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POLS
Political Science
Department of Political Science
(406) 994-4141
POLS 206IS THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES
POLS 208 STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
POLS 214IS PRINCIPLES OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
POLS 241D INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
POLS 251 CONDUCTING POLITICAL INQUIRY
POLS 255 PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
POLS 280 SPECIAL TOPICS
POLS 289R UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH/CREATIVE ACTIVITY INSTRUCTION
POLS 290R UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH/CREATIVE ACTIVITY
POLS 301 PARTIES AND ELECTIONS
POLS 302 MEDIA & POLITICS
POLS 304 THE U.S. PRESIDENCY
POLS 306 THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
POLS 310 STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
POLS 321 CLASSICAL POLITICAL THOUGHT
POLS 322 MODERN POLITICAL THOUGHT
POLS 324 CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL THEORY
POLS 334 THEORIES OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
POLS 340 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORY
POLS 400 SEMINAR: JUNIOR-SENIOR
POLS 402 INTERNATIONAL LAW
POLS 406 POLITICAL THEORY AND CINEMA
POLS 409 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY
POLS 415 MONTANA LOCAL POLITICS & POLICY
POLS 421 POLITICS OF FOOD & HUNGER
POLS 441 INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHT
POLS 442 THE POLITICS OF WAR & PEACE
POLS 443 INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
POLS 444 GLOBALIZATION AND POLITICS
POLS 450 NATURAL RESOURCE POLICY
POLS 452 AMERICAN PUBLIC POLICY
POLS 453 PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS
POLS 454 ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS
POLS 456 ADMINISTRATIVE LAW & REGULATION
POLS 460R SENIOR CAPSTONE SEMINAR
POLS 470 INDEPENDENT STUDY
POLS 476 INTERNSHIP
POLS 480 SPECIAL TOPICS
POLS 489R UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH/CREATIVE ACTIVITY INSTRUCTION
POLS 490R UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH/CREATIVE ACTIVITY
POLS 520 GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP & ADMINISTRATION
POLS 551 RESEARCH METHODS
POLS 552 PUBLIC POLICY PROCESSES
POLS 554 FOUNDATIONS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
POLS 555 HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
POLS 557 PUBLIC BUDGETING & FINANCE
POLS 558 PUBLIC ORGANIZATATION DYNAMICS
POLS 559 PROGRAM EVALUATION & POLICY ANALYSIS
POLS 560 ETHICS AND PUBLIC SERVICE
POLS 562 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
POLS 570 INDEPENDENT STUDY
POLS 574 DIRECTED PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH PROJECT
POLS 576 INTERNSHIP
POLS 580 SPECIAL TOPICS
POLS 588 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
POLS 589 GRADUATE CONSULTATION
POLS 206IS THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES
F,S,Su 3 cr. LEC 3
-- Examines the major institutions of national government and politics. Special emphasis on the constitution and other political rules of the game as shapers of public consciousness and government policy.
POLS 208 STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
S 3 cr. LEC 3
-- Examines the changing role of state and local government in the American federal system. Emphasis on the constitutional basis of the distribution of governing powers and upon the problems confronting state and local government in Montana.
POLS 214IS PRINCIPLES OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
F 3 cr. LEC 3
-- Major concepts and values of democracy in the United States including the founding, power, behavioral concepts, and sense of community.
POLS 241D INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
F 3 cr. LEC 3
-- A survey of the major global issues and the means nation-states use to resolve them. The students will explore the concepts of sovereignty, the elements of power, and the global trends of regionalism and internationalism.
POLS 251 CONDUCTING POLITICAL INQUIRY
S 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 206.
-- Research design and measurement of political behavior at the level of the individual and the political unit. Techniques of gathering and analyzing attitudinal data, voting records, policy outputs, and other political variables. Use of nonparametric statistics.
POLS 255 PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
S 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 206.
-- Implementation of public policy in American government. Topics include but are not limited to: bureaucratic politics, decision making, budgeting, personnel management, ethics, organization theory, and organization behavior.
POLS 280 SPECIAL TOPICS
On Demand 1 - 4 cr. Maximum 12 cr.
PREREQUISITE: Course prerequisites as determined for each offering.
-- Courses not required in any curriculum for which there is a particular one-time need, or given on a trial basis to determine acceptability and demand for requesting a regular course number.
POLS 289R UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH/CREATIVE ACTIVITY INSTRUCTION
F,S 1-3 cr. RCT may be repeated
-- Classroom instruction associated with directed undergraduate research/creative activity projects.
