The first half of the course provides a historical overview of U.S. interests and interventions, and how these have shaped Latin American societies. The second half examines contemporary problems and issues.
Cuba and the U.S.
POL 3360 / 4 credits / Alternate years (Fall)
The course revolves around the international political and economic dynamics that have existed historically between the U.S. and Cuba. Although the course emphasizes the post-1959 era (the Castro years), readings introduce students to the imperial relationship that evolved in the early 20th century. Topics include foreign policy, war, human rights, the U.S. embargo, and the politics of Fidel Castro.
Democratization in the Arab World
POL 3375 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
Is there hope for democracy in the Arab world? Is Islam compatible with democracy? Can oil and democracy mix? Is the U.S. promoting democracy or reinforcing authoritarianism? How has the “war on terror” affected the region’s prospects for democracy? Through an examination of democratization theory and country case studies, students assess the prospects for democratization in the Arab world.
Prerequisite: At least one course in political science
Recommended: Prior coursework on the Middle East
Southeast Asian Politics
POL 3425 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
Focuses on the transformative process through which various nations of Southeast Asia are emerging. Students examine various political tensions in the region, such as national identity vs. local, ethnic, and religious identities; colonial legacies vs. the new economic and political world order; and democracy vs. authoritarian rule. Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Burma serve as potential case studies.
Polarized Politics: Congress
POL 3465 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
While providing a comprehensive understanding of Congress, this course specifically examines the oversight and investigative role of Congress, the influence of political parties, and how elections and partisanship influence decision-making. Questions addressed include: How do the rules and norms that govern the House and the Senate differ? How has redistricting created a more polarized climate?
Prerequisite: POL 1570
Censorship: Sociological and Legal Perspectives
POL 3481 Refer to SOC 3480 in Sociology Courses for description.
Western Political Theory: Politics and Religion
POL 3485 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly, Summer, in China)
Examines the Western tradition and its investigation of the meaning of authority, focusing on the rival sources for its definition: politics and religion. Using selected readings from the ancient Greeks to more contemporary American theorists, the class explores the tensions between these two explanatory frameworks. Emphasis is on their shared questions and often competing answers regarding human nature, the sources of identity, the relationship of the mind (reason) and soul, and the meaning of “the good life.”
Research in Political Science
POL 3500 / 4 credits / Every semester
Introduces scientific approaches to conducting research in political science. Topics and hands-on activities include formulating research questions, theses, and hypotheses; conducting library research and preparing literature reviews; identifying relevant methods and research designs; collecting and analyzing data; and reporting research findings.
Prerequisite: POL 1570 and a political theory course (completed with grade of C or higher)
Society and Public Policy
POL 3565 Refer to SOC 3565 in Sociology Courses for description.
Human Rights
POL 3570 / 4 credits / Alternate years (Fall; Summer, in Spain)
Although human rights have become a significant theme in international relations, ethnic slaughter and political repression continue to afflict the world. This course examines relevant theoretical issues and practical problems, including: How are human rights viewed from different cultural, political, and religious perspectives? In a multicultural world, can common ground be found to address human rights? What is the relationship between sovereignty and the pursuit of human rights?
States, Citizens, Human Rights, and Literature
POL 3573 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
An exploration of various perspectives on human rights. Students examine some modern nation states in relation to geographies of identity and human rights. Global literature is read in colonial and postcolonial contexts that describe state control through the infringement of citizenship and rights of speech, thus violating basic human rights. Also offered as LIT 3573.
The Literature of Political Violence
POL 3580 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
Discussions surrounding political readings that reflect ideological violence, the terror of state power, and the response to state power by individuals and groups. Historical and contemporary events are discussed (e.g., the Nazis, the Soviet gulags, the Inquisition and fascism in Spain, military dictatorship in Liberia, genocide in Rwanda, and colonialism and imperialism in Africa).
The Arab World and the West
POL 3660 / 4 credits / Summer (offered in Spain)
Addresses critical questions arising from contemporary politics in the Arab world, which increasingly affect the countries of the West, including Spain. Political marginalization and economic discontent in Arab and Muslim countries have resulted in large migrations to Europe and the emergence of violent Islamic groups. Spain, with its rich Islamic heritage, has been a particular focus of substantial migrant inflows and terrorist attacks by radical Islamists. Why have these groups targeted Spain and other Western countries? What are the causes of discontent plaguing the Arab world? What initiatives have Spain and other European countries taken to address these problems, and how do these differ from U.S. approaches? Field trips within Burgos and to more distant Spanish sites complement in-class discussion.
Politics and Religion in America
POL 3670 / 4 credits / Alternate years
Religion in America has been at the heart of politics from the Puritans to the Christian Coalition. This course addresses the historic role of religious thinking as a significant part of American political traditions (e.g., natural rights, civil liberties, liberal individualism). Students also investigate the contemporary emergence of religion-based political interests as formidable players in the construction of the nation’s political agenda.
Special Topics in Latin America
POL 3735 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
A detailed examination of a topic of contemporary importance in Latin American politics and society. (For the specific topic, see the registration bulletin.) Taught in a seminar format with extensive readings required. Grading is based on class participation and a major paper.
Prerequisite: Previous coursework on Latin America or the Third World, either in the social sciences or in language and culture, and permission of instructor
The Middle East
POL 3740 / 4 credits / Spring
An analysis of the politics of Israel and Palestine. The struggle between Israel and Palestine and the involvement of Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia are covered, as well as the role of the U.S. Issues and potential solutions are discussed.
Money, Power, and Democracy
POL 3780 / 4 credits / Alternate years (Fall)
The meaning of democracy is examined with a reference to theoretical and actual models of democratic states. The course investigates who controls the sources and instruments of power in a democratic state and how public policies are made. The limits and problems of contemporary liberal democracies are studied and compared to historical and contemporary alternatives. The problems of democratization in developing countries are also examined.
Politics and Literature in Central Africa
POL 3855 Refer to LIT 3855 in Literature Courses: 3000–3999 for description.
Independent Study and Tutorial
POL 3900 / variable credits / Every semester
Faculty members are available for independent study and tutorials on a selected basis in areas not covered by regular coursework.
Internship in Political Science
POL 3980 / variable credits / Every semester
Students identify relevant agencies, community groups, etc. that provide an opportunity to gain practical experience. Students work with an appropriate faculty member as the academic sponsor and the Career Development Center in the structuring of the internship agreement.
Gender and the Global AIDS Crisis
POL 4260 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
An investigation of gender dynamics in the global AIDS crisis. Students explore women’s issues pertaining to AIDS; analyze programs and policies to determine how successfully women’s needs and concerns are addressed; and develop proposals for research projects designed to help advance the needs of women. Academic research on these issues is emphasized. Also offered as GND 4260.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
Special Topics in Political Science
POL 4880 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
Faculty offers courses in selected areas of study for more advanced students in political science. Topics may include religion and politics in the U.S., international organizations, politics and the media, ethnic conflict, and national security.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
Senior Project in Political Science
POL 4990 / 4 credits (per semester) / Every semester
Students are required to submit a senior project in order to complete the major in political science. Students work with individual members of the faculty to develop a project design that focuses on some substantive or methodological problem of political science. Must be taken for two semesters (8 credits total).
Prerequisite: POL 1570 and 3500, a political theory course, and a grade of C or higher in all political science courses
Updated Nov. 24, 2008