Political Science (POL)

POL 111 Intro to American Politics (3 credits)

This course is an introduction to American political processes and institutions. The goal of this course is to acquaint the student with the theory and practice of American government. Students will learn about the basic structure, function, and dynamics of American government and the political system within the context of the major political issues of our time. Beyond studying the institutional structures and activities of government, we will also evaluate the relationships between individuals, groups, and institutions in terms of influence, process, and outputs in various domains.

Attributes: American Studies Course, GEP Social Science, Undergraduate

POL 113 Intro to Comparative Politics (3 credits)

An introduction to the study of comparative political systems, this course focuses attention on the institutions and political cultures of select countries from different world regions. While exploring the varieties of democracy and authoritarianisms, as well as the complexity of democratizing today, this course also introduces students to the comparative method.

Attributes: GEP Social Science, Globalization Course, International Relations Course, Undergraduate

POL 115 Intro to Global Politics (3 credits)

This course is an introductory survey of the major approaches (Realism, Liberalism, and Constructivism), interpretations and problems in the field of Global Politics, with a heavy emphasis on current events. Topics include security (war, peace, terrorism), international political economy (hegemony, development, globalization), and trans boundary issues (migration, human rights).

Attributes: GEP Social Science, Globalization Course, International Relations Course, Undergraduate

POL 117 Intro to Political Thought (3 credits)

This course begins with an old political idea embedded in the US Constitution: the social contract. Individuals are free, rational, self-interested, and equal. There are no God-given monarchs or natural hierarchies. Government must be created by “the people.” The social contract justified the American Revolution – also the abolition of enslavement, women’s suffrage, and the civil rights movement in the 1960s. After the murder of George Floyd, Americans wondered whether the contract was broken? This course interrogates whether these principles of rights and equality apply to all people regardless of gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, sexual identity, etc. We study people who questioned these ideas: enslaved people who asked how the social contract could support slavery, women who wondered whether the “people” included them, and citizens of color who have asked when the promise of equality in the contract will be fully realized. The course includes all types of theory with a particular emphasis on Black political thought and linking foundational ideas to contemporary issues.

Attributes: Undergraduate

POL 150 First Year Seminar (3 credits)

Depending on the instructor, the First-Year Seminar courses focus on particular topics of interest in Political Science and Politics (e.g., Ethics in International Relations; Diversity and Inequality; Gender and Global Politics; Student Liberties and the Supreme Court). Does not count for major credit.

Attributes: First-Year Seminar, Undergraduate

POL 170 Special Topics: Political Sci (3 credits)

Depending on the instructor, these courses will focus on a particular topic of interest in Political Science and Politics (e.g., The Presidential Election, The Arab Spring, Guns and the Supreme Court). Does not count for major credit.

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to Undergraduate Day Division level students.

Attributes: Undergraduate

POL 190 Strategies for Success (1 credit)

Our class is designed to provide students with the tools needed to thrive and succeed at SJU and in your major. We will focus on the development and application of college-level study skills, personal success strategies, and the use of campus resources that enhance individual student achievement. Topics discussed will include: learning styles, study techniques, note-taking, test-taking, effective writing and reading, time management, career and educational planning, personal wellness and finance, and interpersonal skill development. We will investigate the variety of offices and resources available to students across campus, as well as how to use some of the more common software systems (Canvas, Starfish, Google Applications, etc). Successfully completing POL 190 is required of all incoming Freshmen students majoring in Political Science or International Relations, and grading is based on P/NP.

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in International Relations, Political Science or Public Policy.

Attributes: Undergraduate

POL 191 Washington Leadership Seminar (3 credits)

Students who attend The Washington Center (TWC) take a leadership seminar through TWC. This course is an elective; it does not count for POL major or minor credit.

POL 192 Washington Internship (3 credits)

Students who attend The Washington Center (TWC) for a normal academic semester (fall or spring) perform a 30-35 hour a week internship. The Department grants students two upper division courses (6 credits) for the internship (see POL 411-412 below) and also this third elective course for these internship hours. This course is an elective; it does not count for POL major or minor credit.

POL 193 Washington Center Elective (3 credits)

Students who attend The Washington Center (TWC) take one evening course at the Center in addition to performing their internship and participating in the leadership seminar. If this course is in Political Science, we transfer it back as POL 193. This course is an elective; it does not count for POL major or minor credit.

POL 195 IDEAL Learning (1 credit)

This course is for students interested in pursuing the IDEAL Learning sequence and who want to explore applying for the IDEAL Scholars program. We will take the skills acquired from POL 190 to the next level by examining various ways for understanding leadership, strengthening our ability to navigate the college environment, exploring multi-level mentoring networks, and developing affinity-based community learning. Chair/Instructor approval required.

Prerequisites: POL 190 (may be taken concurrently)

Attributes: International Relations Course, Undergraduate

POL 196 POL AP (3 credits)

POL 270 Special Topics (3 credits)

Depending on the instructor, these courses will focus on a particular topic of interest in Political Science and Politics (e.g., The Presidential Election, Guns and the Supreme Court).

