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2019-2020 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Course Descriptions
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Philosophy |
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PHIL 219 - Social and Political Philosophy
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course will consider some of the foundational issues we face in our search for the best group-living arrangements. Such issues will include, but not be limited to, the conflict between individual liberty and social equality, the criteria for just distribution of wealth, and the proper role and form of government. We will consider how questions about these issues have been addressed historically by philosophers since Plato and Aristotle. We will also explore how contemporary political works by Rawls, Nozick, and others might help us understand and try to solve our own political and social problems.
Offered: Every year
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PHIL 222 - Philosophy and Religion in Ancient Mediterranean
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 2
Lecture: 2
Non-Lecture: 0
A survey of the religious culture and the philosophical tradition of the ancient Mediterranean. The course is intended to be part of the summer Mediterranean Roots Program in Greece and Italy and is to be given together with the Humanities I course. It could be given during a regular semester also, if demand is sufficient.
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PHIL 225 - Philosophy of the Arts
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
An inquiry into the concepts of art and good art. Could soundless “music,” “Don Giovanni,” “Brillo Boxes,” the Sistine ceiling, Rambo III, and Macbeth possibly fall under one concept? Who is to say that the Beatles are better than Bach, or that Warhol is worse than Watteau .. or have we asked the wrong question?
Offered: Not on a regular basis
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PHIL 226 - Philosophy and Literature
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course will begin by looking at Plato’s reasons for finding an “ancient quarrel between philosophy and poetry” and Aristotle’s response. This will lead to a discussion of what is, or should be, the effect of imaginative literature. More specifically-and this will be the course’s central focus-we will consider whether literature can make a contribution to our ethical knowledge in a way that philosophy does not. Inevitably this will bring up questions about the cognitive and evaluative nature of emotion. We will look, too, at two plays by Sartre to see what, if anything, they add to his purely philosophical writings. Finally, we will consider briefly whether it is possible for a work of literature to be aesthetically excellent yet morally suspect.
Offered: Not on a regular basis
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PHIL 235 - Philosophy of Biology
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course will examine philosophical problems raised by evolutionary theory, genetics and taxonomy. Questions to be addressed include: (a) Is biological theory reducible to chemistry and physics? (b) What is a species? Is there a single, correct way to classify organisms? (c) At what level does selection operate: individual organisms, groups, or “selfish genes”? (d) Does altruism exist in nature? (e) Can the evolutionary model usefully be applied outside of biology? In particular, is sociobiology a promising field of research, or merely an excuse for injustice? (f) Can there be such a thing as “scientific creationism”?
Prerequisite(s): One course in biology or in philosophy.
Offered: Not on a regular basis
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PHIL 237 - Ethical Issues in Business
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course will introduce students to the central role of ethics in the conduct of business organizations and the people who administer them. Students will learn to identify ethical issues in business and to analyze them from the perspective of several philosophical moral traditions. We will consider ethical issues concerning both the overall economic system and the specific business areas of management, accounting, finance, and marketing. Students will be required to perform analyses of both philosophical readings and recent case-studies from the business world.
Offered: Every semester
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PHIL 240 - Philosophy of Science
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course will examine the nature of science. What makes the difference between scientific theories and nonscientific ones? Is there a special kind of reasoning for science, or just a special subject matter? Does science have a greater claim to knowledge? What are the limits of science? Can religion and morality be turned into sciences, or is there a fundamental gap of some sort between these different realms? We will consider these questions both naively and in terms of a set of philosophical theories of science that have been developed over the past century. We will also examine a variety of long-standing conceptual problems in particular sciences, including mathematics. Finally, we will look at the important consequences of science in today’s society, in particular the pressing issue of “junk science.”
Offered: Not on a regular basis
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PHIL 305 - Philosophy of Education
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course will familiarize students with past and present theories and issues in the philosophy of education. Students will consider why humans educate themselves and their children; what they think constitutes reality; what knowledge is worth having and how humans beings acquire it; what constitutes the good life and how human beings organize society to promote it; and how education can encourage people to reflect on what it means to live ethically. The course will allow philosophy students to apply their knowledge of the discipline to an important realm of practical problems and provide education students an opportunity to think both critically and creatively about educational practice.
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 100 or INTD 203 .
Offered: Not on a regular basis
Crosslisted with: EDUC 305.
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PHIL 311 - Philosophical Logic
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
Philosophical logic is the effort to represent aspects of valid reasoning with formal systems that can be applied to a variety of questions in philosophy. A comprehensive logic would account for all forms of rational inference in a single, manageable package, but instead, we have a variety of partial and competing systems aimed at various specific topics, including necessity and possibility, vagueness, degree, comparison, time, value, and knowledge, as well as non-standard alternatives to the classical logic of subjects and predicates. In this course, we will discuss the project of philosophical logic, survey (to varying depths) a broad range of theories in the field with applications, and look for general conclusions.
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 111
Offered: Every other year
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PHIL 317 - Philosophy of Mind
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
An examination of schema for viewing human nature. Topics include the mind-body controversy, minds as machines, behaviorism, materialist explanations of mind, personal identity, perception, dreaming, and the problem of choice.
Prerequisite(s): One philosophy course.
Offered: Every three semesters
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PHIL 330 - Ethical Theory
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
An examination of classical and contemporary philosophical works addressed to the problems of intrinsic value, right conduct, good character, free will and responsibility, and moral knowledge.
Prerequisite(s): One philosophy course.
