College of Arts & Sciences
College of Arts & Sciences 2007-2008 Catalog
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.
POS100 • American Politics and Government (fall, spring) 3 credits
Structure and working 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. Prerequisite: Second-semester freshman standing or higher. Prerequisites: 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. Prerequisites: GES130 or GES145, 146. (Carries cross-credit in history).
POS219L • Public Leadership (offered occasionally) 3 credits
Principles of public leadership and challenges for leaders to meet in the modern age; American experiences with leaders in various roles. Prerequisites: GES130 or GES145, 146.
POS220L • Growth and Power in American Cities (interim) 3 credits
Development of American cities over time, adapting their heritage to social and technological challenges. Emphasis on how cities are currently governed and by whom, and how they respond to current policy issues. Prerequisites: 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. Prerequisites: GES130 or GES145, 146.
POS241 • Revolution and Political Development (spring, odd # yrs) 3 credits
Process and problems of building a political order. Present political systems of specific nations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and the historical evolution of a modern political order in the developed countries of Europe and North America. Prerequisites: 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 (fall or interim) 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.
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 (interim, offered occasionally) 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.)
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.
In this section, semester credit hours will be shown after the course number and description proceeded by a comma.
Major in Political Science (B.A.)
POS211 The Political Quest, 3
POS499 Senior Seminar, 4
Choose from American politics and government: 3
POS100 American Politics and Government
POS216L* American Constitutional History
POS219L* Public Leadership
POS220L* Growth and Power in American Cities
POS304 Political Parties and Elections
POS306 Public Administration
POS325 Political Communication
POS340 American Political Institutions
POS342 American Public Policy
Choose from international relations: 3
POS202U* Introduction to International Relations
POS305G* The Cold War
POS310 American Foreign Relations
POS313G* International Cooperation
Choose from comparative politics: 3
POS241L Revolution and Political Development
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: 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
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.)
The 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.)