Political Science

The Department of Political Science graduate programs are taught by a strong faculty dedicated to teaching and scholarship in the field of political science. Many employ various modes of multi-media instruction, service learning, internships, and other innovative teaching exercises. Contemporary political science is a diverse field, and the faculty are active researchers across many important areas. 

Visit the Department of Political Science website to learn more about its faculty and facilities.

Political Science (POLIT)

POLIT 500  Political Extremism & Violence  (3 Units)  
This course examines the causes and consequences of political extremism & political violence in democracies and failed democracies. (Formerly 3700:500)
  
POLIT 502  Politics and the Media  (3 Units)  
Examination of relationships between the press, the news media and political decision makers. (Formerly 3700:502)
  
POLIT 503  Media, Crime and Public Opinion  (3 Units)  
Examines the social construction of crime in mass media and how it impacts public, including fear of crime, beliefs about crime causation, and crime policy. (Formerly 3700:503)
  
POLIT 510  International Security Policy  (3 Units)  
Introduction to political uses of military forces. Major focus on methodological, conceptual, and ethical dilemmas confronted in developing and implementing defense policy. (Formerly 3700:510)
  
POLIT 513  Global Public Health Threats  (3 Units)  
An introduction to comparative global biological and public health security policy. Topics include: infectious disease outbreaks, bioterrorism, and potential 'nano-terrorism.' (Formerly 3700:513)
  
POLIT 514  Wealth and Power Among Nations  (3 Units)  
Studies relationship between politics and economy; mesh theoretical perspectives with exploration of the key empirical issues. Topics include: trade, relations, unions, finance, development, aid, sanctions. (Formerly 3700:514)
  
POLIT 517  Environmental Security and Climate Politics  (3 Units)  
The course examines the relationship between the politics of climate change and environmental security. Students will examine a wide range of environmental security issues and will assess the effectiveness of efforts to resolve these issues. (Formerly 3700:517)
  
POLIT 518  Weapons of Mass Destruction  (3 Units)  
An exploration of the development and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their use and potential use by nation states, extremist groups, and/or wayward individuals. Weapons categories explored include: biological, chemical, nuclear, radiological, cyber, and future threats. (Formerly 3700:518)
  
POLIT 519  Homeland Security Policy and Process  (3 Units)  
The course will explore the concept of homeland security, the complexity of homeland security and disaster policy in a federal system, threats to homeland security, and the challenges to effective homeland security and disaster policy in the United States. (Formerly 3700:519)
  
POLIT 522  Understanding Racial & Gender Conflicts  (3 Units)  
This is the core course the Certificates in Racial and Gender Conflict, providing students with an opportunity to intensively examine racial and gender conflict. (Formerly 3700:522)
  
POLIT 523  Women, Gender, and Politics  (3 Units)  

Women are one of the demographic groups who have been deprived of civil and political rights, not only in the United States, but in countries around the globe. This course provides in-depth insight into how patriarchal systems that subordinate women first took root, the connection between oppression of women and those who eschew binary sex and gender roles including members of the LGBTQ community, the long-lasting effects on women’s participation in public life, and the strategies they have and currently use to gain access and wield influence in the public sphere.

  
POLIT 527  Campaign Battleground  (3 Units)  
This course will provide a general framework with which to understand presidential, congressional, state, and local elections from the perspective of campaign professional and political observers. The course will follow campaigns in real time, investigating the strategy, tactics, and conduct of major party candidates and campaigns. It will also examine coverage of national, state, and local races by the media as well as analyze current polling. The course will include guest speakers including academics, campaign professionals, public officials, and journalists. (Formerly 3700:527)
  
POLIT 528  Ohio Politics  (3 Units)  
This course focuses on factors that make Ohio economically competitive. Material focuses on recent election results, public opinion polling and influence of socioeconomic factors. (Formerly 3700:528)
  
