POLS 198 SPECIAL TOPICS: JAN TERM TRAVEL (4 credits)

Topics vary according to faculty availability and interest. Past topics have included From Colonialism to Globalism: Political Change in Southeast Asia from World War II to the Present; Religion and Politics in Turkey; Politics and the Past in Post-Soviet States; Comparative Women's Politics in Europe; Politics and Religion in Ireland. Offered only as student interest and college resources permit. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

Prerequisites: IDST 098 previous fall.

Typically offered: January Term

POLS 201 AMERICAN POLITICS (4 credits)

How our national government is supposed to work and how it does work. Problems and tensions. Contemporary issues and controversies.

(INDIVID/SYSTEMS/SOCIETIES, U.S. PLURALISM)

POLS 210 INTERNATIONAL POLITICS (4 credits)

Examines historical context and theoretical foundations central to understanding international political order and exercise of power in a global era. Applies knowledge to current issues such as climate change, human rights, poverty, and nuclear proliferation.

(GLOBAL PLURALISM, INDIVID/SYSTEMS/SOCIETIES)

POLS 220 GREAT POLITICAL THINKERS (4 credits)

Unchanging and continuing themes and issues of politics and political philosophers. Original works of selected major political theorists including Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, the contract theorists, and Marx.

(ULTIMATE QUESTIONS)

POLS 225 THE STUDY OF LAW (4 credits)

The nature, functions, uses, and operations of the legal process. Types of law (civil, criminal, equity) courts, judges, and other legal actors. Specific current problems to illustrate the legal process.

(INDIVID/SYSTEMS/SOCIETIES)

POLS 230 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY (4 credits)

Qualitative and quantitative approaches to the study of politics and public policy. The logic, assumptions, goals, and limitations of the scientific approach to the study of politics, with emphasis on quantitative methods and the use of computers in research.

Prerequisites: POLS 201, POLS 210, or POLS 220, or consent of instructor.

(QUANTITATIVE REASONING)

POLS 250 LEADERSHIP AND ETHICS ACROSS DISCIPLINES (ALSO LISTED AS LEAD 250) (4 credits)

Exploration of leadership and ethics across disciplines. Identify core facets of leadership from different disciplinary and theoretical perspectives. Evaluate what it means to lead with integrity, compassion, and ethics in different contexts. Activities may include: leadership self-assessment, seminars with guest speakers, skills-training, and self-reflection.

Typically offered: Spring Semester

(EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, INDIVID/SYSTEMS/SOCIETIES)

POLS 298 SPECIAL TOPICS: JAN TERM TRAVEL (4 credits)

Topics vary according to faculty availability and interest. Past topics have included From Colonialism to Globalism: Political Change in Southeast Asia from World War II to the Present; Religion and Politics in Turkey; Politics and the Past in Post-Soviet States; Comparative Women's Politics in Europe; Politics and Religion in Ireland. Offered only as student interest and college resources permit. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

Prerequisites: IDST 098 previous fall.

Typically offered: January Term

POLS 310 AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT (4 credits)

American political thought from colonial times to the present. Consideration of how the political theories of early American thinkers addressed the problems of their age and relate to modern problems and issues. Theories of change and resolution. Application of contemporary theories from various areas in society to evolutionary trends in American thought.

(ULTIMATE QUESTIONS, U.S. PLURALISM)

POLS 311 LEADERSHIP, ETHICS, AND PERSUASION (4 credits)

Examines the two-thousand-year-old tradition of rhetoric and addresses the difficult question of ethical argument. Begins with the Greeks, and moves into the twenty-first century. After establishing a theoretical understanding of the important questions and practices, students will consider a variety of speeches by American leaders. Ends with participants creating their own speeches on current topics. Taught as a Socratic, discussion-based seminar. (LISTED AS LEAD 311, POLS 311, AND ENGL 311)

Prerequisites: INQS 125.

(ULTIMATE QUESTIONS)

POLS 312 REBELS, THUGS, AND SKEPTICS: TWENTIETH- CENTURY POLITICAL THEORY (4 credits)

Examination of original works of twentieth-century political theory. Consideration of alternative views of central political concepts such as power, liberty, equality, and resistance.

Prerequisites: POLS 220 or PHIL 365, or consent of instructor.

