Study of the U.S. Congress including structural, behavioral and policy implications of the legislative process, both historically and in contemporary American government.

A study of western political thought from pre-Socratic Athens to present. Readings in the works of philosophers including Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Luther, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Marx and others.

An examination of the forces shaping the governments and politics of modern Arab states in North Africa and Southwest Asia, with emphasis on Islam, Islamist politics, regional geopolitics and current economic, natural resource and social issues affecting the Arab world.

Religion is one important vehicle for mobilizing people to engage politically with government and other citizens. The focus of this course is on the role religion plays as a justification for political participation, public policy advocacy, and even violence in the U.S. and around the world.

Individual research is conducted under the supervision of a faculty member. Topic and format must be approved by the Department Chairperson and Dean.

This class examines the complicated, at times conflictual, relationship between the two elected branches of the national government. It explores watershed moments in the development of both institutions with an emphasis on explaining the contemporary workings and inter-workings of Congress and the Presidency.

U.S. foreign policy is made and conducted in a thoroughly political environment. Within the context of the traditions of U.S. foreign policy and both the domestic and international political environment, students consider specific foreign policies, the governmental institutions responsible for formulating and implementing policies, and policy successes and failures.

This course offers in-depth exploration of special topics in the study of courts and the law. Course content will vary. Specific topic will be announced by the instructor when the course is offered.

An examination of the psychological roots of current political debates and problems, from political knowledge to participation, group conflict, attitude formation, polarization, extremism, and the interplay of cognition and emotion. In particular, the disjuncture between the requirements of democratic theory and evolved human psychology in today's rapidly changing information environment will be a recurring theme.

A detailed examination of public policy-making and administration in the American political system, which examines the major theories, concepts and methods used to study elements of the policy process, including agenda setting, formulation, adoption, implementation, evaluation and change. Students will analyze policy across major areas and learn to utilize basic qualitative and quantitative tools of policy analysis.