Undergraduate Catalog - Lake Erie College

PRIOR LEARNING (PL)
PL 100 Prior Learning Portfolio Development (1 SH)
The goals of this course are to help students review their
past experience to determine where significant learning
has occurred, understand the difference between learning
and experience and learn the skills necessary to prepare a
prior learning portfolio.
POLITICAL SCIENCE (PO)
PO 101 Introduction to Political Science (4 SH)
Semester Offered: Fall
An introduction to the discipline of political science. The
course focuses on the scope and nature of political science,
the various subfields of the discipline and the basic political
concepts, institutions and processes.
PO 110 American National Government (4 SH)
Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
Centering on significant competing interpretations of the
political system, the course is designed to develop an
awareness of strategies of evidence and argument in the
study of politics. Power relationships in the institutional
settings of the Presidency, Congress and the Supreme
Court; decision-making and influence in the American
political system and political behavior.
PO 160/260/360/460 Individual Investigation in Political
Science (2-4 SH)
PO 170-79/270-79/370-79/470-79 Special Topics in Political
Science (2-4 SH)
PO 201 Introduction to Political Ideologies (4 SH)
Semester Offered: Spring
An introductory examination of the competing ideologies
that have dominated politics over the past century including
liberalism, conservatism, democratic socialism, communism,
anarchism and fascism. The course also explores
several newer ideologies such as feminism, liberation
theology, religious fundamentalism and environmentalism.
PO 202 Public Policy (4 SH)
An introduction to the policy-making process in the United
States with an emphasis on the interactions among the
various individual and institutional actors involved at all
levels of government. The course explores theories of
policy making, policy implementation and policy evaluation
and focuses on several important policy areas including
education, welfare, health care, civil rights, criminal justice,
national defense and foreign policy.
PO 205 State and Local Government (4 SH) Semester
Offered: Spring even years
An analysis of the organization, powers and processes of
American state and local governments emphasizing their
roles in policy determination and implementation and the
major contemporary problems confronting them.
PO 208 America as a World Power (4 SH)
Semester Offered: Spring odd years
This course examines the evolution of American foreign
policy from isolationism to regional and then global responsibilities.
Themes include the increasing role of Presidents
in setting policy and the clash between realism (national
interest, usually as defined in military and economic terms)
and idealism (transformative ideas like spreading democracy
and nation-building and international cooperation in
forums like the United Nations) in the making of U.S. foreign
policy. Cross-listed as HI 208.
PO 212 Comparative Politics (4 SH)
Semester Offered: Fall even years
A comparative study of the political processes in selected
countries, as well as an introduction to systematic
approaches and concepts to comparative politics.
PO 214 International Relations (4 SH)
Semester Offered: Spring even years
An introduction to the key actors, concepts, theories, issues
and political dynamics that shape world politics. The course
explores the nature of the international system, the ways
in which states and other global actors interact and the
contemporary challenges facing the global community
in the areas of peace and security, economics, human
development and the environment.
PO 250/350/450 Internship in Political Science (1-5 SH)
An academic course that provides students with an
individualized career-related work experience in the
field of political science. The course may be repeated; a
maximum of six credit hours will be counted toward the
major requirements. Students are required to complete 75
hours of work for each credit hour registered and earned.
An Internship Application must be completed and filed with
the Office of Career Services and Internships.
PO 310 European Politics (4 SH)
Semester Offered: Fall odd years
A comparative analysis of political institutions, processes
and issues in selected European countries and the European
Union. Topics include constitutional structures, legislative,
executive and judicial processes, political party systems,
electoral systems and domestic and foreign policies.
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