West Virginia University Department of Political Science

Welcome to the
Department of Political Science
in the Eberly College of Arts & Sciences

Undergraduate Courses
On Campus - Extended Learning - Graduate Courses

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES - Fall 2006

P.S. 102 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT (Professors DiClerico, Hammock, Dotson)

P.S. 103 GLOBAL POLITICAL ISSUES (David Hauser, Lecturer)

Political Science 103 is an introductory class, designed for non-majors who are interested in some of the important political issues of global concern. No previous classes in political science or international relations are required. The focus of this class is on international disagreements between states in four issue areas: international economics, security and war, ideology and diversity, and the global environment. Additionally, a heavy focus on current news and events is part of the curriculum. The general goal of the class is to help students to see that there are different perspectives on the same issues depending on one’s politics, culture, religion and national background.

P.S. 210 LAW AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM (Professor Brisbin)

The course is an introduction to the political functions of judicial officials and law in the American polity. Topics discussed include: the concept of an adversary, due process based legal process; civil procedure; the role of attorneys; common law and statutory interpretation; forms of civil action including contracts, the UCC, property, bankruptcy, tort, future interests, family law, governmental regulation, and equity; criminal law and criminal legal process; appellate court structure and process; and the policy effects of legal action and implementation issues reform and the issue of justice. The course should be regarded as preparation for advanced courses on legal politics and policy like P.S. 312, 313, 314, etc. Sophomore standing recommended. There will be two books to read, two essay examinations and a final, and a field research report.

P.S. 220 STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (Professor Berch)

In this course, we will examine a number of topics having to do with state and local politics. Our emphasis will be on the states, and we will focus on comparing states. Some extra attention will be paid to state and local government in West Virginia. We will concentrate on the ability of average citizens to get what they want from state and local government. Course requirements will include two or more exams during the term, as well as a comprehensive final exam at the officially designated time during exam week."

P.S. 240 INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (Professor Worsham)

This is an upper-division course focusing on the politics of public administration. Public administration, in a nutshell, involves the bureaucracy in the implementation of politics often authored by other institutions of government (the legislative, executive, and judicial branches). The role of chief implementer allows the bureaucracy to function as a "fourth branch" of government. It also presents those interested in democratic government with a dilemma, how to control the fourth branch. Throughout the course we examine the role of bureaucracy in the policy process, focusing on questions of control, efficiency and equity. Course requirements include three exams and weekly quizzes.

P.S. 250 INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS (Professor Kim)

Designed for beginning students in the field of comparative politics, this course will survey basic theories, approaches, and analytical skills used in the comparative study of modern political systems. Following a brief survey of the background of the field, we will proceed to study the structure, process and performance of two major types of political systems: (1) the democratic political systems (e.g., Great Britain and Japan) and (2) Communist and Post-Communist systems (Russian and China) and (3) authoritarian political systems. Required texts, two minor exams and a final exam.

P.S. 260 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (Professor Peterson)

This introduction to international relations will provide a foundation of conceptual frameworks and alternative theories of international relations by which to analyze past and current events and trends. In addition to two textbooks, students are assigned a daily newspaper. There are three examinations (including final) which are multiple choice and essay, weekly short answer quizzes on the reading, and brief summary/analytical papers on newspaper articles.

P.S. 271 HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT 2 (Professor Hunter)

This course examines basic political concepts of justice, rights, liberty, and equality through the works of theorists from Machiavelli through 19th century theorists, including Karl Marx, John Locke, John Stuart Mill, and early feminists. Each student will write a short paper on each concept, and will select one concept for a longer in-depth analysis. There will be two essay exams, and one or two quizzes.

P.S. 300 EMPIRICAL POLITICAL ANALYSIS (Professor Duval)

NO DESCRIPTION AVAILABLE.

P.S. 301 INTRODUCTION TO INTELLIGENCE ANALYSIS (Jason Thomas, Lecturer)

NO DESCRIPTION AVAILABLE.

P.S. 302 INTELLIGENCE ANALYSIS METHODS (Jason Thomas, Lecturer)

NO DESCRIPTION AVAILABLE.

