Political Science - PSC
PSC 103 The American Constitution 3 Credits
Provides a thorough grounding in the U.S. Constitution, which is America's founding document, and serves as the basis for its governmental system.
Fulfills College Core: Field 5 (Social Sciences)
Offered: every spring.
PSC 104 American Political Process 3 Credits
An introduction to American politics including political socialization, public opinion and ideologies, political participation in electoral systems and mass movements, political parties and interest groups.
Fulfills College Core: Field 5 (Social Sciences)
Offered: every fall.
PSC 111 Western Political Tradition 3 Credits
Development of Western political tradition from Machiavelli to present, emphasizing development of liberal, conservative and socialist traditions.
Fulfills College Core: Field 4 (History), Justice
Offered: fall & spring.
PSC 140 International Relations 3 Credits
Introduces basic concepts and paradigms of world politics. International security, political economy, and globalization. Power politics, international organizations, transnational politics, and human rights.
Fulfills College Core: Field 5 (Social Sciences), Global Awareness
Offered: fall & spring.
PSC 150 Comparative Government and Politics 3 Credits
Comparative analysis of foreign countries. Governments, ideologies, parties, elections, political culture, civil society and democracy in industrialized and developing countries.
Fulfills College Core: Field 5 (Social Sciences), Global Awareness
Offered: every fall.
PSC 201 Race, Law, and Politics 3 Credits
This course offers a deep examination of America's legacy of white supremacy and explores constitutional, political, and cultural efforts to overcome that legacy with a specific focus on the evolution of citizenship and naturalization. We also examine the complex interplay between race and the law in public art, education, incarceration, due process, religion, and immigration.
Fulfills College Core: Diversity, Field 5 (Social Sciences)
Offered: occasionally.
PSC 224 Congress and the Legislative Process 3 Credits
Survey of Congressional procedures and practices. Emphasis on recent changes within Congress, and the position of Congress in the U.S. political and governmental system.
Fulfills College Core: Field 5 (Social Sciences), Oral Communication
Offered: fall of odd-numbered years.
PSC 225 U.S. Presidency 3 Credits
Survey of the U.S. executive branch of government, including President, Vice President, White House staff, Executive office and the bureaucracy.
Offered: occasionally.
PSC 233 Interest Groups and Public Opinion in America 3 Credits
Development of the notions of opinion and interest, their transmission and their influence on decision-making.
Offered: spring of odd-numbered years.
PSC 234 Religion and American Politics 3 Credits
This course aims at providing a deeper understanding of the complex role of religion in American politics and history by exploring the relationship between race, gender, American identity, and religion. Students will explore key theories including pluralism; establishment clause; jeremiads; civil religion; moral panics; religious freedom; and religious nationalism.
Offered: fall of odd-numbered years.
PSC 236 Political Campaigning 3 Credits
Campaigning resources, techniques, strategies and goals. Practical and theoretical treatment. Field research.
Offered: fall of even-numbered years.
PSC 237 State and Local Politics 3 Credits
The institutions and policies of state and local governments, with focus on New York State. State and local elections, gubernatorial politics, state legislatures, community politics.
Offered: occasionally.
PSC 241 Human Rights and Globalization 3 Credits
History and evolution of international human rights laws. Explores human rights violations, challenges for enforcing human rights and prosecuting abuses. Analysis of human rights conditions in different world regions.
Fulfills College Core: Field 5 (Social Sciences), Global Awareness
Offered: occasionally.
PSC 242 International Organizations 3 Credits
International and transnational. Intergovernmental and non- governmental. Regional and global. Content areas: political, economic and humanitarian.
Fulfills College Core: Advanced Writing-Intensive, Field 5 (Social Sciences), Global Awareness
Offered: fall of odd-numbered years.
PSC 245 American Foreign Policy 3 Credits
US foreign relations in political perspective, including diplomatic history since 1945, as well as government structure, decision-making processes, and controversial foreign policy issues.
Offered: fall of even-numbered years.
