Courses/Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements for the Political Science major at Central College

34 s.h.

1. Complete all of the following:

  1. POLS 110 Introduction to American Politics
  2. POLS 140 Introduction to International Politics
  3. POLS 250 Political Science Research Methods
  4. POLS 489 Research Seminar in Political Science

2. Complete three of the following:

  1. POLS 223 Contemporary Europe
  2. POLS 225 Modern Latin America
  3. POLS 230 Asia, Africa, Latin America in World Affairs
  4. POLS 231 Middle East in World Affairs
  5. POLS 241 International Political Economy
  6. POLS 242 Global Sustainability
  7. POLS 326 Political Violence and Terrorism
  8. POLS 344 International Law and Organizations

3. Complete four of the following:

  1. POLS 212 Congress
  2. POLS 213 Courts
  3. POLS 214 The Presidency
  4. POLS 215 The Politics of State and Local Governments
  5. POLS 216 Political Behavior
  6. POLS 233 American Environmental History and Policy
  7. POLS 235 The US in World Affairs
  8. POLS 355 Seminar in Public Policy
  9. POLS 361 American Political Philosophy

Students may count up to 3 sh of POLS 397 Internship toward either Group 2 or Group 3 elective credit.

4. Complete all requirements for the Communication Skills Endorsement

Courses Offerings:

Andrew Green

  • POLS 110 Introduction to American PoliticsDescription of POLS 110
    An examination of political life in the United States with attention to the environment in which politics takes place and the traditional institutions that comprise the federal government. Promotes development of college-level skills in listening, reading, writing and speaking. This course may be used for teacher certification.
  • POLS 216 Political BehaviorPOLS 216Ps Political Behavior: Political Participation, Elections, and Media (3)Prerequisite: POLS 110fs.
    An examination of the major topics in political behavior, including political participation, voting behavior, elections and media. Discussion will be directed toward assessing the impact of the aforementioned upon the formation of public policy, implications for political institutions, and the maintenance of democratic government.
  • POLS 217 American Political Institutions IPOLS 217Ps Legislative Politics (3)Prerequisite: POLS 110fs or instructor’s permission. An examination of parliamentary and legislative behavior focusing on the U.S. Congress and state legislatures, as well as an examination of the judicial branch of government. Discussion will focus on the implications of legislative and judicial behavior on the formation of public policy, why institutional rules and procedures matter, and how American political institutions help maintain our democratic form of government.
  • POLS 218 American Political Institutions IIPOLS 218Ps Judicial Politics (3)Prerequisite: POLS 217Ps or instructor’s permission. An examination of the executive branch of government, as well an examination of other American political institutions, such as interest groups and political parties. Discussion will focus on the implications of institutional behavior on the formation of public policy, why institutional rules and procedures matter, how interest groups and political parties interact with the formal American political institutions, and how American political institutions help maintain our democratic form of government.
  • POLS 250 Methods of Political ResearchPOLS 250Ps Methods of Political Research (4)Prerequisite: a course in social and behavioral inquiry and a statistics course; concurrent enrollment in POLS 250Ps and statistics is acceptable. Students learn to define a research problem and to formulate and test hypotheses using a variety of methods. To successfully complete the course students must submit a proposal for a research project that includes a thorough literature review on a topic in political science, a set of well-formulated hypotheses based on the literature review, and a defensible research design to test those hypotheses with adequate data and appropriate methods. In addition, students will complete a one-hour lab component to learn the basics of applied statistical analysis in SPSS.
  • POLS 261 American Political ThoughtPOLS 261t American Political Philosophy (3)An examination of the contribution of American thinkers to the literature of political philosophy. Emphasis will be upon the “founding fathers,” but concern will be given to developing themes, ideas and topics relevant to citizens today.
  • POLS 285 Pre-Law SeminarPOLS 285P Pre-Law Seminar (2)Prerequisite: junior standing or instructor’s permission.
    An examination and discussion of the Law School Admissions process. Sessions are devoted to particular aspects of the Law School Admissions process, including LSAT preparation, navigating the LSDAS process, writing the personnel statement, and completing the Law School application process. Pass/no record basis.
  • POLS 354 Politics of State and Local GovernmentPOLS 354Ps The Politics of State and Local Governments (3)Prerequisite: POLS 110fs. An examination of government and politics at the state and local level. Topics covered will include state-level institutions and processes, local-level institutions and processes, urban politics, and Iowa politics. Emphasis will be placed on how state and local governments fit into the American political system.
  • POLS 355 Seminar in Public PolicyPOLS 355 Seminar in Public Policy (3) Pre- or corequisite: POLS 218Ps or instructor’s permission. Examination of the formulation, implementation, and analysis of public policy in the United States. Discussion will focus on the implications of institutional behavior on the public policy process, the role of procedures and rules in the policy process, and the role of the policy-making process within our democratic form of government. In addition, students will gain firsthand experience in a particular policy domain through a service-learning experience. Course is x-optional.

