View the Registrar's Schedule of Courses for Spring 2021 here
Institutions, processes, and problems of American government.
Credit(s): 3.00
Examines race and oppression in American society by looking at the experiences of four groups: Native Americans, African Americans, Latinos and Asians.
Credit(s): 3.00
Examination of American racial discrimination; emphasis on strategies and actions of NAACP, SCLC, SNCC, Black Panthers, Nation of Islam, to end racial discrimination.
Credit(s): 3.00
Examination of basic problems in political philosophy, e.g. morality and law; punishment; freedom; equality; obligation and disobedience.
Credit(s): 3.00
Examines the major theories of international relations, important concepts in the study of international relations (such as the balance of power and democratic peace theory), dilemmas leaders face when formulating foreign policies, and current international events.
Credit(s): 3.00
An examination of questions such as why some countries are democratic and others authoritarian, and why some countries are poor and others wealthier. The course considers important political questions like these through the study and comparison of domestic politics across countries.
Credit(s): 3.00
An on-site supervised work experience combined with a structured academic learning plan directed by a faculty member or a faculty-staff team in which a faculty member is the instructor of record, for which academic credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
Credit(s): 1.00 to 3.00
Seminar for students enrolled in the Liberal Arts Scholars Program for Social Science Scholars. Course explores political science perspectives and methods for understanding critical social problems. May be repeated for credit with different content. Co-requisite: Enrollment in Liberal Arts Scholars Program for Social Science Scholars.
Credit(s): 3.00 to 4.00
Introductory courses or seminars on topics beyond the scope of existing departmental offerings. See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
Credit(s): 1.00 to 18.00
Introductory courses or seminars on topics beyond the scope of existing departmental offerings. See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
Credit(s): 1.00 to 18.00
This course explores the history, strategies, conflicts, and issues surrounding the various movements advancing the claims of LGBT rights, as well as the roles LGBTQ people play as participants in American politics and culture. Prerequisite: POLS 021, GSWS 001, or Instructor permission. Cross-listed with: GSWS 105.
Credit(s): 3.00
The evolution of sexual politics within the United States. Includes examinations of shifting debates over marriage, reproduction, abortion, LGBT rights, sex education, and teen sexuality. Prerequisite: POLS 021 or GSWS 001. Cross-listed with: GSWS 155.
Credit(s): 3.00
Examination of the U.S. courts focusing on the legal and political factors that influence court action, and judicial action that affects public policy. Prerequisite: POLS 021.
Credit(s): 3.00
Emphasis on developing skills of legal analysis. Historical origins and general principles of constitutionalism. Prerequisite: POLS 021.
Credit(s): 3.00
Analysis of the political processes and institutions of governance in Vermont in the context of the federal system and other American states. Prerequisite: POLS 021.
Credit(s): 3.00
The functions and activities of the president and staff. Prerequisite: POLS 021.
Credit(s): 3.00
Analysis of U.S. political parties and elections, including partisan realignments throughout history, campaign technology, and voting for president and Congress. Prerequisite: POLS 021.
Credit(s): 3.00
Organization, procedure, and behavior of the chambers of the U.S. Congress. Prerequisite: POLS 021.
Credit(s): 3.00
Critical examination of role of judiciary in enforcing 14th Amendment's "Equal Protection Clause." Prerequisite: POLS 021.
Credit(s): 3.00
Environmental and natural resources politics in the American context. Analysis of the environmental movement and political theories, issues, processes, and institutions. Prerequisite: POLS 021.
Credit(s): 3.00
Methods of identifying leaders, their relationships with nonleaders and with one another, their impact on public policy, and their personalities and social backgrounds. Prerequisite: POLS 021.
Credit(s): 3.00
The U.S. Supreme Court as one of the three major political institutions, including the selection process, intracourt politics, and dynamics of court decision making. Prerequisite: POLS 021.
Credit(s): 3.00
Theories and the empirical study of public opinion and political participation. Topics include: public opinion polling methodology, the origins of political outlooks, ideology, authoritarianism, generational politics, public opinion on race, voting behavior. Prerequisite: POLS 021.
Credit(s): 3.00
The role of the media in politics, including how media presentation and interpretation of events affect public opinion, political institutions, and public policy. Prerequisite: POLS 021.
Credit(s): 3.00
Investigation of the Supreme Court's interpretation of the First Amendment, rights of the accused, and the right to privacy. Prerequisite: POLS 021.
