[IAI Code: S5903] Surveys the major concepts and approaches employed in the study of politics. Credit is not given toward graduation for: Credit is not given toward graduation for both PS 100 and PS 200.
[IAI Code: S5900] Examines the organization and development of national, state, and local governments in the U.S.; the federal system; the U.S. Constitutions; civil and political rights; the party system; and the nature, structure, powers, and procedures of national political institutions. This course may require limited participation as a subject in research.
An examination of political Washington and policymaking. Through visits to think tanks, nonprofit organizations and agencies we will examine the policymaking world in Washington and get to know different participants in this process, what they do, and how they interact and work to affect policy and express their ideas. This course is a required component of the Illinois in Washington Program. Prerequisite: Acceptance to and enrollment in the Illinois in Washington Program.
Study of how political institutions and laws can be both the vehicle and target of social and political transformation. Situates ideas about freedom of speech, civil disobedience, and political protest in historical context, showing how the contemporary political landscape has come to be what it is. An entry level course, it provides students with the fundaments of civic literacy and ideas and analytic tools needed to understand and engage political life.
Explores strategic and moral issues associated with unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones. Robotic aircraft already play an important role in 21st century warfare, counter-terrorism, and intelligence operations, and will become increasingly prominent as the technology advances. Students will develop an understanding of drones, asymmetric warfare, and related concepts, will explore academic findings and debates on these topics, and will develop the ability to critically engage with media coverage and politicians’ statements on these topics.
Examines efforts by racial and ethnic communities to organize politically and by society to allocate resources based on race or ethnicity. Topical focus includes African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and white ethnics. The primary goal of the course is to develop a more comprehensive understanding of racial and ethnic politics by identifying commonalities and differences among these groups and their relationship to the state. Same as AAS 201, AFRO 201, and LLS 201.
Examines how religion and politics influence each other in the United States, both historically and in contemporary society.
Examines the role of American Indians and Indian law in the US political system. Beginning with the core concept of sovereignty, the course then looks at Indian political mobilizations, tribal political economy, tribal governance, relations between tribes and states and between tribes and the federal government, and laws governing religious freedom and environmental issues. Same as AIS 214.
Surveys the policy process including adoption, implementation, and evaluation. Topics may include reviews of substantive policy issues such as crime, energy, environment, poverty, foreign policy, civil liberties, or economic regulation. Prerequisite: PS 100 or PS 101, or consent of instructor.
Introduces strategic models of political behavior and their implications for our understanding of politics. Uses simple models, inspired by game theory, to examine fundamental political questions.
[IAI Code: S5906N] Provides comparative and historical insights into the problems affecting the developing world by examining social, economic and political changes in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Political violence is ubiquitous. States, non-state actors, and individuals often resort to violence in pursuit of political goals, with potentially devastating consequences. This course explores a variety of forms of political violence, from wars, coups, and ethnic conflict to riots, terrorism, repression, and genocide. It concludes by exploring the alternative: non-violent resistance. Students will develop a working knowledge of these different types of political violence, their causes, and consequences. Credit is not given toward graduation for PS 244 if credit for PS 199 Section AL1 (Undergraduate Open Seminar: Intro to Political Violence) has already been earned.
From the Civil Rights Movement and the Arab Spring, to anti-femicide activism and gun rights advocacy, ordinary people have risen up and shaped history. Why do social movements emerge despite risks of repression? How do people overcome barriers to collective action? How do their strategies for organizing resistance differ, and with what consequences? This course is designed to answer these questions and others by examining the causes, dynamics, and consequences of organized resistance.
[IAI Code: PLS913] Introduces the nature, structure, and purposes of political theory; examines major works on the problems of political order, obedience, justice, liberty, and representation to distinguish and clarify different theoretical approaches.
Examines the political status and roles of women. Topics include women's political behavior; feminist and anti-feminist politics; and contemporary legislative and public policy issues, such as educational equity, equal rights legislation, and health care delivery for women. Same as GWS 272.
This course is identical to PS 280 except for the additional writing component that fulfills the campus' advanced composition requirement. Credit is not given for both PS 280 and PS 281. Prerequisite: Completion of campus Composition I general education requirement.
Selected readings and research in political science. See Class Schedule for current topics. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours if topics vary. Prerequisite: Six hours of political science, or consent of instructor.
Analyzes issues related to judicial interpretation of the constitution; the separation of governmental powers; federalism; checks and balances among the three branches of the national government; and the jurisdiction of federal courts. Prerequisite: PS 101, six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of instructor.
Analyzes issues involved in free speech, freedom of religion, rights of the criminally accused, and government's responsibility to protect persons from discrimination based on race or sexual preference. Pays special attention to the role of law and judges. Prerequisite: PS 101, six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of instructor.
