Political Science - PLS (44)
Administered by Department of Political Science
Effective Fall, 2007
44.101 Elements of Political Science (3) - Uses the procedures of political science to study
power and examines the processes of politics and the practices of governments, the
performance of and the pressures on the political system. For non-majors. This course counts
as a Group B, Social & Behavioral Sciences General Education Requirements. Three hours
lecture per week.
44.108 Contemporary Political Ideologies (3) - An introduction to those political beliefs that
shape contemporary politics: nationalism, liberalism, conservatism, socialism, feminism,
religious fundamentalism, populism. This course counts as a Group B, Social & Behavioral
Sciences General Education Requirements. Three hours lecture per week.
44.120 United States Government (3) - Introduces government and politics in the United States,
emphasizing constitutional development, political development, civil rights, parties, elections,
pressure groups, the Congress, the president, courts and contemporary problems, such as
foreign affairs, defense, unemployment and poverty. This course counts as a Group B, Social &
Behavioral Sciences General Education Requirements. Three hours lecture per week.
44.181 Contemporary Issues in World Politics (3) - An introduction to international politics
through an examination of such critical problems as war and peace, nation-building, revolution,
ethnic conflict and democratization. This course counts as a Group B, Social & Behavioral
Sciences General Education Requirements. Three hours lecture per week.
44.207 Ethics, Politics and Public Policy (3) - Examination of normative, descriptive and
metaethical approaches employed by politicians and policymakers in confronting issues of
responsibility and choice in public programs and policies. Focuses on ethical problems and
responses in civic life and emphasizes the ways alternatives impact on society. Three hours
lecture per week. This course approved as 3 credits of Values, Ethics and Responsible
Decision Making toward general education requirements.
44.210 Introduction to Political Theory (3) - An introduction to fundamental political concepts
such as liberty, justice, equality, power and authority, as well as the main ideas of some
representative political philosophers from Socrates to the present. Three hours lecture per
week.
44.222 Women and Politics (3) - Emphasizes political systems and the broad range of issues
that find women as the recipients of and makers of public action and policy. Examines issues
that unify and divide women as they attempt to understand the problems of becoming equal in
an unequal society. The role of women in the United States and in other nations is explored.
Three hours lecture per week. This course is approved as a Diversity General Education
Course/This course counts as a Group B, Social & Behavioral Sciences General Education
Requirements.
44.250 Globalization and the United Nations (3) - An introductory survey of the functions and
organs of the United Nations. Students will be using the knowledge they gain from lecture and
discussion to perform as delegates from various countries on topics that are currently being
debated for resolution by the international body. The culmination of the semester is a one-day
simulation of a United Nations committee session. Three hours lecture per week.
44.251 Model UN Lab (1) - Applies the concepts discussed in the course Globalization and the
United Nations. Students will prepare and function as the administrative body for the
Bloomsburg University Model United Nations for high schools in the region.
44.280 Introduction to International Relations (3) - Examines sources of international conflict
and cooperation, power politics in the international arena, problems of collective security, the
settlement of disputes, diplomacy and international law. Three hours lecture per week.
44.303 Politics and the Arts (3) - Surveys painting, music, films, poetry and novels to show the
relationship between these media and political concepts, philosophies and problems.
44.322 Political Violence (3) - Surveys individual, group and mass political violence,
concentrating on causes and manifestations. Studies positive and negative effectiveness of
political violence with the object of placing the phenomena in meaningful historical and
contemporary contexts. Three hours lecture per week.
44.326 Parties, Groups and Public Opinion (3) - Examines the development of political parties in
the United States; elections, voter behavior and political participation; and the role of interest
groups and political propaganda. Three hours lecture per week.
44.336 Public Administration Theory (3) - Introductory course to the study of the “management
of government business.” Examines the multi-dimensional nature of Public Administration by
exploring the political, social and economic factors influencing the public sector administration in
the United States. Areas of emphasis include principles of public administration, organization
theory, personnel management, public budgeting, public policy formulation and implementation
and collective bargaining in the public sector. Three hours lecture per week.
44.360 Nations, States and Governments (3) - Presents a comparative study of the governance
of countries or nation-states in selected developed and less developed regions of the world.
Three hours lecture per week.
44.366 Political Systems of Western Europe (3) - Examines democracy as practiced in Western
Europe; the politics and governments of Great Britain, France and Germany; and the
development and politics of the European Union. Three hours lecture per week.
44.371 Political Systems - Africa (3) - Examines problems of African countries: the struggle for
independence; attempts to create national unity and political stability; economic and political
development; the role of the military in politics; and politics in selected African countries. Three
hours lecture per week.
