Political Science Course Descriptions
PSC 100 American Politics (3,0,3)
National government in the U.S. decision making process, government structure, politics. A general education course (social sciences).
PSC 101 State and Local Politics (3,0,3)
Policy making processes in U.S. state governments, Kentucky state and local governments. A general education course (social sciences).
PSC 102 Comparative Politics (3,0,3)
Analysis of political systems using the comparative approach to political processes and behavior. A general education course (social sciences or non-western perspective).
PSC 103 International Politics (3,0,3)
Fundamental factors governing international politics. A general education course (social sciences or non-western perspective).
PSC 103H Honors International Politics (3,0,3)
Fundamental factors governing international politics. A general education course (social sciences or non-western perspective).
PSC 110 History of Western Political Thought (3,0,3)
Trends and ideas that have helped shape Western political heritage. A general education course (humanities or social sciences).
PSC 111 History of American Political Thought (3,0,3)
Trends and ideas that have helped shape the American political heritage. A general education course (humanities or social sciences).
PSC 215 Race, Gender, and Politics (3,0,3)
Race, ethnicity, and gender patterns in the U.S.; race and gender issues related to law, justice, and public policy; historical antecedents of contemporary policies and practices; women and ethnic
groups and their relation to cultural, economic, social, and political trends. A general education course (social sciences or race/gender).
PSC 291W Writing in Political Science (3,0,3)
Writing techniques used in the discipline including but not limited to research papers, reviews, briefs, position papers, policy analyses, and technical reports, professional writing processes including finding, using and citing sources; information techniques used in political science. A general studies course (Written Communications II).
PSC 302 The American Presidency (3,0,3)
A comprehensive examination of the Presidency of the United States of America. This class will look at leadership styles, different time periods in presidential history, the historical impact of past presidents on current office holders and the interaction between the presidency, congress, and the supreme court. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 303 The American Legislature (3,0,3)
A comprehensive examination of the Congress of the United States of America. The focus will be how laws are made, how candidates are elected, the role of the political parties, the interactions between the Congress and the Presidency/Supreme Court, the constitutional foundations of the Congress, and the development of congressional power since the founding. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 304 Introduction to the Law (3,0,3)
Various approaches to law, including philosophical, sociological, political, and historical; elements of legal reasoning; institutions, functions, and effects of law in American society. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 305 The Judicial Process (3,0,3)
A systems approach to the behavior of actors in the federal judiciary. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 307 Constitutional Law (3,0,3)
Major constitutional issues studied through decisions of the Supreme Court. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 308 Civil Liberties (3,0,3)
Equal protection under the law; criminal due process, First Amendment freedoms studied through case methods. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 309 Law of Mass Communications (3,0,3)
Basic legal concepts and issues affecting mass communication, constitutional law, the First Amendment, libel, slander, invasion of privacy, copyright, the FCC and its regulation of broadcasting, legal access to the media, and the use of classified information by the media. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 310 Political Behavior (3,0,3)
Voting, campaigns, and recruitment of political leadership; academic background for courses in campaign management, public opinion, or elections. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 311 Political Parties and Elections (3,0,3)
Development and structure of U.S. party and electoral systems; party nominations, conventions, funding, and campaigning; role of elections in the political system. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 312 Modern Ideologies (3,0,3)
Major political ideologies of the 20th and 21st centuries: liberal democratic capitalism, democratic socialism, fascism, and communism; role of propaganda and political socialization in dissemination of ideological values; relationships among ideology, nationalism, and revolution. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 315 Scope and Methods (3,0,3)
Philosophical foundations of political analysis; various methodologies and quantitative techniques; nature of the role of the political scientist. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 316 Data Analysis (2,3,3)
Applied current research techniques in, e.g., legal research, survey research, use of microcomputers, management of information, and applied governmental research. PREREQ: PSC 315.
