Taylor 133
541-552-6130
Paul Pavlich, Chair

The political science program is part of the History and Political Science Department. The mission of the political science program is to promote in our students an appreciation for the rich history and dynamics of political thought and life. Political science at SOU encourages an awareness of our students’ obligations as citizens, their potential as active participants in public life, and their connections through political and cultural institutions to the rest of the world.

The political science program provides a solid liberal arts curriculum that prepares students for active engagement in public and private settings with a keen understanding of political institutions and processes. The curriculum, with its emphasis on political behavior, law, public opinion research, and political thought, is designed to interface with a variety of other majors. In particular, the department strives to engender in students a balance between the theoretical and philosophical “politics of ideas” and the pragmatic applied processes and behaviors of “politics on the street.” Through service-learning and internship programs, the program offers students experiences in politics, government, law, and social research. The political science faculty provides active mentorship to students seeking academic challenge and community involvement.

Program Requirements

Programs

• Political Science, BA or BS

• Political Science Minor

Courses

• PS 110 - Globalization
• PS 199 - Special Studies
• PS 201 - Power and Politics
• PS 202 - Law, Politics, and the Constitution
• PS 300 - Research and Writing
• PS 310 - The Politics of Mass Media
• PS 311 - Public Opinion and Survey Research
• PS 313 - American Politics
• PS 317 - Collective Action
• PS 321 - Business, Government, and Nonprofits
• PS 324 - Political Campaigns
• PS 328 - Public Policy and the Environment
• PS 340 - Law, Science, and the Environment
• PS 341 - The Constitution and the Supreme Court
• PS 342 - Environmental Law
• PS 343 - The Constitution and the Presidency
• PS 355 - Comparative Politics
• PS 358 - Terrorism
• PS 360 - Politics and Film
• PS 372 - Twentieth-Century Revolutions
• PS 382 - Vietnam War and Film
• PS 399 - Special Studies
• PS 401 - Research
• PS 403 - Thesis
• PS 405 - Reading and Conference
• PS 407 - Seminar
• PS 409 - Practicum
• PS 421 - International Law
• PS 430A - Nonprofit Grantwriting and Government Relations
• PS 430B - Nonprofit Volunteerism, Board Development, and Community Mobilization
• PS 448 - Mediation and Conflict Management
• PS 452 - United States Foreign Relations through 1920
• PS 453 - United States Foreign Relations 1920-Present
• PS 454 - U.S.-Latin American Relations
• PS 460 - Grand Strategy
• PS 469 - Topics in Political Theory
• PS 498 - Senior Seminar
• PS 501 - Research
• PS 503 - Thesis
• PS 505 - Reading and Conference
• PS 507 - Seminar
• PS 509 - Practicum
• PS 521 - International Law
• PS 530A - Nonprofit Grantwriting and Government Relations
• PS 530B - Nonprofit Volunteerism, Board Development, and Community Mobilization
• PS 569 - Topics in Political Theory