Political Science (POSC) | Towson University Catalog

POSC 101 INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE (3)

The origins of modern governments. The nature of constitutions and constitutionalism. A definition and interpretation of politics. Students who have successfully completed the honors version of this course (POSC 102) will not receive additional credit for this course. Core: Social & Behavioral Sciences.

POSC 102 HONORS INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE (3)

The origins of modern governments. The nature of constitutions and constitutionalism. A definition and interpretation of politics. Honors College course. Students who have successfully completed the non-honors version of this course will not receive additional credit for this course. Prerequisite: admission to Honors College. Core: Social & Behavioral Sciences.

POSC 103 AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT (3)

Structure and functions of the government of the United States and the problems involved in the extension of the scope of democratic government in our contemporary life. Core: The United States as a Nation.

POSC 105 GOVERNMENTS OF THE WORLD (3)

Comparative survey of governments and political systems in a number of major countries in the world today. Attention given to political behavior, structures, processes and policies. Core: Global Perspectives.

POSC 107 INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (3)

An introductory examination of principles of legal, political, and social relations among nations, coordination and conflict in the international system, global issues, such as trade, security, war and peace, power and formation of foreign policy. Students who have successfully completed the honors version of this course (POSC 108) will not receive additional credit for this course. Core: Global Perspectives.

POSC 108 HONORS INTRO TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (3)

An introductory examination of principles of legal, political and social relations among nations; coordination and conflict in the international system; global issues, such as trade, security, war and peace, power and formation of foreign policy. Honors College course. Students who have successfully completed the non-honors version of this course will not receive additional credit for this course. Core: Global Perspectives.

POSC 207 STATE GOVERNMENT (3)

Historical background, state constitutions, and the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government. Problems of state administration and federal-state relations. Core: The United States as a Nation.

POSC 209 INTRODUCTION TO LAW (3)

The legal process in the United States for the liberal arts student. Core: The United States as a Nation.

POSC 212 HONORS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE (3)

Supreme Court as a political institution including personal policy preferences of justices in regard to civil rights and liberties. Honors College course. Core: The United States as a Nation.

POSC 301 POLITICAL RESEARCH I (3)

Multi-method introduction to political research. Discusses how to frame and answer questions about politics. Covers quantitative and qualitative methods. Prerequisite: One POSC course.

POSC 303 THEORY OF INTERNATIONAL POLITICS (3)

The theories of mutual relations of states. Elements of national power; international politics as a struggle for power. Restraints upon the struggle for power. Prerequisite: HIST 103 or POSC 107 or consent of instructor.

POSC 304 POLITICS OF METROPOLITAN GROWTH AND CHANGE (3)

Examination of the political economy of metropolitan growth; role of federal, state and local actors and policies in shaping development. Prerequisite: one lower level political science class or consent of the instructor. Core: Metropolitan Perspectives.

POSC 305 URBAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS (3)

The political history of American cities from the 18th century through the recent reform movement. City charters, home rule, types of executives, political machines, the metropolitan area. Prerequisite: POSC 103. Core: Metropolitan Perspectives.

POSC 307 CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL POLITICS (3)

Computer simulation (conducted jointly with colleges and universities throughout the world) used to study the formulation and implementation of contemporary international politics. Prerequisite: POSC 107 or POSC 303 or consent of instructor.

POSC 329 THE POLITICS OF ETHNICITY AND NATIONALISM (3)

Pervasiveness of ethnicity in domestic and international politics, and the instruments for managing ethnic conflict. Prerequisite: POSC 105 or POSC 107 or 6 hours of POSC credit or consent of instructor.

POSC 337 COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT OF FOREIGN POWERS: THE WESTERN WORLD (3)

An examination of the problems of modernization and stable constitutional rule in England, France, Italy, and Germany. Prerequisite: POSC 101 or POSC 105 or consent of instructor.

POSC 338 GOVERNMENT OF USSR AND EASTERN EUROPE (3)

Comparisons of the diverse political, economic, and intellectual roads to socialism. Prerequisites: POSC 101, POSC 107, or consent of instructor.

POSC 339 COMPARATIVE POLITICAL SYSTEMS (3)

Attempt to bring together the analytical concepts and methodological techniques that may be applied to the study of political systems in a comparative sense. Prerequisite: POSC 103 or POSC 105.

POSC 340 COMPARATIVE PUBLIC POLICY (3)

Comparative study of the policy problems and processes of the United States, Canada and Western European countries, focusing on the growing convergence of public policy making in the states of the developed world. Prerequisites: POSC 101, POSC 103, POSC 105 or consent of instructor.

