Introduction to Political Science will focus upon political theory and its application to individuals, nations and the international arena. Offered as needed.

An overview of the Constitutional basis, structure, and administrative organization of government in the U.S. Principal focus will be on the national government; various contemporary political problems will be explored. Offered as needed.

Introductory survey of the major components of the courts and judicial system at the national, state and local levels. Topics may include criminal justice, factors influencing judicial decision-making and the courts in relation to other government agencies. Offered as needed.

An analysis of the nature and functions of U.S. legislative bodies. Some of the topics covered may include politics of lawmaking, oversight and investigations, legislative campaigns, role of lobbying, and the budgetary process. Offered as needed.

A course, which covers the evolution and development of the executive function of government at the national, state and local levels. Emphasis will be placed on analyzing leadership, power, and managerial skills. Special attention will be devoted to the U.S. Presidency. Offered as needed.

This course introduces the study of political science in a global context. Aristotle called political science “the master science” not only because political actors decided a great many practical matters, but because he believed that politics was about attaining justice, arête (human excellence), and Eudaimonia (well-being or goodness) for entire societies. This course will approach politics as this nexus of practical, moral, and philosophical concerns by investigating enduring political questions, such as: What is justice?, What is the best society?, How should citizens and states interact?, How and where does power operate?, What does it mean to be modern?, and What does globalization portend? This course will attempt to answer these questions by reading, analyzing, and discussing political arguments from a wide variety of traditions, times, and places. And students will always consider the relationships between the past and the present, the local and the global, and the theoretical and the practical. Offered as needed.

Analysis of the principles of public administration with an introduction to theories of organization and administration as they apply to government bureaucracy. Offered as needed.

Comparative analysis of formal and informal institutions and processes by which state and sub-state governments operate. Various problems and issues confronting state and local governments will be covered. Offered as needed.

Topic to be specified each semester course offered.

The general stages of African political systems that will be studied include traditional African political systems and European imperialism. Some of the themes that will be examined include tribalism; the dynamics of nationalism; Pan-Africanism; and the effects of multinational corporations on political, economic, and cultural development of various African countries. Offered as needed.

A study of political ideologies and systems functioning today; comparison of different political systems. Offered as needed.

This course provides an introduction to international legal systems and investigates how those legal systems affect the administration of Homeland Security in the United States. The course will examine how the United States interacts with the world community in a legal sense. Students will explore the multiple forums that apply to international legal issues and the ways in which these forums complicate the imposition of Homeland Security processes by the United States.

This course provides the student with a solid introduction to and understanding of the Constitution of the United States and its relationship to issues involving Homeland Security. Students will examine the Patriot Act and discuss related issues involving civil liberties and civil rights. Course topics include the roles of federal, state and local law enforcement authorities, as well as the effect of the Patriot Act on the investigation and dismantling of terrorist organizations.

African-American Politics will examine Blacks’ political attitudes, voting behavior, organizational strategies, ideology, and their influence on public policy. Study and analysis in these areas will be with an eye to how the legal system systematically restricted and expanded the civil and human rights of Blacks in America. Offered as needed.

The course will examine international terrorism in detail, including the definition, origins, history, tactics and behavior of international terrorists. Students will compare and contrast motivation, specifically the differences between politically motivated terrorists, nationally or ethnically motivated terrorists, and religiously motivated terrorists. The course will also examine terrorist networks and the financing of international terrorism.

The course will examine domestic terrorism in detail, including the origins of terrorism within the United States as well as a definition and explanation of the tactics and behaviors of domestic terrorists. The course will attempt to classify terrorism within the area of criminal justice by exploring the definition and differences between terrorist acts and non-terrorist related criminal acts. The course will provide an introduction to related concepts such as eco-terrorism, militias, conspiracies and anti-abortion violence.

Topic to be specified each semester course offered.

This course provides an introduction to and overview of international political systems and focuses on the manner in which those political systems affect the Homeland Security of the United States. Course activities will examine the ways in which the United States interacts with the world community economically, politically, and socially. Students will evaluate the ways in which national interests, diplomacy, and economic power complicate the imposition of Homeland Security processes by the United States.

Topic to be specified each semester course offered.