Political Science
Successful graduates of this program go on to graduate or law school, manage campaigns, run for office, work in state and local government or for various federal government agencies, including the U.S. Marshall’s Office, U.S. State Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Environmental Protection Agency, and Amnesty International.
Statement of Policies – Admission
For students enrolled at The University of Akron and for students wishing to transfer directly to Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences from other institutions, the following criteria must be satisfied for admission to the Department of Political Science:
- The student must be admissible to Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
- A minimum grade point average of 2.20 must be met in all university work, including transfer credits
- A minimum grade point average of 2.20 must be met in all work in Political Science, including university and transfer credits. Only credits earned at an accredited institution of post-secondary education, as recognized by The University of Akron, will be considered for transfer credit, and only those grades will be considered in the grade point average.
Retention
Students in the Political Science programs must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.20 overall and a minimum of 2.20 grade point average in Political Science courses (including transfer credit) in order to remain in the program. A student who fails to maintain the 2.20 cumulative average (including transfer credit) will be placed on academic probation. Failure to raise the average after one semester will result in dismissal from the program. The student may not apply for readmission for at least one semester.
Political Science (POLIT)
POLIT 100 Government & Politics in the United States (3 Units)
Examination of American political system with emphasis on fundamental principles, ideas, institutions and processes of modern government. Lecture and discussion sections (day classes only). (Formerly 3700:100)
Ohio Transfer 36: Yes
Gen Ed: Social Science
POLIT 150 World Politics & Government (3 Units)
Introduction to international politics and an examination of the governments and foreign policies of selected states from a comparative perspective. (Formerly 3700:150)
Ohio Transfer 36: Yes
Gen Ed: Social Science
POLIT 203 Introduction to Political Thought (3 Units)
Survey of major ideas and concepts of Western political theory from pre-Socrates through period of Enlightenment. (Formerly 3700:303)
POLIT 210 State & Local Government & Politics (3 Units)
Examination of institutions, processes and intergovernmental relations at state and local levels. (Formerly 3700:210)
POLIT 300 Comparative Politics (3 Units)
Introduction to comparative political analysis; description of political systems of Great Britain, France, Germany and Soviet Union; contrast between democracy and totalitarianism. (Formerly 3700:300)
Gen Ed: Global Diversity
POLIT 301 Introduction to Political Research (3 Units)
Introduction to the research process in political science through an introduction to the logic of social science inquiry and contemporary techniques of analysis. (Formerly 3700:301)
POLIT 302 American Political Ideas (3 Units)
Study of major thinkers and writers of American political thought. (Formerly 3700:302)
POLIT 304 Modern Political Thought (3 Units)
Examination of central concepts of political thought from 19th Century to present. Modern liberalism, communism, fascism and totalitarianism emphasized. (Formerly 3700:304)
POLIT 310 International Politics & Institutions (3 Units)
Relations among nations examined in political context. (Formerly 3700:310)
POLIT 311 Developing States in World Politics (3 Units)
Examines how developing states are conditioned by the global system and how they attempt to modify it. (Formerly 3700:311)
POLIT 313 International Law (3 Units)
POLIT 321 European Politics (3 Units)
Description and analysis of government and politics of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Russia, with appropriate references to the European Union. (Formerly 3700:321)
POLIT 326 Politics of Developing Nations (3 Units)
General introduction to concepts and theories of political development and political institutions, elite-recruitment and political processes of selected emerging nations. (Formerly 3700:326)
POLIT 328 American Foreign Policy Process (3 Units)
Examination of American foreign policy-making process; public opinion and other limitations on policy; specific contemporary problems in selected foreign policy areas. (Formerly 3700:328)
POLIT 333 Social Entrepreneurship (3 Units)
Scholarly analysis of successful social and political entrepreneur's efforts to address real world problems and an interdisciplinary analysis of the strategies and skills they deploy. (Formerly 3700:333)
POLIT 334 Law, Mediation, and Violence (3 Units)
A critical analysis of the practical challenges central to learning to better prevent, resolve, or reduce the harms associated with conflict. (Formerly 3700:334)
POLIT 335 Law & Society (3 Units)
This course will examine how law constructs and constrains political conflict, and how legal institutions mediate, reinforce, and challenge existing power relationships. (Formerly 3700:335)