POSC 342 RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS (3)

Examination of the government and politics of post-Soviet Russia. Special attention to the legacy of the Czarist and Communist systems and the nature of the democracy in Russia today. Prerequisite: POSC 105 or POSC 107 or consent of instructor.

POSC 343 AFRICAN-AMERICAN POLITICS (3)

Examination of African-American strategies in struggle for full citizenship rights; political behavior in post-Civil Rights era; contemporary trends in electoral politics at local, state, and national levels. Prerequisite: one lower-level political science course or consent of instructor. Core: The United States as a Nation.

POSC 344 RACE AND AMERICAN POLITICS (3)

Examination of the role of race in structuring the exercise of political power and the content of public policy; contemporary trends in political, social, and economic outcomes relevant to race at local, state, and national levels. This course has been offered as a special topic; students who have earned credit for this course as a special topic will not receive additional credit for POSC 344. Prerequisite: one political science course.

POSC 345 GOVERNMENTS AND POLITICS OF EAST ASIA: FOCUS ON CHINA AND JAPAN (3)

Examination of the governments and politics of East Asia with a particular emphasis on China and Japan. Emphasizes current political events and structures. Prerequisite: POSC 105 or consent of the instructor.

POSC 351 THE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF LATIN AMERICAN (3)

An examination of the informal and formal rules of the political "game" in Latin America with an emphasis on four types of political systems found in contemporary Latin America: democratic reformist, revolutionary, populist, and military authoritarian. Prerequisite: POSC 101 or POSC 105 or consent of instructor.

POSC 355 LATIN AMERICAN POLICY OFTHE UNITED STATES (3)

An analysis of the Latin American Policy of the United States from the Monroe Doctrine to the present. Emphasis will be on historical, political, economic, and security factors in the ebb and flow of inter-American relations. Prerequisite: POSC 101 or POSC 105 or consent of instructor.

POSC 375 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (3)

Administration as a central element of contemporary society, with special reference to the problems of government organization, control, personnel, finance and public relations. Prerequisite: POSC 103.

POSC 376 WRITING FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (3)

The theory and practice of managing the public's business with special emphasis on organizational change, personnel, and budget. Writing for public administration and the use of common-based data sources. Requires grade of C or better to fulfill Core requirement. Prerequisites: POSC 103 and ENGL 102 or ENGL 190 or equivalent. Core: Advanced Writing Seminar.

POSC 381 THE PRESIDENCY (3)

A discussion of the origin of the office, the selection of the president and policy making in the executive branch. Prerequisite: POSC 103.

POSC 383 CONGRESS (3)

An investigation of the relations of Congress with the other branches of government and with the political parties and interest groups. Also examines the relationships between a member of Congress and their constituency as well as the internal dynamics of Congress. Prerequisite: POSC 103.

POSC 384 JUDICIAL SYSTEM (3)

Roles, functions and operations of the American judicial system. Examining ideology of law and justice and consequences of legal decisions. Prerequisite: POSC 103 or consent of instructor.

POSC 410 POLITICS OF THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA (3)

Examination of key themes in comparative study of the Middle East and North Africa, including the state, political economy, and authoritarianism, with a focus on specific countries as case studies. Prerequisite: POSC 105.

POSC 417 AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES (3)

Origin and development of the American two-party system. The activities of pressure groups and organizations, and their effects upon the party system. Prerequisite: POSC 103 or consent of instructor.

POSC 418 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AND POLITICS (3)

The nature and origins of the Constitution: judicial review, separation of powers, federalism, and the Commerce Clause. Prerequisite: POSC 101 or POSC 103.

POSC 419 CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES: THE FIRST AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS (3)

The constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech, religious liberty, free assembly and equal protection. Prerequisite: POSC 101 or POSC 103.

POSC 420 CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS: PERSONAL LIBERTY AND THE RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED. (3)

Personal liberty in the home and the person in regard to individual decision making and criminal justice. Prerequisite: POSC 101 or POSC 103.

POSC 421 POLITICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY (3)

Analysis and investigation of U.S. environmental problems from a political perspective. Prerequisite: POSC 103 or consent of instructor.

POSC 422 THE SUPREME COURT (3)

Roles, behavior, structure and operations of the U.S. Supreme Court. History, politics, decision making and impact of cases. Prerequisite: POSC 103 or consent of instructor.

