Political Science

The Political Science major at Wilmington College offers students the opportunity to pursue careers in international studies, public administration, legislative affairs, and law. Students majoring in Political Science study the institutions and processes societies create to make collective decisions about human problems. Courses in this field address issues of justice and human rights, social movements, and economic development as they relate to the distribution of power in society.

In keeping with the College mission, the Political Science major encourages students to examine problems of conflict reconciliation and peacemaking in both national and international contexts. Although the Political Science major is compatible with virtually any other major at the College, students in the department often double major in criminal justice, psychology, Spanish, environmental studies, or minor in sustainability.

The department encourages its students to pursue internships, community service opportunities, and extra-curricular activities. It offers a number of study abroad programs, internships in Washington, D.C., research opportunities and lobbying activities.

Degrees

Courses

PS130: AMERICAN POLITICS

Credits 4
An introduction to American politics, focusing on issues, ideas, and institutions. Topics include the structural foundation of American government, political linkages between citizens and government officials, dynamics of governmental institutions, and policy outcomes in the areas of civil liberties and rights, economic and social welfare, and international affairs.

PS175: MOCK TRIAL SEMINAR

Credits 4

Participation on the Wilmington College Mock Trial team gives students a chance to develop real-world lawyer and witness skills in the courtroom. With a focus on oral advocacy, critical thinking, and legal analysis, students will have the opportunity to travel to area competitions as they take a legal case from start to finish. May be taken a total of 4 times for credit.

PS231G: HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE JUDICIAL PROCESS

Credits 4
An analysis of human rights in the context of national and international politics. Students will study recent American cases in civil rights and civil liberties, as well as global problems involving genocide, religious freedom, ethnic cleansing, and access to medical care. Students will master skills in logical reasoning and argument and apply these skills to material covered in the class.

PS234G: GLOBAL POLITICS

Credits 4
An introduction to global politics investigating the behavior of countries and other actors in the global system. Students will be introduced to theories and approaches to global politics and will apply these to historical and contemporary events. Key actors such as countries, international governmental and nongovernmental organizations, terrorists, and others will be analyzed. Substantive topics examined include the global political economy, conflict and security, human rights etc.

PS237G: POLITICAL SIMULATION PRACTICUM

Credits 2

Students will travel to actively participate in a simulated international political forum such as the Ohio Valley Regional Model Arab League. They will serve as delegates representing governments or as chairpersons on councils, on political, economic, environmental, and social affairs, among others. Students will learn about the issues, positions, and diplomatic strategies of governments represented at the simulation through classroom learning and individual research efforts. In addition, students will learn how to negotiate and build teams. Students will gain an understanding of intergovernmental cooperation and parliamentary procedures and develop public speaking in a political setting. May be taken two times for credit.

PS333G: CASE STUDIES IN NONVIOLENCE AND RECONCILIATION

Credits 4
Using several historical and contemporary cases, this course will introduce students to the power of strategic nonviolence against some of the most repressive governments in history, including Hitler, Milosevic, the Soviet Union, etc.The course will also examine attempts at post-conflict nonviolent reconciliation. The motivation behind these nonviolent movements and approaches to reconcilitation, their strategies, and why so little is known about them will be considered.

PS337G: GLOBAL POLITICS OF FOOD

Credits 4
How can one billion of earth's people be hungry at that same time that one billion people are obese? Who influences what food you eat and the price you pay for it? This course will answer these and many other questions by examining the global politics of food and the power dynamics between key actors such as countries, global corporations, international government organizations, nongovernmental organizations, communities, and individuals. Alternative models of food policies will also be explored.

PS340: CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

Credits 4
An examination of the history, politics, and substantive decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court, with particular emphasis on individual rights, judicial selection and the values of the justices, and the allocation of authority between the federal government, states, and individual citizens.

PS341: ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY

Credits 2
An in-depth look into the factors and events that stimulated the environmental movement and laid the foundation for today’s eco-consciousness. This course will examine the management of natural resources at national, regional, state, and local levels. Students will explore the differences between preservation and conservation philosophies. They will also investigate policies that govern both point- and non-point source pollution, air, soil, and water quality, and how these policies aim to balance economic growth and stewardship.

PS343: PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY

Credits 4
This course serves to introduce the study of public policy in the United States. It will examine the role of government in the policy process, the structure and process of policymaking, and the evaluation of policies. Cases studies will focus on several current issues, e.g., the budget, welfare, and defense policy. Students will have an opportunity to apply their knowledge through a lobbying visit to our state’s capital in Columbus.

PS348G: THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF GLOBALIZATION

Credits 4
Skill
W
This course will focus on foundational concepts in politicaleconomy and globalization. Special emphasis will be placed on the differential experience of globalization for individuals living in more developed countries and less developed ones.

PS350/350G: TOPICS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

Credits 4
This course develops knowledge of international politics with respect to a specific context. It explores in detail the politics of a region, the politics of an issue or issue area, or a specific theory in the discipline of international politics. Topics vary and may include, but are not limited to, the Middle East, US foreign policy issues, Human Rights, and the Politics of Women. May be taken two times for credit.

PS495: SENIOR RESEARCH SEMINAR

Credits 4
Skill
W
This course is designed to be the capstone course for Political Science and Criminal Justice majors. Students will apply their research and writing skills by engaging in a focused research project. The end product will be a high quality research paper. Students will gain valuable experience by presenting the paper at a research conference.