Attributes: Undergraduate

POL 290 Career Prep Seminar (1 credit)

What will YOU do with your Political Science or International Relations degree? Learn how to explore the variety of professional options open to you based on your major and on your unique personality and individual traits. This professional development seminar will help you build practical skills through a series of hands on assignments, a detailed self-assessment, goal-planning for a successful future, and multiple points of engagement with alumni. This course meets once a week to provide instruction and support in topics including internship search and application, resume/cover letter prep, post-grad options, professional communication and networking/interviewing. Is an internship right for you? Do you know the best way to search for one? Why do I need to network - how will that help me? Get the answers to these and many other questions and invest in your future! All majors are required to complete this seminar in the Fall semester of their Sophomore year; graded on a P/NP basis. Political Science and International Relations minors are also encouraged to register.

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in International Relations, Political Science or Public Policy.

Attributes: Undergraduate

POL 291 IDEAL Scholars (1 credit)

This course is for students who have been accepted into the IDEAL Learning program and will further develop mentoring, leadership, and community-building skills. Students will have the opportunity to practice and share the knowledge they have gained by engaging in hands-on projects, activities, and faculty/student interactions. Chair/Instructor approval required.

Prerequisites: POL 190 (may be taken concurrently) or POL 195 (may be taken concurrently)

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in International Relations, Political Science or Public Policy.

Attributes: International Relations Course, Undergraduate

POL 292 IDEAL Leaders (1 credit)

This course is for students who have been accepted into the IDEAL Learning program and who want to take on a leadership role within the initiative. IDEAL Leaders will directly apply the skills they have acquired by mentoring, leading, and building community within the program. Chair/Instructor approval required.

Prerequisites: POL 291 (may be taken concurrently)

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in International Relations, Political Science or Public Policy.

Attributes: International Relations Course, Undergraduate

POL 303 Political Ideology in America (3 credits)

What ideas shape who Americans are as “a people”? Is there one narrative that defines the United States or several versions that “we, the people”? This course links early texts in American Political Thought (e.g. American revolution, constitutional convention, Civil War) to later intellectual and political movements in American thought (e.g. Black civil rights, white women’s suffrage). We explore the extent to which (1) all these movements share conceptual foundations and (2) the ways in which later movements refuted, amended, and rejected the concepts that were fundamental to the “founding.” The course compares the principles in discourses or assertions of citizenship in these various movements and links them to 21st century political events.

Attributes: American Studies Course, Undergraduate

POL 304 Engaging Communities (3 credits)

How do communities identify and solve problems in partnership with other stakeholders in their local environment? Engaging Communities is an examination of how institutions develop trust and reciprocal partnerships within their neighborhoods and surrounding communities. The class will study the theory and practice of constructing mutually beneficial relationships among and between hospitals, higher education institutions, non-profit organizations, local government, community groups, and residents to improve the quality of life locally in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties. Students will learn about multiple ways to elicit and increase community participation and civic engagement, utilize the fundamentals of project management, and create models for assessment.

Prerequisites: POL 111 or POL 113

Attributes: Undergraduate

POL 305 Politics, Ideology, & Film (3 credits)

Are citizens responsible for the actions of their leaders? Is it ever ethically or politically acceptable to torture people? How do ideologies – as bodies of thought -- affect individuals, social movements, nations, institutions, and groups? This course examines major ideologies in political theory, political science, and the social sciences through the study of primary texts, scholarly articles, and films. Films from Europe, Asia, Latin America, African, the Middle East, and the United States place each ideology in historical, political, and/or economic context. We master the complexities of ideologies such as fascism, racism, colonialism, communism, and sexism in historical context as well as evaluate ideologies that have shaped national and international politics in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

Prerequisites: PHL 154

Attributes: Ethics Intensive, International Relations Course, Undergraduate

POL 306 Political Participation in US (3 credits)

Why do people participate in American politics and civic life? Why don't they? Why should they? This course emphasizes the political science literature on political participation and civic engagement. We will begin by examining the factors that make participation more or less likely including socialization, partisanship, networks, and geography. Demographic and social identities can shape how easily and how often we wish to involve ourselves in democratic processes. From there, we will focus on forms of political participation. Who votes? Who donates money? Who protests? Throughout we will acknowledge the constraints that make forms of participation easier from some than others. Finally, we will address the consequences for political life if individuals opt out of politics. What does isolation and decline in civic life mean for the rise of political and economic inequality, efficacy, and social connectedness?

Attributes: Faith Justice Course, Justice Ethics and the Law , Undergraduate

POL 307 Reproduction and the Court (3 credits)

In the 1970s, Latinx women were coerced into being sterilized - but courts did not see a violation of their rights. Is there a constitutional right to reproduce? Buy birth control? End a pregnancy? This course considers the changing opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) with an emphasis on race and gender. It includes a SCOTUS simulation (moot court) in which students act as justices and attorneys. No previous background in judicial politics necessary.

Attributes: American Studies Course, Gender Studies Course, Justice Ethics and the Law , Undergraduate

POL 309 Advising and Advocacy (3 credits)

How do citizens and groups advocate for interests? How do they advise leaders to make changes? And, when are they more likely to influence the policy direction of the nation? This course offers an analysis of modern American "advising and advocacy" styles and models, with a focus on the politics of domestic policymaking. Students will study the use of power and authority, the importance of strategic opportunities, the nature of decision-making in a separated system, and the role that government, interest groups, and public opinion play in those decisions. Based on these perspectives, we will bring our informed insights to address an important question within our current circumstances: how to represent those who were/are marginalized in the political landscape. Thus, students in this class will serve as advocates for those who may not have the strongest voices in political discussions and advise elected officials on how to construct a policy agenda that attends to underserved citizens and historically marginalized communities. Indeed, a primary goal of the class is to study and critically analyze how systems of inequality and disadvantage inform politics and policy from a social justice perspective.