POLS 290R UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH/CREATIVE ACTIVITY
F,S 1-6 cr. IND may be repeated
-- Directed undergraduate research/creative activity which may culminate in a written work or other creative project.
POLS 301 PARTIES AND ELECTIONS
F alternate years, to be offered 2006 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 206, POLS 214, POLS 251.
-- Examines the structure and function of political parties, interest groups, and the mass media in the electoral process. Special emphasis on electoral rules and citizen participation from a comparative democratic perspective.
POLS 302 MEDIA & POLITICS
F alternate years, to be offered odd years 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 206, POLS 214, POLS 251.
-- Explores role of the media in the political process with special emphasis on various print media, television, film, and cyberspace.
POLS 304 THE U.S. PRESIDENCY
F alternate years, to be offered 2006 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 206, POLS 214, POLS 251.
-- The American presidency as a government institution. Examination of the legal, political, administrative, and policy making roles of the president. Emphasis on recent issues of responsiveness to national needs and public accountability.
POLS 306 THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
S alternate years, to be offered even years 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 206, POLS 208, POLS 214, POLS 251.
-- Examines legislative decision-making in a constitutional, political, and comparative context. Special emphasis on how institutional rules and relationships shape the making of public policy at both the Congressional and state legislative level.
POLS 310 STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
F 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 206,251, Quantitative Core Course.
-- Provides an introduction to methods and techniques in quantitative political statistics. Topics covered range from levels of measurement and descriptive statistics to logistic regression, using political science data sets and examples.
POLS 321 CLASSICAL POLITICAL THOUGHT
F 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 206, POLS 214, POLS 251.
-- Themes and issues in political discourse from Plato through Rousseau with emphasis on contemporary relevance.
POLS 322 MODERN POLITICAL THOUGHT
S 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 206, POLS 214, POLS 251.
-- Significant modern and post-modern thinkers, ideologies, utopias, movements, and discourses. May include variants of liberalism, Marxism, anarchism, feminism, political ecology, Freud, and political dimensions of popular culture and cultural theory.
POLS 324 CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL THEORY
F,S,Su 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 206, POLS 214, POLS 251.
-- Ideas of major thinkers from 2000 on.
POLS 334 THEORIES OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
F alternate years, to be offered odd years 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 241.
-- Theoretical and empirical social science approaches to political movements, resistance cultures, and protest and change in selected contexts, both historical and contemporary. Behavior of individuals in mass and revolutionary movements, in cults, and through acts of terrorism is examined.
POLS 340 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORY
F alternate years, to be offered 2005 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 241. Junior or Senior standing is required.
-- Overview of the idealism versus realism debate during the first half of the twentieth century. Followed by theories formulated in the postwar period to study causes of war/conflict, problems of interdependence, and recent developments such as the end of the Cold War, global democratization, growing ethnic conflict, and a more active United Nations.
POLS 354 ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS
F alternate years, to be offered 2006 3 cr. LEC 3.
PREREQUISITE: Junior standing, POLS 206.
-- The evolution of the environmental movement and the various types of environmental approaches will be examined. Special emphasis on the role of electoral and non-electoral politics, strategy, and tactics will be assessed.
POLS 400 SEMINAR: JUNIOR-SENIOR
F,S,Su 3 cr. SEM 3
PREREQUISITE: Junior standing.
-- Topics offered at the upper division level which are not covered by catalogued courses. Students are expected to do individual research projects leading to an oral and written report of each student's findings.
POLS 402 INTERNATIONAL LAW
S alternate years, to be offered odd years 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 241. Junior or Senior standing required.
-- The nature and origin of modern public international law and its role in contemporary world politics. Topics include the rights and duties of states, human rights, law pertaining to armed conflict, aggression and international crimes, and the role of international law in conflict management.
POLS 406 POLITICAL THEORY AND CINEMA
Su 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 206,208,241,251 and 214 or 255, or consent of the instructor.
-- Explores the intersection of political theory with topics such as civil society, bureaucracy and public policy through the use of film. Special attention given
to both descriptive and prescriptive applications of modern and contemporary political theory to these topics.
POLS 409 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY
S alternate years, to be offered odd years 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: Junior standing and POLS 206.
-- Explores the relationship between law, individual rights, and public policy. Legal research and case law approach are stressed. Topics will include, but are not limited to the aspects of the Bill of Rights and the 14th and 15th Amendments.
POLS 415 MONTANA LOCAL POLITICS & POLICY
F alternate years, to be offered 2006 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: Junior standing, POLS 208.
-- Montana politics with an emphasis on the historical context underlying the political issues of the state of Montana, the structure of Montana's local governments and the critical issues they confront. Examination of the Montana local governing process as determined by the interaction of federal, state, and local government, and contemporary political and policy issues of governance.