PSC 250 Politics in Latin America 3 Credits
History of Latin America. Introduces the region's political, economic, and social characteristics. In-depth analysis of issues and countries in the region.
Fulfills College Core: Field 5 (Social Sciences), Global Awareness
Offered: every spring.
PSC 320 American Constitutional Law I 3 Credits
Development of constitutional law in the U.S. from the founding to present. Use of case-study method with focus on judicial review, the separation of powers and federalism. The growth of executive authority and the emergence of the administrative state.
Fulfills College Core: Justice
Offered: every fall.
PSC 321 American Constitutional Law II 3 Credits
The historical origin and development of the Bill of Rights.Close examination of Supreme Court decisions interpreting and expanding rights. Freedom of speech and religion, due process and equal protection. Current controversies over the right to privacy, affirmative action and gender equality.
Fulfills College Core: Justice
Offered: spring of even-numbered years.
PSC 334 Public Administration 3 Credits
The Federal Bureaucracy: its relationship to the executive and the public. Elements and issues of public-sector management.
Prerequisite: PSC 103 or PSC 104 or permission of instructor.
Offered: occasionally.
PSC 335 Political Parties 3 Credits
Development and present conditions of political parties. What they do and why they do it. Parties' past and present roles, as well as their future prospects.
Offered: fall of even-numbered years.
PSC 336 Urban Government and Politics 3 Credits
Structure, function, operation and politics of local government. Machine and reform models, power and participation. Significant policy issues to be addressed include schools, finances, land use, planning and crime.
Fulfills College Core: Field 5 (Social Sciences)
Offered: fall of even-numbered years.
PSC 338 Refugee Resettlement in the United States 3 Credits
This is a seminar focused on exploring, appreciating, and unpacking refugee resettlement through scholarship and the voices of (former) refugees. This seminar provides a comprehensive understanding of displacement, trauma, forced migration, the Holocaust, international law, and American immigration and refugee policy.
Fulfills College Core: Diversity, Field 5 (Social Sciences)
Offered: every spring.
PSC 360 Political Economy of the Developing World 3 Credits
Reviews the main theories on development. Explores the relationship between international and domestic factor in fostering development.
Fulfills College Core: Field 5 (Social Sciences), Global Awareness
Offered: every spring.
PSC 401 Political Science Capstone 1 Credit
Focuses on professional development and career planning related to the major, including law, government, politics, lobbying, security, international affairs, teaching, and business. Classroom sessions and online assignments to prepare students for post-graduate success. Offered with cooperation of career planning experts in the GriffCenter.
Offered: every fall.
PSC 420 The Constitution, The War on Terror and Civil Liberties 3 Credits
Civil liberties issues in the war on terrorism. Treatment and rights of detainees, enhanced interrogation, ethnic and racial profiling, use of the war power including drone strikes, data collection, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act; U.S. citizens as enemy combatants. Military detention and trial of terrorist suspects.
Offered: spring of odd-numbered years.
PSC 442 Seminar in International Relations 3 Credits
Theoretically informed perspectives on global affairs explored through selected topics and issues unified by a central theme, such as leaders and leadership in international politics.
Restriction: seniors only.
Fulfills College Core: Core Capstone
Offered: every spring.
PSC 498 Internship 1-12 Credits
A variety of opportunities are available locally, as well as in Washington, DC and Albany. Internships arranged by faculty members in government, law offices and non-profit organizations. Prior to seeking approval, a student must work with a faculty member to develop a syllabus of learning goals, written outputs and deadlines. Pass-Fail. Does not apply as a major elective.
Prerequisite: permission of chair of the political science department & associate dean.
Offered: fall & spring.
PSC 499 Independent Study 1-3 Credits
Research and/or directed reading under direction of faculty members associated with the Political Science department. Prior to seeking approval, a student must work with a faculty member and his/her on-site supervisor to develop a syllabus of learning goals, written outputs and deadlines. Independent studies require an application and approval by the associate dean.
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor, department chair, & associate dean.
Offered: fall & spring.