Attributes: American Studies Course, Faith Justice Course, Gender Studies Course, Undergraduate

POL 310 Constitutional Politics (3 credits)

From the time the Constitution was ratified, the three branches of American government (legislative, executive, and judiciary) have competed for control over American policy and law. The Supreme Court is - on the one hand - extremely powerful because it can declare an act of either the legislature or executive unconstitutional (judicial review). Yet the Court lacks any power to enforce its decisions and it relies on the other branches to enforce its decisions (for example, President Eisenhower bringing in the military to uphold the desegregation of schools). Through the reading of cases and the viewing of documentaries, this course explores how the Supreme Court has shaped American politics for over two centuries. Topics include free speech in wartime, internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII, desegregation, abortion rights, and same-sex marriage.

Attributes: Justice Ethics and the Law , Undergraduate

POL 311 Const Law:Rights & Civil Lib (3 credits)

How do 9 unelected people affect elections, health insurance, abortion, marriage equality, or access to birth control? This course teaches you to read and analyze the opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) – and understand them in the context of contemporary American politics. We read classic Supreme Court decisions (e.g., freedom of speech, press, and association, racial and gender discrimination) as well as modern cases that are changing our current laws. The course highlight is an exciting simulation of two Supreme Court cases with students playing justices and attorneys in two modern cases.

Prerequisites: ENG 101

Attributes: American Studies Course, Justice Ethics and the Law , Undergraduate, Writing Intensive Course- GEP

POL 312 Social Controv & Supreme Court (3 credits)

Americans look to the Supreme Court to rule on moral and social issues like capital punishment and abortion. Why do citizens rely on nine unelected judges to define their rights in a democracy? This class analyzes how the Supreme Court has, over time, changed American law in two controversial rights: gun ownership and marriage equality. The class begins by considering the judiciary in our constitutional democracy then turns to the two case studies. Students will examine documents from the Founding (e.g. the Federalist Papers), read modern accounts of both gun and marriage cases, and learn to read and brief Supreme Court decisions.

Attributes: American Studies Course, Justice Ethics and the Law , Undergraduate

POL 313 Public Policy (3 credits)

This course investigates public policymaking within the United States with an emphasis on the social construction of public policy. Students will assess the significance of social, economic, and political factors that influence policymaking and implementation; how problems become a part of the political agenda; and the major political ideological perspectives in the U.S. that impact policy process and content. The course is a study of policy in practice, as students will evaluate current social problems along with empirical social science research to determine the strengths and weaknesses as well as the intended and unintended effects of a particular social policy at the state and/or national level.

Attributes: American Studies Course, Faith Justice Course, Justice Ethics and the Law , Undergraduate

POL 316 State and Local Government (3 credits)

This upper division course focuses on understanding variation across America's federal system. How can we move from thinking about one American government, to 51 governments (all the states plus the national), or to the significantly larger number of local and municipal governments? What role do the states and localities play in shaping American democracy? In what ways are states hindering democracy or helping it flourish? In this course we will focus on three broad themes in the state politics literature: structural power, interest group activism, and individual political behavior. Throughout we will acknowledge that variation at the subnational level matters for engagement, equality, and the presence of a functioning democracy.

Attributes: American Studies Course, Undergraduate

POL 318 Pennsylvania Politics (3 credits)

This course is a study of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, its recent history, its politics, and the way its government is conducted. The course will have distinct, but overlapping emphases: The Political Environment: What are the political forces driving the agenda in this state? The issues: What are the issues that actually matter in this state? The Structure: How do the Governor's Office, the General Assembly, other statewide offices, and other departments of state government actually work? To assist in learning about these matters, several experienced and knowledgeable guest speakers will address the class. In addition, at various points in the semester, the class will be formed into a focus group to discuss various issues confronting the state.

Attributes: American Studies Course, Undergraduate

POL 319 Public Opinion & Media (3 credits)

This course is a brief overview of the role of public opinion and media in American democracy. We hold attitudes about relevant political and social groups, many of which shape our thoughts and actions. Further, if government is to be "by the people," understanding what "the people" want is of major importance to legislators, organized groups, and interested political scientists. The media, a critical source of political information, can inform the public, provide a mirror of public perception, but also shape ideas. In this course, we examine several complex questions: What is public opinion? Where does it come from? How and when does it change? Does everyone's opinion matter equally?

Attributes: American Studies Course, Undergraduate

POL 320 Injustice & the Law (3 credits)

Fifty years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which eliminated most forms of de jure discrimination, we are still witnessing the lingering effects of de facto inequality within American society. To be sure, the CRA of 1964 and its subsequent amendments eliminated the use of discriminatory practices in housing, employment, business, and education. But overcoming de facto inequality has been harder to accomplish. What explains the gap between established legal doctrine and the reality of many Americans of color? The goal of the course is for students to study the potential and limits of law as a tool for social justice, as well as the role of law in the creation and maintenance of systems of racial injustice. Primarily through the lens of race, students will examine the empirical realities of laws and policies that were ostensibly passed to overcome injustice, broadly defined, as well as the sociopolitical causes and consequences of de facto racial segregation in American society.

