Courses in Political Science
All courses are not offered every year. See classfinder for current offerings.
101 Government and Politics in the Modern World
5 Credits
Introduction to concepts of politics; types of governments and political problems in the world today.
250 The American Political System
5 Credits
Consideration of the system and process of American politics and government with primary focus on the national level.
261 Introduction to Political Theory
5 Credits
Major concepts of Western political theory -- thematic or historical approach.
271 Introduction to International Relations
5 Credits
The politics of war, peace and international economic relations.
291 Introduction to Comparative Politics
5 Credits
Basic structures, functions and sociocultural environments of foreign political systems; methods of comparative study.
301 The British Parlimentary System
5 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 101 or 250 or 291.
The British parliamentary political system: analysis of British state and political structures and functions; analysis of British political parties; examination of the British service state.
302 Western Europe
5 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 101 or 291
Governments and politics of selected western European states.
307 East Asia
5 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 101 or 291.
Survey course covering China, Japan and Korea since the mid-19th century.
308 African Political Systems
5 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 101 or 291.
Post-colonial political development in Africa focusing on ideologies and strategies for achieving legitimate government and improved living standards. Several country studies are included to illustrate outcomes associated with different strategies for development.
310 The International Relations of East Asia
5 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 271 or 291 or 307.
The issues of national and human security in the East Asia region.
311 Introduction to Law and Judicial Process
5 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 250.
Origin and development of basic concepts and practices of law with emphasis upon legal reasoning and values in contemporary societies.
313 Law and Society
5 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 250 and 311. An introduction to how law interacts with and is applied to different social and cultural contexts. Specific topics covered may change quarter to quarter. This course presumes a familiarity with basic legal concepts and a rudimentary knowledge of the legal system.
314 U.S. Supreme Court
5 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 250 (311 recommended).
Introduction to the U.S. Supreme Court as an institution within the American Political system. Topics covered include Court procedures an decision-making, constitutional history, judicial powers and doctrines and the courts role in American Politics and society. No prior knowledge of the Supreme Court is presumed.
345 Women and Politics
5 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 101 or 250.
The history and ideas of the women's movement; investigation of the changing role of women in American politics including legal status, economic position and political behavior.
346 Politics of Inequality
5 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 250.
Survey of the causes and consequences of inequality, particularly economic inequality, and the political, social and economic institutions and processes supporting group subordination, racism, sexism and poverty.
347 Race, Politics and Public Policy
5 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 250 or equivalent.
The historical and political bases of contemporary racial conflict in the United States.
353 State and Local Politics
5 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 250.
Politics of states, urban regions and suburbs. Inter-jurisdictional conflict over growth or development. Federal relations, direct democracy and state policy making.
361 Classical Political Thought
4 Credits
Prereq: Hist 111 or Lbrl 121 or PLSC 261 or equivalent.
Exploration of emerging themes in classical political thought, such as Greek, Roman, Judeo-Christian, and Islamic traditions.
362 Renaissance and Modern Political Thought
4 Credits
Prereq: Hist 112 or Lbrl 121 or PLSC 261 or equivalent.
Exploration of developing themes in Renaissance and Modern political thought, with particular focus on the nature of freedom, right, individuality, communal obligation, and the rise of the nation-state.
366 Research in Politics
5 Credits
Fundamentals of research design, including basic methods for the collection and statistical analysis of political and administrative data.
370 Global issues in International Politics
5 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 271.
Problems of global dimensions (population, food, resources, environment, nuclear proliferation, terrorism) and international efforts to solve them.
372 International Political Economy
5 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 271 or 291.
The politics on international trade, investment, lending and economic development.
376 American Foreign Policy
5 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 250 or 271.
Background and organization of American foreign policy; the conduct of diplomatic relations with other states; current issues and problems in foreign affairs.
380 International Organizations
4 Credits
Prereq: PS271.