P.S. 310 THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY (Professor DiClerico)

This course will examine the forces which have given rise to the modern presidency; the elements of presidential power and influence; the nature of the president's relations with other key power centers in our political system (Congress, public, bureaucracy, parties, media, courts); presidential decision-making in foreign and domestic policy areas. There will be required texts, a research paper, two essay hour exams, and a comprehensive essay final.

P.S. 311 POLITICAL PARTIES AND THE ELECTORAL PROCESS (Professor Scotto)

This course looks at parties and campaigns in the United States and Canada from a “New Institutionalist” perspective. The first third of the course covers the electoral rules and traditions of each nation and discusses how electoral norms and regulations influence outcomes and party systems. The second third of the course focuses on the behavior of the American electorate, and the remainder of the course compares the forces driving American electoral results to those that steer political behavior in Canada. A student’s grade for this course is a function of their performance on three in class exams, their participation and oral presentations, and a final paper analyzing one of the midterm races taking place in 2006.

P.S. 313 AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL LAW (Professor Kilwein)

This course will focus on the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Supreme Court and the role both have played in shaping the U.S. political system. This class does not examine the Constitution's role in protecting individual rights; that is covered in P.S. 314. In addition to our examination of the U.S. constitutional environment, we will look to the Canadian constitutional environment for a comparative referent. A good portion of class time will be spent discussing legal decisions found in one of the textbooks. Students are expected to do the assigned readings prior to class in order to facilitate their participation in class discussions. There will be 2 to 3 required texts. Grading will be based on class participation, two mid-term exams, a comprehensive final and a 15-20 page term paper.

P.S. 315 LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY (Professor Brisbin)

This course provides an advanced critical examination of the politics of policymaking in disputes and litigation that involve private and governmental agencies and trial courts. With a focus on civil litigation, the course will require reading in the interdisciplinary literature of the law and society tradition, and public policy analysis. Specific topics to be discussed include: the politics of dispute adjustment, the power of the bar, the construction of the policy agenda for official action by courts and administrative agencies, negotiation, trial procedure, and the policy outcomes of dispute resolution and litigation. The requirements will include extensive assorted reading of case studies and journal articles, a mid-semester examination, a final essay examination, and combined oral presentation and analytical paper. PREREQUISITE: Completion of Political Science 210, Law and the Legal System.

P.S. 321 WEST VIRGINIA GOVERNMENT (Michael Garrison, Lecturer)

This course will feature case studies of politics and policymaking in West Virginia. Students are expected to be active participants in the case studies. There will be various practitioners as guest presenters.

P.S. 333 POLITICS OF SOCIAL WELFARE (Professor Worsham)

This course focuses on questions of poverty and inequality in the United States. The major issues addressed are who are the poor, what are the causes of economic inequality, what steps should a government take to deal with these problems, what policies has the United States government adopted to deal with inequality and poverty, and how successful are the programs that have been adopted. Course requirements include three take home exams, weekly quizzes, and a research paper.

P.S. 350 GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN (Professor Kim)

This course is designed to survey political institutions and governmental processes in Japan with special emphasis on the analysis of political development and change in the post-World War II period. Following a brief survey of Japan's political tradition and modernization, it will cover both input and output aspects of Japan's political system: political culture and socialization, interest groups, political parties, electoral system and voting behavior, governmental organs and processes (i.e., legislative, executive, and judicial). In addition, it will evaluate Japanese governmental performance in terms of economic, educational, environmental, social welfare, defense and foreign policy. Grades are established on the basis of 2 minor tests plus one final exam and either one term paper (10-12 pages) or 3 book reports (2-3 pages each).

P.S. 361 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION (Professor Jacobs)

This course will explore contemporary world politics with an emphasis on the origins, problems and consequences of transnationalism and global cooperation. Designed to complement Pol. S. 368, this course will focus primarily on actors and theoretical perspectives of the post WWII period in which the rise of transnationalism has been transformative for the world and for the study of international relations. In our examination of political science concepts such as liberal institutionalism and regime theory, we will cover issues including the international economy, the environment, IGOs, NGOs and social movements, and multilateral cooperation.