Attributes: American Studies Course, Justice Ethics and the Law , Undergraduate

POL 322 Campaigns & Elections (3 credits)

The Campaigns and Elections course is an examination of modern American political campaigns, with a focus on the dramatic changes that have occurred in electoral politics in recent years. The course will have three distinct, but overlapping emphases: 1. The Strategic Campaign: How are campaigns carried on and managed? How should they be? What are the new technologies that have so drastically changed the nature of political campaigns? 2. Voting Behavior; what are the deep and fundamental changes that have occurred in voting behaviors and attitudes in recent years? What are the implications of these changes for the electoral process? 3. The Media and Campaigns: How do the media influence campaigns and electoral outcomes? What are the implications of the pervasive relationship between politics and the mass media? To assist in learning about the real world of politics, several guest speakers with considerable experience in political campaigns will address the class. In addition, at various points during the semester, the class will be formed into a focus group to discuss various campaign-related issues.

Attributes: American Studies Course, Undergraduate

POL 323 Women and American Politics (3 credits)

This course is designed to provide students with a critical examination of women as political actors in the United States. We will analyze various forms of women's political participation, both in the traditional spheres of what is considered politics -- women as voters and politicians -- and also in more "non-traditional" spheres of political activism. We will examine how women are mobilized to participate in politics, focusing keenly on the differences among women in their political activism in an effort to understand how the intersection of gender, race, class, sexuality, age, and ability influence women's political activism. The primary goal of this course is to familiarize students with key issues, questions, and debates in the women and politics scholarship, mainly from a U.S. perspective. Students will become acquainted with many of the critical questions and concepts scholars have developed as tools for thinking about the gendered political experience. In this course you will learn to "read" and analyze gender politically, exploring how it impacts our understanding of the political world.

Attributes: American Studies Course, Diversity Course, Faith Justice Course, Gender Studies Course, Undergraduate

POL 324 Race & Ethnic Politics in U.S. (3 credits)

From its first days, the United States has faced the dilemma of how to incorporate populations different from the majority population into the polity. This dilemma continues today and appears in discussions of such issues as affirmative action, immigration and naturalization, language policy, and social welfare policy. In this course, we will examine the major theories that attempt to explain the roles of race and ethnicity in U.S. politics and the ways in which individuals use race and ethnicity as resources for political organization. We will examine the phenomenon of ethnicity and race in the political development of the United States. Finally, we will look at the political attitudes and behaviors of ethnic and racial populations in order to measure their contemporary political influence. Among the topics to be covered include the meaning of race and ethnicity, the history of racial and immigration politics, prejudice, group participation and mobilization, political representation, and public opinion.

Attributes: Africana Studies Course, American Studies Course, Diversity Course, Faith Justice Course, Undergraduate

POL 325 Intersectionality (3 credits)

Our course is designed to provide students with a critical examination of intersectionality, a term "coined" by Kimberlé Crenshaw to theorize the experiences of Black women in the U.S. Indeed, the intersectionality work we "know" today arose from, and was rooted in, Black women's activism, oppositional knowledge and resistance, and collective action. Yet, as some have recently outlined, the field of intersectional studies has developed in ways that mask that origin, neutralize, and limit the potential of intersectional action. Therefore, to truly understand intersectionality, we must emphasize the canonical works produced and practiced by Black women and women of color activists, academics, and practitioners, and we will center their work in our class. Our study is grounded in the understanding that intersectionality is a political intervention as much as a theoretical lens lived within the tradition(s) of social justice. Throughout, we will study how theory informs practice (a key feminist expectation) and also how both guide what we know our political world. Thus, students will learn to read and analyze intersectionality politically, through the lens of power, and from a social justice perspective.

Attributes: American Studies Course, Faith Justice Course, Gender Studies Course, Undergraduate

POL 326 Protesting Inequality (3 credits)

Through the lens of political science, this course examines the political causes and consequences of inequality in the United States and how citizens have responded to the empirical realities of unequal circumstances. While inequality is an economically, politically, socially, and morally complex phenomenon, this course emphasizes that inequality does not "just happen" but rather is a result of the way our society is structured. Nevertheless, citizens-agents-have protested inequality on various occasions and in many different ways. It is on these citizen protest movements that we will focus most of our attention, including, but not limited to, the "Poor People's Movements" of the 1960s, the Welfare Rights Movement in the 1990s, and the Occupy Movement of the 2010s.

Attributes: American Studies Course, Faith Justice Course, Justice Ethics and the Law , Undergraduate

POL 328 U.S. Immigration (3 credits)

In this course, students will critically engage with the politics of immigration in the United States. While the national narrative broadly celebrates the arrival and incorporation of newcomers, these processes have been highly contested and problematic both in popular discourse and public policy since the country's founding. The question of 'who immigrates' has been, and continues to be, shaped by decisions on how to manage geopolitical and geoeconomic forces, domestic political, economic and social preferences, popular sentiment and humanitarian considerations. Furthermore, understanding how immigrants integrate in society necessarily involves examining 'difference' on a number of axes, including race and ethnicity, language and culture, religion, gender, socioeconomic and educational levels, and legal status. This course provides students with the opportunity to explore key aspects of the discourse and reality of immigration to the U.S., including the American Dream, assimilation, ethnic neighborhoods, transnationalism, borders and security by considering the values, interests and roles of actors at all levels, including civil society organizations, national and sub-national governments, communities, households and individuals in the continuous re-making of the U.S. as a nation of immigrants.

Attributes: American Studies Course, Faith Justice Course, Irish Studies Course, Justice Ethics and the Law , Latin American Studies Course, Undergraduate

POL 331 Latin American Politics (3 credits)

This course addresses the political, economic and social development of modern Latin America. It examines the transformation of traditional authority structures, efforts to promote economic development, and concerns for the consolidation of democracy, adjustment to globalization, and U.S.-Latin American relations.