POLIT 337 Terrorism: Perpetrators, Politics and Response (3 Units)
Survey of terrorist organizations, political implications of terrorism, and governmental response to terrorism. (Formerly 3700:337)
POLIT 339 Terrorism and the Constitution (3 Units)
Primary goals include learning about the balance courts try to strike in safeguarding public safety and respect for personal freedom in a constitutional republic. (Formerly 3700:339)
POLIT 341 The American Congress (3 Units)
Examination of structure and function of Congress, with comparative materials on legislative process on all levels. Presidential and congressional conflict examined. (Formerly 3700:341)
POLIT 345 World Politics in Film (3 Units)
This course examines the political meaning and content of films. Themes investigated include war, the nuclear age and its consequences, postindustrial society, the future, and unemployment. (Formerly 3700:345)
POLIT 346 American Politics in Film (3 Units)
Examines the portrayal and representation of American politics through cinema. Emphasis on the positive and negative roles that movies play in educating the public. (Formerly 3700:346)
POLIT 350 The American Presidency (3 Units)
The presidency as focal point of politics, policy and leadership in American political system. (Formerly 3700:350)
POLIT 351 Inside the White House (3 Units)
The course looks behind the curtain at the inner-workings of the White House. Topics include: physical structure of the White House, travel, protection, and staff. (Formerly 3700:351)
POLIT 353 Future International Threats (3 Units)
A study of future threats through the use of scenario construction and future projections. (Formerly 3700:353)
POLIT 360 The Judicial Process (3 Units)
Role of police, lawyers, courts and judges in context of American political process. Structure and process of judicial policy making and limitations on judicial power. (Formerly 3700:360)
POLIT 361 Politics of the Criminal Justice System (3 Units)
Examines the impact of the political process and political institutions on criminal law and policy. (Formerly 3700:361)
POLIT 363 Crime, Punishment, Politics: A Comparative Perspective (3 Units)
Comparative study of the structures, practices, power relationships, and politics in various criminal justice systems. (Formerly 3700:363)
POLIT 370 Public Administrtion: Concepts & Practices (3 Units)
Examines current administrative theories and their application in public bureaucracies. Emphasis is placed on practices to improve the quality of public sector administration. (Formerly 3700:370)
POLIT 381 State Politics (3 Units)
Analysis of the state political process in terms of its capacity to deal with a wide range of socioeconomic problems. Special emphasis on legislators, administrators, parties and interest groups. (Formerly 3700:381)
POLIT 391 Honors in Political Science (3 Units)
Prerequisites: at least 17 credits and a 3.25 average in political science and permission of adviser. (Formerly 3700:391)
POLIT 392 Selected Topics in Political Science (1-3 Units)
(May be repeated, but no more than three credits can be applied to major in political science) Topics of substantial current importance, specialized topics within political science or experimental courses. (Formerly 3700:392)
POLIT 395 Internship in Government & Politics (2-9 Units)
(May be taken twice for a total of nine hours. No more than four credits may be applied toward major in political science.) Prerequisite: Completion of 3 courses with a 2.20 GPA in political science. Supervised individual placement with political office holders, party groups, governmental agencies, law firms and other organizations providing professional-level work. (Formerly 3700:395)
POLIT 397 Independent Study: Political Science (1-4 Units)
(May be repeated for a total of four credits) Prerequisites: Minimum academic standing of a Senior and a 3.00 GPA. (Formerly 3700:397)
POLIT 400 Political Extremism & Violence (3 Units)
This course examines the causes and consequences of political extremism and political violence in democracies and failed democracies. (Formerly 3700:400)
POLIT 401 Advanced Topics in Research Methods (3-6 Units)
POLIT 402 Politics and the Media (3 Units)
Examination of relationships between the press, the news media and political decision makers. (Formerly 3700:402)
POLIT 403 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 3700:403)
POLIT 405 Politics in the Middle East (3 Units)
The rise of the state system in the Middle East after World War I; an analysis of the socio-cultural, ideological forces influencing the political behavior of the people of the Middle East. In-depth study of selected political systems. (Formerly 3700:405)
POLIT 406 Comparative Constitutional Law (3 Units)
This course will explore the essential principles and theories of law and constitutionalism and then apply them, comparatively, to several different constitutional traditions from various regions of the world. (Formerly 3700:406)
POLIT 410 International Security Policy (3 Units)
POLIT 413 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 3700:413)
POLIT 414 Wealth and Power Among Nations (3 Units)
Studies relationship between politics and economy; mesh theoretical perspectives with exploration of key empirical issues. Topics: trade, relations, unions, finance, development, aid, sanctions. (Formerly 3700:414)