POLIT 537  Government Versus Organized Crime  (3 Units)  
The course gives a history of organized crime and the government's responses to fight it. Newly emerging international crime groups are also discussed. (Formerly 3700:537)
  
POLIT 540  Survey Research Methods  (3 Units)  
Study of the survey research methods as applied to the analysis of public opinion, political behavior and public policy formation. (Formerly 3700:540)
  
POLIT 541  The Policy Process  (3 Units)  
Intensive study of policy-making process, emphasizing roles of various participants in executive and legislative branches as well as private individuals and groups. (Formerly 3700:541)
  
POLIT 542  Methods of Policy Analysis  (3 Units)  
Examines variety of methods available for analyzing public policies. Techniques of cost benefit analysis, evaluation research quasi-experimentation are covered as well as consideration of ethical questions in policy analysis, the practical problems facing policy analysts. (Formerly 3700:542)
  
POLIT 543  Political Scandals & Corruption  (3 Units)  
This course will provide information on major political scandals, including media coverage, public opinion, the role of special prosecutors, and the impacts of scandals. (Formerly 3700:543)
  
POLIT 545  Al Qaeda and ISIS  (3 Units)  
This course explores the causes and consequences of Al Qaeda's and ISIS' ideologies and tactics around the world. (Formerly 3700:545)
  
POLIT 546  National Security Intelligence  (3 Units)  
The aim of this course is to familiarize students with the politics and policy of national security intelligence in the US. (Formerly 3700:546)
  
POLIT 547  Counterterrorism  (3 Units)  
This course introduces students to the national security agencies, policies, politics and methods of defeating terrorism from abroad and in the United States. (Formerly 3700:547)
  
POLIT 548  Intelligence Analysis  (3 Units)  
This course is intended to for students who seek a career in the field of government or private sector intelligence or who just have an interest in how intelligence analysis is done. (Formerly 3700:548)
  
POLIT 550  Administering Prisons, Probation, and Parole  (3 Units)  
Analysis of the administrative, electoral, and community conflicts central to understanding, resolving, and preventing these conflicts in a correctional environment. (Formerly 3700:550)
  
POLIT 555  Civic Engagement and Political Behavior  (3 Units)  

Individual participation in public life is a prerequisite for successful democracy. Yet arguments about the appropriate motivations for average people’s participation, as well as required types and levels of public participation, from volunteering to voting, have been present in America since the founding. This course examines whether and why average people participate in the political system, as well as how varying levels of social trust and trust in government affect the ability to sustain both civic voluntarism and a robust democracy. Particular attention will be paid to individual motivations for participation in a full array of civic and political activities.

  
POLIT 556  Deliberation and Political Disagreement  (3 Units)  

Democratic societies are characterized by commitment to deliberative processes to resolve conflicts and to develop policy recommendations. This course explores historical tensions between civil unrest and civility as ways to promote a more inclusive, stable version of US democracy. Students will learn various tactics associated with deliberative decision-making essential to both organizing and to governing. They will have the opportunity to practice these tactics as they discuss contemporary political issues.

  
POLIT 561  The Supreme Court & Constitutional Law  (3 Units)  
Interpretation of the Constitution by the Supreme Court with emphasis on federal judicial, legislative and executive power; separation of powers; and federalism. (Formerly 3700:561)
  
POLIT 562  The Supreme Court & Civil Liberties  (3 Units)  
Interpretation of the Constitution by the Supreme Court with emphasis on freedom of speech and press, freedom of religion, criminal rights and right to privacy. (Formerly 3700:562)
  
POLIT 563  Human Rights in World Politics  (3 Units)  
An introduction to human rights from a comparative perspective; topics include: definition and development of human rights with attention paid to government interaction and wartime. (Formerly 3700:563)
  
POLIT 570  Fundamentals of Political Strategy  (3 Units)  
Explore theoretical concepts, practical applications, roles, and best practices as it relates to political campaign management. Develop critical thinking skills to assess, analyze, act and communicate in situations throughout the election cycle, including message development and delivery, target audiences and voter contact and engagement. Consider real-life and rhetorical situations and hear from campaign professionals equipped to share first-hand perspectives on the operations and infrastructure of political campaigns. (Formerly 3700:570)
  
