Department of Political Science
Vaughn May (chair), Lawrence German, Nathan Griffith, Larry Hall.
Political Science
Purpose:
Political Science examines the issues, events, and texts that shape a student’s understanding and application of governments and politics. As an intellectual discipline, political science may be divided into four general areas of study: American Government, Politics, and Administration; International Relations; Comparative Politics and Government; and Political Theory and Methodology.
Goals:
Political Science students will be able to comprehend political ideas and issues and respond critically and intelligently through several means. The department seeks to cultivate these opportunities through a number of approaches.
First, the program furnishes students with a broad and diverse survey of government and politics, focusing upon the ideas, institutions, and processes that shape contemporary political studies through the examination of the various sub-fields of the discipline.
Second, it promotes an academic environment of active learning that cultivates such skills as effective written and oral communication, coherent and critical reading and independent thinking, and informed ethical understanding and development.
Third, the department provides a student-centered program that focuses upon individual-oriented advising and attention to satisfy the unique needs of each student in an academically challenging program.
| Major in Political Science (B.A. or B.S.) | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Core Requirements | 56-58 | |
| Technical Requirement (taken as part of the General Education core) | ||
| PSC 1210, American Government | 3 | |
| Technical Requirement | 3 | |
| ECO 1110, Economic Inquiry | 3 | |
| Major Requirements | 31 | |
| PSC 2200, American Political Institutions | 3 | |
| PSC 2300, International Relations | 3 | |
| PSC 2400, Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 | |
| PSC 2500, Political Theory | 3 | |
| PSC 2600, The Discipline of Political Science | 3 | |
| PSC 4599, Senior Thesis Preparation | 1 | |
| PSC 4600, Research Seminar in Political Science | 3 | |
| PSC 4610, Political Science Exit Seminar | 0 | |
| Political Science Electives (A maximum of 6 hours of internship credit may count as elective credit toward the major; remaining hours count toward general electives.) |
12 | |
| Minor Requirements | 18 | |
| General Electives | 24 | |
| Total | 128 | |
| Minor in Political Science | Hours | |
| Technical Requirement | 3 | |
| PSC 1210, American Government | 3 | |
| Minor Requirements | 18 | |
| Choose two courses from the following: PSC 2200, American Political Institutions PSC 2300, Introduction to International Relations PSC 2400, Introduction to Comparative Politics PSC 2500, Introduction to Political Theory |
6 | |
| Political Science Electives (A maximum of 6 hours of internship credit may count as elective credit toward the minor; remaining hours count toward general electives.) |
12 | |
| Total | 18 | |
| Political Science Endorsement | 18 | |
| Choose one of the following: PSC 2300, International Relations, or PSC 2400, Introduction to Comparative Politics |
3 | |
| Choose one of the following: PSC 2200, American Political Institutions, or PSC 2500, Political Theory |
3 | |
| Six hours from the following | 6 | |
| PSC 3240, Politics and Mass Media PSC 3250, Southern Politics PSC 3270, Electoral Politics PSC 3510, Theories of Civil Society PSC 3550, Modern Ideologies |
||
| Six hours from the following | 6 | |
| PSC 3410, Politics of Africa PSC 3450, Politics of Europe PSC 3480, Politics of the Middle East PSC 3610, Analytical Methods PSC 4320, International Law |
||
| Note: PSC 1210 and GEO 2300 are additional technical requirements for this endorsement. | ||
Political Science Courses (PSC)
PSC 1100. Special Topics in General Education: Political Science (3). These courses are designed to provide special topic classes in political science approved for the general education program. Students may take no more than one course from this prefix to meet social science general education requirements.
PSC 1210. American Government (3). An introductory course covering the federal government in the United States. This course may not count toward a major or minor in Political Science or Political Economy.
PSC 1300. The United States and World Affairs (3). A course which examines current international political, economic and cultural issues and their implications for American foreign policy. This course may not count toward a major or minor in Political Science or Political Economy.
PSC 1990-4990. Special Studies (1-3).