POSC 425 LEGAL THEORY (3)

Focuses on the salient arguments for and against the major legal issues of our time. Readings, drawn from time-honored writers of the past, are designed to evoke continuous discussion and debate on contemporary problems in the law. Prerequisites: Junior standing and 9 units of political science or consent of instructor.

POSC 427 POLITICAL THEORY I (3)

Political thought in the West from the Greeks to the end of the 16th century. Prerequisite: POSC 101 or POSC 102, or consent of instructor.

POSC 428 POLITICAL THEORY II (3)

Political philosophers and their writings since the 16th century. Attention given to the conflict of ideologies in the 20th century. Prerequisite: POSC 101 or POSC 102, or consent of instructor.

POSC 430 AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT (3)

Examines American political thinking, key concepts, and theorists. Addresses major and minor figures and mainstream and alternative perspectives within the American political tradition. Prerequisite: POSC 101 or consent of instructor.

POSC 432 UNITED STATES-RUSSIAN RELATIONS (3)

Relations between the U.S. and Russia. Emphasis on Soviet and post-Soviet periods, nationalities, democratization, and creation of market economics. Prerequisite: Any 100-level political science course or consent of instructor.

POSC 434 COMPARATIVE FOREIGN POLICY (3)

The foreign policy and foreign policy decision-making in countries around the world using a thematic approach. Comprehensive study of the ideas behind foreign policy-making. Prerequisite: POSC 107 or POSC 303 or consent of instructor.

POSC 436 U.S. FOREIGN POLICY (3)

The main events, ideas, and structure behind U.S. foreign policy. Ideas about the formation, conduct, and institutions involved in U.S. foreign policy and the issues facing U.S. presidents and policymakers in the 20th and 21st centuries.

POSC 438 COMPARATIVE RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISMS (3)

Examination of the political impact of contemporary religious fundamentalism primarily focusing on the United States, Israel, and the Muslim world. The causes for the rise of fundamentalism will receive special attention as well as those movements that encourage violence and terrorism. Prerequisite: POSC 103 or POSC 105 or consent of instructor.

POSC 439 POLITICS OF THE DEVELOPING WORLD (3)

An examination of the causes of poverty in the developing world. Particular attention given to the roles of the international system, domestic politics, and the natural world. Prerequisite: POSC 105 or POSC 107.

POSC 445 TERRORISM AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE (3)

An examination of the threats to human rights and security posed by political violence in general and extremist groups in particular, emphasizing the evolving nature of terrorism as a force in both domestic and international affairs. Prerequisites: POSC 107, or 9 units in Political Science, or permission of the instructor.

POSC 447 INTERNATIONAL LAW AND ORGANIZATION (3)

The nature, structure, and sources of international law, the relationship between international law and domestic U.S. law, the role of international organizations. Prerequisite: POSC 107 or consent of instructor.

POSC 449 U.S. HOMELAND SECURITY POLICY (3)

Concept of U.S. homeland security in the context of recent history, nature of threats and major vulnerabilities that are the focus of homeland security efforts, and the range of activities that constitute the U.S. homeland security enterprise. Prerequisite: POSC 107 or consent of instructor.

POSC 450 INTEREST GROUPS AND PUBLIC POLICY (3)

The structure, organization, objectives and activities of interest groups and their impact on public policy and campaign financing. Prerequisite: POSC 103 or consent of instructor.

POSC 453 INTELLIGENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY (3)

Principal roles of intelligence in national policy formulation, in the provision of strategic and tactical warning, in providing support for military operations, and in covert action. Problems inherent in conducting intelligence in a democracy. rerequisite: POSC 107 or consent of instructor.

POSC 459 SIMULATION AND GAMES IN POLITICAL SCIENCE (3)

Political decisions using rational choice and game theory. Discussing voting methods, public goods, and paradoxes of collective choice using computer simulation. Prerequisite: one upper-level political science course or consent of instructor.

POSC 465 EDITORIAL WORK -TOWSON JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (1-3)

Members of the Editorial Board of "The Towson Journal of International Affairs" prepare the issues of that journal under the supervision of the faculty advisers. Admission by consent of the instructor. Graded S/U.

POSC 470 SPECIAL TOPICS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE (3)

An examination of current topics in political science. The content of the course will depend upon mutual faculty and student interest. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 units provided a different topic is covered. Prerequisite: Any 100-level POSC course or consent of instructor.

POSC 471 SPECIAL TOPICS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE (3)

An examination of current topics in political science. The content of the course will depend upon mutual faculty and student interest. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 credits provided a different topic is covered. Prerequisite: any 100-level POSC course or consent of instructor.