The role of the non state organizations in international relations. [UN, World Bank, Amnesty International, etc.] Collaboration and competition between states, intergovernmental organizations.
390 Politics of Development
5 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 271 or 291.
Political processes in developing countries, colonialism, nationalism, alternative models of political and economic development; problems of instability, military rule, population, famine, debt and other issues confronting developing nations.
399 Politics of Democratization
5 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 271 or 291.
The domestic and international challenges of democratization.
402 REGIONAL EUROPEAN SOCIETY AND POLITICS
4 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 101 or 291.
Government and society in selected countries from the Scandinavian, Alpine, Benelux and Iberian European regions.
403 THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE PROCESS OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
4 Credits
Explores the process of European integration after World War II and the European Union. Topics covered include integration theories, the historical development of the EU, its institutional structure, as well as various policy areas.
406 CANADA
4 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 250 or 291.
Canadian social and political systems; governmental structures and functions; social, political, economic problems and foreign relations.
414 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I: NATIONAL POWERS
5 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 250, and 311 or 314.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting major parts of the Constitution: judicial power; separation of powers; and federalism.
415 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW II: INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS
5 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 250; and 311 or 314.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting major parts of the Constitution: Bill of Rights and Fourteenth Amendment.
417a SENIOR SEMINAR IN COMPARATIVE POLITICS
3-5 Credits
Capstone seminar in comparative politics. Topics vary but emphasis is on comparative issues and approaches. Repeatable with various topics to a maximum of 8 credits.
417b SENIOR SEMINAR IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
3-5 Credits
Capstone seminar in international relations. Topics vary but emphasis is on the interactions of state and non-state actors across international boundaries. Repeatable with various topics to a maximum of 8 credits.
417c SENIOR SEMINAR IN AMERICAN POLITICS AND PUBLIC POLICY
3-5 Credits
Capstone seminar in American politics and public policy. Topics vary but emphasis is on political institution and processes and public policy. Repeatable with various topics to a maximum of 8 credits.
417d SENIOR SEMINAR IN POLITICAL THEORY
3-5 Credits
Capstone seminar in political theory. Involves reading and research in original sources on topics of central importance to politics. Emphasis on critical examination and discussion of ideas. Repeatable with various topics to a maximum of 8 credits.
417e SPECIAL TOPICS IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS
3-5 Credits
Prereq: Senior status or permission of instructor.
Analysis of current topics related to environment and politics. Topics vary. Repeatable to a maximum of 8 credits.
420 ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS
5 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 101 or 250, ESTU 304.
Examination of contending perspectives on environmental problems. Focus on how these perspectives are rooted in political philosophy, their roles in the development of environmental movements, and the implications for public policy
421 LESBIAN, GAY BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDERED POLITICS
5 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 250 or ACS 242 or permission.
Examines how lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) citizens have organized to achieve social change. Focuses on how LGBT movements have engaged in electoral, judicial, legislative, protest, and other forms of politics.
423 THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY
3 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 250.
The growth of presidential power; the institutionalized presidency and styles of presidential leadership. The president as party leader, policy initiator, chief executive, commander-in-chief and head of foreign relations.
427 POLICY-MAKING AND POLICY ANALYSIS
4 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 250.
Organizational and societal policy-making, and the nature and consequences of policy for various groups and sectors of the polity; the possibility and problems of objective analysis conducted from within the boundaries of the subject political system.
430 MODERN CHINESE POLITICS
4 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 291 or equivalent.
An introduction to politics and society in modern China: state structures, political culture, state-society relations, policy-making and foreign relations.
436 MANAGING ENVIRONMENTAL COMMONS
5 Credits
Prereq. At least one upper-division course in political science or instructor's permission.
Explores how political, economic and social institutions affect the management and sustainability of shared environments, both local and global.
443 LEGISLATIVE INTERNSHIP
5-15 Credits
Prereq: permission of department. Internship in the Washington State Legislature during winter quarter; assignment is primarily as research assistant to a legislator.
