POGO Courses
GE Designates a course that fulfills all or part of a Core Curriculum requirement; see the Core Curriculum Program section of the catalog for more information.
POGO 1600 American Government (4 sh)
An introductory survey of the principles which have shaped the American Republic. The political institutions and processes central to an understanding of American politics and government will be examined including the Constitution, presidency, Congress, Supreme Court, political parties, campaigns, elections, and selected public policy issues.
POGO 2200 International Politics (4 sh) GE
An introduction to the theory and practice of the political relations among nations, including a survey of the historical development of the international system, and analysis of the major features of international politics including security, power, diplomacy, and efforts to establish and sustain international society.
POGO 2300 Comparative Politics (4 sh) GE
An introductory comparative study of the political institutions of the nations of Europe and selected nations of the Middle East, Latin America, Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Forms of government, political culture and history, parties and elections, governing institutions and development will be among the topics considered.
POGO 2400 Introduction to Public Policy (4 sh)
An introduction to U.S. domestic public policy: its contours, actors, and effects. This course will consider federal education, environment, health care, social welfare, and tax policies. By the end of the course, students will appreciate the breadth of public policy with a better understanding of "where the money goes" in federal spending. They will also be able to read, write, and evaluate the arguments in the various forms of policy proposals.
POGO 2750 Chicago Politics (4 sh) GE
Chicago as a case study of the urban political process as it relates to ward politics, patronage, ethnicity and race, education, housing, poverty, and crime. Chicago is the classroom as students explore its neighborhoods and the challenges governing the "city that works."
POGO 2800 Survey Research Methods (4 sh)
An introduction to the methods of political science research, with particular attention given to creating and analyzing public opinion surveys. Topics discussed include ethical considerations in human subjects research, developing and testing hypotheses, and collecting and analyzing quantitative data.
POGO 3100 Political Philosophy (4 sh) GE
An examination of the development of the classical and modern traditions of political philosophy analyzing the nature and origin of the state; the individual’s relationship to the state; the different types of the state; constitutionalism; the ideas of right, law, freedom, justice, equality; and the struggle to prevent tyranny. Readings will include selections from among the following: Plato, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Smith, Tocqueville, Mill, Marx, Nietzsche, and others.
POGO 3210 International Political Economy (4 sh) GE
An examination of the economic aspects of international relations in the contemporary world. Attention is given to the following: world trading, monetary and financial systems, the role of international institutions (both governmental and non-governmental) in the world economy, national and regional economic systems, the activities of states to secure advantage in the international economic system, the relation of the state and of international society to economic development and the ongoing globalization of economic activity.
POGO 3310 Movements for Change (4 sh)
Who fights for change? Why? And how? Answers tend to vary with historical circumstance. Increasingly today we find trans-border problem solving to deal with problems that cross borders-problems like environmental degradation, migrant rights, and criminal or health issues. This course looks at the transformation of old and the emergence of new institutions as people try not only to cope but realize their vision of a “just” society. Cross-listed with SOC 3310.
POGO 3370 Politics of the Middle East (4 sh)
An analysis of the modern Middle East from the fall of the Ottoman Empire to the present in terms of the concepts of political development, modernization, and civil society. A broad overview of the region is combined with a country-by-country examination of selected states. Particular attention is paid to ideology, political party structure, and ongoing conflicts in the region.
POGO 3380 Globalization: Transforming Economy and Culture (4 sh)
Global Village or Global Pillage? Focusing on the experiences of the United States and China, this class provides a theoretical framework and historical perspective to understanding globalization as both an economic and cultural process. Lectures, reading and case studies of local responses to globalization illustrate how this process reorders, integrates and transforms societies. Cross-listed with SOC 3800.
POGO 3410 American Foreign Policy (4 sh) GE
An examination of United States foreign policy in the twentieth century with emphasis on the major features of U.S. engagement, the expansion of American power, and an analysis of the foreign policy decision making process.
POGO 3500 Constitutional Law (4 sh)
An introduction to the judicial process, an examination of the role of law in the American political system, and an historical and theoretical analysis of the United States Constitution as developed in landmark Supreme Court decisions relating to federalism, commerce, and separation of executive and legislative powers. Topics include individual rights; freedom of speech, press, and religion; abortion; censorship and obscenity; racial and gender discrimination; and affirmative action and reverse discrimination.
POGO 3630 Parties and Elections (4 sh)
Analysis of the organization and evolution of political parties in the American political process. Topics include the role of nominations, campaigns, elections, campaign finance, public opinion, and interest groups in a representative democracy. Discussion of current local, state and national election campaigns is an important focus.
POGO 3650 Congress and the Presidency (4 sh) GE
An analysis of the creation, the historical development, and the operations of Congress and the presidency with specific emphasis on the political relationships between the two policy making branches of American government.
POGO 3690 Religion and Politics (4 sh)
An examination of the historical and ongoing relationship between church and state in American politics. Topics discussed include religion's impact on voting behavior, interpretations of the establishment and free exercise clauses of the First Amendment, and normative questions regarding religion's role in political life.
POGO 3910 Topics in Political Science (4 sh)
An intensive investigation of a selected topic in politics and government offered from time to time at the discretion of the department.
POGO 4100 Fourth Year Seminar (4 sh)
An extensive investigation of significant themes through reading, discussion, and research designed to integrate all previous course work in the major. Themes will vary from term to term. Students do a major research project on a topic related to one of the themes of the seminar, assemble their findings in a seminar paper, and present those findings to the seminar. Required of all majors.
POGO 4910 Independent Study in Politics and Government (1-4 sh)
Advanced work in fields of special interest not generally avail- able in traditional courses.
POGO 4920 Departmental Honors in Politics and Government (4 sh)
An independent, high-level examination of a political problem or issue and the writing of an honors thesis. Designed for students seeking to graduate with Departmental Honors in Politics and Government.
POGO 4970 Internship in Politics and Government (1-4 sh)
The opportunity to explore a practical employment opportunity in an academic context, including an integration of the practical and the academic elements of the experience. Please refer to Internship section of this catalog for further requirements and guidelines.