Attributes: Faith Justice Course, International Relations Course, Justice Ethics and the Law , Latin American Studies Course, Non-Western Studies (GEP), Undergraduate

POL 333 Asian Democ at the Crossroads (3 credits)

This course will examine and discuss the political dynamics and policy behaviors of three successful democracies in Northeast Asia: Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. While all three countries are successful democracies with economic power, each country also faces a series of critical challenges in their politics, economy, and society. The global implications of their struggles are never trivial and the examination of three countries will provide us with the better grasp of contemporary global issues. The thematic focus of the course lies in the comparative analysis of each country in terms of political system, political economy, state-society relations, and foreign relations. To this end, the course will also explore the intricacies of the cultural, historical, and psychological contexts in which behavioral and policy motivations may be explained.

Attributes: Asian Studies Course, International Relations Course, Non-Western Studies (GEP), Undergraduate

POL 334 Understanding Putin's Russia (3 credits)

Vladimir Putin has dominated Russian politics for more than two decades, and in doing so, has reversed what appeared in the 1990s to be a democratic future for that country. This class investigates how and why the communist legacy and traumatic process of transformation after 1991 created capitalism but not democracy. It examines not only domestic developments and institutions, but the ways that global processes and individual choices have created a new form of brutal and personalized authoritarianism in Russia that for years has appeared to have broad-based support.

Attributes: International Relations Course, Non-Western Studies (GEP), Undergraduate

POL 336 The EU and European Politics (3 credits)

While the European Union is one of the top three world economies and an important player in global politics, few understand how it works and what it does. This class examines the EU – its history, institutions, and achievements, as well as the politics in European countries, since member states exert control over what the Union can accomplish. The course culminates in two simulations, one of a European parliamentary committee and the other of the European Council, where European national leaders meet. Students will take on the identity of a European politician in each venue as they debate proposed legislation (committee) and meet at a summit (Council) to address some major issues of the day.

Attributes: Globalization Course, International Relations Course, Irish Studies Course, Undergraduate

POL 337 Contemp Cuban Pol & Society (3 credits)

The Cuban revolution is one of the seminal events of Latin American twentieth century history. This course provides the tools to understand the forces that gave rise to the revolution, how 'the Revolution' has evolved over the more than five and a half decades since the Castro government has been in power, and how Cuban society has transformed - politically, economically, socially and culturally. Particular focus is placed on Cuba since the demise of the Soviet Union, the so called "Special Period," in which Cuba transitioned from a 2nd World client state into an isolated underdeveloped country. Political reforms since then have contributed to an aperture toward the outside world, as well as to steps towards greater economic freedom for Cubans. Many other topics, including race, gender, the arts, Cuba's foreign relations with the U.S. and the rest of the world, citizenship, religion, health care and Cuba's future, will be discussed as well.

Attributes: Africana Studies Course, American Studies Course, International Relations Course, Latin American Studies Course, Non-Western Studies (GEP), Undergraduate

POL 339 Asian Dictators (3 credits)

This course will examine and discuss the political dynamics and policy behaviors of two authoritarian communist regimes in East Asia: China and North Korea. What are the natures of Chinese and North Korean societies? What are the guiding principles and norms in their political systems? What are the historical as well as contemporary implications of their economic systems? To this end, this course will explore the intricacies of the cultural, historical, and psychological contexts in which behavioral and policy motivations could be explained. Along with the comparative analysis of each country (political system, political economy, state-society relations, and foreign relations), major contemporary issues and challenges will be also examined. Can Chinese Communist Party keep its authoritarian grip on its people forever? Will China ever be democratized? Has China's long economic boom ended? What are the mechanisms behind North Korea's tight and cruel control of its citizens and their devotion to the Kim dynasty? Can North Korea enter and survive the global economy? More fundamentally, where is China heading? What does North Korea want?

Attributes: Asian Studies Course, International Relations Course, Non-Western Studies (GEP), Undergraduate

POL 340 Political Geography (3 credits)

Political Geography is a course of political and spatial inquiry; it helps students compare and contrast people, places, and processes around the world. This course explores how spatial phenomena including physical geography, borders, and nation-states affect social and political phenomena including domestic, regional and global governance, differences and dynamics of power, and identity, and vice versa. Furthermore, Political Geography focuses on 'scale' - personal, local, regional, national, and global - to understand and explain patterns and processes, as well as conflict and cooperation in international affairs.

Attributes: International Relations Course, Irish Studies Course, Undergraduate

POL 350 Haunted by the Past (3 credits)

War apologies abound. Since the end of the Cold War, what we have been witnessing is a world-wide surge in memory. We are living in the era where collective apologies have become more and more common, and, as in Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka, to reconcile with the past has become critical part of contemporary politics of memory and regret. More concretely, this course will explore the following questions: Can a state apologize? Can the current generations apologize for the past wrongs and /or feel responsible? Or, should they? How do individuals articulate the link between identification with the state (and national pride) and sense of individual responsibility? How do individuals get their information about past wrongs? How much confidence do they have in the various sources (textbooks, mass media, internet, friends and family, etc.) at their disposal? Is reconciliation possible? Can memories go beyond national borders? Can it be something universal? The course will start with the introduction and examination of the role of history and memory in the (re-) formation of communal identity and explores for the possibility of communal reconciliation with past wrongs. Along with the examination of conceptual frameworks such as engagement and denial/avoidance, the ethical dimensions of political reconciliation will be discussed in terms of (1) retributive justice and (2) restorative justice.

