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Prerequisites, when required, are listed in the individual course descriptions. Prior consultation with the instructor of any advanced course is invited. Students wishing to pursue a major or minor in politics & government are requested to declare the major or minor with the department chair as soon as possible. All politics & government courses must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
Bachelor of Arts Degree
Major in Politics & Government
32 semester hours
- Required Courses
16 semester hours
- POLS 151, a second 100 or 200 level POLS course, POLS 325 (may be taught as GLST 325), and POLS 499
- Distributional Requirement
8 semester hours
- One course from Group A and Group B
- Group A: American Government and Public Policy
- POLS 345, 346, 353, 354, 361, 368, 371, 372, 373
- Group B: International Relations and Comparative Government
- POLS 332, 347, 380, 381
- GLST 331, 357, 383, 384, 385, 431
- Group A: American Government and Public Policy
- Research and Writing Requirement
4 semester hours
- One 300-level course designated as an “intensive writing course” indicating that it has a substantial research/writing component. Courses that qualify in Group A are: POLS 345, 353, 354, 361, 372 and 373. Courses in Group B are: POLS 332, 380, 384; GLST 331, 357, 383, 384, and 385.
- Electives
- Minimum of 8 semester hours selected from the politics & government curriculum or from GLST 210, 331, 357, 383, 384, 385, 431, or SCAN 322.
Majors should plan their course of study in consultation with their departmental advisor.
Concurrent Attainment
No more than 8 semester hours taken to satisfy other major or minor requirements may also be applied to the politics & government major. No more than 4 such semester hours may also be applied to the politics & government minor.
Residency
A minimum of 12 semester hours for the major and 8 semester hours for the minor must be taken in residence at PLU.
Minor
Minimum of 20 semester hours, including POLS 151
Minor programs should be planned in consultation with the departmental chair or a designated adviser.
Residency
A minimum of 12 semester hours for the major and 8 semester hours for the minor must be taken in residence at PLU.
- Minor in Public Affairs
24 semester hours, including POLS 345 (required) and 20 hours from economics, politics & government, sociology, or statistics
This minor offers an interdisciplinary study designed to support many major programs whose content has implications for public affairs and is particularly useful to students contemplating careers in public service or graduate study in public administration, public affairs, and related programs.
At least five additional courses from three of the following groups (courses which are taken as part of a major program may not also count toward the public affairs minor):
- Politics & Government
Minimum of 8 semester hours if this group is selected
- POLS 151: American Government
- POLS 354: State and Local Government
- Economics
Minimum of 8 semester hours if this group is selected
- ECON 101, 102: Principles of Macroeconomics and Microeconomics
(or ECON 111: Principles of Microeconomics: Global and Environmental) - ECON 321: Labor Economics
- ECON 327: Public Finance
- ECON 325: Industrial Organization and Public Policy
- Sociology
Minimum of 4 semester hours if this group is selected
- SOCI 240: Social Problems
- SOCI 413: Crime and Society
- Statistics
Minimum of 4 semester hours if this minor is selected
- STAT 231: Introductory Statistics
On approval by the public affairs advisor, up to 8 semester hours may be earned through participation in an internship program as a substitute for courses listed above (except POLS 345). Internship opportunities are offered through several departments, and through the Cooperative Education Program, and provide students with actual work experience in diverse public and private agencies. Students interested in internships are urged to consult with their academic advisors and with intern faculty advisors at an early date.
Students interested in the public affairs minor should declare the minor in the Department of Politics & Government and consult with the department’s public affairs advisor.
- Minor in Conflict Resolution
20 semester hours, including
POLS/GLST 331, POLS 332; COMA 340, 441, and 4 elective hours from POLS/GLST 210 or COMA 304 or another course selected in consultation with the minor’s faculty coordinator.
Pre-Law Advising
For information, see Pre-Professional Programs section of this catalog.
