Chair:  George Jarnis

Professors:  John Ambacher, George Jarnis, Elaine Storella

Pre-Law Advisor:  John Ambacher

The General Education Requirements

All students must satisfy a general education requirement consisting of twelve (12) courses taken outside of the major department (see page 58 of this catalog). The requirement for the study of U.S. and Massachusetts constitutions is satisfied through completion of the Politics major.

Course Prerequisites

Courses may have specified conditions for enrollment, such as prior completion of less advanced courses, permission of the instructor, or appropriate placement test scores. Students should refer to course descriptions in the department listings for prerequisite requirements.

POLITICS MAJOR (POG)

Departmental Requirements for Politics Major:

The Politics major consists of twelve (12) courses and one (1) required/related general education course.

Introductory core courses (required):

            62.110             Introduction to American Politics

            62.120             Introduction to World Politics

Intermediate courses (select two):

            62.211             Political Theory: Justice, Law, and Order

            62.216             Film and Politics

            62.223             Bureaucratic Politics and Power

            62.245             Comparative Politics: Europe

            62.250             American Legal Systems

Advanced core courses (required):

            62.316             U.S. Constitutional Law and Politics

            62.337             Legislative Politics and Policy

            62.341             The Presidency: Politics and Administration

Advanced courses (select three):

            62.313             American Political Thought

            62.325             Public Management

            62.327             Elections and Campaign Strategy

            62.328             Public Budgeting and Management

            62.329             Public Policy Analysis

            62.342             Formation and Conduct of U.S. Foreign Policy

One Elective:

            Any course offered by the Government Department

Seminar:

            62.425 Seminar in Politics

Required/related course:

            All Politics majors must take 43.117 Introduction to Statistics.

Students majoring in Politics should complete 62.110 Introduction to American Politics and 62.120 Introduction to World Politics during their freshman year. All above courses must be completed prior to the end of the sophomore year.

MINOR IN POLITICS (5 courses)

            62.110             Introduction to American Politics

            Four (4) other courses above the 100 level acceptable for the major

MINOR IN LAW AND POLITICS (5 courses)

The minor in Law and Politics is designed to provide undergraduate students with a structured program of study in judicial and governmental processes. U.S. public policy is constrained by our legal system, and conversely, our legal system is sometimes modified by political interests. This program will focus on the interaction of law and politics.

            62.211             Political Theory: Justice, Law, and Order

            62.250             American Legal Systems

            62.315             Judicial Politics and Policy

            62.316             U.S. Constitutional Law and Politics

            62.450             Internship in the Judicial System

Politics Courses Appropriate for General Education (Gen. Ed.)           

Course Descriptions

Lower Division

62.110 Introduction to American Politics (Gen. Ed. Goal 10)

An introduction to American governmental institutions and the political process. Among the topics included are the political culture and socialization, political participation, the media, social movements and minority politics, and interest groups and political parties. This course fulfills the requirement to study the United State and Massachusetts constitutions.

 Note Credit will not be given for this course after completing 62.101 Introduction to American Politics I, 62.102 Introduction to American Politics II, or 62.103 Survey of American Politics.

62.120 Introduction to World Politics (Gen. Ed. Goal 11)

An introduction to the theory and substance of world politics. Concentration on the rise and nature of the modern state system, study of the roles played by international law, diplomacy, and international organizations, and an analysis of the impact on the international system of the transition from a Euro-centered system to a more truly global one.

Intermediate Level

62.211 Political Theory: Justice, Law, and Order

An historical approach to the study of the ideas of justice, law, and order as they evolved in Western tradition from Hammurabi’s code and Plato’s Republic in ancient times to such twentieth- century analyses as John Rawls’ A Theory of Justice. This course integrates information from the disciplines of politics, history, and philosophy. It also fulfills the requirement to study the federal and Massachusetts constitutions.

62.212 Political Theory: Age of Ideology (Gen. Ed. Goal 8)

An historical approach to the study of nineteenth and twentieth-century ideologies including such “isms” as conservatism, liberalism, socialism, totalitarianism, ethnic nationalism, and religious fundamentalism. Lectures, discussions, and written assignments focus on analyzing primary sources in terms of historical context and political consequences.

62.216 Film and Politics (Gen. Ed. Goal 12)

An examination of the relationship between film and American politics. This course examines how film depicts and influences American political culture, values, and institutions with emphasis on the relationship between film and the politics of gender, class, and race. Students are required to review and analyze film texts in relationship to the scope of the course.

Prerequisite: 21.110 Expository Writing.

62.223 Bureaucratic Politics and Power

An introduction to bureaucratic organizations servicing the public sector. The course analyzes the politics and power of governmental bureaucracies and discusses their substantive impact upon individuals and societal policy. Topics include the growth of bureaucratic authority and power, organizational behavior, administrative leadership, decision making, the politics of budgeting, and administrative accountability and responsibility.