Prerequisites: PHL 154

Attributes: Asian Studies Course, Ethics Intensive, International Relations Course, Non-Western Studies (GEP), Undergraduate

POL 352 Global Political Economy (3 credits)

Global economic relations are international, political and complex; they involve cross border flows of goods, money, services and people, and they reflect and create power. This course focuses on the nature and impact of the movement of goods (trade), capital (money, foreign direct investment, bailouts), services (call centers), people (migration), and even "bads" (pollution and disease) to understand the challenges of and opportunities for development, globalization and international cooperation in today's world. It emphasizes the analysis of historic booms and busts in various national economies as well as current global events and trends.

Prerequisites: POL 115

Attributes: Globalization Course, International Relations Course, Latin American Studies Course, Undergraduate

POL 354 Superpower ColdWar Foreign Pol (3 credits)

For about 45 years after World War II, the United States and the USSR were locked in a multi-pronged battle for dominance in the international system. Although some have called this era “the Long Peace,” the superpower competition resulted in massive, global direct and structural violence. This course will examine and explain American and Soviet interactions and behaviors during the period with special emphasis on the nuclear arms race and arms control and the battle for influence in the Middle East. As a final product for the course, students will write and present a literature review and argument or hypothesis in response to a self-generated, course-related research question.

Attributes: American Studies Course, Faith Justice Course, Globalization Course, International Relations Course, Undergraduate

POL 356 American Foreign Policy (3 credits)

After an overview of the nature and causes of American foreign policy (AFP) from the Founding to the Cold War, this course develops students’ policy and scholarly expertise on contemporary AFP. The emphasis is on understanding and explaining U.S. relations from 1990 to the present with Russia, the Middle East, and China, three important and currently highly volatile areas of US diplomatic focus and concern.

Attributes: American Studies Course, International Relations Course, Undergraduate

POL 364 IR of East Asia: War and Peace (3 credits)

The course will examine and discuss the most intriguing dynamics of international relations in East Asia. Along with the historical analysis of international relation in the region since the mid-19th century, the course will engage in the discussion of pressing issues that characterize contemporary international politics in the region, including (1) regional economic development and interactions, (2) Sino-Taiwanese tension and the U.S. involvement, (3) North Korean nuclear crisis, (4) Japan and its post-Cold War security profile, and (5) regional tension over Japan's militaristic past.

Attributes: Asian Studies Course, International Relations Course, Non-Western Studies (GEP), Undergraduate

POL 367 Ethics inInternational Affairs (3 credits)

What is morality in international politics? Is ethical reasoning and action possible in international affairs? If possible, when and how? Proponents of Realism often claim that there is virtually no room for morality in international affairs, and states and state actors are rational thinkers interacting in anarchy. For them, ethics are simply luxury and irrelevant. On the other hand, thinkers under the tradition of IR liberalism/idealism emphasize the ethical dimension of state decision making and state behaviors. On what moral ground or ethical reasoning, are the moral behaviors taking place and observed/unobserved? The primary objective of the course is to help students enhance their analytical ability for the study of international ethics. To this end, the course will explore the main traditions and theories of international ethics with a focus on such topical areas as just war and use of force, universal human rights and humanitarian intervention, and national collective memory and post-conflict reconciliation.

Prerequisites: PHL 154

Attributes: Ethics Intensive, International Relations Course, Justice Ethics and the Law , Undergraduate

POL 368 Sex & Power around the World (3 credits)

Gender can seem invisible in politics, but masculinity and femininity and attitudes about the “appropriate” place in society of these two genders and others create power and affect how opportunities and resources are distributed. Learn about the gendered nature of political power in a variety of world settings and how gendered conditions affect war, peace, revolution, development, and democracy.

Attributes: Faith Justice Course, Gender Studies Course, Globalization Course, International Relations Course, Undergraduate

POL 370 Special Topics (3 credits)

Attributes: Undergraduate

POL 390 Minternship 1 (1 credit)

These supervised mini-internships provide students an opportunity to intern in offices, initiatives, projects across the SJU campus that are related to skill-building within Political Science and International Relations. Students will: (1) develop writing, communication, and interpersonal skills; (2) examine various venues through which they can apply their knowledge and skills; and (3) integrate academic learning into professional life. Credit for 390, 391, and 392 can be combined to meet the 3-credit experiential learning requirement for Political Science and International Relations. Registration and placement require the permission of the instructor and/or department chair. Chair/Instructor approval required.

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in International Relations, Political Science or Public Policy.

Attributes: International Relations Course, Undergraduate

POL 391 Minternship 2 (1 credit)

Attributes: International Relations Course, Undergraduate

POL 392 Minternship 3 (1 credit)

Attributes: International Relations Course, Undergraduate

POL 402 Capstone: Contentious Pol inUS (3 credits)

Contentious politics consists of many "non-traditional" forms of political action, including social movements, protests, riots, and even political violence. This capstone political science seminar examines contentious politics in the U.S. through the lens of 1960/70s radical social movements, a key moment in U.S. politics in which the New Left imagined, theorized, negotiated, and contested the meaning of democracy and power. Students will examine and analyze the origins, ideologies, claims/grievances, goals, and strategies of radical political groups that roughly fall under the banner of the New Left: anti-war, feminism, black liberation, American Indian Movement, Chicano Movement, and Gay Liberation. We will study the politics of the struggle over rights, democracy, power, and the use/nonuse of violence within the New Left through a careful study of the primary texts (statements, agendas, etc.) produced by these groups. Students will investigate what the New Left helps us understand about power, politics, and violence in a modern democracy and evaluate the effectiveness of protest as a means to forward a political agenda, broadly defined.