Keith Yanner

  • POLS 223 Contemporary EuropePOLS 223hs Contemporary Europe (3)A survey of European history and politics since WWII, with emphasis on the process of political economic and cultural integration within the European Union. Special attention is paid to political and socioeconomic change in Great Britain, France and Germany in the context of the development of the European Union. Students also analyze postwar political and socioeconomic development in a European country of personal interest. Cross-listed as HIST 223hs.
  • POLS 225 Modern Latin AmericaPOLS 225hs Modern Latin America (3)A cross-national comparison of political, socioeconomic and cultural development in Latin America from 1870 to the present. Countries of focus are Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and Cuba. Studies the cycles of dictatorship and democracy, economic boom and bust, and political and social economic liberalization since the mid-1980s. Cross-listed as HIST 225hs.
  • POLS 241 International Political EconomyPOLS 241s International Political Economy (3)Provides analysis of the politics of international trade and finance. Focuses on political institutions such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), and the European Union. Topics include the politics of economic integration, free trade vs. protectionism, development in poor nations, and the debt crisis.
  • POLS 326 Political Violence and TerrorismPOLS 326s Political Violence and Terrorism (3)Students learn about different types of political violence prevalent in the world today (terrorism and counter terrorism, armed struggle, assassinations and coups, revolution). Focuses on particular case studies as well as general theories of human estrangement, non-conformity, rebellion and revolution. Some attention is given to strategies for ending violence. Most case studies come from the non-Western world.
  • POLS 498 Research SeminarPOLS 498 Research SeminarNo course description for POLS 498 Research Seminar Perhaps 398I – Participant research?
  • HIST 150 Latin American CivilizationHIST 150h Latin American Civilization (3)Provides an overview of Latin American civilization from 1400AD to the present, with special attention paid to the processes of colonization, the struggle for independence and modernization. The course focuses on the roles of the institutions of church, state and the military in each of those processes.
  • HIST 236 Oral History of IowaHIST 236h Oral History in Iowa (3)An introduction to the methodology of oral history, this course teaches students to record life history interviews with narrators of their choice, and to transcribe, index and obtain approval so they can be archived for the purposes of public and local history in Iowa. Course context is provided by a survey of Iowa history and field trips to oral history archives and museums in the state. Students have the opportunity to participate in existing oral history projects.
  • COLL 110 IntersectionsCOLL 110f Intersections (3)Intersections is an interdisciplinary seminar that all first-year students take in the fall semester. It is an exploration of the “intersections” at which disciplines, ideas and events converge, connect and collide. All sections share a common topic and many common readings and experiences, while each instructor adds a unique emphasis. The contributions of varied fields – natural sciences, behavioral sciences, fine arts, humanities – are included. Because this is a Central Foundations (“f”) course, students are introduced to college-level skills of reading, writing, speaking, listening, critical thinking and information literacy.

Jim Zaffiro

  • POLS 140 Introduction to International PoliticsPOLS 140fs Introduction to International Politics (3)Basic survey of the contemporary international political system with emphasis on key concepts of power, sovereignty, and national interest; studies global patterns and trends in relations between major state and non-state actors. Special attention is devoted to sources and consequences of conflicts, global politics of transnational problems of environment, development, and international political economy. Promotes development of critical thinking, analytical reading and writing, research skills and collaborative learning.
  • POLS 222 African Politics Since 1935POLS 222nhs African Politics Since 1935 (3)A comparative historical analysis of African countries’ political institutions and processes, from the early nationalist period to the present. Special focus on political, economic, and foreign policy problems and strategies of independent African countries. Cross-listed as HIST 222nhs.
  • POLS 230 Africa, Asia, and Latin America in World AffairsPOLS 230nhs Africa, Asia, and Latin America in World Affairs (3)A comparative historical and institutional analysis of post-1945 African, Asian, and Latin American states’ foreign policies. Special attention given to the colonial roots of post-independence, foreign economic, diplomatic, and military policies of each case. Focus will be on domestic sources of foreign policy. Cross-listed as HIST 230nhs.
  • POLS 231 The Middle East in World AffairsPOLS 231nhs (3) A comparative historical and institutional analysis of post-colonial foreign policies of selected state and non-state actors in the Middle East, including Israel, its Arab neighbors, and Iran. Special attention is given to the historical roots of major contemporary regional conflicts and domestic social, economic, political, and religious influences shaping contemporary external relations. Cross-listed as HIST 231nhs.
  • POLS 233 American Environmental History and PolicyPOLS 233hs American Environmental History and Policy (3)Investigates the history and politics of American environmental issues from Colonial times to the present. Introduces major governmental and non-governmental actors and policy-making bodies in the environmental arena at the national, state, and local levels. Analyzes major environmental policies. Cross-listed as HIST 233hs.
  • POLS 235 The U.S. in World AffairsPOLS 235hs The U.S. in World Affairs (3)An examination of the historical evolution of major U.S. foreign policy-making institutions and processes, with emphasis on the post-1945 era. Analysis of guiding principles and patterns in U.S. foreign diplomatic, economic and military relations since 1898. Cross-listed as HIST 235hs.
  • POLS 242 Global Environmental PoliticsPOLS 242s Global Environmental Politics (3)A policy-oriented overview of political dimensions of selected global environmental issues. Examines roles of international, governmental, and non-governmental organizations.
  • POLS 344 International Law and OrganizationsPOLS 344Is Readings in International Law and Organizations (3)Examines major international legal principles and organizations in a changing global system. Emphasis on the United Nations, European Union, and other selected international political, economic, environmental, and military security organizations. Examines the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in world politics. Also examines issues of global and regional conflict resolution.
  • HIST 180 Modern African CivilizationsHIST 180nh Modern African Civilization (3)An interdisciplinary survey of cultures and life in modern Africa. Emphasis on sub-Saharan African history, art, political economy, women, development and society.
  • HIST 280 African HistoryHIST 280nh African History (3)An introductory survey of African history from ancient Egypt to the present, with emphasis on the period between 1450 and 1960.
  • COLL 110 IntersectionsCOLL 110f Intersections (3)Intersections is an interdisciplinary seminar that all first-year students take in the fall semester. It is an exploration of the “intersections” at which disciplines, ideas and events converge, connect and collide. All sections share a common topic and many common readings and experiences, while each instructor adds a unique emphasis. The contributions of varied fields – natural sciences, behavioral sciences, fine arts, humanities – are included. Because this is a Central Foundations (“f”) course, students are introduced to college-level skills of reading, writing, speaking, listening, critical thinking and information literacy.