44.375 Multiculturalist Theory (3) - Treats the issues of concern generated from an attention to
and appreciation of, our diverse cultural identities. As a theory course, it approaches
multiculturalism as a new attempt to respond to the challenges that difference poses in
democratic theory. Three hours lecture per week.
44.376 Government and Politics of the Middle East (3) - Introduces the political history and
governments of particular states in the region and considers their interactions regionally and
internationally. Considers in particular the importance of Islam in politics, the Arab-Israeli
conflict, the Iranian revolution, and the Iraqi wars. Three hours lecture per week.
44.377 Feminist Political Theory (3) - Explores various strands of feminist political thought and
approaches to philosophical critique. The primary aim of the course is to familiarize students
with the contributions made by feminists to the field of political theory and to provide students
with the basic tools with which to read, understand, critique and write in acknowledgement of
these contributions. Three hours lecture per week. This course is approved as a Diversity
General Education Course.
44.405 Development of Political Thought (3) - A chronological survey from the ancient Greeks to
the present. Examines the ideas of seminal political thinkers as they grapple with perennial
problems. Three hours lecture per week.
44.409 American Political Thought (3) - Analyzes the relationship of American political thought
to modern political theory. Traditional models are used in a historical, chronological way but are
reworked to show their relation and relevance to contemporary actions and issues. Covers the
main ideas of the leading political thinkers in America from the colonial period to the present.
Three hours lecture per week.
44.437 Public Administration Applications (3) - Examines major theories of public management
and their application in the workplace to enhance productivity. Uses readings, cases and
simulations. Three hours lecture per week.
44.438 Public Personnel Administration (3) - Examines public service as a career; the personnel
needs of national, state and local governments; civil service law, personnel systems; collective
bargaining in the public sector, and current problems in the public service. Three hours lecture
per week.
44.440 The President and Congress (3) - Reviews presidential and congressional politics, public
policy-making roles, executive-legislative relationships, constitutional issues. Explores the
constitutional limitations, citizen expectations and myths surrounding these institutions. Three
hours lecture per week.
44.446 Constitutional Law I (3) - Analyzes the evolution, structure and function of the Supreme
Court, concentrating on a case study approach of the court's interpretations of the powers of the
president, Congress and federal-state relationships. Offered fall semester only. Prerequisite: 60
credits. Three hours lecture per week.
44.447 Constitutional Law II (3) - Studies the decisions of the Supreme Court as they are
related to the individual and the government, concentrating on nationalization of the Bill of
Rights, rights of persons accused of crimes, equal protection and voting rights. Offered spring
semester only. Three hours lecture per week. Prerequisite: 60 credits.
44.448 Judicial Process (3) - Studies policy-making by the federal courts, primarily the Supreme
Court. Analyzes nature of the policy-making function as well as the impact of policy-making on
American society. Three hours lecture per week.
44.452 State and Local Government and Politics (3) - Presents a description and analysis of
state and local legislatures, executives and judiciaries; the myths and realities of state and local
politics; intergovernmental relations; current policies and problems. Offered fall semester only.
Three hours lecture per week.
44.456 Public Policy (3) - Studies the institutional and political context of public policy formation
and implementation; the process for designing and administering government programs; and
the techniques of analysis and evaluation that are or could be employed in formulating policy
objectives, choosing from among alternatives and assessing performance. The approach is
pragmatic, applied and interdisciplinary. Three hours lecture per week.
44.458 U.S. Foreign Policy (3) - Analyzes the substance, methods and purposes of U.S. foreign
policy, including the determinants of policy, policymaking machinery and implementation
matters. Three hours lecture per week.
44.464 Government and Politics of Ireland (3) - Surveys historic, social, cultural and religious
developments in Ireland with concentration on a study of the government and politics of
Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. Examines contemporary literature, drama, music and
art. Three hours lecture per week.
44.487 International Law and Organizations (3) - Examines the nature of international law and
politics and surveys basic issues in contemporary international law. The course also examines
the development of international organizations and selected issues. Three hours lecture per
week. Prerequisite: 60 credits.
44.490 Independent Study in Political Science (3) - Provides for individualized reading, research
and reporting under the supervision of a faculty member. Projects must have departmental
approval and must begin by the end of the first week of a session. Three hours lecture per
week.
44.492 Seminar in Government and Politics (3) - Examines problems in government and politics
in an attempt to review and unify theories and methods of political science. Emphasizes
individual research projects. Three hours lecture per week.
44.497 Internship in Political Science (1-15) - Provides for on-site work experience and training
designed to give the student an opportunity to apply the theoretical and descriptive knowledge
acquired in the classroom. The student is supervised by a faculty member instructor and an onsite person. A paper is required; other requirements to be determined by faculty supervisor.