Examines the legislative function in government; the structure and organization of Congress; legislative procedures; pressure groups and lobbying; the relation of legislature to other branches of government; and problems of legislative reorganization. Prerequisite: PS 101, six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of instructor.
Examines the multiple roles of the president; the determinants and growth of presidential influence; presidential decision making; the president's role in the formulation and implementation of public policy; and the president's multiple constituencies. Prerequisite: PS 101, six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of instructor.
Introduction to the study of courts and judges as political institutions and actors. Focuses primarily on federal courts in the United States, but also covers courts in the American states. Addresses topics such as how judges are selected; who or what determines which cases are heard; the influence of ideology and the law on judges' decisions; the relationships that exist between the courts in the judiciary; the role of the president and the Senate in judicial decisions; and judges' decisions that run contrary to the public's wishes. Prerequisite: PS 101.
Examines the role of Latino electorates in shaping state and national politics. Reviews the histories of Latino national origin groups, examines public policy issues of concern to Latinos, successes and failures of Latino empowerment strategies, and the electoral impact of Latino votes. Focus will be primarily on Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Cuban Americans and an assessment of the degree to which their political agendas are likely to merge over the coming years. Same as LLS 316. Prerequisite: PS 101, six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of instructor.
Examines different approaches to evaluating the performance of public sector organizations, including private sector accountability principles. Focuses on how to improve the performance of governmental agencies, as well as corporate social responsibility. Same as ACCY 321, ACE 321, and BADM 303. Prerequisite: PS 101, six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of instructor.
Examines the nature of law, law makers, and law appliers; the determinants of law-making; and the societal impact of law. Prerequisite: PS 101, six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of instructor.
Examines the biological processes that underlie political attitudes and behaviors. Specifically, we will take theories from behavioral and molecular genetics, psychophysiology, neuroscience, and evolutionary psychology and apply them to political attitudes and behaviors. Topics will include how evolutionary adaptations shape political life, how genes affect political traits, the effects of physiological differences on how people experience the political world, and what political insights can be drawn from studying differences in brain structures and functioning. Prerequisite: PS 101.
Examines the major governmental systems of continental Europe; the evolution, structure, and functioning of the political institutions of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the Scandinavian countries. Prerequisite: PS 240 or PS 241, six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of instructor.
Examines the effect of domestic political processes on economic performance, including monetary, fiscal, and trade policies. Topics include partisan influences on policy, interest group intermediation, political accountability for economic outcomes, and consequences of product and capital market internationalization. Same as GLBL 356. Prerequisite: PS 240 or PS 241, six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of instructor.
Considers the major works of Greek and Roman political theory, stressing their relevance to modern political analysis and action. Prerequisite: PS 270, six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of instructor.
Examines theories of the nature and conditions of democracy; compares and analyzes contemporary democratic institutions. Prerequisite: PS 270, six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of instructor.
Examines visions of the future drawn from science fiction literature as a way to engage with political and social theory and to cultivate the political imagination. Prerequisite: Six hours of political science credit or consent of instructor.
A study of cooperation among states. Cooperation dilemmas and their solutions, with focus on institutional arrangements that are aimed to facilitate cooperation among states. Prerequisite: PS 280 or PS 281, six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of instructor.
The dynamics of material asymmetry characterize wars involving the United States since World War II, from Vietnam to Afghanistan, and offer a framework for understanding the struggle against al Qaeda, ISIS, and the future of the War on Terrorism. This course explores the strategies of both sides of an asymmetric conflict, especially the weaker actor. How do terrorists, insurgents, guerrillas, revolutionaries, and freedom fighters design strategies to achieve their goals against powerful states? Credit is not given toward graduation for PS 383 if credit for PS 300 Section T (Special Topics: Terrorism) has already been earned. Prerequisite: PS 100. Restricted to sophomore, junior, or senior standing.
Considers the history of the European Union and its current functions and operations. Focuses on the ongoing process of political and cultural integration. Consists of sections in Illinois and abroad, interacting extensively via the worldwide web. Same as EURO 385, FR 385, and GER 385. Prerequisite: PS 240 or PS 241, six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of instructor; cross-listings require language training appropriate for enrollment in the respective overseas programs.
Considers the major foreign policy decisions currently confronting the United States government: analyzes their background, principal issues, and alternative actions, as well as the policy formulation process. Prerequisite: PS 280 or PS 283, six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of instructor.
Practical introduction to the study of international organizations, consisting of three parts: academic modules in Urbana-Champaign; guest lectures and site visits in Vienna, Austria, and field trips TBA; and a final research paper based on fieldwork in Vienna, extending into late June. Enrollment requires prior admission to the Vienna Diplomatic Program.
