PS 101 INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE3 Credits
Learn how political scientists study and understand the world of politics. Major concepts in the discipline will be learned and applied from a comparative perspective. Different methodological approaches to studying politics will be investigated, as well as the different analytical frameworks political scientists employ. Students will also learn about the various subfields within the discipline, including Comparative Politics, International Politics, American Politics, Political Behavior, and Political Economy.
Essential Studies: SLO #8
PS 110 U.S. POLITICS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT3 Credits
Institutional and cultural approaches to American government and politics. Students will engage in inquiry about the nature of government and democracy and study the founding of the United States system of government as they evaluate their personal ideological and political values and seek opportunities to contribute positively to a more democratic society.
Essential Studies: SLO #9
PS 210 POLITICS AND ECONOMICS3 Credits
Analyzes the relationship between politics and economics. The class investigates this relationship by examining an array of institutions, to include the sub-national, the nation-state and the supra-national. Students will acquire knowledge of basic economic concepts and theories and develop methodological literacy needed to understand political and economic research. Further, students will understand the role of political economy in historical explanation.
PS 321 U.S. POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT3 Credits
U.S. constitutional system, political process, and governmental institutions from an historical perspective. Emphasis will be placed on American political development. Topics include constitutionalism, federalism, civil liberties, civil rights, public opinion, mass political behavior, campaigns and elections, the legislative process, presidential powers, and judicial powers. While the focus is on national politics, special attention will be paid to Nebraska politics and government.
Essential Studies: SLO #8
Prerequisites: ENG 135, ENG 136 or 19 on ACT English test and Sophomore or above status
PS 325 RURAL AND FRONTIER POLITICAL ECONOMY3 Credits
This course explores the economies, societies and governments of rural America, and the politics relevant to center-periphery relations. Furthermore, it places rural and frontier political economy in comparative perspective through the study of these topics in selected countries.
Essential Studies: SLO #8
Prerequisites: Sophomore or above status
Notes: This course is required for Political Science minors and is an elective for Social Science majors.
PS 332 GLOBAL POLITICS3 Credits
The structure of the nation-state system and the processes of political activity both within and between states with an emphasis on historical perspectives of global political development. Processes of governance, conflict within and between states and non-state actors, economic development, globalization, and ideologies from a variety of theoretical and empirical perspectives. This course combines traditional political science subfields of comparative politics and international relations.
Essential Studies: SLO #10
Prerequisites: PS 101 and Sophomore or above status
PS 333 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW3 Credits
A study of the development of the American governmental system through judicial interpretation of the Constitution. This class is rooted in the conviction that constitutional interpretation is an intricate blend of politics, economics, history, and competing values. This class will emphasize the institutional development of the Court, the evolving role of the judiciary, legislative and executive branches, the dominant theories of constitutional interpretation, the politics of judicial selection, and the ongoing relevance of constitutional interpretation.
Cross-Listed: CJ333/LS333/PS333
Prerequisites: Sophomore or above status
PS 337 INTRODUCTION TO LAW3 Credits
A study of the American legal system, legalism in society and the relationship between law and justice. This course examines the structures of our legal system and considers economic, social, and political implications as they influence the development of a rule of law. Historical and present legal controversies will be examined.
Cross-Listed: CJ337/LS337/PS337
Prerequisites: Sophomore or above status
PS 390 INTERNSHIP IN POLITICAL SCIENCE1-12 Credits
Provides practical experience in political science in a state or federal agency or other relevant office.
Prerequisites: Junior or above status
Add Consent: Department Consent
Notes: Open to upper division students majoring in one of the social sciences or a minor in political science; interested students should contact the Internship and Career Services Office to secure application materials; application should be made prior to the semester the internship will be started; the amount of credit will be based on availability of a suitable work position, the qualifications of the applicant and the work hours.
PS 400 INDEPENDENT STUDY/RESEARCH1-3 Credits
Study or research in an area of special interest.
Prerequisites: Junior or above status
Add Consent: Instructor Consent
Notes: The number of credit hours is determined by the topic and the amount of work required.
Requirements: Permission of the Instructor, Dean and Academic Vice President is required.
PS 401 STUDY ABROAD IN POLITICS1-3 Credits
This course provides students the opportunity to study politics abroad. In additional to the experiential component of the course, students will 1) produce either a reflection essay that places their study abroad experience within some aspect of the political science literature, or 2) compose a research paper that includes field-work and other research methods. The number of units for this course will vary based on the scope of the work additional to the study abroad experience.
Essential Studies: SLO #10
Prerequisites: Junior or above status
PS 410 POLITICAL INQUIRY3 Credits
Methods of inquiry in political science will be discussed and applied. Methods will include controlled comparisons, process tracing, interpretive approaches, survey methods, experiments, and linear regression. Students will design and execute projects to apply these research methodologies as they develop an expertise in a substantive topic in political science.
Prerequisites: PS 101 and Sophomore or above status
PS 420 AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT3 Credits
The main lines of American political thought and ideology will be examined. The Founding era, especially the debates between the Federalists and the Antifederalists, will be emphasized, as will developments in the post-WW II era.
Prerequisites: Junior or above status
PS 429 ISLAM AND POLITICS3 Credits
The relationship between the religion of Islam and contemporary politics will be analyzed. This relationship will be considered in the context of democratic politics, forms of authoritarian governance, and contentious politics in the Muslim-majority world as well as minority politics in the United States and Western Europe.
Essential Studies: SLO #10
Prerequisites: PS 101 and Sophomore or above status
Dual-listed: PS 529
PS 430 TOPICS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE1-3 Credits
Special topics in Political Science.
Prerequisites: Junior or above status
Notes: May be repeated with a change of emphasis.
PS 431 HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT3 Credits
Various themes in political philosophy will be covered, such as political obligation, rights, freedom and justice. Major philosophers covered will include Plato, Locke and Rousseau.
Essential Studies: SLO #7
Prerequisites: Junior or above status
PS 434 CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENCY3 Credits
This course will examine the structures and processes of Congress and the Presidency, and how the two institutions interact with one another. Topics will include constituency and partisan influences, organizational structures, and decision-making processes in both branches of government. The course will highlight the independent and dynamic nature of inter-branch relations, with an emphasis on the evolving constitutional system of the United States.
Prerequisites: Junior or above status
PS 436 FIELD STUDY IN POLITICAL SCIENCE3 Credits
This course provides an opportunity for direct observation of governmental officials and other political participants. A typical session is a two-week stay in Washington, D.C. examining the activities of the federal government.
Prerequisites: Junior or above status
Add Consent: Instructor Consent
PS 439 DEMOCRACY: U.S. AND THE WORLD3 Credits
The concept of political democracy will be critically analyzed in both historical and contemporary discourses. The emergence and evolution of political democracy will be covered with an emphasis on American political culture and institutions and frequent comparisons to other advanced democracies and developing democracies around the world.
Prerequisites: PS 101 and Sophomore or above status
Dual-listed: PS 539
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