PSC 2010. Capital Experience (3-9). Co requisites: Permission of the Capital Internship liaison and enrollment in a capital internship in the student's major or minor. Students who have been admitted to an approved internship program will complete a full-term internship in an office or agency located in Washington, D.C. or Nashville. Open to all students. Credit earned will be counted as general elective credit only. (Students participating in the Washington Center Program pay an alternate tuition during their semester in the capital equal to the Center's program fees plus additional Belmont University course fees. Students are fully responsible for all housing costs during the semester.)
Gen. Ed. Designation: EL (I – Internships, Clinicals, Practica).
PSC 2200. American Political Institutions (3). Prerequisite: PSC 1210 or permission of the instructor. The focus of this course is on Congress and the Presidency, the political branches of American government, and the bureaucracy. As an introduction to the sub-field of American politics, the course will study these institutions in greater depth through looking at the approaches the discipline takes toward them. In studying these three institutions in greater detail, it will also investigate how they interact to create public policy.
PSC 2300. International Relations (3). A survey of the sub-field of international relations, this course gives special emphasis to political and economic factors which contribute to conflict and cooperation among nations.
Gen. Ed. Designation: GS (G – Global Studies).
PSC 2400. Introduction to Comparative Politics (3). Prerequisite: PSC 1210. This course examines political, economic and social divergence between nations. As one branch of political science, Comparative Politics attempts to identify patterns of divergence and to determine their causes.
Gen. Ed. Designation: GS (G – Global Studies).
PSC 2500. Political Theory (3). An introduction to the foundations of normative political theory, with emphasis on great political ideas and thinkers.
PSC 2600. The Discipline of Political Science (3). This course is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of the various sub-fields, approaches, and methods of Political Science. Special emphasis is placed on honing the research, writing, and critical thinking skills necessary to succeed in the discipline.
PSC 2710. Introduction to American Political Economy (3). (See POE 2710 for course description.)
PSC 2760. Introduction to International Political Economy (3). (See POE 2760 for course description.)
PSC 2950-4950. Studies Abroad (3-18). Study in a foreign country. Individual course titles and locations are assigned for each course taken. See Studies Abroad program for details.
PSC 3010. Internship (1-3). Prerequisite: Approval of departmental internship director. Practical training and experience in government and/or private agencies that provide an environment for substantial growth in the understanding of political science / political economy. Students shall be expected to work four to five hours per week per semester credit hour. A maximum of three hours of this internship may apply toward the major or minor.
PSC 3015. Junior Cornerstone Seminar (3). The junior cornerstone expereince.
PSC 3230. American Democracy and Popular Film (3). An examination of American political culture and ideas through the medium of popular film, focusing upon the period from the New Deal to the Vietnam War. Course offered Pass/Fail only.
PSC 3240. Politics and Mass Media (3). Prerequisite: PSC 1210 or permission of the instructor. This course examines the relationship between politics and media, both traditional and emerging, using the nature of a mediated political event as a tool to investigate how each sphere shapes the other.
PSC 3250. Southern Politics (3). Prerequisite: PSC 1210 or permission of the instructor. This course examines the particular character of politics in the southern United States since the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case. This includes such themes as civil rights, leadership, revolution, power, institutions, and elections, as well as the evolution of these themes over time.
PSC 3270. Electoral Politics (3). Prerequisite: PSC 1210 or permission of the instructor. This course investigates the institutions and phenomena which influence the choices of those running for public office, especially at the federal level. During presidential election years, the course will focus more exclusively on presidential campaigns.
PSC 3280. American Constitutional Law I (3). PSC 1210 or permission of the instructor. This course is an introduction to legal reasoning and the development of rules through Supreme Court precedent. It focuses on Supreme Court interpretation of constitutional provisions which establish the relationship between government institutions and thus indirectly protect individual rights.
PSC 3290. American Constitutional Law II (3). PSC 3280 or permission of the instructor. This course is an introduction to legal reasoning and the development of rules through Supreme Court precedent. It focuses on Supreme Court interpretation of constitutional provisions which directly protect individual rights, with some discussion of indirect protection through institutions.
PSC 3310. War and Peace (3). This course examines the competing theoretical explanations of the factors which produce and prevent war in the relations between states.