Credit(s): 3.00
Examination of public policy process with particular focus on tools used to fashion public policy such as contracts, regulations, legislation, and presidential orders. Prerequisite: POLS 021.
Credit(s): 3.00
Introduction to the main currents of political thought in America today (including liberalism, conservatism, libertarianism, and more), considering their moral and philosophical foundations and investigating them in historical perspective. Prerequisite: Minimum Sophomore standing.
Credit(s): 3.00
Development of Western political thought from Plato to Aquinas. Prerequisite: POLS 041.
Credit(s): 3.00
Modern political thought from Machiavelli to Nietzsche. Prerequisite: POLS 041.
Credit(s): 3.00
This course examines selected major works by the leading political thinkers of the twentieth century. Prerequisite: POLS 041.
Credit(s): 3.00
This course explores the nature of democracy. Students will examine both recent debates in democratic theory and classical sources of democratic ideas. Prerequisite: POLS 041.
Credit(s): 3.00
Intermediate courses on topics in political theory beyond the scope of existing departmental offerings. See Schedule of Courses for specific titles. Prerequisite: POLS 041.
Credit(s): 3.00
Theoretical and empirical examination of the security of the international system and the states within it, with particular emphasis on 21st century security challenges. Prerequisite: POLS 051.
Credit(s): 3.00
Overview of the United States' involvement with the world. Focuses on the domestic political, institutional, and ideological influences on the formation of policy. Prerequisite: POLS 051.
Credit(s): 3.00
Theory and practice in supranational institutions. Prerequisite: POLS 051.
Credit(s): 3.00
Examination of the major theories in international political economy. Specific topics include trade, finance, development, foreign direct investment, and the multinational corporation. Prerequisite: POLS 051 or EC 011.
Credit(s): 3.00
Survey of the politics of the Middle East since World War II. Includes sessions on specific countries, discussions of topics ranging from democratization to terrorism to social media use, and debate on current policy dilemmas in the region. Prerequisite: POLS 051. Cross-listed with: GRS 157.
Credit(s): 3.00
Examination of official and informal processes and institutions that have developed among, across, and beyond nation states for global environmental governance. Prerequisite: POLS 051.
Credit(s): 3.00
Examination of theories defining the post-World War II development project, alternatives to the project, and their relevance to solving global development problems. Prerequisite: POLS 051.
Credit(s): 3.00
Prerequisites: POLS 051, POLS 071, GEOG 050, or GEOG 070. Cross-listed with: GEOG 177.
Credit(s): 3.00
Examination of the causes of dramatic variations in the status of women in different countries. Exploration through individual research projects that use the scientific method. May not be taken for credit concurrently with, or following receipt of, credit for POLS 094: Global Gender Inequality. Prerequisite: POLS 051 or POLS 071.
Credit(s): 3.00 to 4.00
Overview of scholarly research on terrorism and counterterrorism efforts, engagement with debates on the appropriateness of the term terrorism, information on terrorist movements (both historical and contemporary), and a discussion of policy responses to terrorism. Prerequisite: POLS 051. Cross-listed with: GRS 167.
Credit(s): 3.00
State formation in the Middle East and problems it has occasioned. Review of modern history and examination of contemporary politics of several countries. Prerequisite: POLS 071.
Credit(s): 3.00
A comparative examination of the British, German, and French political systems. Prerequisite: POLS 071.
Credit(s): 3.00
Examines the nature of politics and the development of post-Soviet social and economic institutions in Russia. Prerequisite: POLS 071.
Credit(s): 3.00
Institutions, process, and problems of the Canadian polity. Prerequisite: POLS 071.
Credit(s): 3.00
Comparative examination of selected Latin American political systems. Prerequisite: POLS 071 or HST 063 or SPAN 145 or SPAN 146.
Credit(s): 3.00
Institutions, processes, and problems of government of China. Prerequisite: POLS 071.
Credit(s): 3.00
Institutions, processes, and problems of government in Japan. Prerequisite: POLS 071.
Credit(s): 3.00
Development of differing political systems in African countries located south of the Sahara and north of South Africa. Prerequisite: POLS 071, or one course in African Prerequisite: POLS 071, or one course in African Studies.
Credit(s): 3.00
The politics of environmentalism and sustainability from a cross-national perspective, covering social mobilization and nonstate actors, party politics, institutions and governance, policy development, and the role of culture, values, and knowledge in the convergence and divergence of political response. Prerequisite: POLS 071.
