Public Policy (BS)

Become informed enough to play your part in governing the United States. Start by learning about the Constitution, our rights and freedoms, how the national government works and the opportunities and challenges of citizen influence. Political Science methods, and the challenges of citizenship are emphasized.

Prerequisites:

none

Goal Areas:

GE-05, GE-09

Students will develop knowledge and understand the application of statistical concepts and quantitative methodologies to real-world social and political issues. Using social science data, students will analyze and interpret data to answer research questions relevant to the public and non-profit sectors.

Prerequisites:

none

Goal Areas:

GE-04

This course provides an introduction to public policy and public administration in the United States. Specifically, this course will examine theories, concepts, and relevant public policy issues and administrative issues using appropriate theoretical frameworks and methodologies.

Prerequisites:

none

Institutions, processes, intergovernmental relations, and politics of U.S. state and local governments.

Prerequisites:

none

An overview of the budgetary and fiscal processes of public budgeting, including the politics surrounding public budgeting and fiscal policy decisions.

Prerequisites:

none

This course explores the interconnection between political systems, public policy, and food systems. Current food and agricultural policy is evaluated in light of political, economic, and societal conditions.

Prerequisites:

none

This course examines entertainment policy from historical, cultural, political, and societal perspectives. Among other topics, this course will use a public policy framework to examine the impact of local government policies like noise ordinances, copyright laws, 1st amendment issues of free expression and assembly, and the historical and cultural significance of music as a catalyst for social change.

Prerequisites:

none

This course examines the relationship between housing and health, with a focus on how housing policies and programs can affect the health and well-being of individuals and communities. The course covers the historical, theoretical, and empirical aspects of housing and health, as well as the current challenges and opportunities for improving both. The course also explores the role of stakeholders and institutions in shaping and implementing housing and health policies, such as government institutions, markets, society, and policymakers.

Prerequisites:

none

An introduction to the dynamics of interactions among sovereign states and other global actors.

Prerequisites:

none

This course is designed to acquaint undergraduates with the data and methods of comparative politics. Approaches to the study of comparative politics may include country studies, regional studies, global surveys focusing on specific policy areas or other issues, and general comparative theory.

Prerequisites:

none

Politics impact on women: women's impact on politics and governance; primary focus on United States but some comparative considerations.

Prerequisites:

none

Racial and ethnic minorities in U.S. politics. Public opinion on racial issues, minority representation, race (partisanship and voting behavior), and racial issues (affirmative action, school busing, immigration).

Prerequisites:

none

An advanced theoretical survey of the dynamics of politics and political change at the global level.

Prerequisites:

POL 231

Study of the function and process of the United Nations and other international organizations.

Prerequisites:

POL 231

This course is a general overview of US foreign policy institutions, processes, and politics. U.S. foreign policy is examined in historical, global and domestic contexts.

Prerequisites:

POL 231

Focusing on patterns, processes, and problems of international trade, monetary, technological, and investment relations, this course examines the roles played by key government organizations in managing conflict and cooperation among states.

Prerequisites:

POL 231

This course offers a cross-national perspective on the politics of social policy and the welfare state in industrialized parts of the world, including North and South America and different regions of Europe. It also explores distinct national patterns of public policy solutions to the common contemporary problems of social security, poverty, and health care by paying close attention to both domestic factors and the forces of globalization that work to constrain government decisions. This multidimensional approach is designed to enable students to better understand how politics work in different ways to produce collective or social choices.

Prerequisites:

POL 241

Legal procedures by which state and federal administrative agencies exercise legislative, judicial and executive powers. Emphasis is placed on the constitutional position of administrative agencies, the rule making process, the power of agencies to decide rights and obligations concerning individual cases, and judicial control of administrative action.

Prerequisites:

none

Review of selected U.S. Supreme Court decisions relating to the powers of the President, Congress and the Judiciary, as well as the division of power between the states and the federal government. Focus is on case briefing, underlying rationales, and the development of individual analytical abilities.

Prerequisites:

none

Review of selected U.S. Supreme Court decisions interpreting areas such as substantive due process, abortion, speech, press, religion, and equal protection. Focus is on the rationale which underlies decisions and the development of individual analytical abilities. Same as LAWE 436

Prerequisites:

none

This course explores topics in public policy and public administration beyond what is covered in the existing curriculum. Students study specialized topics of current importance in the field. Specific topics will change depending on the term and instructor. May be retaken with a change of topic.

Prerequisites:

none

Politics of the natural environment (U.S. focus). Environmental and opposition values; roles of public opinion, Congress, presidency and courts in environmental policy making. Policy areas include: air/water pollution, climate change, hazardous/nuclear waste, sustainable development, and commons problems like overfishing.

Prerequisites:

none

A broadly based introduction to the issues, processes, and techniques of public sector labor relations.

Prerequisites:

none

The development of public personnel management in federal, state and local governments; strategic planning and policy making, position management, staffing, performance management, workplace relations.

Prerequisites:

none

Field placement with a governmental agency or related organization. Provides a learning experience in which the student can integrate and apply knowledge and theory derived from curriculum. P/N only.

Prerequisites:

none