Department of Political Science

Donald Will, Ph.D., Chair

Professors: Blaser, Han, Will;

Associate Professors: Babst, Gordon, Hovsepian, Smoller;

Assistant Professors: Kanavou, Shafie.

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

It is in the political arena that human aspirations are crafted into social policies that directly affect us all. Political science is the discipline that analyzes how that happens. Students in the field examine the problems facing our region, nation and world. Students then seek answers to the questions we confront. Training in political science helps the student think clearly and communicate effectively–skills that are required in any career. The major helps prepare students for careers in public service, law, diplomacy, journalism, the military and teaching, among others. Students who wish to go to law school may choose any major; however, political science remains one of the most frequently selected majors of those students who actually go to law school. The department emphasizes theoretical concepts learned in the classroom in addition to practical "hands–on" experience.

Extracurricular Opportunities

In addition to an outstanding curriculum, the major in political science at Chapman offers students opportunities in a variety of academic and professional areas, including the Model United Nations, applied research in the Ludie and David C. Henley Social Sciences Research Lab, and local internships as well as internship opportunities in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. In addition, as global citizens and future leaders, political science majors are encouraged to study abroad for a semester.

A total of 42 credits is required for the major. Students with scores of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Examination in U.S. Government and Politics will be granted 3 credits, waiving POSC 110 Introduction to American Politics, or with scores of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Examination in Comparative Government will be granted 3 credits, waiving POSC 130 Introduction to Comparative Politics. All courses in the major must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a "C" or higher.

Departmental Honors

The department of political science awards honors to graduating seniors who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement. Requirements for consideration include a GPA of 3.700 or higher within the major, a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or higher, and the completion of a substantial independent research project as part of a 400–level seminar and an independent research project in conjunction with a faculty member. Exceptional and/or sustained community service may also be considered.

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

core requirements (12 credits)

four of the following:

research design/methodology (3 credits)

One 300–level or above course in each of the four designated subfields: political theory; American politics; international relations; and comparative politics.

A maximum of 3 credits can be taken at the 200 level.

one 400–level seminar (3 credits)

one of the following:

American Politics

Those studying American government and politics are interested in isolating problems and suggesting solutions regarding American political institutions and processes. Course topics include the presidency, courts, Congress, the media, interest groups, political behavior, campaigns and elections, local and state government, and policy making.

International Relations

The demise of the Cold War, the rise of ethnic and national conflict, and the quest for a new global order demand an increased knowledge of the world beyond the borders of the United States. International relations is the study of political, economic and military interactions across national boundaries. International relations includes the analysis of the foreign policies of individual countries, international law, governmental and non–governmental international organizations, arms control, international economic relations and conflict resolution.

Comparative Politics

Whereas international relations examines relations between nations and issues that transcend national boundaries — such as the global distribution of food, energy, and wealth — comparative politics looks at patterns of domestic politics and political development within and across various countries.

Political Theory

Questions of political theory underlie the entire discipline of political science. Political theorists pose questions concerning the nature of democracy, justice, freedom and equality, and ask to what degree we achieve these aspirations. In preparation for careers in politics, education, law, and other areas in which critical and rigorous thinking are valued, the student of political theory masters critical and analytical methods while exploring crucial issues at the heart of politics.

Minor in Political Science

A minor in political science requires a total of 21 credits in political science with at least 12 upper–division credits. Students who wish to design a minor in a particular area of study should consult the department chair.

Course Descriptions – Political Science

POSC 110 Introduction to American Politics

An introduction to the institutions and political processes of American government. Topics include an overview of the cultural and ideological background of the American system of government, its constitutional foundations, the various actors at all levels of the political system, individual rights and liberties, and the policymaking process. This course satisfies the U.S. Constitution requirement for a California Teaching Credential. (Offered every semester.) 3 credits.

POSC 120 Introduction to International Relations

An introduction to the theories and concepts within the field of international relations. Topics include major global issues such as conflict, development, technological growth, current events, ecosystem balance, war and violence, and the distribution of power and resources. (Offered every semester.) 3 credits.

POSC 130 Introduction to Comparative Politics

An introduction to the political systems of major countries in a comparative perspective. Topics include comparisons of countries such as Britain, France, Japan, and Mexico, along with implications for economic planning, social welfare, and human rights. (Offered every semester.) 3 credits.

