PO: Courses in Political Science
Department of Political Science
PO 100 Justice and the Just Society: Introduction to Politics 3 credit
This course introduces students to the basic concepts and realities
of political life by exploring the role of politics and the state for the
creation of a just society. The age old quest for justice will take us back
to early classical and medieval understandings of justice. The course
will close with aspects of contemporary legal and social justice and the
central importance of the rule of law in making a just society possible.
Fall semester.
PO 104 American National Government 3 credit
An introduction to the institutions of American national government.
The focus will be on the presidency, congress, courts, and the system of
federalism. The class will also probe national elections, political parties,
interest groups, and concepts of “checks and balances” and “separation
of powers.” This course is required for all political science majors and
minors. Fall semester.
PO 115 International Relations 3 credit
An introduction to world politics covering the problems of war and
peace, power politics, global economic issues, human rights, diplomacy,
and recent crises. A prime objective is to develop students’
capacity to critically analyze international behavior. Spring semester.
Fulfills global diversity requirement.
PO 201 Introduction to the Legal Profession 1 credit
An introduction to various aspects of the legal profession. Lectures by
attorneys, law clerks, and judges; supplemented by films and field trips.
Pass/fail only. Spring semester; even-numbered years.
PO 205 Introduction to Political Thought: Early Modern Political Thought 3 credit
This course is an examination of the political thinkers from the Renaissance
to the Enlightenment through detailed study of selected writings
of Machiavelli, Bacon, Descartes, Hobbes, Locke, and selected writings
of the American Founders. The goal of this course is to gain a
better understanding of the intellectual roots of modern politics and
to examine early modern opinions concerning human nature, good
governance, and justice within and among nations. Particular attention
will be devoted to the dominant ideology of the modern world,
liberalism. Offered fall semester.
PO 206 Modern Political Ideologies 3 credit
This course is an introduction to the dominant and challenging political
persuasions of the modern world, including liberalism, conservatism,
socialism, fascism, and nationalism. The course also considers
environmentalism as a developing postmodern ideology. Required of
all political science majors and minors. Fall semester.
PO 210 Introduction to Constitutional Law 3 credit
This general survey course is an introduction to some of the key Supreme
court decisions in the development of constitutional law in the
United States. Through analysis and briefing of cases, students will be
able to develop their thinking and writing skills while they learn how
constitutional doctrine emerges and changes in areas such as separation
of powers, federalism and civil liberties as the ongoing struggle
to interpret the meaning of our Constitution continues. Fall semester,
odd-numbered years.
PO 216 American Political Thought 3 credit
This introductory course surveys the central issues of American political
thought from the founding of the Republic to the present. The focus
will be on selected critical periods in American history characterized
by heightened conflict over America’s operative ideals, including revolutionary
America and the struggle over the Constitution, the Civil
War, Depression and New Deal, and the Vietnam era. Spring semester;
odd-numbered years.
PO 220 Politics and Film 3 credit
This course examines the portrayal of American politics and culture in
film. We will evaluate how films address themes in American politics,
comparative politics and international relations. We will also evaluate
how films depict American culture and values, and how American
culture can be influenced by film. Students will be expected to demonstrate
their understanding of the role of film in politics and culture
through examinations, written assignments and active participation in
classroom discussions. Summer session only as scheduled.
PO 222 U .S. Foreign Policy 3 credit
An examination of the changing international perspectives, policy
instruments, and processes of decision making underlying American
foreign policy since 1945. Major objectives of the course include an
appreciation of the complexity of interests that shape foreign policy
and the development of an analytical capacity to evaluate the ways in
which U.S. power has been projected abroad. Fall semester.
PO 230 Montana State Politics 3 credit
An introductory analysis of Montana state politics and political institutions.
Emphasis will be placed on Montana politics since the 1972 State
Constitutional Convention. Spring semester; odd-numbered years.
PO 244 Contemporary Global Issues 3 credit
Examination of various conceptions of world order by focusing on the
effects of globalization, both positive and negative, on governments and
people around the globe. The quest for a just world order will be an
underlying theme of this course. Fall semester, odd-numbered years.
PO 250 Contemporary Issues in American Politics 3 credit
An introduction to the major public policy issues in American politics.
Course examines the creation and definition of public issues as well as
the formulation of public policy solutions. The problems and issues
examined will reflect dominant national concerns. Spring semester.
PO 280 Introduction to Comparative Politics 3 credit
This course introduces students to government and politics outside
the United States. The workings of different forms of government will
be studied in a variety of countries each year. Required of all political
science majors and minors. Spring semester.
PO 306 Data Analysis for Public Policy 3 credit
This course is about how we study politics by various methods of
gathering information and analyzing it. Course material is designed
particularly for students of political science, international relations, and
public administration who wish to develop basic research and policy
analysis skills. Much of the course will deal with the use of quantitative
methods for analyzing political problems. Students should have
a background in algebra. Recommended for juniors. Spring semester;
even-numbered years.