POLIT 571  Fundamentals of Electoral Messaging  (3 Units)  
Explore theoretical concepts, practical applications, roles, and best practices as it relates to political campaign and electoral communication. Develop skills to plan, produce and execute strategic political messages including campaign addresses, press releases and media advisories, constituent, volunteer, and donor communications, and video releases while considering candidate and opposition research, fact sheets, time and budgetary constraints, polling and targeting data, and candidate preferences. (Formerly 3700:571)
  
POLIT 572  Campaign Finance, Fundraising, and Budgeting  (3 Units)  
This course examines the most controversial aspect of applied politics: the role and influence of money. Topics include: the sources of political money, how it is raised and spent, the impact of money on the political process, the rules that govern political finance, and proposals for campaign finance reform. (Formerly 3700:572)
  
POLIT 573  Voter Contact & Elections  (3 Units)  
Theoretical and practical approaches to gaining votes in all types of political campaigns. (Formerly 3700:573)
  
POLIT 574  Political Opinion, Behavior & Electorial Politics  (3 Units)  
Advanced analysis of psychological, cultural and group processes of opinion formation and change. Attention given to the effect of opinion change on electoral outcomes. (Formerly 3700:574)
  
POLIT 575  American Interest Groups  (3 Units)  
Reading and research on the development, structure and function of interest groups in the United States. (Formerly 3700:575)
  
POLIT 576  American Political Parties  (3 Units)  
Reading and research on the development, structure and function of parties in the United States. (Formerly 3700:576)
  
POLIT 577  Government Relations and Lobbying  (3 Units)  
This course examines government relations, lobbying, and advocacy through participating in hands-on applied projects, meeting with elected officials and government relations professionals, and preparing students for the wide range of career options available to government relations professionals. (Formerly 3700:577)
  
POLIT 578  Fundamentals of the Digital Campaign  (3 Units)  
This course will examine the evolution of digital campaigning, explore the pillars of effective digital strategy, and analyze the role digital strategy plays from communications to fundraising to field and everything in between. It will look at the rise of digital platforms, strengths and weaknesses of them, how to best leverage them in a well-rounded digital program, along with security and disinformation tactics to navigate. Students will learn how to effectively research, craft, deploy, and execute an effective digital plan that can serve as the connective tissue of any winning campaign. (Formerly 3700:578)
  
POLIT 580  Policy Problems in Political Science  (3 Units)  
Intensive study of selected problems in public policy. (Formerly 3700:580)
  
POLIT 581  The Challenges of Police Work  (3 Units)  
Analysis of various political dimensions underlying the study of politics and policing in the context of police reform, crime, and the community. (Formerly 3700:581)
  
POLIT 582  Current Issues (CJ Topic)  (3 Units)  
Study and critical analysis of current issues, programs, and policies relating to political science and criminal justice at the federal or state level. (Formerly 3700:582)
  
POLIT 583  Constitutional Problems in Criminal Justice  (3 Units)  
Analyzes Supreme Court policy-making regarding problems of criminal justice, including search and seizure, self-incrimination, right to counsel, jury selection, and post-appeal prisoner rights. (Formerly 3700:583)
  
POLIT 590  Workshop in Political Science  (1-3 Units)  
(May be repeated for a total of nine credits). Timely workshops on varying subjects to meet the changing needs of our students in response to new and emerging political issues and controversies. (Formerly 3700:590)
  
POLIT 592  Selected Topics in Political Science  (3 Units)  
May be repeated for a total of six credits. Topics of substantial current importance or specialized topics with political science. (Formerly 3700:592)
  
POLIT 600  Scope & Theories of Political Science  (3 Units)  
Prerequisite: Admission to political science graduate program or permission. Emphasis on the nature, scope and content of political theory; theory construction and validation in political science. (Formerly 3700:600)
  