POSC 200 Introduction to Political Theory I

A study of significant political thinkers from ancient Greece through the medieval period, including Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Dante,and Machiavelli. Topics include the nature of political obligation, rulership, justice, democracy, power, and how political theory can help us to understand contemporary issues. (Offered every year.) 3 credits.

POSC 201 Political Research Design

An introduction to social science methodology and research design within the discipline of Political Science. Topics include how to design and conduct surveys, experiments, and content analyses, as well as attention given to the needs of students as consumers of political research, i.e. trying to make sense out of daily reports on political findings in newspapers, television, and magazines. (Offered every semester.) 3 credits.

POSC 205 Introduction to Political Theory II

A study of significant political thinkers from the seventeenth century to the present, including Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, Marx, and Mill. Topics include the nature of political obligation, rulership, justice, democracy, power, and how political theory can help us to understand contemporary issues. (Offered every year.) 3 credits.

POSC 229 Experimental Course

(Offered as needed.) 3 credits.

POSC 247 People with Disabilities in Politics and Society

(Same as PCST 247.)

POSC 251 Intercultural Conflict and Communication

(Same as PCST 251.)

POSC 257 Model United Nations I

(Same as PCST 257.)

POSC 290 Internship

P/NP. (Offered as needed.) 1-3 credits.

POSC 299 Individual Study

(Offered as needed.) 3 credits.

POSC 300 American Political Thought

A survey of American political thought from the colonial era to the present. Topics include how the modern United States is shaped by contending ideas regarding democracy, capitalism, social welfare, elite rule, theocracy, and liberty, and how these issues have evolved over the history of the United States. (Offered alternate years.) 3 credits.

POSC 304 Citizenship in Theory and Practice

A historical survey of the theory and practice of citizenship. Topics include citizenship in the American experience; and contemporary citizenship issues such as global citizenship, the status of the environment, and the inclusion or exclusion of a variety of cultural, economic, and social differences from the political community. (Offered alternate years.) 3 credits.

POSC 305 Democratic Theory

An examination of different models and kinds of democracy. Topics include ways that the United States achieves democratic ideals and the ways it falls short, the tensions between democracy and competing economic systems, and ways to deepen or extend democratic ideals. (Offered alternate years.) 3 credits.

POSC 307 Religious Fundamentalism, Pluralism, and the Demand for Tolerance

An examination of the political aspects of the conflict between two rival authorities and epistemologies: a fundamentalist religious world view and Western Enlightenment reason. Topics include the religious underpinnings of violence, as well as the nature of tolerance in a pluralist society. (Offered alternate years.) 3 credits.

POSC 309 Sexual Politics in a Diverse Society

An examination of the interrelationships between political, legal, religious, and social constructs of sexuality. Topics include the historical emergence of gay and lesbian politics through the voices and observations of participants, with a special focus on regimes of governance, gender issues, AIDS, and pivotal court cases. (Offered every year.) 3 credits.

POSC 310 The Presidency

An examination of the executive branch of the federal government and the role of presidential leadership within the American political system. Topics include the constitutional foundations of presidential power, the presidential selection process, presidential relations within a separated system, presidential policy making, and the influences of public opinion and the mass media on the presidency. (Offered every year.) 3 credits.

POSC 311 Congress

An examination of the legislative branch and its role in policymaking within American government. Topics include the institutional structure of Congress, the committee system, roles of the party and leadership systems, congressional elections and incumbency, and the congressional/presidential relationship in the area of policymaking. (Offered every year.) 3 credits.

POSC 313 The Supreme Court

An examination of the judicial branch of the federal government, specifically the role of the U.S. Supreme Court in governing. Topics include constitutional foundations of the judicial branch, judicial review, the nomination and selection of justices and judges, the implementation of court decisions, and the role of an activist versus restrained Supreme Court in national policymaking. (Offered alternate years.) 3 credits.

POSC 314 California Politics

A study of the governing and political processes within California. Topics include the three branches of government at the state level, the state constitution, and the various political actors involved in the policymaking process, as well as how the state government addresses the conflicting needs of its diverse population, industries, and natural resources. (Offered every year.) 3 credits.

