Political Science

Chair
:
    Rodney Hero, Ph.D.
    Dept. Tel.: (574) 631-5189

The Program of Studies. The Department of Political Science offers a summer program designed to meet the needs of undergraduate and graduate students enrolled during the regular academic year who wish to supplement their work. It also welcomes students enrolled at other institutions who seek summer credit at Notre Dame.

Course Descriptions. The following course descriptions give the number and title of each course. Lecture hours per week, laboratory and/or tutorial hours per week, and semester credit hours are in parentheses. The University reserves the right to withdraw any course without sufficient registration.
CRNs for independent study courses may be obtained from the department office, from the Summer Session office, or from insideND.
 
POLS 20200. International Relations CANCELLED
(Cross-listed with IIPS 20501)
3 credits, Thompson (10-0-3)
10:30–11:50 MTWR 6/17–7/31
CRN 3327; ID # POLS 20200 01
Last “add” date: 6/22
“Drop” dates: refund, 6/26; last, 7/10
The study of International Relations (IR) is the study of human organization at its highest and most complex level. The goal of IR scholarship is thus to try to manage this complexity intellectually by devising theories that help us to understand and predict state behavior. The main purpose of this course, therefore, will be to introduce students to the most important IR theories. These theories will then, in turn be applied to real-world IR events in order to test their utility in helping us to understand the world as it actually is. By the end of the course, therefore, the student will have a grounding in both theoretical and factual aspects of IR analysis.
 
POLS 30010. American Political Parties
3 credits, Wolbrecht (3-0-3)
12:30–2:20 MTW 6/17–7/31
CRN 3630; ID # POLS30010 01
Last “add” date: 6/22
“Drop” dates: refund, 6/26; last, 7/10
Political parties play many vital roles in American politics: They educate potential voters about political processes, policy issues, and civic duties. They mobilize citizens into political activity and involvement. They provide vital information about public debates. They control the choices—candidates and platforms that voters face at the ballot box. They influence and organize the activities of government officials. Most importantly, by providing a link between government and the governed, they are a central mechanism of representation. These roles—how well they are performed, what bias exists, how they shape outcomes, how they have changed over time—have consequences for the working of the American political system. This class explores the contribution of political parties to the functioning of American democracy.
 
POLS 30062. Civil Liberties & Civil Rights
3 credits, Kaplan (6-0-3)
2:45–4:05 MTWR 6/17–7/31
CRN 3528: ID # POLS 30062 01
Last “add” date: 6/22
“Drop” dates: refund, 6/26; last, 7/10
How do courts decide cases involving civil liberties and civil rights? What rationales support the different interpretations of constitutional rights? How has the doctrine of incorporation affected our understanding of constitutional rights? Why is the concept of neutrality so important in current jurisprudence? How do courts balance formal assumptions and attention to particular situations? The purpose of this course is to help you answer these and other basic questions about the law and politics of constitutional rights, including freedom of expression, due process, and equal protection, as well as civil liberties during wartime.
 
POLS 30070. Strategy and Social Science  CANCELLED
3 credits, Griffin (3-0-3)
9:00–10:20 MTWR 6/17–7/31
CRN 3629; ID # POLS30070 01
Last “add” date: 6/22
“Drop” dates: refund, 6/26; last, 7/10
The concept of strategy has become the hallmark of modern political analysis. Contemporary political science goes beyond description and instead tries to analyze politics by identifying the motives that drive political behavior, institutions, and procedures. It involves the generation of theories about politics using analytical (usually mathematical) skills. This course will introduce students to this approach to social science research.

POL 30738. Political Theory and Film   CANCELLED 3-17-08
3 credits, Church (10-0-3)
10:30-11:50 MTWR 
06/17 – 7/31

CRN 3806; ID POL 30738 01
Last "add" date: 6/22
"Drop" dates: refund, 6/26; last, 7/10
Art has always deeply shaped society and politics. In this course, we will investigate the role that art plays in the formation of political communities. We will ask questions such as: can literature and film make us better citizens? Can a common culture of artistic appreciation foster a sense of collective belonging? How have television and film as new forms of art changed the political culture of the U.S.? We will critically examine classical and contemporary arguments on these topics, while also coming up with some of our own views by looking closely at some recent films.

 
POLS 46902. Directed Readings
Variable credits, Staff (V-V-V)
CRN varies with instructor
ID # POLS 46902
Obtain call number in department office.
 
POLS 66900. Directed Readings
Variable credits, Staff (V-V-V)
CRN varies with instructor
ID # POLS 66900
 
POLS 67950. Examination Preparation
Variable credits, Radcliff (V-V-V)
ID # POLS 67950
POLS 78599. Thesis Direction
Variable credits, Radcliff (V-V-V)
ID # POLS 78599
 
POLS 78600. Nonresident Thesis Research
1 credit, Radcliff (0-0-1)
ID # POLS 78600
 
POLS 98699. Research and Dissertation
Variable credits, Radcliff (V-V-V)
ID # POLS 98699
 
POLS 98700. Nonresident Dissertation Research
1 credit, Radcliff (0-0-1)
ID # POLS 98700