PO 311 American Presidency 3 credit
An examination of the personal and institutional powers of the American
presidency. Special emphasis will be given to exploring presidential
elections and the various domestic and foreign policy responsibilities
of the office. Spring semester, even-numbered years.
PO 312 Elections, Political Parties, and Public Opinion 3 credit
An exploration of U.S. elections, political parties, and public opinion
and their contribution to the democratic process. The course will
specifically examine the origins of individual political opinions. Spring
semester, odd-numbered years.
PO 314 Public Administration and Politics 3 credit
This course will explore the political behavior and the influence of
public bureaucracies. We will examine public organizations as political
institutions capable of affecting the course of public policy. Fall
semester; odd-numbered years.
PO 316 U.S. Congress 3 credit
An examination of the structure and powers of the U.S. Senate and
House of Representatives. Attention will be given to exploring congressional
elections and voting behavior, as well as legislative powers
and congressional-executive relations. Spring semester; odd-numbered
years.
PO 319 Urban Politics 3 credit
A study of urban problems and municipal government in the U.S.
The class will involve historical analysis of cities and a contemporary
examination of urban politics and the urban problems of race and
economic development. Fall semester; even-numbered years.
PO 324 Topics in Comparative Politics of Industrialized Countries 3 credit
This course is an upper-division seminar in comparative politics. The
course may be arranged thematically (e.g., a comparative study of
constitutions, a survey of the development of the European Union, or
a comparison of countries’ relations with indigenous peoples), or may
be a detailed study of a country or countries (e.g., a study of Canadian
politics or a comparison of the political development and institutions of
China and Russia). Previous lower division study of politics is helpful,
but not required. Offered spring semester, even-numbered years.
PO 328 The Developing World 3 credit
A critical examination of social, political, and economic problems
associated with development in the Global South. Students will analyze
various ideas and trends in the field and assess the strengths and
weaknesses of competing models of development. Fall semester; evennumbered
years. Fulfills global diversity requirement.
PO 330 Topics in Political Theory 3 credit
This upper-division discussion seminar focuses on perennial, basic
concepts in political theory, such as justice, democracy, liberty, or community
as examined through the writings of selected ancient, modern,
and contemporary theorists. The seminar has also been organized
thematically (e.g., utopian political thought, ecological thought in
America, modernity and postmodernity). Previous lower division study
of political ideas is helpful but not required. Fall semester.
PO 331 Classical Political Thought 3 credit
This course is a survey of ancient political philosophy through detailed
study of selected writings of Plato, Xenophon, Aristotle, Thucydides
and others. The goal of this course is to gain a better understanding of
the classical alternatives to our way of thinking about politics, justice,
and the proper ends of human life. Particular attention will be devoted
to the thought of Plato and the character of Socrates. Previous lower
division study of political ideas is helpful, but not required. Offered
spring semester, even-numbered years
PO 332 Late Modern Political Thought 3 credit
This course is a survey of the political thinkers from the French Revolution
to the twentieth century through detailed study of selected writings
of Rousseau, Hegel, Marx, Mill, Nietzsche, and contemporary authors.
The goal of this course is to gain a better understanding of the intellectual
debates that have arisen among liberals, as well as the prominent
alternatives to liberalism that exist. Previous lower division study of
political ideas is helpful, but not required. Offered spring semester,
odd-numbered years.
PO 342 War and Peace 3 credit
Presents a critical examination of contending conceptions of international
security, the policy making process as it relates to the formulation
of national security priorities, and the role of weapons and force in
foreign policy. In short, we will examine age-old questions pertaining
to war and peace in the contemporary world. Spring semester; evennumbered
years.
PO 348 International Negotiation Simulation 3 credit
The first part of this course prepares students for participation in an
intercollegiate simulation involving negotiations on various international
issues by studying how foreign policy is formulated in different
countries, reviewing general principles of international relations, analyzing
competing negotiation strategies, and researching contemporary
issues of global concern. The last part of the course involves student
participation in an international negotiation simulation with other collegiate
teams via computer networks. Spring semester, odd-numbered
years. Fulfills global diversity requirement.
PO 411 Political Internship Program creditArranged
Students participate as interns at various levels of state and local government.
They develop work and study details of this internship experience
by close and continual consultation with their political science
advisor. Prerequisites: PO 230; junior or senior standing; consent of
the Department. This course may be taken more than once.
PO 417 Legal Internship Program 3 credit
Practical work experience in a professional legal environment. Students
keep a daily journal of their experiences and arrange further study and
paper requirements with the pre-law advisor. Prerequisite: PO 201 and
junior or senior standing. This course may be taken more than once.
PO 494 Research Seminar in Political Science 3 credit
A formal seminar in which students concentrate on researching, writing,
and evaluating major papers in Political Science based on both
primary and secondary source materials. Strongly recommended for
Political Science majors who are writing an honors thesis or planning
to attend graduate school. Fall semester. Fulfills writing intensive
requirement. PENDING APPROVAL.
PO 495 Senior Seminar 3 credit
An informal seminar course with selected readings and student research
and presentations. Required of all political science majors and minors.
Spring semester. Prerequisite: senior standing.