Credit(s): 3.00
Introduction to research methods in social science. Includes examination of research design, measurement, data collection, data analysis, and the presentation and theoretical interpretation of research findings. Prerequisites: STAT 051 or STAT 111 or STAT 141 or higher; three hours of Sociology or Political Science; minimum Sophomore standing. Cross-listed with: SOC 100.
Credit(s): 4.00
Comparative study of three major ancient legal systems and their roles in their respective societies: ancient Near East (Sumerian to Hittite), Greek, and Roman. Prerequisite: Three credits in Classics, History, Philosophy, or Political Science. Cross-listed with: CLAS 147, HST 147.
Credit(s): 3.00
The political responses to continuing and accelerating human disruption of the climate. The implications of this disruption for practical domestic and global governance and the challenges it poses for our understanding of politics, policy, democracy, and governance. Prerequisite: POLS 021.
Credit(s): 3.00
Undergraduate student service as a teaching assistant, usually in an introductory level course in the discipline, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
Credit(s): 1.00 to 3.00
On-site supervised work experience combined with a structured academic learning plan directed by a faculty member or a faculty-staff team in which a faculty member is the instructor of record, for which academic credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
Credit(s): 1.00 to 18.00
On-site supervised work experience combined with a structured academic learning plan directed by a faculty member or a faculty-staff team in which a faculty member is the instructor of record, for which academic credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
Credit(s): 1.00 to 18.00
See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
Credit(s): 1.00 to 18.00
See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
Credit(s): 1.00 to 18.00
A course which is tailored to fit the interests of a specific student, which occurs outside the traditional classroom/laboratory setting under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
Credit(s): 1.00 to 18.00
Undergraduate student work on individual or small team research projects under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
Credit(s): 1.00 to 18.00
In-depth analysis of selected topics in law. May repeat for credit with different content. Prerequisites: POLS 021, three hours at 100-level.
Credit(s): 3.00
Selected topics in constitutional law. Prerequisite: POLS 122.
Credit(s): 3.00
Problems of the federal system. National-state-local cooperative administration of selected public functions. Prerequisite: POLS 021, three hours at the 100-level.
Credit(s): 3.00
Further study of the executive branch and its operations. Selected topics, e.g. presidential decision making. White House staffing and operations, congressional-executive relations. Prerequisite: POLS 124.
Credit(s): 3.00
Congress's role in foreign policy making, emphasizing congressional action in the post-Vietnam period. Prerequisite: POLS 021, three hours at the 100-level.
Credit(s): 3.00
Involves students in policy research for the Vermont State Legislature on a wide range of topics, including the environment, health, and welfare. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
Credit(s): 3.00
Politics, policy, and institutions of state governments of the U.S.; techniques for comparative analysis of these aspects of politics. Prerequisite: POLS 021, three hours at the 100-level.
Credit(s): 3.00
This course will examine the quality and sophistication of public attitudes, and the motivations that underlie political participation and electoral choice. Prerequisites: POLS 021, three hours at the 100-level.
Credit(s): 3.00
Examination of the interaction between gender and law in American society. Topics covered include workplace law, family law, and personal autonomy. Prerequisites: POLS 021, three hours at the 100-level. Cross-listed with: GSWS 258.
Credit(s): 3.00
Investigates the relationship between popular film, TV, books, and/or video games and people's perspectives on politics. Prerequisite: POLS 021; three hours of Political Science at the 100-level; minimum Junior standing.
Credit(s): 3.00
Examination of courts as policymakers, relationships with other actors in the policy process, fields in which courts play policy roles, and difficulties facing judges. Prerequisite: POLS 021, three hours at the 100-level.
Credit(s): 3.00
Examination of contemporary normative theories of distributive justice and equality. Prerequisites: POLS 041 and three hours at the 100-level, or PHIL 140, PHIL 142, PHIL 143, or PHIL 144.
Credit(s): 3.00
This course examines the works of leading contemporary liberal political theorists, and also works representing various theoretical approaches critical of liberalism. Prerequisite: POLS 041, three hours at the 100-level.
Credit(s): 3.00
Over the course of the semester, we explore some of the most difficult moral questions that confront citizens and policymakers today. Topics include the ethics of war and torture, abortion and euthanasia, hate speech, immigration, and other related issues. Prerequisite: POLS 041, PHIL 010, PHIL 141, or SOC 101.