PSC 320 American Politics in Film (3,0,3)
Role of films in shaping public agendas, enhancing awareness of public issues; effect of films on public understanding of political processes and problems; examination of accuracy and bias of political messages in films. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 330 Politics of Europe (3,0,3)
Organization and functioning of modern European political systems, especially Great Britain, France, Germany, and Italy. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 335 Latin American Politics (3,0,3)
Comparative analysis of selected republics, especially Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Venezuela. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 338 U.S. Foreign Policy and the Developing World (3,0,3)
A comprehensive examination of the theory and practice of United States foreign policy in the developing world and critical analysis of the implications of such policy on U.S./Developing World relations. Analysis aimed to assist students to see and understand how the perceptions formed by both sides are based on how they view the impact of the policy on their perceived national interests. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 355 Comparative Revolutionary Politics (3,0,3)
Comparative analysis of major western revolutions and Third World revolutions; causes and consequences of revolutionary activity. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 366 Government and Politics in Africa (3,0,3)
A comprehensive introduction to the theory, practice and reality of Government and Politics in Africa. The major intent is to help the student to better grasp and comprehend the structure, function and nature of government and politics in Africa from colonialism to the present, as well as the policies resulting and their impact on the African polity and the greater international community. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses
PSC 370 Pre-Enlightenment Political Theory (3,0,3)
Nature of political life; basic questions examined through close reading of original works of early Greek and Christian thinkers. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science or philosophy courses.
PSC 373 Enlightenment and Post Enlightenment Political Theory (3,0,3)
Reactions against pre-Enlightenment though such as natural rights, social contract and liberal democracy. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science or philosophy courses.
PSC 382 Canadian Politics and Policies (3,0,3)
To provide a comprehensive analysis of the theory, practice and reality of Canadian politics and policies. The major intent is to help the student better grasp and comprehend the structure and nature of government and politics in Canada, as well as the policies resulting and their impact on the Canadian policy and the greater international community. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses
PSC 394 Topics: American Politics (3,0,3)
Topics vary from semester to semester. See Schedule of Classes for topic and prerequisites. May be repeated. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science course.
PSC 394 Topics: Theory and Practice (3,0,3)
Topics vary from semester to semester. See Schedule of Classes for topic and prerequisites. May be repeated. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 394 Topics: Comparative Politics (3,0,3)
Topics vary from semester to semester. See Schedule of Classes for topic and prerequisites. May be repeated. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 394 Topics: International Politics (3,0,3)
Topics vary from semester to semester. See Schedule of Classes for topic and prerequisites. May be repeated. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 403 Public Policy (3,0,3)
Forces molding public choice; general processes of policy formation and adoption; analysis of implementation of policies dealing with problems of compliance and policy impact, distribution, and evaluation; major domestic public policy issues including criminal justice, social welfare, environment, health care, and taxation. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 410 Political Economy (3,0,3)
Interaction between politics and economics at the domestic and international levels; process leading to national and international distribution of wealth and economic development. PREREQ: 6 semester hours of introductory political science or economics courses.
PSC 415 United States Foreign Policy (3,0,3)
The historical setting, foreign policy process models, institutions and actors that influence United States foreign policy, emerging and enduring issues addressed by states. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 420 International Terrorism (3,0,3)
This course is designed to acquaint students with a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of international terrorism. The class will focus on understanding the concept of terrorism and what role it plays in international as well as domestic politics. An attempt will also be made to explore the driving forces that motivate acts of terrorism that include religious, political, and economic components, inter alai. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 430 Politics and Mass Media (3,0,3)
Impact of media on political process in the United States; structure and ownership of mass media; mass media and political behavior; role of the media in campaigns, elections and policy making. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 470 The Post-Cold War World (3,0,3)
A global approach to international politics through studying the interdependence of the political, economic, environmental, and cultural relationships in today’s world; characteristics of the evolving international system. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses
PSC 480 International Law (3,0,3)
Development of international law; enforcement of international law; impact of international law on conduct of international relations among nation states. PREREQ: 6 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 481 International Organizations (3, 0, 3)
Development of international organizations; recent international organizations; role of United Nations in peacekeeping and international socioeconomic and cultural development. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses.
PSC 485 Comparative Foreign Policy (3,0,3)
Comparative analysis of foreign policies of selected states; decision-making and factors affecting foreign policy. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses, or consent of instructor.
PSC 486 War in the Modern World (3,0,3)
This course is an investigation into the causes and correlates of conflict in our time, and how fighting these conflicts has changed over time. The course begins just prior to the year 1648, with the advent of the modern nation-state system, and unfolds to the present days of the “New World disorder,” with the occurrence of acts of political terrorism upon American soil. PREREQ: 3 semester hours of introductory political science courses
PSC 496 Internship in Political Science (3-15 semester hours)
Students may enroll for real-world experiential credit with public or private hosts. Students must have the consent of Internship Coordinator.
PSC 499 Readings and Practica for Seniors (1-3 semester hours)
Specialized reading or primary research interests completed through independent study at the direction of a specific instructor. May be repeated as projects vary. PREREQ: consent of program director.