Offered: Every spring
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PHIL 340 - Theory of Knowledge
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
An examination of fundamental epistemological concepts, including those of knowledge, necessary truth, universals, rational belief, and perception.
Prerequisite(s): Two courses in philosophy.
Offered: Every spring
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PHIL 355 - Metaphysics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
An analysis of major metaphysical concepts, including those of infinite extent, continuity and infinite divisibility, space, time, substance, property, relation, universals, identity and individuation, change, necessity, and independence.
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 111 and one other course in philosophy.
Offered: Every fall
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PHIL 375 - Philosophy of Language
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
An examination of contemporary and recent views concerning the nature of language and the ways in which language is conceived as bearing on philosophical problems. Topics covered include theories of reference and meaning, truth, analyticity, opacity, proper names, definite descriptions, demonstratives, the possibility of translation, semantic representation, the nature of propositions.
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 111 and one other course in philosophy.
Offered: Every three semesters
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PHIL 393 - Honors Thesis
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
Students with a serious interest in pursuing philosophy are advised to write a thesis: a lengthy, original essay on a special philosophical issue. To receive Philosophy Honors recognition at graduation, the student must complete the thesis with a grade of at least A-.
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits of philosophy with 3.50 gpa in philosophy courses.
Offered: By individual arrangement
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PHIL 397 - Seminar: Major Problems
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
For advanced students. Focuses on a single philosophical problem, or a pair of problems (e.g., infinity, freedom and determinism, analyticity, induction). Topic varies from term to term, and student presentations comprise a significant portion of the course.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor.
Offered: Offered alternately with PHIL 398; one seminar will be offered each semester
Repeatable: May be repeated for credit
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PHIL 398 - Seminar: Major Philosophers
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
For advanced students. Focuses on a single philosopher, or a pair of philosophers (e.g., Plato, Aristotle, Spinoza, Locke and Leibniz, Hume, Wittgenstein). Philosopher studied varies from term to term, and student presentations comprise a significant part of the course.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor.
Offered: Offered alternately with PHIL 397; one seminar will be offered each semester
Repeatable: May be repeated for credit
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PHIL 399 - Directed Study
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
Intensive reading in a philosopher or philosophical problem, under the supervision of a member of the staff. (Available at all levels.)
Offered: By individual arrangement
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Physics |
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PHYS 102 - N/Science of Sound
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
General Education Area(s): Natural Sciences
The production, transmission, recording, and sensation of sound are presented in a lecture-demonstration format. Examples of mechanical vibrations, mechanisms of hearing and speech, perception of loudness, high-fidelity sound systems, musical instruments, and wave form analysis are included. The mathematics used is limited to elementary algebra. Cannot be counted towards the physics major. Not open to students with prior credit for physics courses numbered PHYS 113 or higher without department approval.
Corequisite(s): PHYS 103 .
Offered: Every fall
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PHYS 103 - N/Science of Sound Laboratory
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 1
Lecture: 0
Non-Lecture: 2
General Education Area(s): Natural Sciences
A laboratory course to complement Science of Sound. Experiments studying vibration, sound analysis, and standing waves will use devices such as tone generators, oscilloscopes, sound level meters, and audio equipment. Cannot be counted towards the physics major. Not open to students with prior credit for physics courses numbered PHYS 113 or higher without department approval.
Corequisite(s): PHYS 102 .
Offered: Every fall
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PHYS 106 - N/The Nature of Light and Color
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
General Education Area(s): Natural Sciences
The evolution of our understanding of the nature of light will be presented, from Newton’s corpuscles to Maxwell’s electromagnetic waves to the modern view of wave-particle duality. Along the way, many optical phenomena will be investigated in lecture demonstrations and in the laboratory, including lenses, prisms, rainbows, photography, interference, diffraction, the photoelectric effect, and atomic spectra. Simple algebra, trigonometry and geometry will be employed. Cannot be counted toward the physics major. (Not open to students with prior credit for physics courses numbered PHYS 113 or higher without department approval.)
Corequisite(s): PHYS 107 .
Offered: Every spring
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PHYS 107 - N/The Nature of Light and Color Laboratory
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 1
Lecture: 0
Non-Lecture: 2
General Education Area(s): Natural Sciences
An introductory laboratory experience to help students understand light and color. Many optical phenomena will be investigated in laboratory activities including lenses, vision and perception, interference, diffraction, the photoelectric effect, and atomic spectra. Cannot be counted toward the physics major. (Not open to students with prior credit for physics courses numbered PHYS 113 or higher without department approval.)
Corequisite(s): PHYS 106 .
Offered: Every spring
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PHYS 108 - The Way Things Work
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 1
Lecture: 1/2
Non-Lecture: 1
A look at what is going on inside some of the tools and toys of modern life. The principles involved in a variety of things will be explored in discussion/hands-on sessions. Intended for non-science majors who are curious about how their world operates. The underlying science will be discussed in non-mathematical, lay language. Cannot be counted toward the physics major.
Offered: Not on a regular basis
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PHYS 113 - General Physics I
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
An introduction to the concepts and laws of physics with applications to biological systems; course includes mechanics, thermodynamics, wave properties, and sound.
Prerequisite(s)/Corequisite(s): PHYS 114 .
Offered: Every fall
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PHYS 114 - N/Physics I Lab
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 1
Lecture: 0
Non-Lecture: 2
General Education Area(s): Natural Sciences
A lab course to complement General Physics I and Analytical Physics I lectures. Experiments in kinematics, projectile motion, Newton’s laws, momentum, and energy conservation will be performed.