POLS 421 POLITICS OF FOOD & HUNGER
S 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 241 and Junior standing.
-- The role of civil society, government and multilateral organizations are examined in a comprehensive analysis of food and hunger, including the issues presented by agricultural policy, famine, biotechnology and food safety, domestic and international food aid, and the right to food.
POLS 441 INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS
F alternate years, to be offered odd years 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 241. Junior or Senior standing required.
-- The development of human rights in legal and political context of the post World War II period. Civil and political rights of due process; political participation and fundamental democratic freedoms; as well as social, cultural, and economic rights including basic human needs, self-determination, gender equality, and cultural integrity. National and International implementation is also considered.
POLS 442 THE POLITICS OF WAR & PEACE
S alternate years, to be offered odd years 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 241. Junior or Senior standing is required.
-- Combines two well-established subjects in the area of political science concerned with the study of international relations, the causes of war of war and peace studies, with an emphasis on the latter. Covers a broad range of theorizing, research, and practice in both areas and will consider the relationship between them in constructive and critical ways.
POLS 443 INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
F 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 241 and junior standing.
-- Political and economic perspectives are integrated in an analysis of the issues affecting the domestic and international economy and their interface. International institutions, trade, exchange rates and the monetary system, regionalism and development are critiqued with different political perspectives.
POLS 444 GLOBALIZATION AND POLITICS
S 3 cr. SEM 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 443, junior standing or consent of instructor.
-- Issues in globalization are critiqued using in-depth case studies on trade and trade disputes, programs imposed by the World Bank/IMF, global income inequality, the role of civil society, labor standards and personal criteria for globalization.
POLS 450 NATURAL RESOURCE POLICY
S 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 206, POLS 208, POLS 251.
-- Public lands policy and the economic and political issues that emerge. Special emphasis is placed on the National Parks and Federal public lands of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
POLS 452 AMERICAN PUBLIC POLICY
S 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 206,208,241,251 and 214 or 255.
-- Examines the major political and strategic processes of public policy development and implantation. Topics covered include agenda setting, stakeholder influence, use of political narratives, decision making and implementation strategies.
POLS 453 PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS
S alternate years, will be offered odd years 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 206, POLS 251 and POLS 452; POLS 310 is highly recommended.
-- Analysis of impact of public decisions with emphasis placed on secondary data sources and interpretation.
POLS 454 ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS
Su 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: Junior standing, POLS 206.
-- The evolution of the environmental movement and the various types of environmental approaches will be examined. Special emphasis on the role of electoral and non-electoral politics, strategy, and tactics will be assessed.
POLS 456 ADMINISTRATIVE LAW & REGULATION
S alternate years, to be offered odd years 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: Junior standing, POLS 355.
-- Explores the evolution of the administrative state and regulatory policy. Emphasis on the constitutional and statutory basis for administrative law and the public policy effects which flow from administrative rulemaking.
POLS 460R SENIOR CAPSTONE SEMINAR
F,S 3 cr. SEM
PREREQUISITE: Senior standing, POLS major.
-- Senior capstone course. Required course for graduation. Students examine the major concerns and issues in the discipline of political science in a mentored research project.
POLS 470 INDEPENDENT STUDY
On Demand 1 - 3 cr. IND Maximum 6 cr.
PREREQUISITE: Junior standing, cumulative g.p.a. of 2.5 or better, consent of the instructor, and approval of the department head.
-- Directed research and study on an individual basis.
POLS 476 INTERNSHIP
F,S,Su 6 - 12 cr. IND 5-11 RCT 1-2
PREREQUISITE: Junior standing, cumulative g.p.a. of 2.5 or better, consent of instructor, and approval of department head.
-- An individualized assignment arranged with an agency, business, or other organization to provide guided experience in the field.
POLS 480 SPECIAL TOPICS
On Demand 1 - 4 cr. Maximum 12 cr.
PREREQUISITE: Course prerequisites as determined for each offering.
-- Courses not required in any curriculum for which there is a particular one-time need, or given on a trial basis to determine acceptability and demand before requesting a regular course number.
POLS 489R UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH/CREATIVE ACTIVITY INSTRUCTION
F,S,Su 1 - 2 cr. RCT May be repeated. Max 4 cr.
COREQUISITE: POLS 490, junior standing.
-- Classroom instruction associated with directed undergraduate research/creative activity projects.
POLS 490R UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH/CREATIVE ACTIVITY
F,S,Su 1 - 6 cr. IND May be repeated. Max 12 cr.