POSC 315 Campaigns and Elections

An examination of the electoral process within the American political system. Topics include voting and suffrage, the history and effectiveness of political parties, the impact of interest groups and political action committees on elections, campaign finance reform, the role of public opinion and the mass media during campaigns, and possible election reforms. (Offered every year.) 3 credits.

POSC 316 Public Opinion and Voting Behavior

A study of the demographic and attitudinal factors, as well as systemic factors such as the media and the configuration of the political system, that influence political behavior. Topics include public opinion and voting behavior through an examination of social-psychological, rational actor, and systemic theories. (Offered every year.) 3 credits.

POSC 317 Media and Politics

An examination of the role of the mass media in the American political process. Topics include various models and theories of political communication, the construction of news, agenda setting, mass media effects, campaign communications, and the impact of press coverage of political actors and institutions. (Offered every year.) 3 credits.

POSC 318 Women and Politics

An examination of the impact of women in the American political and electoral process as voters, candidates, and office holders. Topics include the history of the women's movement in the United States, the women's suffrage movement, feminism, the impact of gender on the electoral process, women in power at the national, state, and local level, women and leadership, and public policy issues relevant to women. (Offered every year.) 3 credits.

POSC 320 International Law, International Organization, and World Order

(Same as PCST 320.) An introduction to changing perceptions of international law and its applications to human rights, the environment, and other issues. Topics include an analysis of the philosophical and political approaches to international law. (Offered alternate years.) 3 credits.

POSC 322 U.S. Foreign Policy

An examination of various theories of foreign policy. Topics include how interests outside of the government affect government decision makers, how the branches of government influence U.S. foreign policy and the roles played by the legislative and judicial branches of government, how the U.S. faces international crises, decides to intervene or not, how it bargains, and how it deals with non-state international actors. (Offered every year.) 3 credits.

POSC 323 Law and Politics of Mass Atrocity

An examination of cases of genocide in an effort to determine its political and social causes. Topics include how international law, public tribunals, and campaigns of citizen groups may be utilized to prevent future atrocities and seek justice for the victims of genocide. (Offered alternate years.) 3 credits.

POSC 324 Asian Politics

An examination of the interaction between politics and society, as well as the development and current structures of the political systems in Asia. Topics include the interaction between economic development and political changes, as well as the conflict between tradition and modernity. (Offered alternate years.) 3 credits.

POSC 325 International Relations Theory

A study of the evolution of international relations theory in the 21st century with emphasis on different theoretical approaches to understanding the role of the state in international relations, the causes of conflict, and approaches to peace. (Offered alternate years.) 3 credits.

POSC 326 Politics of the Contemporary Middle East

An examination of the interaction between politics and society in Middle East politics, concentrating on three geographic clusters: North Africa, the Fertile Crescent, and Southwest Asia (including the Persian–Arab Gulf). Topics include issues of identify formation, state formation, and the post-colonial state. (Offered every year.) 3 credits.

POSC 327 Latin American Politics

An analysis of the governing and political processes in selected Latin American countries. Topics include democratization, state structures, economic development, human rights, democratic reform, and the influence of U.S. foreign policy. (Offered every year.) 3 credits.

POSC 328 Human Rights Law

(Same as PCST 328.) An examination of existing and developing international legal principles and procedures relating to the protection of human rights. Topics include how and whether these principles serve to improve the lives of individuals throughout the world, including the United States. (Offered alternate years.) 3 credits.

POSC 329 Experimental Course

(Offered as needed.) 3 credits.

POSC 331 The European Union

An examination of the government and politics of the member states of the European Union. Topics include the history of economic reconstruction and European integration after 1945, the core institutions of the EU, policy areas such as enlargement, the democratic deficit, and legitimacy, and debates about the desirability and form of a European constitution. (Offered alternate years.) 3 credits.

POSC 332 Democracy and Democratization

An analysis of various issues related to democracy and democratization in an international context. Topics include an examination of how democratic is democracy in democratic countries; how to explain and compare various transitions from authoritarianism to some form of democratic governance; and whether the global spread of markets and democracy is a principal cause of group hatred and ethnic violence throughout the non–western world. (Offered alternate years.) 3 credits.

POSC 335 Political Economy

An examination of how economic systems and political systems influence each other. Topics include the role government plays in the economy, how individuals and corporations influence politics, the relationship between capitalism and democracy, and how the gap between the rich and poor might be decreased. (Offered every year.) 3 credits.