Prerequisite(s)/Corequisite(s): PHYS 113 or PHYS 123 .
Offered: Every fall
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PHYS 115 - N/General Physics II
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
General Education Area(s): Natural Sciences
Continuation of General Physics I: Electricity, magnetism, light, and atomic and nuclear phenomena.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 113 /PHYS 114 .
Corequisite(s): PHYS 116 .
Offered: Every spring
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PHYS 116 - N/Physics II Lab
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 1
Lecture: 0
Non-Lecture: 2
General Education Area(s): Natural Sciences
A lab course to complement General Physics II and Analytical Physics II lectures. Experiments in waves, electricity and magnetism, circuits, and optics will be performed.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 113 /PHYS 114 .
Corequisite(s): PHYS 115 or PHYS 125 .
Offered: Every spring
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PHYS 120 - Physics First Year Experience
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 1
Lecture: 1
Non-Lecture: 0
An introductory course for entering students considering a career in physics or engineering. Through presentations, discussions and investigations the question “What is Physics?” will be examined. Study methods and time utilization for success in physics will also be addressed. Cannot be counted toward the physics major.
Prerequisite(s): No prerequisite.
Offered: Every fall
Graded: Graded on S/U basis.
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PHYS 123 - Analytical Physics I
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
An analytical, calculus-based treatment of kinematics, Newton’s laws, kinetic and potential energy, friction, linear momentum, angular momentum, rotational dynamics, gravitational physics, and simple harmonic motion. Notes: Both PHYS 123 and either PHYS 114 or PHYS 124 must be passed to receive core credit. A student may not receive credit for both PHYS 113 and PHYS 123.
Corequisite(s): PHYS 114 or PHYS 124 .
Prerequisite(s)/Corequisite(s): MATH 221 .
Offered: Every fall
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PHYS 124 - N/Analytical Physics I Laboratory
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 1
Lecture: 0
Non-Lecture: 3
General Education Area(s): Natural Sciences
An experimental course developing laboratory and analytical skills in physics. Includes experiments in kinematics, Newton’s laws, uncertainty analysis, momentum and energy conservation, and projectile motion. Note that this course is required for the physics major.
Prerequisite(s)/Corequisite(s): PHYS 123 .
Offered: Every fall
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PHYS 125 - N/Analytical Physics II
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
General Education Area(s): Natural Sciences
An analytical, calculus-based treatment of charge, electrostatic and magnetostatic fields, simple applications of Maxwell’s equations, Lenz’s law, basic electrical circuits, mechanical and electromagnetic waves, and geometric optics.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 123 .
Corequisite(s): PHYS 126 or PHYS 116 .
Prerequisite(s)/Corequisite(s): MATH 222 or MATH 228 .
Offered: Every spring
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PHYS 126 - N/Analytical Physics II Laboratory
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 1
Lecture: 0
Non-Lecture: 3
General Education Area(s): Natural Sciences
An experimental course developing laboratory and analytical skills in physics. Includes experiments in electric fields, Ohm’s law, use of the oscilloscope, and electric circuits. Note that this course is required for the physics major.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 124 .
Corequisite(s): PHYS 125 .
Offered: Every spring
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PHYS 206 - Scientific Graphics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 1
Lecture: 1
Non-Lecture: 0
An introduction to producing graphics for use in scientific presentations and for image analysis. Topics may include freehand sketching, isometric drawings and other projections, 3-view machinist’s drawings, dimensioning and tolerancing, threads, vector graphics and layering in Office, color models, creating raster images (photographs), editing raster images using GIMP, analysis of raster images with ImageJ, animations in PowerPoint, animations and plotting in Mathematica, using “design mode” in Excel, and fundamentals of CAD.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 126
Offered: Not on a regular basis
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PHYS 223 - Analytical Physics III
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course will include classical physics and some modern physics topics. The analysis of phenomena such as eletromagnetic waves, their interference and diffraction, electromagnetic radiation, blackbody radiation, and interactions of photons with matter, special relativity and gravity will be highlighted. Other topics covered in this course may include geometric optics, thermodynamics, and fluids.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 125 .
Offered: Every fall
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PHYS 224 - Analytical Physics IV
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course will include elementary quantum theory, Schrodinger’s equation, wave properties of matter, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, atomic structure and the Bohr atom. Special topics may include a survey of material from different subfields of physics such as cosmology, solid state physics, nuclear physics, etc.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 223 , MATH 223 .
Corequisite(s): PHYS 228 .
Offered: Every spring
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PHYS 226 - Optics and Modern Physics Laboratory
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 1
Lecture: 0
Non-Lecture: 3
Devoted to the understanding of experiments in Optics, Atomic Physics, and Nuclear Physics. Typical experiments would cover composite lens systems, interference effects, e/m, emission spectra, and radioactive decay.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 126 .
Corequisite(s): PHYS 223 or permission of instructor.
Offered: Every fall
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PHYS 228 - Mathematical Methods in Physics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 2
Lecture: 2
Non-Lecture: 0
This course is an introduction to the application of various mathematical tools to specific problems in physics. Methods will include complex numbers, coordinate transformations, vector calculus, matrices, Fourier transforms, series solutions, and probability. This course will also include numerical methods using software including spreadsheets and symbolic mathematical manipulators.
