Courses in Political Science
POL 120: American Government (3)
Prerequisite:
American political systems emphasizing interrelationships among the various levels and branches of government, formal and informal institutions, processes, and, behavior. (Offered every fall semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA
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POL 130: State and Local Government (3)
Prerequisite:
Governmental organization and operations of the state and local government; local decision-making; governmental functions and such policy issues as welfare, poverty, and housing; participation of the people in city affairs. (Offered every spring semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA
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POL 140: World Politics (3)
Prerequisite:
Political, economic, social, and cultural connections on a global scale. Structure and process related to power and interdependence in international affairs. Diplomacy and individual participatory roles within global webs of interdependence. (Offered every
semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA, CC
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POL 231: Public Administration in a Democratic Society (3)
Prerequisite:
Organizational structure and process of public administrative agencies; interactions and environment of organizations; conflicting loyalties; accountability of administrators in decision-making processes; responsibility to public pressure groups, the chief executive, the courts, the legislature, and the profession. (Offered every odd-year fall semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA
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POL 250: Political and Historical Analysis (3)
Prerequisite:
An examination of the development of the disciplines of political science and history; major issues and questions facing the disciplines in an era of rapid historical and political change; training students in the way practitioners know the world through the combined disciplines; and the use of this body of knowledge as a mode of analysis. Also listed as HIS 250. (Offered every odd-year spring
semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA
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POL 295: Introductory Topics in Political Science (1-3)
Prerequisite: to be determined by the Division of Basic and Applied Social Sciences.
An introductory study of a specific topic within political science. Intended for freshmen and sophomores, or for students with little or no background in political science. The student may repeat the course, but not the topic. (Offered as needed.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA
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POL 311: Political Development: Latin America (3)
Prerequisite:
Contemporary issues in political, economic, and social affairs both within countries and the geographic region as a whole; structure and process of government and politics as related to emerging national and inter-national trends. (Offered every even-year spring semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA
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POL 312: Political Devel: Africa (3)
Prerequisite:
Contemporary issues in political, economic, and social affairs both within countries and the geographic region as a whole; structure and process of government and politics as related to emerging national and international trends. (Offered every odd-year fall semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA
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POL 313: Political Development: Asia (3)
Prerequisite:
Contemporary issues in political, economic, and social affairs both within countries and the geographic region as a whole; and the structure and process of government and politics as related to emerging national and
international trends. (Offered as needed.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA
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POL 321: Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties and Rights (3)
Prerequisite: POL 120 or POL 130
A study of the Constitution of the United States and its relationship to the following: the judicial structure and process; the political dimensions of judicial review, federation, and separations of power; and civil liberties and civil rights in a democratic society. (Offered every even-year spring semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA
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POL 324: Legislative Process and Behavior (3)
Prerequisite: POL 120 or POL 130
Formulation of public policy from an institutional and behavioral viewpoint, emphasizing Congressional elections, administrative and executive agencies, the political committee system, seniority, and Congress as elements of the party system. (Offered every odd-year spring semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA
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POL 325: The American Presidency (3)
Prerequisite:
The presidency as both an administrative and political phenomenon; its historical roots and evolution. Three major concepts: the presidency and its place in the constitutional and political system; roles and styles of leadership by which the President directs government toward predetermined objectives; and how institutions facilitate the expansion of presidential power and operations. (Offered every even-year fall semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA
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POL 340: International Law/Organization (3)
Prerequisite: POL 140
Legal institutions and processes through which peace is sought and conflict resolved; role and effectiveness of international law, human rights, arms control, citizenship, economic and diplomatic intercourse, and resource conservation.
(Offered as needed.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA
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POL 399: Independent Study (1-3)
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
(Offered every semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: None.
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POL 410: Internship (3-12)
Prerequisite: senior standing and consent of instructor.
One-semester internship with a public or private organization engaged in policy development, implementation, or review. Placements will normally be in entry-level policy positions. (Offered as needed.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: None.
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POL 420: Washington Seminar Internship (15)
Prerequisite: junior or senior standing
The upper-division students selected, along with the executive director of the program, develop a full-time internship with one of our three branches of government or within a political interest group. The interns are required to attend seminars and complete a major research project. (Offered every semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: None.
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POL 430: Albany Legislative Internship (15)
Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.
The Albany Legislative Internship is sponsored and operated by a bipartisan Assembly committee. It provides college students with the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge and experience in government in general and the legislative process in particular. (Offered every spring semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: None.
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POL 432: Public Budgeting (3)
Prerequisite:
Budgeting and modern government; classifications, phases, specialized problems, and forces that influence the budgetary process. (Offered as needed.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA
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POL 440: Global Studies Seminar (3)
Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.
Integrating political, economic, and historical approaches for the purpose of analysis of current issues in global studies. Student-generated case studies will serve as the basis of course development. (Offered every even-
year spring semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA
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POL 495: Advanced Topics in Political Science (1-3)
Prerequisite: to be determined by the Division of Basic and Applied Social Sciences.
An advanced study of a specific topic within political science. Intended for juniors and seniors, or for students with an appropriate background in political science. The student may repeat the course, but not the topic. (Offered as needed.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA
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