Political Science (POS)

College of Arts and Sciences

 

POS 511 Selected Topics in Political Science       Credit, 3 hours
Topics vary. Course may be repeated for credit as often as topic changes. (Cross-listed with POS 411, GEOG 411 and 511, HIST 411 and 511, and SOC 411 and 511.)

POS 522 American Political Thought       Credit, 3 hours
An examination of political philosophy and thought in America, with emphasis on a comparison of the development of “liberal” and “conservative” ideological variations.

POS 523 Civil Rights Movement       Credit, 3 hours
Traces development of Civil Rights Movement in the United States from 1954 to 1968. Emphasis on origins of segregation, community, protest movements, and Civil Rights leaders. (Cross listed with HIST 523.)

POS 543 Middle East       Credit, 3 hours
Middle East political issues, culture, institutions, and their historical background. (Cross listed with HIST 543.)

POS 544 Public Policy       Credit, 3 hours
Focuses on the role of government and non-government participants in the policy-making process at the federal level. In-depth explorations of certain substantive policy areas, such as education policy and environmental policy.

POS 550 Global Policy Studies       Credit, 3 hours
Students will engage political issues related to contemporary globalization, including the decline of the nation-state, the power of multinational organizations, global citizenship and direct-action politics, environmentalism, indigenous peoples, and human rights.

POS 555 International Relations       Credit, 3 hours
A broad range of traditional and contemporary theories of international relations will be investigated. Students will discover that the evolution of thinking about international relations is marked by both change and continuity, and they will gain new perspective on current events in world affairs through application of the theoretical method.

POS 575 Constitutional Law       Credit, 3 hours
An examination of the role of the Supreme Court in constitutional interpretation, with emphasis upon a study of the historical landmark decisions from the Marshall Court to the Rehnquist Court.

POS 579 History of Alabama’s Constitutions       Credit, 3 hours
This course explores the historical basis for Alabama’s constitutions and considers the need for reform of the state’s 1901 constitution. (Cross-listed with POS 479, HIST 479 and 579).

POS 584 U.S. Wars—Korea and Vietnam       Credit, 3 hours
This course examines recent military experiences of the United States in terms of the traditional American way of preparing for and waging war. To do this the course considers the emergence of a military policy following World War II that was unique in the American experience. As national policy changed in response to the Communist threat, the armed services adapted to the new demands of a hostile world. Thus, permanent readiness for war became a part of American life during the Cold War. Historical inquiry will focus on military tactics, operations, and strategies; grand strategy; foreign policy; domestic politics; international diplomacy; social impacts; and lessons learned. (Cross-listed with POS 484, HIST 484 and 584).

POS 590 Directed Reading       Credit, 3 hours

POS 595 Government Internship       Credit, 3–6 hours
Practical experience working in a politically related position under the guidance of a faculty member in political science.