Credit(s): 3.00
Addresses normative political theory that asks what obligations, if any, citizens and their states have internationally. Topics include human rights, immigration, global poverty, humanitarian military intervention, and more. Prerequisite: POLS 041.
Credit(s): 3.00
Examines the development of foreign relations of post- Soviet states, with a special focus on Russia and the post-Communist era. Prerequisite: POLS 051, three hours at the 100-level.
Credit(s): 3.00
Survey of the European Union including historical development, public opinion, governmental institutions, internal policies, external relations, and future prospects. Prerequisites: POLS 051 or POLS 071, and three hours at the 100-level; or appropriate International Studies background.
Credit(s): 3.00
Examination of various theories explaining the outbreak of war, with applications to historical cases. Prerequisites: POLS 051, three hours at the 100-level.
Credit(s): 3.00
The domestic, international, and geopolitical factors determining states' choice of strategies and tactics in interstate conflicts and confrontations. Contemporary and historical examples. Prerequisites: POLS 051, three hours at the 100-level.
Credit(s): 3.00
In-depth examination of selected topics related to the making and implementation of U.S. foreign policy. Prerequisites: POLS 051, three hours at the 100-level.
Credit(s): 3.00
The particular security and political economic challenges facing states in the process of nation-building in Latin America, Africa, Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia. Prerequisites: POLS 051, three hours at the 100-level.
Credit(s): 3.00
Examination of the historical, political, economic, and international factors for the rise of East Asia since the Second World War. Prerequisite: POLS 051 or POLS 071, Prerequisites: POLS 051 or POLS 071, three hours at the 100-level.
Credit(s): 3.00
Covers the political systems of the states bordering the Persian Gulf, the role of oil in regional politics and the international relations of the region. Prerequisite Prerequisite: POLS 157 or POLS 168.
Credit(s): 3.00
Explores the relationship between energy resource wealth and political outcomes in oil-producing states and examines the geopolitical role of oil in the international system. Prerequisites: POLS 071, three hours at 100-level.
Credit(s): 3.00
An in-depth examination of the Mexican political system. Topics will include an overview of Mexican history, one-party authoritarian rule, democratization, and political economy. Prerequisites: POLS 071 and three hours at the 100-level; or appropriate International Studies background.
Credit(s): 3.00
Examination of Eastern European political systems with emphasis on the role of ethnic conflict and Marxist-Leninist ideology. Prerequisites: POLS 071, three hours at the 100-level.
Credit(s): 3.00
Topics include the role of the citizenry; the character of political and governmental institutions; and policy making in particular fields. Northern Ireland is also covered. Prerequisites: POLS 071, three hours at the 100-level; or appropriate International Studies background.
Credit(s): 3.00
Ethnicity and nationalism in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Political, historical, social, and economic factors are examined comparatively. Prerequisite: POLS 071; three Prerequisites: POLS 071, three hours at the 100-level.
Credit(s): 3.00
This course explores political and economic change in Soviet and post-Soviet Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Prerequisites: POLS 071, three hours at the 100-level; or appropriate Russian/East European Studies background.
Credit(s): 3.00
Examines ethnic conflict in various post-Soviet states including Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Estonia and Russia. The material includes both theories of nationalism/ethnic conflict and case studies to generate theoretical explanations for cases of conflict. Prerequisite: POLS 071.
Credit(s): 3.00
An on-site supervised work experience combined with a structured academic learning plan directed by a faculty member or a faculty-staff team in which a faculty member is the instructor of record, for which academic credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
Credit(s): 1.00 to 18.00
Undergraduate student service as a teaching assistant, usually in an introductory level course in the discipline, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
Credit(s): 1.00 to 3.00
Examination of major contemporary research topics in political science. Admission by invitation only.
Credit(s): 3.00
Advanced courses or seminars on topics beyond the scope of existing departmental offerings. See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
Credit(s): 1.00 to 18.00
Advanced courses or seminars on topics beyond the scope of existing departmental offerings. See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
Credit(s): 1.00 to 18.00
A course which is tailored to fit the interests of a specific student, which occurs outside the traditional classroom/laboratory setting under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
Credit(s): 1.00 to 18.00
Undergraduate student work on individual or small team research projects under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
Credit(s): 1.00 to 18.00