(ULTIMATE QUESTIONS)

POLS 313 WHAT IS FREEDOM? (4 credits)

Exploration of how the concept of freedom has been understood throughout human history.

(ULTIMATE QUESTIONS)

POLS 315 POLITICS AND RELIGION (ALSO LISTED AS RELS 315) (4 credits)

Examination of the relationship between politics and religion in varying contexts: theories of the role of religion in government and society, religious social movements, contemporary political controversies involving religion.

Prerequisites: One of POLS 201, POLS 210, POLS 220, RELS 110, RELS 115, or consent of instructor.

(ULTIMATE QUESTIONS)

POLS 320 LAW, RIGHTS AND JUSTICE (4 credits)

Examination of rights and justice in the United States. Analysis of law in society. The concepts of obligation, authority, disobedience, and punishment. Focus on contemporary legal controversies.

(ULTIMATE QUESTIONS)

POLS 325 U.S. SUPREME COURT (4 credits)

Exploration of the role of the Supreme Court in the American political system. Examination of debates over the Court's proper role in the system, empirical research on judicial behavior, and the role of the executive and legislative branches in the judicial nomination and confirmation process.

(INDIVID/SYSTEMS/SOCIETIES)

POLS 326 THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY (4 credits)

Analysis and discussion of the various roles of the President, including constitutional status and powers, nomination and election, administrative responsibilities, legislative and political leadership, and conduct of foreign relations.

Prerequisites: Sophomore standing.

Typically offered: Fall Semester, Even Years

(INDIVID/SYSTEMS/SOCIETIES)

POLS 330 POLITICS AND THE ARTS (4 credits)

Exploration of what can be learned about politics from other disciplines, including literature, film, and the fine arts.

(CREATIVE STUDIES)

POLS 337 MEDIA & THE LAW (4 credits)

Investigates legal issues and judicial decisions related to the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Students learn to analyze court cases and do legal research, including public records requests. Topics include press freedom, intellectual property, libel, privacy, obscenity, censorship, corporate/commercial speech, media regulation, and more. (Listed as JAMS 337 and POLS 337.)

Prerequisites: INQS 125. JAMS 150.

Typically offered: Spring Semester, Odd Years

POLS 353 POLITICAL COMMUNICATION (ALSO LISTED AS JAMS 353) (4 credits)

The uses and functions of communication in modern democracies. Exploration of dilemmas involved in communicating political information to the citizenry and the role of citizens in the broader political communication system.

Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or higher.

(INDIVID/SYSTEMS/SOCIETIES)

POLS 360 POLITICS OF INEQUALITY (4 credits)

Examination of the empirical evidence underlying social, political, and economic inequalities in the United States, their causes and consequences, and their intersection with politics.

Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or higher, or consent of instructor.

(INDIVID/SYSTEMS/SOCIETIES, U.S. PLURALISM)

POLS 361 CURRENT DEBATES IN US FOREIGN POLICY (4 credits)

Formal debate course on the current problems in US foreign policy. Possible topics included: US military intervention abroad, US foreign economic policy, climate change. humanitarian intervention, weapons proliferation, immigration, democracy promotion, and regional issues.

(GLOBAL PLURALISM, INDIVID/SYSTEMS/SOCIETIES)

POLS 362 INTERNATIONAL LAW, ETHICS, AND GLOBAL GOVERNANCE (4 credits)

Provides introduction to international public law and the global governance arrangements that aim to address many of the world's most urgent problems, including use of force, climate change, poverty, and human rights violations. Special emphasis on moral and ethical dimensions of these issues.

Prerequisites: POLS 210 strongly recommended.

Typically offered: Fall Semester

(GLOBAL PLURALISM, INDIVID/SYSTEMS/SOCIETIES)

POLS 365 TOPICS IN AMERICAN POLITICS (4 credits)

Topics important to the study of the American political system, for example, the American Presidency, American Politics and the Culture Wars, and Why Americans Hate Politics. Strongly Recommended Prerequisite: 210.

Prerequisites: POLS 210 strongly recommended.

Typically offered: Alternate Years

(INDIVID/SYSTEMS/SOCIETIES)

POLS 370 TOPICS IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS (4 credits)

Exploration of various areas of international politics. Possible topics include globalization, international environmental politics, women and war, international law and human rights, advanced study of theories of international relations, U.S. foreign policy.