Prerequisite(s)/Corequisite(s): PHYS 224 .
Offered: Every spring
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PHYS 230 - Digital Electronics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 2
Non-Lecture: 2
An introduction to digital electronics. The concepts studied are different number systems (e.g. binary and hexadecimal), Boolean algebra, complex logic decisions using simple logic statements, minimizing complex logic systems, logic gates, combinational networks, flip-flops, counters, and registers.
Offered: Every spring
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PHYS 311 - Classical Mechanics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
The dynamics of a particle subject to various types of forces: forced and damped harmonic oscillations; conservative forces; vector algebra; kinematics in more than one dimension; multiple-particle systems.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 224 , PHYS 228 and MATH 326 .
Offered: Every fall
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PHYS 313 - Applied Mechanics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course begins with analysis of static rigid bodies in equilibrium, centroids, distributed forces, internal forces, and structures. Subsequent topics include stress and strain, torsion, bending, shear, combined and eccentric loading, failure criteria, and 3D stress tensors. Note: B.A. students may not receive degree credit for both PHYS 313 and PHYS 332 .
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 228 or permission of department. Note: B.A. students may not receive degree credit for both PHYS 313 and PHYS 332 .
Offered: Every fall
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PHYS 314 - Fluid Mechanics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course is an introduction to the topic, and includes an examination of the relevant properties of fluids (density, viscosity, pressure, velocity), common analysis techniques (control systems, control volumes, stream functions, dimensional analysis, non-dimensional parameterization), mathematical modeling (integral and differential forms of mass conservation, momentum conservation, and energy conservation; Bernoulli’s equation), and applications.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 311 .
Offered: Spring, odd years
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PHYS 321 - Atomic and Nuclear Physics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
Elementary aspects of quantum physics; application of relativity and quantum physics to the interaction of photons and electrons, to atomic structure, and to nuclear structure and nuclear interactions.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 352 , MATH 326 .
Offered: Spring, even years
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PHYS 332 - Electric Circuit Analysis
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
An introduction to the analysis and modeling of electric circuits. Includes the study of DC and AC circuit components, network theorems, phasor diagrams, frequency response and resonance, linear and non-linear systems, and electrical instrumentation. Note: B.A. students cannot receive credit for both PHYS 313 and PHYS 332.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 224 , PHYS 228 , MATH 326 .
Offered: Spring, even years
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PHYS 335 - Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism I
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
Electrostatic fields in vacuum and in matter; magnetic fields of steady currents; induced electric fields; magnetic materials; Maxwell’s equations; electromagnetic field of a moving charge.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 224 , PHYS 228 , MATH 326 .
Offered: Every fall
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PHYS 336 - Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism II
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course constitutes a continuation of PHYS 335 - Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism I . Material to be covered will include solutions of Maxwell’s equations; investigation of electric and magnetic fields in domains not treated in the previous course, such as the propagation of electromagnetic waves in conducting and non-conducting media; electromagnetic radiation; wave guides; special theory of relativity and relativistic electrodynamics.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 335 .
Offered: Spring, even years
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PHYS 341 - Seminar in Physics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 1
Lecture: 1
Non-Lecture: 0
Scientific presentations are made by students enrolled and invited guests. Each student is expected to attend each scheduled meeting and to make at least one oral presentation on a topic approved by the instructor. Students must also write critiques of presentations.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 362
Offered: Every Semester
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PHYS 342 - Advanced Physics Problem Solving
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 1
Lecture: 1
Non-Lecture: 0
This course is designed to help senior physics majors synthesize the fundamental concepts learned in the various facets of physics program. An emphasis is placed on applying a variety of problem solving techniques to examples drawn from across the physics disciplines. This course should help students prepare for physics graduate school admissions exams as well as for the first year of graduate coursework. Cannot be counted towards Physics major. (Half semester course.)
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 311 or PHYS 335 or PHYS 352 .
Offered: Every fall
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PHYS 344 - Statistical Thermodynamics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
An introduction , covering the connection between the physics of single particles and the bulk behavior of materials; the quantitative study of entropy, heat, temperature, the Carnot cycle, free energy, thermodynamic potential, phase equilibria, and the laws of thermodynamics. Thermodynamic systems, such as ideal gases and free electrons in metals, are considered.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 224 , PHYS 228 and MATH 326 .
Offered: Every spring
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PHYS 352 - Quantum Mechanics I
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
An introductory course in the theory of non-relativistic quantum mechanics in its currently accepted form. Experiments resulting in the mathematical formulation of quantum theory are discussed. Hilbert space vectors, operator algebra, and the postulates of quantum mechanics lead to proofs of the compatibility theorem and the uncertainty principle. The states of a particle, as determined by Schroedinger’s Equation, are studied in several situations.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 224 , PHYS 228 , MATH 326 .
Offered: Every fall
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PHYS 353 - Quantum Mechanics II
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course will cover advanced topics in Quantum Mechanics as well as applications and approximations to real physical problems. The Dirac description of quantum mechanics will be used extensively in this course as well as the functional forms described by Schroedinger. One, two and three dimensional bound state problems will be studied in addition to scattering theory. Approximation methods, such as time dependent perturbation theory, Hartree-Fock method, variational method and the Born approximation, will be used to solve physical problems to first and second order. Systems of more than one particle will be briefly studied.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 352 .