POLIT 601  Research Methods in Political Science  (3 Units)  
Prerequisite: POLIT 600. Techniques of quantitative research methodology in political science; utility and limitations of quantitative analysis. (Formerly 3700:601)
  
POLIT 603  Advanced Analytic Writing and Briefing  (3 Units)  
Prerequisite: Admission to a Political Science graduate program or permission. Course will assist in the development of Essay / Capstone projects: Organization, format presentation, editing, committee review. Will help polish student writing and presentation skills. (Formerly 3700:603)
  
POLIT 610  Seminar in International Politics  (3 Units)  
Prerequisite: Admission to political science graduate program or permission. Analysis of current problems in theory and practice of politics and organization. (Formerly 3700:610)
  
POLIT 611  Seminar in War and Insurgency  (3 Units)  
This course examines the issue of international conflict, war, and insurgency in international and domestic politics. (Formerly 3700:611)
  
POLIT 612  Seminar in US National Security Policy  (3 Units)  
The aim of the course is to introduce graduate students to the study of national security politics and policy. (Formerly 3700:612)
  
POLIT 620  Seminar in Comparative Politics  (3 Units)  
Prerequisite: Admission to political science graduate program or permission. Research selected topics in comparative politics. Comparative method. (Formerly 3700:620)
  
POLIT 622  Seminar in Alternatives to Violence at Home and Abroad  (3 Units)  
Prerequisite: Admission to political science graduate program or permission. An interdisciplinary analysis of the nature of violence--from interpersonal to international--to enhance our capacity to reduce violence and other threats to liberty. (Formerly 3700:622)
  
POLIT 630  Seminar in National Politics  (3 Units)  
Prerequisite: Admission to political science graduate program or permission. Reading and research on formulation, development and implementation of national policy in one or more areas of contemporary significance. (Formerly 3700:630)
  
POLIT 650  Seminar on Law, Punishment, & Politics: US & the World  (3 Units)  
Prerequisite: Admission to political science graduate program or permission. Reading and research on the multiple and contingent interconnections between law, punishment, politics, and power. (Formerly 3700:650)
  
POLIT 655  Campaign and Election Law  (3 Units)  
Prerequisite: Admission to political science graduate program or permission. Examines the legal environment for political campaigns. Topics include historical background, legal foundation, voting rights, filing requirements, campaign finance and political advertising (Formerly 3700:655)
  
POLIT 668  Seminar in Public Policy Agendas & Decisions  (3 Units)  
Prerequisite: Admission to political science graduate program or permission. Reading and research on the development of public policy issues and modes of decision making used by policy makers. (Formerly 3700:668)
  
POLIT 672  Seminar: Political Influence & Organizations  (3 Units)  
Prerequisite: Admission to political science graduate program or permission. Examination of how public concerns and demands are resolved or diffused. A theoretical and applied look at parties, interest groups, public opinion, media, and protest. (Formerly 3700:672)
  
POLIT 690  Special Topics in Political Science  (1-3 Units)  
Prerequisite: Admission to political science graduate program or permission. Graduate-level examination of selected topics in American politics, comparative politics, international politics, international politics or political theory. (Formerly 3700:690)
  
POLIT 695  Internship in Government & Politics  (3-6 Units)  
(May be repeated for a total of six credits.) Prerequisite: Admission to political science graduate program or permission. Supervised individual placement with political office holders, party groups, governmental agencies, law firms and other organizations providing professional-level work. (Formerly 3700:695)
  
POLIT 697  Independent Research & Readings  (1-4 Units)  
(May be repeated, but no more than six credits toward the master's degree in political science) Prerequisite: Admission to political science graduate program or permission. (Formerly 3700:697)
  
POLIT 699  Master's Thesis  (2-6 Units)  
Prerequisite: Admission to political science graduate program or permission. Master's Thesis. (Formerly 3700:699)