PREREQUISITE: Junior standing, cumulative g.p.a. of 2.5 or better, consent of the instructor and approval of the department head.
-- Students propose, develop, and complete an individual research project under the direction of a faculty mentor. Written and oral presentation of the results are expected.
POLS 520 GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP & ADMINISTRATION
F alternate years, 3 cr. LEC 3
-- This course exposes students, using the most current theoretical and empirical literature, to the essential competencies need for management and leadership roles in public organizations.
POLS 551 RESEARCH METHODS
S 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: Graduate standing.
-- The research process as a means of acquiring knowledge that is reliable and relevant to the making of public management decisions. Students will prepare and submit a research design that meets social scientific standards.
POLS 552 PUBLIC POLICY PROCESSES
S, alternate years, to be offered odd years 3 cr. LEC 3
-- This course exposes students, using the most current theoretical and empirical literature, to the essential competencies needed to understand the development and implementation of public policy.
POLS 554 FOUNDATIONS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
F 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: Graduate standing.
-- Theoretical, historical, intellectual foundations of public administration. Examines the relationship between public administration theory and practice, the political context and the intellectual heritage of the field. Examines basic functions and processes of public administration. Examines the relationship between public administration and contemporary issues of governance facing the public sector.
POLS 555 HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
F alternate years, to be offered odd years 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 554, graduate standing.
-- The development of the concept of "public service" in the United States. Topics include historical development of public personnel, position classification, recruitment, selection, equal opportunity, affirmative action, collective bargaining and flexible employment relationships under more limited and decentralized government.
POLS 557 PUBLIC BUDGETING & FINANCE
S alternate years, to be offered even years 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 554, graduate standing.
-- Public sector budgeting as a tool for financial management and the implementation of fiscal and programmatic policy. Emphasis on the political context.
POLS 558 PUBLIC ORGANIZATION DYNAMICS
F alternate years, to be offered even years 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 554, graduate standing.
-- Examines alternative organization structures for public management and the influence of those structures upon organization behavior and performances. Influence of management styles and individual differences are examined as well as issues relating to personal development and organizational mission. Public and non-profit organizations are contrasted.
POLS 559 PROGRAM EVALUATION AND POLICY ANALYSIS
S alternate years, to be offered odd years 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 554, graduate standing.
-- Methods of program evaluation and policy analysis for public programs. Quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis are contrasted. Implementation, utilization, and political context of the analysis and evaluation process are examined. Philosophical and ethical issues underlying alternative methods are examined.
POLS 560 ETHICS AND PUBLIC SERVICE
S alternate years, to be offered even years 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 554.
-- Explores ethics and selected issues in public service and policy making through theoretical and case study approaches. Emphasis on the relation of continuing issues and problem areas to individual careers in policy making and administrative decision making.
POLS 562 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
F alternate years, to be offered 2006 3 cr. LEC 3
PREREQUISITE: POLS 554, graduate standing.
-- Training in the administration of municipal and county governments for graduate students who intend a career in agencies of these governments, or instate and federal agencies whose programs focus on local governments.
POLS 570 INDEPENDENT STUDY
On Demand 1 - 3 cr. IND Maximum 6 cr.
PREREQUISITE: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, approval of department head and Dean of Graduate Studies.
-- Directed research and study on an individual basis.
POLS 574 DIRECTED PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH PROJECT
F,S 3 cr. RCT 3
PREREQUISITE: Graduate standing.
-- Write, complete and present a graduate professional paper under the supervision of a faculty mentor.
POLS 576 INTERNSHIP
F,S,Su 3-12 cr. IND 10-11 RCT 1-2 Maximum 12 cr.
-- An individualized preprofessional assignment arranged with an agency, business, or other organization.
POLS 580 SPECIAL TOPICS
On Demand 1 - 4 cr. Maximum 12 cr.
PREREQUISITE: Upper division courses and others as determined for each offering, consent of instructor.
-- Courses not required in any curriculum for which there is a particular one time need, or given on a trial basis to determine acceptability and demand.
POLS 588 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
On Demand 1 - 3 cr. May be repeated; maximum 3 cr.
PREREQUISITE: Graduate standing, teaching experience and/or current employment in a school organization, consent of instructor and Dean of Graduate Studies.
-- Courses offered on a one time basis to fulfill professional development needs of inservice educators. A specific focus is given to each course which is appropriately subtitled.
POLS 589 GRADUATE CONSULTATION
F,S,Su 1-3 cr. IND
PREREQUISITE: Master's standing and approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies.
-- This course may be used only by students who have completed all of their course work (and thesis if on a thesis plan) but who need additional faculty or staff time or help.
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