Political Science

Political science is the study of power, justice, liberty, and order, whether at the local community level, nationally, or internationally. How can we best organize our common life together? How, in fact, do we, and with what results? How should we, and according to what standards or values? Americans are still working out the answers to such questions, whether in terms of the president’s latest foreign policy move, a decision by the local board of education to close a neighborhood school, efforts to alleviate world hunger, or the more abstract questions of political philosophy.

Political science courses are concerned with such topics as Christian political values; the place of the individual in relation to larger organizations; the ways governments make and administer policies; comparative government, foreign policy, and international relations; and contemporary political ideologies. The aim throughout is to enable students to function more effectively within the complexities of the modern world by providing a broad competence in terms of knowledge and how to use it, and by giving careful attention to the spiritual values implicit in most political choices. Political science courses stress developing the operational, analytic, and imaginative skills required for success in virtually all areas of modern society, including business, law, government, education, and the ministry; and for responsible Christian citizenship in today’s world.

Courses

POS100 • American Politics and Government (fall, spring) 3 credits

Structure and workings of major parts of the United States national government, such as the Constitution, the presidency, Congress, the courts, the electoral process, and others. How these institutions help Americans deal with significant current issues.

POS202U • Introduction to International Relations (fall, spring) 3 credits

How governments interact to further their different political, military, and economic interests; basic factors affecting international cooperation and conflict; topics such as summit meetings, terrorism, arms control, and food and energy resources distribution; one or more international crisis simulation exercises. Prerequisites: Second-semester freshman standing or higher; GES130 or GES145, 146.

POS211 • The Political Quest (fall, odd # yrs; spring) 3 credits

Major problems of politics and international relations, such as the proper goals of political life, the nature of justice, and the role of the state. Methods of inquiry. Development of the student’s personal political stance and its relation to his or her maturing faith. Prerequisite: One political science course.

POS216L • American Constitutional History (spring) 3 credits

Examination of the origins and development of American constitutional ideas and institutions from the colonial period to the present. Particular attention paid to the historical connections between major constitutional cases and broader social, political, economic, and cultural trends. Prerequisite: GES130 or GES145, 146. (Carries cross-credit in history).

POS219L • Public Leadership (occasionally) 3 credits

Principles of public leadership and challenges for leaders to meet in the modern age; American experiences with leaders in various roles. Prerequisite: GES130 or GES145, 146.

POS221L • American Political Ideologies (fall) 3 credits

Major modern American ideologies. Liberalism, conservatism, democratic socialism, anarchism, liberation theology, fascism, and gender and ethnic politics. Christian interfaces with various political theories. Prerequisite: GES130 or GES145, 146.

POS230L • Politics and Religion in the United States (interim) 3 credits

Examines the historical and contemporary relationship between religion and politics in the United States. Divisions and political affiliations of various religious communities are considered alongside discussion of secularism, pluralism, and civil religion in America. (Carries cross-credit in religious studies.) Prerequisite: GES130 or GES145, 146.

POS241L • Revolution and Political Development (spring, odd # yrs) 3 credits

Theory and process of modernization, with special emphasis on the Anglo-American historical experience; examinations of U.S. efforts to promote democracy internationally in Europe, Asia, the Middle East since World War II. Prerequisite: GES130 or GES145, 146. (Carries cross-credit in history.)

POS304 • Political Parties and Elections (fall, even # yrs) 3 credits

Organization and activities of American political parties. The electoral process, including candidate nominations, campaigns, conduct of elections, and voting behavior. Issues relating to the contribution of parties and elections to American democracy, and the capacity of citizens to participate in politics. Prerequisite: Open to sophomores with consent of instructor; POS100 recommended.

POS305G • The Cold War (spring, odd # yrs) 3 credits

The Cold War as an event in international history, studied from the perspective of the United States, the Soviet Union, China, Europe, and the Third World. Introduces students to ongoing historical debates and to the sources historians use in those debates (including declassified documents available online). Prerequisites: GES130 or GES145, 146; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course or GES245; World Cultures (U) course. (Carries cross-credit in history.)

