2002-2003 - The University of Scranton

PS 310 Staff
Judicial Politics 3 credits
Role of the federal and state court systems
in our constitutional democracy, with an
emphasis on their policy-making functions.
Consideration of the factors shaping the judicial
philosophies and political orientations of
federal and state justices and judges.
PS 311-312 Dr. Kocis
Constitutional Law 6 credits
An examination, by means of case law, of
the tensions between the demands of liberty
and the demands of democracy within
the American Constitution. Topics include
federalism, the separation and division of
powers, social issues tied to industrialization
and urbanization, commercial and
property rights, and the rights of the poor
and the oppressed as they arise in our legal
framework.
PS 313 Dr. Kocis
(D)Classical Political Ideas 3 credits
An examination of philosophical questions
about politics (including the nature of law,
morals, justice, and authority; and the role
of ideas in political and social life) in classical
texts from East and West, from Lao
Tzu and Plato to the beginnings of modernity
and Machiavelli.
PS 314 Dr. Kocis
(D)Modern Political Ideas 3 credits
An examination of philosophical questions
and politics (including the nature of law,
morals, justice, and authority; and the role
of ideas in political and social life) in
modern texts from East and West, from
the beginnings of modernity with
Machiavelli to Marx and Mao.
PS 315 Dr. Kocis
Contemporary Political Thought 3 credits
A study, based on primary materials, of the
current state of the controversies in contemporary
political thinking. A wide range
of perspectives, from far left to far right,
will be analyzed and critically examined.
Minimally, the works of John Rawls,
Robert Nozick, C.B. MacPherson, Isaiah
Berlin, and Leo Strauss will be included.
196
PS 316 Dr. Kocis
Jurisprudence 3 credits
An examination of the differences between
“the law” and “the laws”; the nature of
legal systems; the nature and grounds of
political, moral and legal obligations, and
the controversy between the traditions of
Natural Law and Positive Law.
PS 317 Dr. Champney
Parties, Elections, and 3 credits
Interest Groups
Discussion of the historical development
and current status of political parties and
interest groups in the United States, and
their role in electoral politics. Emphasis on
the functions performed by political parties
in our system vs. their functions in other
systems, such as parliamentary democracies.
Emphasis also on factors shaping the
creation, maintenance, and political power
of organized interest groups.
PS 318 Dr. VanDyke
(W) U.S. Foreign Policy: 3 credits
Cold War and Aftermath
Examines and analyzes critically the content
of American foreign policy in the Cold War
and post-Cold War eras. Special emphasis
on themes, goals and means of American
foreign policy, particularly national security.
PS 319 Dr. VanDyke
(W) U.S. Foreign Policy Process 3 credits
Examines the actual formulation and
implementation of American foreign policy
within the decision-making process.
Analyzes what the process is, who the
decision makers are, and internal and
external variables of policy-making in the
U.S. Involves at least two in-depth
American foreign policy case studies.
PS 322 Dr. Harris
Public Personnel 3 credits
(Prerequisites: At least two of PS 130, 131,
135, 231, 232 or permission of instructor)
An examination of public-personnel
administration and management. Theories
of organization, personnel choices, personnel
management, civil-service history, and
current issues in personnel administration
and management are considered.