POLIT 417 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 3700:417)
POLIT 418 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 3700:418)
POLIT 419 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 3700:419)
POLIT 422 Understanding Racial and 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 3700:422)
POLIT 423 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. (Formerly 3700:375)
POLIT 427 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 3700:427)
POLIT 428 Ohio Politics (3 Units)
Prerequisite: POLIT 100. 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 3700:428)
POLIT 437 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 3700:437)
POLIT 440 Survey Research Methods (3 Units)
Prerequisite: POLIT 100. Study of survey research methods as applied to the analysis of public opinion, political behavior, and public policy formation. (Formerly 3700:440)
POLIT 441 The Policy Process (3 Units)
Prerequisites: Eight credits in political science. Intensive study of policy-making process, emphasizing roles of various participants in executive and legislative branches as well as private individuals and groups. (Formerly 3700:441)
POLIT 442 Methods of Policy Analysis (3 Units)
Prerequisite: POLIT 301. 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 3700:442)
POLIT 443 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 3700:443)
POLIT 445 Al Qaeda and ISIS (3 Units)
This course explores the causes and consequences of Al Qaeda and ISIS ideologies and tactics around the world. (Formerly 3700:445)
POLIT 446 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 3700:446)
POLIT 447 Counterterrorism (3 Units)
The course introduces students to the federal national security agencies, polices, politics, and methods of containing and defeating terrorism abroad and within the United States. (Formerly 3700:447)
POLIT 448 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 3700:448)
POLIT 450 Administering Prisons, Probation, and Parole (3 Units)
Prerequisite: POLIT 100. Analysis of the administrative, electoral, and community conflicts central to understanding, resolving, and preventing these conflicts in a correctional environment. (Formerly 3700:450)
POLIT 455 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.
POLIT 456 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 461 The Supreme Court & Constitutional Law (3 Units)
Prerequisite: POLIT 100. Interpretation of the Constitution by the Supreme Court with emphasis on federal judicial, legislative and executive power; separation of powers; and federalism. (Formerly 3700:461)
POLIT 462 The Supreme Court & Civil Liberties (3 Units)
Prerequisite: POLIT 100. 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 3700:462)
POLIT 463 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 3700:463)
POLIT 470 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 3700:470)
POLIT 471 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 3700:471)
POLIT 472 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 3700:472)
POLIT 473 Voter Contact & Elections (3 Units)
Theoretical and practical approaches to communication in all types of campaigns. (Formerly 3700:473)
POLIT 474 Political Opinion, Behavior & Electorial Politics (3 Units)
POLIT 475 American Interest Groups (3 Units)
Prerequisite: Completion of six or more political science credits. Reading and research on the development, structure and function of interest groups in the United States. (Formerly 3700:475)
POLIT 476 American Political Parties (3 Units)
Prerequisites: Completion of six or more political science credits. Reading and research on the development, structure and function of parties in the United States. (Formerly 3700:476)
POLIT 477 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 3700:477)
POLIT 478 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 3700:478)
POLIT 480 Policy Problems in Political Science (3 Units)
Intensive study of selected problems in public policy. (Formerly 3700:480)
POLIT 481 The Challenges of Police Work (3 Units)
Prerequisite: POLIT 100. Analysis of the neighborhood, bureaucratic, electoral, and operational conflicts central to police work, with a focus on efforts and obstacles to improving police work. (Formerly 3700:481)
POLIT 482 Criminal Justice Topic: Current Issues (3 Units)
(May be repeated for a maximum of six credits) Prerequisite: POLIT 100. Critical analysis of current issues relating to political science and criminal justice. No more than three credits can be applied to the major. (Formerly 3700:482)
POLIT 483 Constitutional Problems in Criminal Justice (3 Units)
Prerequisite: POLIT 100. 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 3700:483)
POLIT 492 Selected Topics in Political Science (3 Units)
Topics of substantial current importance or specialized topics within political science (May be repeated for a total of 6 credits). (Formerly 3700:492)
POLIT 497 Senior Honors Project in Political Science (1-3 Units)
(May be repeated for a total of six credits) Prerequisites: senior standing in Honors Program and permission. Open only to a political science major in Honors Program. Independent study leading to completion of senior honors thesis or other original work. (Formerly 3700:497)