Enrollment limited to the number of internships allocated by the Legislature. Open only to juniors and seniors, competitively selected. No more than 10 credits of internship may be counted toward the major without the permission of the chair. Repeatable to a maximum of 15 credits.
444 ADMINISTRATIVE INTERNSHIPS
3-15 Credits
Prereq: Completion of the core field requirements for the political science major (PLSC 250, 261, 271 or 291). Completion of at least one advance course in the field of study to which the internship most closely relates and permission of the department.
Internships in administrative agencies and other public service settings. Priority given to seniors. Requests for internships should be filed with the departmental intern coordinator one quarter in advance of registration for the course. No more than 10 credits in internship may be counted toward the major without the permission of the chair. Credit may be divided over two quarters where the internship placement requires a commitment of more than 10 weeks. Repeatable to 15 credits.
447 TEACHING INTERNSHIP
2-5 Credits
Assists faculty member in conduct of Political Science course. No more than 10 credits in internship may be counted toward the major without the permission of the chair.
448 RESEARCH INTERNSHIP
2-5 Credits
Student will work closely with one faculty member, providing assistance with research. Course is structured on an apprenticeship model. No more than 10 credits in internship or independent study may be counted the major without permission of the chair.
449 POLITICS AND SOCIAL CHANGE
4 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 101 or 250.
Theories linking social change and politics. The role of ideas and ideology, mass movements, political institutions, social disruption and violence in causing and directing change.
450 PARTIES, CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS
4 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 250.
Political parties, voters and voting behavior, candidate and campaign strategy, the resources of politics; workers, money, and mass media.
453 COMPARATIVE ELECTORAL SYSTEMS
4 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 101, 291 or 450.
Examines how institutional rules affect party systems, electoral outcomes, prospects for small parties, and fairness in translating votes into seats. Survey of politics of electoral system reform in modern democracies.
462 THE RISE OF MODERN POLITICAL ECONOMY
5 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 261 or Hist 113 or Econ 206 or 207 or equivalent.
An examination of the conceptual, ethical, and ideological underpinnings of political economy and the implications for contemporary public policy.
463 AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT
4 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 261 or Hist 103 or 104 or equivalent.
Major concepts in American political thought from the Colonial period to the present.
464 CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL THEORY
4 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 261 or any 400-level political theory course.
Contemporary developments, with emphasis on Continental political theory. May also include other contemporary contributions, such as feminist theory and neo-pragmatism.
468 POLITICAL ECONOMY OF NATURAL RESOURCES
5 Credits
Prereq: Econ 206; or permission.
The role of political/economic institutions in regulating the exploitation of natural resources; how polities define and modify property arrangements; how economies allocate natural resources within the context of property rules.
469 FEMINIST POLITICAL THEORY
4 Credits
Prereq: PLSC 261 or any 400-level political theory course.
Early feminists to contemporary theoretical critiques and contributions. Topics such as feminist conceptions of philosophy of science, eco-feminism and post-modernism.
470 CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
4 Credits
Prereq: ESTU 304 or permission of instructor.
Study of Canadian environmental policy, with emphasis on comparative study with U.S. environmental policy. Case study method is sued both for issues and geographic (provincial) areas. Because Canada is very involved in international attempts to deal with environmental issues, the course includes consideration of Canada’s involvement, both governmental and non-governmental, in international environmental issues.
480 POLITICS, GOVERNMENT AND RELIGION
4 Credits
Prereq: Permission of instructor.
How political activity and government structures relate to religious perceptions and organizations.
491 ISSUES IN POLITICAL ECONOMY
4 Credits
Prereq: Senior status in the political science/economics combined major or a political science major and economics minor.
Discussion and analysis of selected issues of significant political and economic content. Also offered as Econ 491.
496 HONORS TUTORIAL
2-5 Credits
Repeatable to a maximum 10 credits.