Offered: Spring, odd years
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PHYS 362 - Intermediate Laboratory
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 2
Lecture: 0
Non-Lecture: 6
Devoted to the understanding of some of the classic experiments in physics. Experiments are from all fields of physics, but particular attention is given to experiments which complement courses being taken concurrently.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 224 and PHYS 226
Offered: Every Semester
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PHYS 363 - Instrumentation and Interfacing
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 2
Lecture: 0
Non-Lecture: 6
An introduction to electronic interfacing of equipment in the modern laboratory, with an emphasis on computer control of instrumentation. Includes hands-on experience with several standard interfacing protocols. Following an introduction to standard interface software, students will design and construct experimental projects that demonstrate computer control of measurement, analysis, decision making, and control.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 362 and (INTD 121 or MATH 230 ).
Offered: Every Semester
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PHYS 372 - Undergraduate Research
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 2
Lecture: 0
Non-Lecture: 6
Designed to introduce the student to research techniques in physics, astronomy, or engineering. With faculty supervision, each student will complete a significant project which requires originality and broadens knowledge.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 362 and prior approval of department.
Offered: Every Semester
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PHYS 381 - Introduction to Astrophysics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
An introduction to the field of astrophysics. Particular emphasis will be placed on the structure and evolution of stars and on the origin and expansion of the universe.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 224 , PHYS 228 , MATH 326 .
Offered: Spring, odd years
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PHYS 382 - Stellar Astrophysics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
An introduction to astrophysical concepts relevant to objects within the Milky Way Galaxy. Particular emphasis will be placed on the observational and theoretical underpinnings of stellar structure and evolution. Other topics may include stellar remnants, the interstellar medium, star clusters and associations, peculiar stars, dark matter, and Milky Way dynamics.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 228 .
Offered: Spring, odd years
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PHYS 383 - Extragalactic Astrophysics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course is an exploration of the physical concepts and processes occurring outside our own Galaxy. Topics studied include a detailed description of the physical characteristics of various types of galaxies, groups, and galaxy clusters, their evolution since the Big Bang, and an overview of the current cosmological theories and observations. Particular attention will be paid to various techniques currently used to study extragalactic objects and phenomena.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 228 .
Offered: Spring, even years
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PHYS 384 - Astrophysical Techniques
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 2
Lecture: 0
Non-Lecture: 9
This laboratory-style class will be an introduction to techniques used to gather and process astronomical data. Students will learn how to plan and carry out observing runs, possibly using the campus observatory. Students will learn to reduce and analyze photometric and spectroscopic data using software packages such as IRAF, and IDL. Data mining techniques, used to access the vast array of publicly available astronomical images will also be covered. The course will culminate with a final project, where students will write a proposal, gather raw astronomical data, and see the analysis through to its completion. Final presentations will be made on the results of this project
Prerequisite(s): (ASTR 100 or ASTR 105 or ASTR 110 ), PHYS 224 , PHYS 362 , and (INTD 121 or MATH 230 )
Offered: Every fall
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PHYS 385 - Optics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course will explore multiple descriptions of light leading to an exploration of modern applications of optics. Models of light explored will include physical optics geometric optics and Gaussian beam optics. Some of the applications discussed will include imaging, fiber optics, lasers and non-linear optics.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 223 and PHYS 228 or permission of the instructor.
Offered: Spring, even years
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PHYS 386 - Solid State Physics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
Basic physical processes which occur in solids, especially semi-conductors and metals, are studied. Applications of quantum mechanics and statistics to the thermal and electrical properties of various types of solids are made.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 224 , PHYS 228 and MATH 326 or permission of the department.
Offered: Spring, odd years
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PHYS 387 - Gravity
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course will cover Newtonian gravity, special and general relativity, and cosmology. Some of the topics include Newton’s law of gravitation, Keplerian orbits, special relativity with spacetime diagrams and metrics, generalization to accelerated frames, the Equivalence Principle, curvature of spacetime, classical tests of GR, stationary and spinning black holes, large scale structure of the universe, big bang theory, and the cosmological model.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 311 or permission of the department.
Offered: Not on a regular basis
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PHYS 389 - Honors Research
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 0
Non-Lecture: 9
Individual research, directed by a member of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Results of the research will be reported in a thesis, published paper, or off-campus presentation. Enrollment by invitation of the Department. Students will normally have completed 90 credits with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 and have completed at least 22 credits in physics (including PHYS 372) with a grade point average of 3.30.
Offered: By individual arrangement
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PHYS 394 - Independent Research
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 2
Lecture: 0
Non-Lecture: 6
A one-semester work and study experience in an appropriate laboratory. Students are required to complete a formal research paper describing the nature of the project undertaken, problems encountered, methodology employed, and conclusions from the project.
Prerequisite(s): Senior class standing, 3.00 cumulative GPA in physics, and permission of the department.
Offered: By individual arrangement. Cannot be counted towards the minimum credits in Physics
Repeatable: May be repeated for a total of 6 credits
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PHYS 395 - Internship/Seminar
2019-2020 Catalog Year
A one-semester work and study experience in an appropriate laboratory outside the College. Students are required to attend regular seminars during the internship, to submit monthly written reports, and to present a departmental seminar upon return to the College. Interns work closely with the sponsor on projects approved by the Physics Department. Notes: This course may not be counted towards the minimum credits in physics. 3, 6, or 9 credits.
Prerequisite(s): Senior class standing, 3.00 cumulative GPA in physics and permission of the department and cooperating agency.