Prerequisites: POL 111 and ENG 101

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Political Science.

Attributes: American Studies Course, Justice Ethics and the Law , Undergraduate, Writing Intensive Course- GEP

POL 403 Capstone: Nations&Nationalism (3 credits)

The primary objective of this seminar is to help students enhance their analytical abilities for the study of contemporary national problematique. In the rapidly changing contemporary global world, why are people still attracted, swayed, and annoyed by what is national? What is so important about being a part of nation? What drives people to develop specific allegiance toward a nation? And, how? More fundamentally, what is a nation?

Prerequisites: ENG 101

Restrictions: Enrollment limited to students with a class of Senior. Enrollment is limited to students with a major in International Relations or Political Science.

Attributes: International Relations Course, Undergraduate, Writing Intensive Course- GEP

POL 404 Capstone:Transforming Conflict (3 credits)

This seminar will explore the complexity of transforming violent conflict within and between societies so that people can survive and potentially thrive. Students will examine theories of conflict transformation and develop a question and design a study so that they can write an undergraduate research paper and make a presentation to the peers on an instance of conflict transformation of their choice.

Prerequisites: (POL 111 or POL 113 or POL 115) and ENG 111

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in International Relations or Political Science.

Attributes: Globalization Course, International Relations Course, Undergraduate, Writing Intensive Course- GEP

POL 405 Capstone: Pol of Labor & Work (3 credits)

Our capstone in political science extends our understanding of democracy by looking within one of the most common political institutions we will experience in our lifetimes: the workplace. Many of you are currently holding jobs, some part-time and others full-, some well-paid and others less well paid, some free (interning), some with inconsistent or too few hours, some with a terrible manager, some within the home (nannying/care work). You may be working in different organizations, or in different geographies. After graduation, the process only continues. This semester we will focus on the politics of work. What avenues do workers have to improve their autonomy, workplace conditions, and compensation? What barriers (employer, legal, political) challenge this process? What roles does organized labor serve? Though our focus is primarily the United States, we will acknowledge that worker conditions are shaped by different legal, geographic, and industrial contexts: country, state, law, industry, and time period. The policies regulating the workplace are political decisions. State repression of labor organizations has not been unusual historically, though what that might look like has shifted over time.

Prerequisites: POL 111

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Political Science.

Attributes: Undergraduate

POL 407 Capstone: Theories of Justice (3 credits)

What is political justice? We begin with an in-depth reading of the work that has defined justice in the 20th and 21st centuries: John Rawls' A Theory of Justice. We will also read selections from Rawls' Political Liberalism and his work on international justice, The Law of Peoples. In order to consider alternative theories of justice and criticisms of Rawls, we will read classic critical commentaries in the form of articles and book chapters from perspectives that reject Rawls. Through the writing of essays, students compare and contrast theories in order to develop a vocabulary of political ideology (liberalism, communitarianism, conservatism, feminism, legalism, utilitarianism, disability theory, queer theory, and postmodernism) as well as an understanding of different types of justice (e.g., distributive v. restorative).

Prerequisites: PHL 154 and POL 111 and POL 117 and ENG 101

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Political Science.

Attributes: Ethics Intensive, Justice Ethics and the Law , Undergraduate, Writing Intensive Course- GEP

POL 408 Capstone: The Armed Citizen? (3 credits)

What is the role of firearms in a constitutional democracy? Do guns pose a threat in the form of violence and death, prevent tyranny, or secure rights? Can guns be restricted to protect against domestic abuse or suicide? This seminar interrogates (1) the meaning of the Second Amendment in the context of the creation of the Constitution and current controversies over the relationship between firearms and violence in the U.S. (2) the interpretations of the U.S. Supreme Court in their most recent decisions and (3) the theoretical issues raised by guns in a constitutional democracy (including Stand Your Ground laws). The course demands reading primary and secondary texts in political theory, public law, and history.

Prerequisites: POL 111 and POL 117 and ENG 101

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Political Science.

Attributes: Justice Ethics and the Law , Undergraduate, Writing Intensive Course- GEP

POL 409 Capstone: Global Migration (3 credits)

Migration has become a topic of increasing focus and concern in the 21st century, with some arguing that it will be one of the defining issues of our time. This is certainly the case for those tens of millions of individuals who are currently on the move, for the sending communities and societies from which them emigrate and the destinations that receive them, and the nation-states that control their entrance and exit. In this seminar, we will cover the "big" issues of migration in a comparative format through engagement with some of the most important examples of the extensive body of literature in Migration Studies. Concretely, we will critically examine: the demographics of migration in key regions of the world; theories that explain mobility; host-immigrant relations and integration; the role of gender, race, and ethnicity in migration; the growth of transnational ties as an aspect of globalization; security; and the analysis of immigration policies and citizenship. Throughout the course of the semester, we will question continually challenge ourselves to question the approach to migration as a problem to be solves versus as a process to manage. As a capstone seminar, Global Migration as Problem and Process includes reading requirements that are extensive and challenging and approaches learning through a collective approach as we share our individual insights and understandings. We will learn from each other. Students must come to class having read the assignment materials critically so that we can grapple with ideas and engage in debate. Avid participation is required. There will be minimal formal lecturing and most seminar time will consist of open discussion. Furthermore, this capstone will draw upon the knowledge students have gained from many of their other Political Science classes. The course materials will draw heavily from empirical evidence (qualitative and quantitative) to explore the topics discussed above, while applying major theoretical concepts in Political Science. Students should come prepared to integrate the knowledge they have gained over the past four years.