P.S. 364 AMERICAN FOREIGN RELATIONS (Professor Crichlow)

This course focuses on patterns and themes in contemporary American foreign policy. It examines both substantive and theoretical matters to give students a deeper understanding of how and why the government of the United States behaves as it does in the international arena. We will study key actors and organizations involved in the making of US foreign policy, and examine case studies of specific actions to see how policy is created in practice. Course requirements include a mid-term exam, a final, a research paper and participation in class discussions.

P.S. 368 POLITICS OF WAR AND PEACE (Professor Hagan)

The purpose of this course is to analyze patterns of international conflict and the causes of war and peace in the modern state system. It is organized around four sections. The first introduces the student to core theoretical approaches to explaining war and peace, i.e., neorealism and neoliberalism as well as foreign policy logic. The course’s second section surveys the evolution of the European state system dating back to about 1500. This is not an exercise in diplomatic history, but rather an examination of the dynamics of the balance of power and the varied factors underlying systemic transformations like the end of cold war. The third section looks more closely at origins--and lessons--of the three great power conflicts of the Twentieth Century: World War I, World War II, and the Cold War. The course closes with an examination of the emerging post-cold war system, asking whether this new “multipolar” order will be more, or less, stable than the bipolarity of cold war and/or the multipolarity of earlier European systems. Each student’s grade in this course will be based on a major research paper and on two exams; the latter will draw upon class lectures and a sizeable amount of readings in main texts and chapters in at least one edited volume. Three main texts are Paul Kennedy’s Rise and Fall of the Great Powers, Donald Kagan’s On the Origins of War, and Charles Kupchan’s The Vulnerability of Empire.

P.S. 488 CAPSTONE: POLITICAL SIMULATION (Professor Hammock)

This course fulfills the “Capstone” requirement for political science majors. Built around a simulation exercise, the course is designed to provide a culminating experience that requires students to demonstrate an ability: (1) to conduct research independently; (2) to think critically about and to integrate knowledge gained throughout the undergraduate years; (3) to reflect on the ethical and political issues posed in the study of political science; and (4) to report through multiple writing and oral assignments the results of the capstone experience. The simulation consists of 12 Simulation Exercises in which students play multiple roles. These exercises must be prepared weekly and attendance is required. The class meets once each week from 2:30-5:00 p.m. There are no tests, but there are weekly reading and reporting requirements. Grades are determined on the basis of both written work and oral presentations.

P.S. 493 LAW AND INSTITUTIONS (Professor Fattore)

NO DESCRIPTION AVAILABLE.

On-Line Extended Learning Courses

P.S. 220 STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (Lucinda A. Potter, Senior Lecturer)

This web-based course focuses on the relationships among the national, state and local governments in providing public goods and services, including but not limited to economic development, health care, and income maintenance. The class covers the structure and operations of American state and local governments, including the roles of the legislature, governor, bureaucracy, and courts. The course is organized into a series of learning units that include assigned readings and written assignments. Each unit asks you to think critically and logically about the proper role for the national, state and local government in American governance. The course requirements consist of a combination of six essays/writing assignments or on-line quizzes (one per unit), a journal that applies the class concept to a specific state, and one comprehensive report on a first-hand observation of a state or local government meeting. In addition to a reliable internet service provider (ISP), you need an internet browser configured appropriately for WebCT VISTA, an active MIX e-mail account, and word processing software to access class materials, to create and submit your assignments, and to communicate with your classmates and the instructor. SPECIAL NOTE: This section cannot be used to meet the writing requirement. Students interested in using PS220 to meet the University’s writing requirements MUST register for an on-campus section with the “W” designation in the section number.

P.S. 321 WEST VIRGINIA GOVERNMENT (Lucinda A. Potter, Senior Lecturer)

This web-based course is designed to provide you with a thorough understanding of the historical development and contemporary structures, functions, and operations of West Virginia's state and local governments. Special attention is focused on the state's capacity to provide goods and services, its relationship with the national government, the state executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, and contemporary public policy issues facing West Virginia's state and local government officials. The course requirements consist of regular participation in on-line discussions about current events in West Virginia government and biweekly essays. In addition to a reliable internet service provider (ISP), you need an internet browser that is properly configured for WebCT VISTA, an active MIX e-mail account, and word processing software to access class materials, to create and submit your assignments, and to communicate with your classmates and the instructor.