POS306 • Public Administration (spring) 3 credits

How public policy is put into effect through the administrative agencies of government and the problems in management of such agencies and their relations with the public. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing; POS100 recommended. (Carries cross-credit in business.)

POS310 • American Foreign Relations (fall, even # yrs) 3 credits

Development of United States foreign policy since the Nixon Administration, with particular attention to contemporary issues, long-range historical trends, and the ways in which foreign policy is formulated and carried out. Independent study on specific topics and issues. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing with consent of instructor; POS100 or POS202U recommended.

POS313G • International Cooperation (fall, odd # yrs) 3 credits

Causes of international conflict and the institutions designed to build a more cooperative world order. Peacekeeping strategies, the international monetary system, and the policies and institutions used by the industrialized nations of the world to build a more harmonious international system. Prerequisites: GES130 or GES145, 146; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course or GES245; World Cultures (U) course; POS202U or POS310 recommended.

POS315 • The Politics of Terrorism (spring, odd # yrs) 3 credits

Analysis of terror and terrorism, both historically and contemporarily, through study of the political psychology of terrorists and terrorist groups, the tactics of terror, and the complex relationship between terror and states. Special attention to the motivations for terror and the effect of religion on terrorism as a political strategy. Prerequisite: POS202U.

POS317 • Political Psychology (fall, odd # yrs) 3 credits

Political psychology is concerned with the causes, dynamics, and consequences of human thinking and action in the context of politics. This field survey covers the psychology of decision-making, political attitude formation, public opinion, personality and emotions, intergroup relations, ideology, and the role of mass media in politics. Prerequisite: one political science course. (Carries cross-credit in psychology.)

POS321 • Contemporary Democracies (fall, odd # yrs) 3 credits

The meaning of democracy in theory and practice throughout history and in the modern political systems of Great Britain, Japan, and Mexico. Independent research in other democratic systems. Prerequisite: POS100 or POS211 recommended.

POS324G • Human Rights in International History (spring, even # years) 3 credits

International and comparative exploration of how human rights have been defined, violated, and protected. Discussion of historical topics (e.g., the abolition of the slave trade, social reform and Christian missions, the genocides of the 20th century), as well as contemporary issues. Includes a service-learning project completed at Bethel or with a local organization. Prerequisites: GES130 or GES145, 146; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course or GES245; World Cultures (U) course. (Carries cross-credit in history.)

POS325 • Political Communication (occasionally interim) 3 credits

Analysis of the theoretical background behind political communication from a public speaking and media perspective. Attention to decision-making skills required in political campaigns. Discussion of advanced persuasive campaign theory. Prerequisite: COM110N, POS100, or consent of instructor. (Carries cross-credit in communication studies.)

POS327G • History and Politics of Russia and China in the Modern World (spring) 3 credits

Political, social, and historical manifestations of communism/post-communism in Russia and China in the 20th century. Comparative analysis of communist systems; exploration of maintenance of a communist state in China and transition to a non-Communist state in Russia. Prerequisites: GES130 or GES145, 146; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course or GES245; World Cultures (U) course. (Carries cross-credit in history.)

POS330K • Science, Values, and the Making of Environmental Policy (fall, even # yrs) 3 credits

What role do citizens and experts play in the public policy process? Do people approach scientific evidence with competing value perspectives? These questions are examined in order to understand the interplay between key people, institutions, values, and power that is present in a series of environmental policy case studies. Prerequisites: Laboratory Science (D) course; Mathematics (M) course. (Carries cross-credit in environmental science.)

POS340 • American Political Institutions (fall, even # yrs) 3 credits

Examination of the U.S. Congress, Supreme Court, and presidency, with attention to the effects of institutions on the democratic and policy processes. Consideration of political science research on political institutions and contemporary issues facing them. Prerequisite: POS100 or consent of instructor.

POS342 • American Public Policy (spring, even # yrs) 3 credits

Examination of public policy—the result of government action—through consideration of the policy process, policy design, and current status of American public policy. Special attention devoted to social policy with student investigation and research in public policy. Prerequisite: POS100 or consent of instructor.