Political Science (POLS) - Undergraduate Courses
POLS 101 : Introduction to Politics - SO
A general introduction to political issues, ideals and processes using case studies (4)
POLS 151 : American Government - SO
A survey of the constitutional foundations of the American political system and of institutions, processes, and practices relating to participation, decision-making, and public policy in American national government. (4)
POLS 231 : Current International Issues - SO
A survey course in international relations with emphasis on current events. (4)
POLS 283 : Racial and Ethnic Politics - A
What is the role of racial and ethnic identities in American political life? This course examines racial and ethnic divisions in U.S. politics and society emphasizing that we cannot fully understand the country's politics without a deeper understanding of the causes, effects, and meanings of these divisions and the roles race and ethnicity play in our politics. (4)
POLS 287 : Special Topics in Political Science
To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)
POLS 288 : Special Topics in Political Science
To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)
POLS 289 : Special Topics in Political Science
To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)
POLS 291 : Directed Study
To provide individual undergraduate students with introductory study not available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as DS: followed by the specific title designated by the student. (1 to 4)
POLS 301 : Political Science Methods
How does political science approach analysis of the political world? This course covers the approaches borrowed and developed by the discipline, research design, and qualitative methods to conduct research. Upon completion, students should be able to critique, understand, and conduct research about politics. (4)
POLS 325 : Political Thought - SO
A survey of the origin and evolution of major political concepts in ancient, medieval, and early modern times. Can count for a Philosophy major or minor. May be cross-listed with GLST 325. (4)
POLS 332 : International Conflict Resolution - SO
This course will study several examples of peace processes and compare them with conflict reduction/resolution models. At any given time in recent years, over thirty violent conflicts, most of them internal but some also external, tear apart societies, produce extensive suffering, and threaten regional stability. Several strategies have been tried, some relatively successfully, to end such violence and begin the long, difficult process of achieving peace. Intensive writing course. Prerequisite: Any political science course, but particularly recommended are POLS 101, 210, and 331. (4)
POLS 345 : Government and Public Policy - SO
An integrated approach to the nature of public policy, with emphasis on substantive problems, the development of policy responses by political institutions, and the impacts of policies. Intensive writing course. (4)
POLS 346 : Environmental Politics and Policy - SO
An examination of environmental problems from political perspectives, including international and domestic political contexts and methods of evaluating policies. (4)
POLS 347 : Political Economy - SO
An examination of the ways that politics and economics coincide. Topics include the development of capitalism, socialist approaches, international issues, regional examples, and methods of study. Prerequisites: POLS 101; ECON 101 or 102 or ECON 111. (4)
POLS 353 : U.S. Citizenship and Ethnic Relations - A, SO
This course will focus on the political incorporation in the United States polity of a variety of ethnic communities by studying the evolution of US citizenship policy. Intensive writing course. (4)
POLS 354 : State and Local Government - SO
Governmental structures, processes, and policy at state, local, and regional levels of the American system. (4)
POLS 361 : Political Parties and Elections - SO
Study of party and electoral systems with particular emphasis on American parties and elections. Examination of party roles in elections and government; party financing; interest groups and political action committees; and voting behavior. Intensive writing course. (4)
POLS 371 : Judicial Process - SO
An examination of legal processes in various adjudicatory settings. Primary attention given to judicial processes focusing on American civil and criminal law. (4)
POLS 372 : Constitutional Law - SO
The constitutional basis of governmental powers in the United States with special emphasis given to judicial review, separation of powers, federalism, interstate commerce, and political and constitutional restrictions on governmental power. Intensive writing course. (4)
POLS 373 : Civil Rights and Civil Liberties - SO
The constitutional basis of rights and liberties in the United States with special emphasis given to freedom of expression and association, religious freedom, rights in criminal proceedings, due process, and equal protection. Intensive writing course. (4)
POLS 387 : Special Topics in Political Science
To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)
POLS 388 : Special Topics in Political Science
To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)
POLS 389 : Special Topics in Political Science
To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)
POLS 401 : Workshops and Special Topics - SO
(1 to 4)
POLS 450 : Internship in Politics
Internship in the political dimensions of non-governmental organizations. By departmental consent only. (1 to 8)
POLS 458 : Internship in Public Administration
An internship with a government department or agency. By departmental consent only. (1 to 8)
POLS 464 : Internship in the Legislative Process
An opportunity to study the process from the inside by working directly with legislative participants at the national, state or local level. By department consent only. (Internships with the Washington State Legislature are open only to juniors and seniors with at least one year at PLU.) (1 to 12)
POLS 487 : Special Topics in Political Science
To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)
POLS 488 : Special Topics in Political Science
To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)
POLS 489 : Special Topics in Political Science
To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)
POLS 491 : Independent Studies
To provide individual undergraduate students with advanced study not available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as IS: followed by the specific title designated by the student. By department consent only. (1 to 4)
POLS 495 : Internship
To permit undergraduate students to relate theory and practice in a work situation. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as Intern: followed by the specific title designated by the instructor in consultation with the student. (1 to 12)
POLS 499 : Capstone: Senior Seminar - SR
Intensive study into topics, concepts, issues, and methods of inquiry in political science. Emphasis on student research, writing, and presentation. By departmental consent only. Prerequisite: POLS 301. (4)