Corequisite(s): PHYS 394 - Independent Research .
Offered: By individual arrangement
Repeatable: May be repeated for a total of 9 credits
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PHYS 399 - Directed Study
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Students work individually, under the supervision of a faculty member, on a research problem in physics. Notes: This course may not be counted towards the minimum 37 credits in physics. 1 to 3 credits.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor.
Offered: By individual arrangement. Cannot be counted towards Physics major
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PLSC 110 - S/U/American Politics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
General Education Area(s): Social Sciences, American History
An analysis of the American system of government, focusing on the relationships among national government institutions and on intergovernmental relations among the nation, the states, and the cities.
Offered: Every semester
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PLSC 120 - S/Comparative Politics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
General Education Area(s): Social Sciences
An introduction to the comparative study of political behavior and institutions. Brief consideration of individual cases suggests concepts and insights which will facilitate the study and criteria for judgment of differing types of political systems in differing environments and at different stages of development. Includes elementary explanation of “types,” “environments,” and the concepts of “development.” Prepares the entering student for more intensive studies of particular geographical and institutional areas. Major examples considered are drawn from areas other than the United States; however, students are encouraged to apply newly introduced concepts to the politics of the United States.
Offered: Every semester
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PLSC 130 - Political Theory
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course is an introduction to political theory. Our focus will be on the enduring questions about the character of justice and morality, about the ends or purposes of political life, and about the character of a good society, which have been debated by some of the greatest minds of the past and which continue to reverberate today. Some of the problems we will consider include the character of justice, the nature of rights and obligations, the relationship between individual and community, the strengths and weaknesses of different forms of government, and the political importance of science and religion.
Offered: Once Every Three Semesters
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PLSC 140 - S/International Politics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
General Education Area(s): Social Sciences
An introduction to the concepts and relationships characterizing the modern international system. Based on a review of historical and contemporary developments, students will be challenged to evaluate issues of continuity and change, states and non-state actors, conflict and cooperation, and power and principles. Approaches to international order, such as international law and organizations, the balance of power, and integration will be addressed, along with contemporary problems in the post-Cold War world.
Offered: Every semester
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PLSC 202 - M/World Religions & Contemporary Issues
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
General Education Area(s): Other World Civilizations
The insights and teachings of major living religions will be analyzed by a study of their basic texts and teachers: Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Comparison of how their teachings apply to such contemporary issues as war and peace, the environment, gender, race, sexual orientation, and economic justice.
Offered: When demand is sufficient
Crosslisted with: PHIL 202.
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PLSC 211 - U/Political Parties and Interest Groups
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
General Education Area(s): American History
An analysis of the changing role and function of parties and the expanding influence of interest groups in American politics. Topics to be covered include the role of political parties in a democratic society, the development of parties in the United States, and the role of interest groups with particular emphasis on Political Action Committees.
Offered: When demand is sufficient
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PLSC 213 - Political Participation and American National Elections
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
Analysis of presidential and congressional elections, including nomination processes. Analysis of the behavior of candidates, voters, parties, and campaign contributors in the American electoral system. Causes and consequences of variation in electoral rules in developed democracies will also be conducted. The implications of the American electoral system for American democracy will be explored. Also, examination of the variety, determinants, and causes of different forms of participation in American politics. Hence, variations in voter participation, protest activity, letter-writing, associational activity, and financial contributions are considered. Addresses question of why some Americans participate while others do not, as well as the political consequences of these variations in participation for American Democracy.
Offered: When demand is sufficient
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PLSC 215 - Community, State, and Regional Politics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
A survey of the interrelationships between local governments, states, and metropolitan regions. Particular emphasis is focused on the key political and policy problems affecting intergovernmental cooperation and conflict, how such problems are developed into issues of national interest, and what alternatives are available for solutions. Also focuses upon specific policy issues such as taxation, environment, land use, structural reform, and transportation, which require interdisciplinary solutions in the federal system.
Offered: When demand is sufficient
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PLSC 216 - Presidential Politics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
A study of contemporary presidential performance within the American political system. Particular attention is given to alternative chief executive choices and values in selecting appropriate courses of action in response to perceived public needs. Topics include political selection processes, political leadership, the presidential advisory system, the public policy presidency, the role of the press, and evaluating presidential power.
Offered: When demand is sufficient
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PLSC 217 - Public Administration
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
A general survey of public administration, including a comparative perspective on theories of bureaucracy, organization, and responsibility. Theories and principles are applied to functions of governmental agencies in implementing public policy with reference to management, personnel, budgeting, and reorganization.
Offered: Once a year
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PLSC 218 - Politics of Judicial Process
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
An analysis and evaluation of the administration of justice as an integral part of the American political process. The legal system, adjudicatory processes, the roles and behavior of the participants involved in litigation, the influence of judicial decision-making, and the impact of judicial decisions are studied.
Offered: Once a year
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PLSC 219 - Social and Political Philosophy
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course will consider some of the foundational issues we face in our search for the best group-living arrangements. Such issues will include, but not be limited to, the conflict between individual liberty and social equality, the criteria for just distribution of wealth, and the proper role and form of government. We will consider how questions about these issues have been addressed historically by philosophers since Plato and Aristotle. We will also explore how contemporary political works by Rawls, Nozick, and others might help us understand and try to solve our own political and social problems.
Offered: Every year
Crosslisted with: PHIL 219.