POSC 336 The Global and The Local

An inquiry into whether globalization is simply another name for historical trends of long duration, of interdependence, internationalization, imperialism, or something qualitatively new. Topics include whether globalization advances true democracy or a mere shadow thereof, as well as the impact of global changes upon individuals in the U.S. and abroad. (Offered every year.) 3 credits.

POSC 341 Mass Media Law

An examination of freedom of speech and press in the United States. Topics include the protections and limitations offered to American citizens by the First Amendment in the areas of free speech and to journalists in their professional activities, as well as the role of courts, Congress, and the executive branch in the regulation of media industries. (Offered alternate years.) 3 credits.

POSC 343 U.S. Constitutional Law

An examination of the American system of constitutional government. Topics include democracy and the rule of law, the founding ideals of limited and self–government, enumerated and implied powers of the three branches of government, separation of powers, federalism, civil rights, and civil liberties. (Offered every year.) 3 credits.

POSC 347 Disability and the Law

An examination of state and federal laws governing the rights of people with disabilities. Topics include access, employment, education and transportation, as well as identifying litigation that has and will come from the disability rights movement. (Offered alternate years.) 3 credits.

POSC 352 Race and Change in South Africa and the United States

(Same as PCST 352.)

POSC 353 Peace and Conflict in the Middle East

(Same as PCST 353.)

POSC 354 Nonviolent Social Change

(Same as PCST 354.)

POSC 355 Vietnam: War, Peace and Legacy

(Same as PCST 355.)

POSC 356 The Psychology of International Conflict

(Same as PCST 356.)

POSC 357 Model United Nations II

(Same as PCST 357.)

POSC 371 Urban Politics

An exploration of the urban affairs and the problems faced by local elected officials, business and community leaders, and citizens in the urban context. Topics include theories of urban politics, specifically topics that include governmental institutions, political behavior, and policy responses, as well as current controversies of the changing urban political economy, suburban growth and exclusion, and alternative structures for metropolitan governance. (Offered alternate years.) 3 credits.

POSC 372 Racial and Ethnic Politics in the US

An analysis of the central importance of race and ethnicity in American politics. Topics include the divergence and similarities in the political incorporation of various West– and East–European ethnic groups (Irish, Italian, German, East–European Jews), African–Americans, Latinos, and Asian–Americans. (Offered alternate years.) 3 credits.

POSC 374 Environmental Politics and Policy

An overview and examination of environmental problems and their political implications. Topics include worldwide, environmental problems ranging from global warming to resource depletion, deforestation and toxic waste, as well as the political and policy responses to these threats, including sustainable development, eco–justice movements, and the efforts of various actors in the domestic and international arenas. (Offered every year.) 3 credits.

POSC 375 Public Policy Process

An examination of how public policies are proposed, adopted, implemented and evaluated. Topics include the structures and processes of public policymaking in the U.S., major substantive policy areas, as well as the historical and contemporary explanations for policymaking. (Offered every year.) 3 credits.

POSC 399 Individual Study and Research

(Offered as needed.) 3 credits.

POSC 400 Seminar in Political Theory

Prerequisite, senior standing, or consent of instructor. An integrative seminar concentrating on political theory that serves as a capstone experience for Political Science majors. (Offered alternate years.) 3 credits.

POSC 410 Seminar in American Politics

Prerequisite, senior standing, or consent of instructor. An integrative seminar concentrating on American politics that serves as a capstone experience for Political Science majors. (Offered every year.) 3 credits.

POSC 420 Seminar in International Relations

Prerequisite, senior standing, or consent of instructor. An integrative seminar concentrating on international relations that serves as a capstone experience for Political Science majors. (Offered every year.) 3 credits.

POSC 429 Experimental Course

(Offered as needed.) 3 credits.

POSC 430 Seminar in Comparative Politics

Prerequisite, senior standing, or consent of instructor. An integrative seminar concentrating on comparative politics that serves as a capstone experience for Political Science majors. (Offered alternate years.) 3 credits.

POSC 490 Independent Internship

P/NP. ½–3 credits.

POSC 499 Individual Study

(Offered as needed.) ½–3 credits.