P.S. 493L AMERICAN FEDERALISM & POLICY (Lucinda A. Potter, Senior Lecturer)

This web-based course is designed to provide you with a thorough understanding of federalism and its role in the American political system. It examines federalism's philosophical justifications, the Framers' views on federalism as an organizational solution to the dilemma of how to prevent governmental tyranny, the centralization of governmental authority over time, the court's role in shaping the relationships among the national (federal), state, and local governments, and the contemporary debate over what those governmental relationships should be, using selected case studies of what happens when programmatic authority is shifted from the national (federal) government to states. The course is organized into a series of learning units that include assigned readings, links to relevant web sites, news reports, or articles (when appropriate) and written assignments. Each unit asks you to think critically and logically about the historical and contemporary relationship between the national and state government and its affect on the provision of government goods and services. The course requirements consist of regular participation in on-line discussions about current events and biweekly essays/writing assignments in which you are asked to discuss both concrete and normative questions about the materials covered in each unit. In addition to a reliable internet service provider (ISP), you need an internet browser configured appropriately for WebCT VISTA, an active MIX e-mail account, and word processing software to access class materials, to create and submit your assignments, and to communicate with your classmates and the instructor.

GRADUATE COURSES

P.S. 530 POLICY ANALYSIS (Professor Kilwein)

This course is designed to serve as an introduction to political science, public policy, and policy analysis. We will first introduce ourselves to the general discipline of political science. Then we will attempt to define policy analysis. Next, we will acquaint ourselves with some of the ways of modeling the policy process. Finally, we will take a look at the stages and actors involved in the policy process. In short, we are going to take a “wide-angle” look at the policy process and policy analysis. There will be an extensive amount of reading. Students are expected to participate fully in class discussions. Tentatively, grading will be based on class participation, several presentations, 5 short papers (5-10 pages), and a comprehensive final exam made up of essay questions.

P.S. 600 INTRODUCTION TO POLICY RESEARCH (Professor Scotto)

Political Science 600 is the foundation course in research methods for WVU’s graduate program in political science. The objective is to give entering graduate students an understanding of the language, logic, and scope of the field of political science. The focus is on both descriptive and causal inference and the multiple methodological approaches (inductive, deductive, case studies, etc.) that political scientists utilize to study topics of interest. The goal is not to convince students that one methodological approach is superior to another. A large portion of the course will entail the discussion and evaluations of causal inferences and how one should go about evaluating the validity of such conjectures. The major goal and the basis for student assessment is the generation of a credible research question and design that is presented to the faculty in December.

P.S. 602 ADVANCED QUANTITATIVE METHODS (Professor Duval)

Advanced Quantitative Methods focuses on the most prevalent research tool in the social sciences: regression analysis. The course consists of a basic overview of the technique, a thorough exposition of the assumptions of the model, and discussion of how we handle violations of these assumptions. Lastly several special topics related to regression are examined, including non-linear models, regression diagnostics and dummy variables. Requirements for the course consist of in-class open-book midterm and finals, a research paper utilizing regression and several lab assignments.

P.S. 630 SEMINAR: AMERICAN POLITICS AND POLICY (Professor Leyden) This course is designed to acquaint graduate students with both classic studies and recent works in the field of American Politics. The assigned reading does not constitute a comprehensive survey of the literature but does provide an introduction to the kinds of research questions that have interested scholars of American politics. The course provides students with a foundation useful for understanding how various institutions and linkage mechanisms affect the American policy process. The grade for the seminar will be based on weekly papers, participation in the seminar, and a final research project.

P.S. 635 SEMINAR: POLICY EVALUATION (Professor Hunter)

This course covers evaluation theory and methods used in evaluating public policies. Topics include the relation of policy analysis to policymaking; types of evaluation; planning evaluations; alternative evaluation designs ; measuring program consequences; problems in utilization; and the setting of evaluation research. The focus is on methods of evaluation, with particular attention to cost benefit analysis and survey techniques. Several homework assignments are used to assist in the understanding of these methodologies. Students must conduct an evaluation research project, write a report on that research and present findings to the class. The students will have a community “client” and will be expected to provide a professional report and presentation

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