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PLSC 221 - Democratization
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
Democracy as both a political ideal and institutionalized system is relatively new in historical terms: the eighteenth century counted only three such polities (The US, the French Republic, and the Swiss Cantons). This number has increased steadily over time, even leading some to predict a trend toward near-total democratization globally. In what is termed the third wave of democratization, over 80 countries around the world have moved from authoritarian to democratic systems, albeit sometimes slowly and in partial measure, just since the mid- 1970s. However, there is no single clear path toward democratization, and the methods for - or even possibility of - assisting countries toward democratic goals remains a topic of acute political controversy.
Offered: Every year
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PLSC 222 - Politics of East Asia
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course examines the domestic and international politics of East Asia. How have historical and political factors shaped such varied polities, including a communist country contending with massive socioeconomic and political change and a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system? How successful have the countries of the region been in addressing the political and socioeconomic aspirations of their populations? Which countries have emerged as regional or global powers, and with what effect on the international system? Two major Asian powers, China and Japan, are studied in detail, and the considerable diversity of the region is explored through additional country studies. In addition, each student has the opportunity to pursue study of a pertinent topic of special interest throughout the individual project requirement. The course does not presuppose prior knowledge of East Asian history and politics.
Offered: Every year
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PLSC 223 - Politics of South Asia
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course explores the major political and socioeconomic forces shaping contemporary South Asia. We begin with an overview of South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Nepal, and Afghanistan), emphasizing subcontinental factors such as the impact of colonization and anticolonial freedom struggles; international relations; and regional conflicts such as Kashmir and the nuclearization of the Indo- Pakistani relationship. We then turn to the ways in which newly independent states have contended with challenges of governance, national unity, and socioeconomic development, through case studies of the states of the region. The major focus of the course is the evolution and nature of democratic and authoritarian regimes in the region.
Offered: When demand is sufficient
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PLSC 224 - Government and Politics in Africa
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
The course analyzes the major determinants of social and political change and conflict in the states of Sub-Saharan Africa (i.e. the countries of the region south of the North African Arab-Islamic Region, including South Africa). Focus is directed to the nature and effects of the pre-colonial and post-colonial economic, social, and political institutions on contemporary politics.
Offered: When demand is sufficient
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PLSC 225 - Politics of East Central Europe
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
A comparative examination of the establishment and development of the former Communist systems in East Central Europe, including the revolutions which brought political change to these regimes. Topics considered include changes in the role of the Communist party and bureaucracy, the economic problems associated with marketization, issues of nationalism and political fragmentation, and the international context of democratization.
Offered: When demand is sufficient
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PLSC 226 - Politics of Western Europe
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
A comparative analysis of political, economic, social, and foreign policy issues of countries in Western Europe. Special attention is given to the growing importance of the European Union.
Offered: When demand is sufficient
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PLSC 227 - Civil War and Conflict Resolution
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course examines the phenomenon of civil war using a range of philosophical and theoretical approaches, as well as an abundance of empirical data about the incidence, characteristics, causes, duration, and cessation of civil war. We will focus our analysis on a few key questions: What are the major causes of civil war today? What comparative approaches best help us explain the prevalence of civil war? What special obstacles do civil wars present for conflict resolution? What means exist for countries caught in civil war to reach acceptable resolutions, re-assert the rule of law and accountability, and allow their societies to overcome divisions and reconcile?
Offered: Every year
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PLSC 228 - S/M/Developing World Politics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
General Education Area(s): Social Sciences, Other World Civilizations
A survey of conditions and politics in areas of the world generally referred to as “developing.” Why is political instability so common? How does chronic poverty affect politics in the developing world? What are the prospects for change? A variety of historical models, theoretical approaches to political development, and contemporary cases will be used to examine these and similar questions.
Offered: Once a year
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PLSC 240 - M/Asia in the Global Setting
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
General Education Area(s): Other World Civilizations
This course covers controversial issues of diplomacy, politics, and economics faced by the regions of East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia. Countries emphasized include the People’s Republic of China, Japan, North and South Korea, India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Singapore. Special attention is given to problems of development, regional cooperation, the relationships between domestic and foreign policy and Asia’s role in world politics.
Offered: When demand is sufficient
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PLSC 241 - Politics of Genocide
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course investigates the main causes and roots of evil and cruelty that are examined through learning about genocide in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Students will use the case method to study genocides and mass murders including the Armenia Genocide, the Holocaust, the Cambodian
Offered: Not on a regular basis
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PLSC 246 - S/U.S. Foreign Policy
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
General Education Area(s): Social Sciences
An examination of the international and domestic setting of US foreign policy, placing contemporary policy in the context of US traditions. The role of actors in the policymaking process will be analyzed, along with problems and choices confronting the US in the post-Cold War world. Individual crises and case studies may be used to illustrate decision-making processes.
Offered: Every semester
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PLSC 248 - The European Union
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course will review the origins and historical development of the European Union after World War II, describe the roles and functions of the EU institutions, and analyze the impact of the EU on various policy areas, domestic and foreign, of the European space. Theoretical perspectives on the process of regional integration will be incorporated in analyzing the prospects for European integration.
Prerequisite(s): PLSC 120 or PLSC 140 .
Offered: Once a year
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PLSC 250 - Women and Politics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
Sex (like class, race, ethnic identity, religion, or nationality) is treated as a fundamental factor, crucial to political analysis. Explores the politics of male-female relations in individual and social dimensions and in geographically and historically comparative perspective. Examines the political behavior of women in the context of formal, political institutions. Also analyzes the impact of male-dominated structures and culture upon women’s consciousness and actions. In short, represents an aspect of the politics of inequality and the mechanisms of dominance and dependence.