PSC 3340. National Security Policy and Process (3). Prerequisite: PSC 2300 or instructor's consent. Examines the evolution of security policy and the primary institutions involved in decision-making related to issues of foreign policy and defense.
PSC 3410. Politics of Africa (3). This course focuses on the development of modern political and economic institutions in contemporary African states. The course centers on the issues of political development and democratization, considering the impacts which the legacies of slavery and colonialism, cultural diversity, and the integration of Africa into the modern world economy have produced for the evolution of the modern African state.
PSC 3450. Politics of Europe (3). This course centers on institutions and processes in modern Europe, with a heavy emphasis given to the issues of economic and political unification leading to formation of the European Union. Special attention is given to contemporary politics in Great Britain, France and Germany and the relationship between political institutions and the economic systems in these key European states.
Gen. Ed. Designation: GS (G – Global Studies).
PSC 3480. Politics of the Middle East (3). This course examines the political, economic and cultural factors that contribute to conflict in the Middle East region. Special attention is given to the Arab-Israeli conflict, the relationship between religion and politics, competition for leadership in the Muslim world, and the role which the United States plays in managing the dynamics of Middle Eastern politics.
PSC 3510. Theories of Civil Society (3). This course examines one of the prerequisites for democracy, a civil society and institutions which support it. It focuses first on the theories which describe the role of civil society and its underpinnings, then on the application of these theories to current society.
Gen. Ed. Designation: GS (G – Global Studies).
PSC 3550. Modern Ideologies (3). This course is designed to introduce students to modern ideologies from a generally American perspective. Areas of study may include, among other topics, Classical and Modern Liberalism, Conservatism, Fascism, Libertarianism, Marxism, Socialism, and Feminism.
PSC 3610. Analytical Methods (3). This course presents an introduction to formal methodologies such as statistics, rational choice theory, and game theory. These methodologies are deductive, developing and applying abstract models to understand human action.
PSC 3720. Environmental Political Economy (3). Prerequisite: PSC 1210 or permission of instructor. This course applies the tools of political economy, beginning with the rational actor model, to understand environmental problems and evaluate public policy responses to them.
PSC 4010. Capital Internship in Political Science (6). Co requisite: Permission of the Capital Internship liaison and enrollment in PSC 2010. Students who have been admitted to an approved internship program will complete a full-term internship in a government office or agency. Credit earned will be counted toward a political science major or minor. (Students participating in the Washington Center Program pay an alternate tuition during their semester in the capital equal to the Center's program fees plus additional Belmont University course fees. Students are fully responsible for all housing costs during the semester.)
Gen. Ed. Designation: EL (I – Internships, Clinicals, Practica).
PSC 4240. American Public Policy (3). Prerequisite: PSC 1210. An examination of the American policy process and environment, with additional emphasis on the broader theoretical issues that arise in the unique American political setting.
PSC 4320. International Law and Organization (3). Prerequisite: PSC 2300 or instructor's consent. A survey of the role of international law and the contributions of the United Nations system to international peace and security.
PSC 4570. American Political Thought (3). Prerequisite: PSC 1210. An intensive seminar designed to provide a broad overview of the evolution of American political ideas and thinkers by analysis of the general advancement of critical American political values through specific historical contexts.
PSC 4599. Senior Thesis Preparation (1). In this course, students prepare for their senior research requirement by successfully drafting and defending a prospectus for that research. The course must be completed in the semester prior to taking PSC 4600 and 4601. Open to non-majors with the instructor's permission. Pass/Fail only.
PSC 4600. Research Seminar in Political Science (3). Prerequisites: PSC 1210, 2300, and 2600 or permission of the instructor. (Taught each spring semester). A culminating research seminar designed for majors in their last year of matriculation. Students will examine the many sub-fields in the discipline and complete and present a major independent research thesis. Normally taken in concert with PSC 4980. Open to non-majors with instructor's permission.
Gen. Ed. Designation: EL (R – Undergraduate Research).
PSC 4610. Political Science Exit Seminar (0). Required of all Political Science majors and taken in concert with PSC 4600. The seminar is designed to allow student assessment of the general Political Science program and to assist students in planning post-baccalaureate decisions. Pass/Fail only.