(GLOBAL PLURALISM, INDIVID/SYSTEMS/SOCIETIES)

POLS 371 POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY (4 credits)

Explanation of political attitudes and behavior based on individual and group psychology. Various psychological theories explaining political behavior are examined, as well as a wide variety of issues including war, terrorism, leadership, voting behavior and differences in elite and mass decision making.

Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or higher, or consent of instructor.

Typically offered: Every Third Year Or Less Often

(INDIVID/SYSTEMS/SOCIETIES)

POLS 380 TOPICS IN POLITICAL THEORY (4 credits)

Advanced seminar in political theory. Varying topics such as concepts of justice, order, authority, ethics, and other subjects central to political theory.

Typically offered: Fall Semester

(ULTIMATE QUESTIONS)

POLS 384 U.S. FOREIGN POLICY (4 credits)

History, conduct, and politics of U.S. foreign policy. Specific current problems used to highlight connections between past and present, illuminating domestic political determinants of foreign policy and promoting civic engagement.

Prerequisites: POLS 210 strongly recommended.

(INDIVID/SYSTEMS/SOCIETIES, VITAL PAST)

POLS 385 TOPICS IN COMPARATIVE POLITICS (4 credits)

Comparison of the major political institutions and processes of nations in the same region, or of one nation with those of the United States and other nations with which a student is familiar. Possible foci: Britain, Canada, Germany, Latin America, Africa, and Western Europe.

Prerequisites: POLS 390 or instructor consent.

(GLOBAL PLURALISM, INDIVID/SYSTEMS/SOCIETIES)

POLS 390 COMPARATIVE POLITICS (4 credits)

Domestic political systems of various world regions, including Western Europe, former Communist countries, and developing countries in a framework of comparative analysis. Attention to understanding how modern political systems try to resolve domestic and international problems.

Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or higher.

(GLOBAL PLURALISM, INDIVID/SYSTEMS/SOCIETIES)

POLS 398 SPECIAL TOPICS: JAN TERM TRAVEL (4 credits)

Topics vary according to faculty availability and interest. Past topics have included From Colonialism to Globalism: Political Change in Southeast Asia from World War II to the Present; Religion and Politics in Turkey; Politics and the Past in Post-Soviet States; Comparative Women's Politics in Europe; Politics and Religion in Ireland. Offered only as student interest and college resources permit. May be repeated for credit with different topics.

Prerequisites: IDST 098 previous fall.

Typically offered: January Term

POLS 439 PEER INSTRUCTION (1-4 credits)

POLS 450 JAN TERM IN WASHINGTON DC (5 credits)

Opportunities to learn how Washington works, including site visits to key institutions, briefings with members of the media, study of legislative and executive branches of government, and research projects.

POLS 480 INDEPENDENT STUDY (1-5 credits)

For students wanting to investigate further topics of interest developed in regular courses or desiring to study material not specifically addressed in other courses.

POLS 487 EXPERIENCES IN POLITICS: INTERNSHIP (4 credits)

Apply coursework to the "real world" in an area of potential career interest, develop professional skills, gain expertise in policy analysis, and begin developing a professional network for after graduation. Strongly recommended during junior year.

(EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING)

POLS 489 SENIOR SEMINAR (3 credits)

First part of year-long senior sequence designed to bring together Linfield experience and ensure smooth transition to post-undergraduate life. Includes research on a topic of special interest as preparation for senior capstone, skills workshops, application of coursework to current political problems, and critical selfreflection as a scholar, citizen, and leader. Required during the senior year.

Prerequisites: POLS 230.

Typically offered: Fall Semester, Annually

POLS 490 SENIOR CAPSTONE (3 credits)

Second part of year-long senior sequence. Capstone course in Political Science, with primary focus on completion of student portfolio, including integrative thesis paper. Course culminates in public oral defense of research and celebration of accomplishments.

Prerequisites: POLS 489, senior standing and Political Science major status.

Typically offered: Spring Semester

(MAJOR WRITING INTENSIVE)

POLS 498 PROSEMINAR (1 credit)

Further investigation of topics developed in regular elective departmental courses that students elect to pursue as proseminars (registration required on both the course in question and the pro-seminar).

Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in corresponding lecture and junior standing or higher, or consent of instructor.

(MAJOR WRITING INTENSIVE)