62.245 Comparative Politics: Europe

An integrative study of the history, political institutions and public policies of Western Europe in the post-World War II period. Initially, the country-by-country approach focuses on the “Big Four”: the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy. To a lesser extent, “smaller” nations like Sweden and the former Yugoslavia are included. International organizations such as NATO and the European Union are also considered.

62.250 American Legal Systems

A study of the origins and essentials of the common law, statutes, constitutions, and court decisions in the United States. Emphasis is on legal reasoning and case analysis to promote legal problem-solving skills. Topics include criminal law and procedures, property law, contract law, and the law of torts. This course fulfills the requirements to study the federal and Massachusetts constitutions.

Advanced Level Courses

62.313 American Political Thought

A focus on the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in an attempt to understand American political thought in terms of “national mythology.” Readings are primary sources.

62.315 Judicial Politics and Policy

The roles of judges, lawyers, law enforcement officials, and litigants in the judicial system. The process used to make legal decisions and the effect of these decisions will be examined. Finally, the courts’ relations with other political institutions are analyzed.

62.316 U.S. Constitutional Law and Politics

A study of the role of judicial supremacy, judicial restraint, and judicial activism in the American political system and the processes by which they have evolved.

62.325 Public Management

A study of organizational management, administrative behavior, and public policy issues. The course is structured around the case method approach. Students’ participation in the form of role playing and game simulation is highly emphasized.

62.326 Political Parties and Interest Groups

An analysis of the characteristics, roles, and status of American political parties and interest groups. Attention is focused on the strengths and weaknesses of the party system and alternative forms of political organization.

62.327 Elections and Campaign Strategy

An analysis of the changing nature of electoral politics resulting from such factors as the decline of parties, reforms, finance laws, the media, and voting behavior. The course focuses upon the techniques of campaign management to include strategy, fund raising, the media, polling, and the new technology. Students participate in a campaign and conduct an election survey.

62.328 Public Budgeting and Management

In the present context of resource scarcity and cutbacks in government spending, an examination of reform-oriented budgeting practices and techniques with an emphasis on effective resource allocation and management control in public and non-profit organizations. Course topics include contracting, leasing and procurement practices, analytical techniques, performance measurement, and evaluation design. Particular emphasis is given to the development of program/grant proposals and location of funding sources.

62.329 Public Policy Analysis

An analysis of the policy process emphasizing the response of officials to problems, available policy alternatives, the way officials choose and implement programs and the effect of these programs. A substantive topic is used to illustrate the basic concepts and principles of the public policy process.

62.335 Public Personnel Management

A focus on organizational theory, organizational structure, staffing, job classification, unionism, collective bargaining, and personnel productivity and performance evaluation with respect to public sector management. Managerial tools related to recruitment, personnel supervision, organizational control, and leadership are emphasized. Case studies, role playing, and simulation are used to engage the student in the practical application of theories and practices of personnel management.

62.337 Legislative Politics and Policy

An examination of the selection, organization and decision-making processes found in Congress and the state legislatures. The relationship of the legislature to the President, bureaucracy, interest groups, and judicial branch also are discussed. Students participate in a simulation of the process by which bills are enacted into law.

62.341 The Presidency: Politics and Administration

A description and analysis of the President as a major actor in the American political system. It investigates the political stakes, strategies, and resources of the President with respect to other political actors and institutions. The course focuses upon the sources and limitations of Presidential power and the nature of Presidential decision making.

62.342 Formation and Conduct of U.S. Foreign Policy

An analysis of the principal decision-making processes that affect, and have affected, the formulation and implementation of American foreign policy since World War I. Emphasis is on the major agencies and institutions responsible for the formulation and execution of American foreign policy decisions. A case study approach is followed.

Prerequisite: Basic course requirements of Politics majors outlined above.

62.425 Seminar in Politics

An advanced study of politics under the direction of a member of the faculty. The theme for the seminar, as well as for research topics, papers, projects, and/or student presentations, is determined by the course instructor.

Prerequisite: Completion or nine (9) or more Politics courses, 43.117 Introduction to Statistics, and Approval of the Department Chair. Open to Politics majors only.

62.450 Internship in the Judicial System

A supervised internship experience in the judicial system combined with an authorized field study assignment of a minimum of ten hours per week for the semester. Does not count toward the Politics major.

Prerequisite: 62.250 American Legal Systems and permission of instructor. For details see Chair of the Government Department one semester prior to registration.

62.490 Independent Study

A politics major whose quality point average in the major is no less than 3.0 and who has completed at least six courses in the Department of Government may apply to the Department for a course in Independent Study under the supervision of a member of the Department. This application should be made no later than the end of the third week of the preceding semester. The application must include a detailed proposal outlining either an extensive reading program or a research project. The Department will respond to the application usually within four weeks.

62.495 Internship

A supervised work experience in politics or government combined with a field study assignment.

Prerequisite: a 3.0 or better quality point average in the major plus completion of six courses in the Department. See Department Chair for details of specific requirements one semester prior to registration.