Prerequisites: POL 113 and POL 115 and ENG 101

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major in International Relations or Political Science.

Attributes: Faith Justice Course, Globalization Course, International Relations Course, Justice Ethics and the Law , Undergraduate, Writing Intensive Course- GEP

POL 411 Washington Internship I (3 credits)

At The Washington Center (see Special Academic Programs and Services for more information), students are placed in an internship where they work 30-35 hours in an office making substantive contributions to its work in politics, public policy, law, advocacy, or other related fields. For these activities, students earn two courses worth of upper division credit. Please note: the other courses at the Washington Center do not count for POL major or minor credit.

Attributes: Undergraduate

POL 412 Washington Internship II (3 credits)

Attributes: Undergraduate

POL 413 International Internship I (3 credits)

Some study abroad programs offer internship credit for one or two classes. Please note: subject to administrative approval, students may earn two courses of UD POL credit if their internship is in the 32- hour/week range.

Attributes: International Relations Course, Undergraduate

POL 414 International Internship II (3 credits)

Attributes: International Relations Course, Undergraduate

POL 415 Applied Research Mixed Methods (3 credits)

Public policy scholars and practitioners have a wide variety of methodological tools at their disposal. Yet, it can be challenging to determine which techniques are best equipped to answer particular research questions, as well as how to fruitfully combine distinct methods. Gaining a familiarity with the discipline’s vast methodological “toolkit” is essential to building the knowledge and skills necessary to engage in political and social research— for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners. In this course, students will explore the principle methodological approaches employed in political inquiry—encompassing experimental, quantitative-statistical, and qualitative techniques—and examine how these tools may be productively “mixed” to make descriptive and causal inferences about political phenomena. In addition to learning to evaluate and critique distinct methodological approaches, students will “learn by doing” and gain experience applying various techniques to answer specific research questions. To provide the necessary technical skills for applied research, the course will introduce students to software programs that are commonly used for quantitative and qualitative research. Students will apply the skills and techniques in the context of a semester-long research project, which will include formulating a research question, developing a research design, and engaging in original empirical research (including data collection and data analysis). The project could form the basis of a graduate-level thesis or article manuscript prepared for submission to a peer-reviewed publication.

Prerequisites: POL 111 or POL 113

Restrictions: Enrollment is limited to students with a major, minor, or concentration in International Relations, Political Science or Public Policy.

Attributes: International Relations Course, Undergraduate

POL 470 Research in the Discipline (3 credits)

This course is designated for an independent study project in consultation with and approval from a specific faculty member. Depending on the faculty member, the project will focus on a particular topic of interest in Political Science or International Relations.

Attributes: Undergraduate

POL 490 Global Smarts Internship (3 credits)

Global Smarts is a service-learning internship offered every spring in partnership with the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia (WACP). For the semester, SJU students serve as mentors of middle-school children from under-resourced Philadelphia-area schools who are participating in the WACP’s annual Junior Model UN (JMUN) conference. WACP prepares SJU mentors to teach their mentees to act as national diplomats in a mock General Assembly session. At SJU, mentors learn about the UN, its constraints and accomplishments in global politics, and the complexity of constructing peace globally and locally. Because this is a Faith-Justice Service-Learning internship, we consistently process mentors’ experiences using key concepts (violence, peace, charity, justice, solidarity, and power) while also developing professional and personal skills.

Attributes: Faith Justice Course, International Relations Course, Service Learning Course, Undergraduate

POL 491 Philadelphia-Area Internship (3 credits)

The Philadelphia Area Internship Program supports student internships in the public sector, private sector, or in a non-governmental organization (NGO) in the Philadelphia area. Students will complete a total of 130 hours of work, write a resume and sample cover letter, keep a journal, and attend and write about an SJU Career Development Center event. Students who complete the requirements will receive 3 credits for one upper-division course in History, Political Science, or International Relations. Course is open to ALL majors.

Attributes: International Relations Course, Undergraduate

POL 493 Honors Research in Pol Sci I (3 credits)

Majors with a minimum GPA of 3.5 in Political Science courses may apply to the Honors Program to earn College Honors. Applications are due in Spring of the junior year for the right to perform a year-long research project under the supervision of a Political Science Department member. To succeed in the application, the student should be in conversation with that faculty member early on in the junior year. Then, the student works closely with her/his mentor over the course of the senior year to prepare and present a thesis that passes the scrutiny of the mentor, an outside faculty reader with complementary expertise, and a member of the Honors Committee. Specific requirements for the College Honors thesis may be found under "Honors Program". Prior approval from the Honors Program and Department is necessary. Students who complete Departmental Honors are not required to take a POL Capstone Course. One semester of HON research counts for the Capstone Course and the other for an upper division POL course.

Attributes: Undergraduate, Writing Intensive Course- GEP

POL 494 Honors Research in Pol Sci II (3 credits)

Attributes: Undergraduate