How does climate change affect politics in the developing world? How do domestic and international actors confront the challenges of a warming world? What explains different strategies for mitigating climate change? This upper-level political science course equips students to answer these questions by introducing key concepts in climate politics and development discourse. Topics include climate migration, conflict, adaptation and mitigation, and the global energy transitions. 3 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. Prerequisite: PS 280 or PS 281 or PS 283, or at least six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of the instructor.
How does international order emerge and evolve? This course examines international order as facilitated by international law and organizations, across diverse issue areas including international security, trade, human rights and the environment. We examine topics such as the role of the United States in creating and leading the international order, discontent among elites and the public in Western industrialized nations over the contemporary order, and the growing contention from the enlarging BRICS+ and the global South about the future of the international order. 3 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. Prerequisite: PS 180, PS 280, PS 281 or PS 282, or at least six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of instructor.
Dozens of countries now grant some form of same-sex unions. Simultaneously, numerous countries have increased restrictions on members of the LGBT community. This course examines the relationship between sexual minorities and the state, focusing on policy changes and the global status of LGBT communities. It explores the historical evolution of the LGBT movement, the role of states, non-state actors, and international organizations, and surveys political science literature. 3 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. Prerequisite: PS 280, PS 281 or PS 283, at least six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of the instructor.
International human rights are a fundamental yet contested norm in global politics. This course analyzes the post-WWII legal framework, central actors, mechanisms, and the effectiveness of the human rights regime. Topics include the causes of human rights violations, methods of assessment, and the roles of domestic politics, institutions, and civil society. The course also explores the influence of external forces, states, NGOs, and international institutions on human rights practices. 3 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. Prerequisite: PS 280 or PS 281 or PS 283, at least six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of the instructor.
Special topics not treated in regularly scheduled courses; designed primarily for juniors and seniors. 1 to 4 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. May be repeated. Prerequisite: Evidence of adequate preparation for such study; consent of faculty member supervising the work; and approval of the department head.
Students follow a program of study and research related to an approved internship under the direction of the internship director and/or a faculty sponsor. Consult departmental undergraduate advisor or internship director. 0 to 6 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. Approved for Letter and S/U grading. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 undergraduate hours. Prerequisite: 45 credit hours completed, one year in residence at an institution of higher learning, minimum 2.5 grade point average, coursework related to the internship, and acceptance to the internship director or undergraduate director and by faculty sponsor. Students enrolled in internship courses may not register for more than 18 hours total for all courses during the semester of the internship course.
Assist departmental faculty in on-going research. Topics and nature of assistance vary. Capstone paper required. 0 to 3 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. May be repeated in separate terms to a maximum of 6 hours. Credit is not given for more than nine hours toward completion of the political science major from any combination of PS 490, PS 491, and/or PS 492. Prerequisite: Evidence of adequate preparation for such study; consent of faculty member supervising the work; and approval of the department head.
Research, reading, and discussion in selected topics and works in literature of political science. A major research project is required in preparation for PS 495. 3 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. May be repeated in separate terms to a maximum of 6 hours if topics vary. Credit is not given for non-honors courses and honors seminar on the same topic. Prerequisite: Admission to Political Science Honors Program or consent of department.
Provides an advanced overview of methodological issues in political science especially identification of research questions and design of research strategies in political science appropriate for a senior thesis. Requires completion of a substantial research proposal. 3 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. Credit is not given for more than six hours towards any combination of PS 495 and PS 496. Neither PS 495 nor PS 496 counts towards the 30 hours required for completion of the political science major. Prerequisite: Admissions to Political Science Honors Program or consent of instructor.
2 to 6 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours. Prerequisite: Written consent of instructor of department approval; open only to seniors whose major is political science and who have a general University grade point of 3.0.
Selected research topics designed for graduate study in American Politics. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours.
Introduction to data analysis and inferential statistics, including data collection, analysis and interpretation, sampling, and measures of statistical association and significance. Also introduces statistical software.
Select topics in inferential statistics, including models for limited dependent variables. Topics vary by semester and may include spatial econometrics, bootstrap models, ecological inference, and causal inference. Prerequisite: PS 531 or consent of instructor.
Surveys the major works, theories, and approaches that define the field of comparative politics. The substantive focus of the course is on developing countries. Prerequisite: Completion of PS 540 is recommended.
Examines major theories and approaches to the study of international relations.
Selected topics designed for graduate study in international relations. May be repeated under different instructors to a maximum of 12 hours. Prerequisite: PS 580 or PS 524, or consent of instructor.
Research in selected topics by arrangement with the instructor.
Accompanies the Politics Workshop, which brings in speakers from outside the department to present their research. The goal is to expose graduate students to the practice of engaging critically with research presentations from all fields of political science. Students will learn "best practices" in providing feedback about ongoing research projects. They will have the opportunity to utilize these skills both in class discussions and as discussants for the speakers in the Workshop Approved for S/U grading only. May be repeated for up to 4 graduate hours in separate semesters. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in political science required.