Offered: When demand is sufficient
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PLSC 251 - R/Modern Political Analysis
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
General Education Area(s): Mathematics
The purpose of this course is to introduce Political Science majors to the methods of modern political science research. The course will include a presentation of the scientific approach as practiced by Political Scientists, focusing on both theoretical and methodological issues. The purposes of research, measurement problems, and other data management problems in political science research will be discussed. Students will be introduced to basic statistical techniques of data analysis including: dispersion and central tendency, correlation coefficients, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, Chi-Square tests, student t-tests, and simple regression analysis. (Students may not receive credit for more than one 200-level statistics course, including credit for more than one of the following courses: ECON 205 , GEOG 278 , MATH 242 , MATH 262 , PLSC 251, PSYC 251 , SOCL 211 .)
Prerequisite(s): PLSC 110 , PLSC 120 , or PLSC 140 .
Offered: Three semesters out of four
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PLSC 291 - Enduring Issues in Comparative and International Politics: (subtitle)
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
Topics may cover a wide spectrum of issues, problems, themes, ideas, and areas related to international and comparative politics. Incorporates knowledge and materials from other disciplines within a political science framework.
Offered: When demand is sufficient
Repeatable: May be repeated once for credit
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PLSC 311 - Public Opinion and the Mass Media
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
An examination of American political attitudes and opinions relevant to the functioning of democratic government. Consideration will be given to the extent that the American public fulfills the requirements of democratic theory. Topics include mass media and public opinion, American tolerance for dissent, trust in government, survey research, political efficacy, presidential approval ratings, political ideologies, and partisan change. The determinants of political attitudes and important trends in public opinion will be examined.
Prerequisite(s): PLSC 110 or permission of instructor.
Offered: When demand is sufficient
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PLSC 312 - American Social Welfare Policy
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course presents an analysis of U.S. policy responses to poverty within the framework of the public policy process. The course will examine how definitions of the deserving and undeserving poor and Americans’ attitudes toward the causes of poverty influence the types of public policy implemented. Income maintenance programs, policies to encourage work, health insurance for low-income and elderly Americans, programs to meet basic needs, and how U.S. policy provides for children being raised in poverty will be examined. The course will also consider the changing relationship between the national and state governments and a comparison of the U.S. social safety net to that available to residents of the European nations.
Prerequisite(s): PLSC 110 or permission of the instructor.
Offered: When demand is sufficient
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PLSC 313 - Political Leadership
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
A study of different varieties and approaches to political leadership in governmental systems, with special consideration given to the structures, origins, and accomplishments of specific political leaders serving under different social conditions. Case studies of selected political leaders will be included, drawing upon a variety of biographical and interdisciplinary sources.
Prerequisite(s): PLSC 110 or permission of the instructor.
Offered: When demand is sufficient
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PLSC 314 - American Public Policy
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
An introduction to the policy-making process in American government with special emphasis on the development of national domestic and defense policies from World War II together with the analysis of decision approaches taken by the President, Cabinet, Congress, various federal agencies, and pressure groups. The reordering of national priorities is considered within the context of selected policy decisions, the participation of groups affected, and the implications for national goals.
Prerequisite(s): PLSC 110 or PLSC 217 or permission of instructor.
Offered: Once a year
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PLSC 315 - Legislative Process
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
An appraisal of the legislative process in the United States emphasizing the origin, passage, and administration of American public policy. The influence of public and private participants – Congress, the President, the Courts, bureaucracy, political parties, interest groups, and the press – in the legislative process is studied.
Prerequisite(s): PLSC 110 or permission of the instructor.
Offered: When demand is sufficient
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PLSC 316 - Political Power in American Cities
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
A study of American city politics from administrative, social, and political perspectives. Emphasis is placed on the relationships between local government institutions and urban change, the nature of political decisions and leadership in cities, and resolution of conflicts resulting from the urban crisis, including civil disorders, poverty, welfare, housing, and education.
Prerequisite(s): PLSC 110 or permission of the instructor.
Offered: When demand is sufficient
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PLSC 318 - Constitutional Law
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
A study of the character and implications of American constitutional principles as developed by the United States Supreme Court, with emphasis on the development of judicial review and its impact on our political system, principles of the separation of powers, the problems of federalism, and the powers of Congress and the President.
Prerequisite(s): PLSC 110 or permission of the instructor.
Offered: When demand is sufficient
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PLSC 319 - Constitutional Rights and Liberties
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
A study of the nature and scope of American constitutional rights and liberties, their development, their limits, and the issues and problems surrounding their application. Particular attention is given to due process of law, equal protection of the laws, rights of the accused, and the First Amendment freedoms.
Prerequisite(s): PLSC 110 or permission of the instructor.
Offered: Once a year
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PLSC 320 - Theories of Comparative Politics
2019-2020 Catalog Year
Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
An exploration of the theoretical approaches to understanding comparative politics. The course addresses the dimensions and requirements of good theory as well as emphasizing the comparative politics research methodologies. Theoretical issues explored will include classical theory, institutional, cultural, and rational choice approaches, social movements, political change (including democratization), the state, and civil society.
Prerequisite(s): PLSC 120 , PLSC 140 , senior standing, and permission of instructor.
Offered: Every year
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