POS345 • Modern Political Thought (spring, odd # yrs) 3 credits

Examination and consideration of selected political thinkers of the 19th and 20th centuries, including Freud, Nietzsche, Kuyper, Arendt, Rawls, Berlin, Yoder, Foucault, Mouw, and others. Concentrates on primary sources and Christian responses to the “end of political theory” in the 20th century. Prerequisite: One course in political science, philosophy, or Western history; or consent of instructor.

POS360 • Classics in Western Political Philosophy (spring, even # yrs) 4 credits

Selected political theorists. Writers such as Plato, Aristotle, early Christian writers, Machiavelli, Luther, Calvin, Locke, Marx, and Niebuhr. Concentrates on primary sources. Prerequisite: One course in political science, philosophy, or European history. (Carries cross-credit in philosophy and history.)

POS410 • Topics in Political Science: Democracy in America (fall, even # yrs) 3 credits

Examines the changing understanding of democracy across the context of American life from the Puritans to the present, with special attention to Toqueville’s classic Democracy in America; how best to carry democracy into the 21st century. Prerequisites: Two political science or related courses.

POS481 • Internship in Political Science (fall, spring) 3 credits

An off-campus working experience in a government agency or political organization under appropriate supervision. Placement is individually arranged with the Department of Political Science. Prerequisite: Consent of department chairperson.

POS499 • Senior Seminar (fall) 4 credits

Advanced research and analysis in selected problems and value questions in political science. Prerequisite: Senior standing or consent of department chairperson.

Washington, D.C. Experience

Firsthand experience in Washington, D.C., for academic credit is available through the American Studies Program of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. See an advisor in the Department of Political Science.

Programs

In this section, semester credit hours will be shown after the course number and description.

Major in Political Science (B.A.)

POS211	The Political Quest	3
POS499	Senior Seminar	4
Choose from	American politics and government courses:	3
POS100	American Politics and Government
POS216L*	American Constitutional History
POS219L*	Public Leadership
POS230L*	Politics and Religion in the United States
POS304	Political Parties and Elections
POS306	Public Administration
POS325	Political Communication
POS330K*	Science, Values, and the Making of Environmental Policy
POS340	American Political Institutions
POS342	American Public Policy
Choose from	international relations courses:	3
POS202U*	Introduction to International Relations
POS305G*	The Cold War
POS310	American Foreign Relations
POS313G*	International Cooperation
Choose from	comparative politics courses:	3
POS241L*	Revolution and Political Development
POS315	The Politics of Terrorism
POS317	Political Psychology
POS321	Contemporary Democracies
POS324G*	Human Rights in International History
POS327G*	History and Politics of Russia and China in the Modern World
Choose from	political philosophy courses:	3-4
POS221L*	American Political Ideologies
POS345	Modern Political Thought
POS360	Classics in Western Political Philosophy
POS410	Topics in Political Science: Democracy in America
Electives from political science courses		15
	Total	34-35
General Education		51-52
Electives		35-37
	TOTAL	122

* A student may also choose to use this course to meet a General Education requirement.

Major in Business and Political Science (B.A.)

(See Multidisciplinary section.)

This major is designed for students who wish to combine substantial work in the fields of business and political science with additional supporting courses in economics and mathematics.

Major in International Relations (B.A.)

(See Multidisciplinary section.)

This major provides a solid foundation in international relations, U.S. foreign policy, economics, geography, and a foreign language competency. The electives are designed to allow students to integrate other interests with their focus on international relations.

Major in Social Studies Education 5–12 (B.A.)

(See Multidisciplinary section.)

Major in Third World Studies (B.A.)

(See Multidisciplinary section.)

Minor in Political Science

POS211	The Political Quest	3
Electives from	political science courses, of which at least 7 credits must be 300 level or above	15
	TOTAL	18

Special Study Opportunities

All students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of at least one special study opportunity as part of their major or minor, such as:

American Studies Program in Washington, D.C.
Guatemala Term
Latin American Studies Program
Spain Term
Internships (Minnesota State Legislature, local government, political campaigns, interest groups)
Foreign study (full year, one semester, interim)
Directed study

Pre-law Education

(See Pre-professional section.)