Aerial view of campus with Williamsport, the Susquehanna River and Bald Eagle Mountain as a backdrop

Political Science (PSCI)

Associate Professor: Payne (Chair)
Assistant Professors:  Achury, Kantack

  • Major: Political Science
  • Courses required for major: 10
  • Capstone requirement: PSCI 400
  • Minors: Political Science, American Politics, World Politics, Legal Studies

The major is designed to provide a systematic understanding of government and politics at the
international, national, state, and local levels. Majors are encouraged to develop their skills to
make independent, objective analyses which can be applied to the broad spectrum of the social
sciences.

Although the political science major is not designed as a vocational major, students with such
training may go directly into government service, journalism, teaching, or private administrative
agencies. A political science major can also provide a solid foundation for the study of law or for graduate studies leading to administrative work in federal, state, or local governments, international organizations, or teaching at the university level.

Students seeking certification to teach secondary school social studies may major in political science but should refer to the Department of Education listing and consult their advisors and the Education Department.

Major Requirements

A major in Political Science consists of ten courses as follows: PSCI 110, 300, and 400; two other introductory courses from PSCI 130, 140 and 160; and five other PSCI courses. These five courses must cover at least two subfields of Political Science—American Politics and Public Policy (designated by course numbers in the 10s or 20s), Legal Studies (designated with course numbers in the 30s), Comparative Politics (designated with course numbers in the 40s), or International Relations (designated with course numbers in the 60s). In addition, two of these five courses must be at the 300 level or above.

Capstone Requirement

All majors must successfully complete PSCI 400.

Diversity and Writing Courses

The following course satisfies the Domestic Cultural Diversity Requirement: PSCI 331. The following courses satisfy the Global Cultural Diversity Requirement: PSCI 140, 160, 242, 260, 261, 342, and 362. A list of courses that, when scheduled as W courses, count toward the Writing Requirement, can be found on the Registrar’s website and in the GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS section of the catalog.

Minor Requirements

The department offers four minors:

  1. Political Science—any five courses, three of which are numbered 200 or above.
  2. American Politics—PSCI 110 and four courses selected from those with course numbers
    ending in the 10s or 20s.
  3. World Politics—PSCI 140 or 160 and four courses selected from those with course numbers
    ending in the 40s or 60s.
  4. Legal Studies—PSCI 130 and four courses selected from those with course numbers in the
    30s.  SOC 305 may also be counted as one of the four electives for the minor.

Students are encouraged to consult with department members on the selection of a minor.

110
U.S. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
The ideologies, institutions, and processes of American politics at the national level, with attention to the internal workings of government and the extra-governmental actors—including voters, political parties, and interest groups—that influence policy.

130
THE AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM
An introduction to all aspects of the American legal system. Students examine the historical development of the American court system, its current incarnation and organization, the “players” who participate in this system (i.e., lawyers, judges, interest groups), and the stages of the trial process. In addition, students explore the special role that the Supreme Court plays in the American legal system, focusing on the structure of the Court, which cases the Court agrees to hear and why, judicial decision-making, opinion assignment and bargaining, and the notion of constraints on the Court.

140
COMPARATIVE POLITICS AND GEOGRAPHY
The politics and geography of states in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America in a search for comparisons and patterns. Includes history, institutions, cultures, borders, regions, and map exercises. Fulfills Global Cultural Diversity Requirement.

160
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
The basic factors and concepts of international relations, such as international systems, national interest and security, wars, decolonization, nationalism, economic development, trade blocs, and international law and organizations. Fulfills Global Cultural Diversity Requirement.

201
APPLIED POLITICS EXPERIENCE
Short-term course that takes an in-depth look at specific political science topics with emphasis on their application at the local, state, national, or international level. Includes approximately 20 hours in the classroom and 20 hours of field experience. Prerequisite: One PSCI course or consent of the instructor. May be repeated for credit with consent of the department when topics/experiences are different. 1 Credit.

211
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
An examination of the general principles, major problems, and political processes of the states and their subdivisions, together with their role in a federal type of government. Alternate years.

220
PUBLIC POLICY IN AMERICA
An investigation of the public policymaking process in the United States. Students examine how issues get on the public policy agenda, the processes policymakers work through in making policy choices, the challenges and associated politics of implementing policy, and the substantive issues that remain once policymakers address a problem. To illustrate the concepts and principles of the public policy process, the course also explores controversial issues ranging from abortion and climate change to gun control and same-sex marriage. Alternate years.

222
POLITICAL PARTIES AND INTEREST GROUPS
The role and impact of political parties and interest groups in America, focusing on individual-level partisanship and group affiliation, organizational structures of parties and interest groups, and how parties and interest groups cooperate and compete to influence elections and government policy in the United States. Alternate years.

224
CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS
The complex relationship between the rules of the American electoral system and the strategic behavior of voters, candidates, parties, and other political actors within that system. Alternate years.

227
MEDIA AND POLITICS
The mediated nature of politics and government, including the role of news media in a democracy, the historical evolution of the media environment, trends and tendencies in political and electoral news coverage, effects of political media consumption on citizens, and media bias. Alternate years.

229
SPECIAL TOPICS IN AMERICAN POLITICS AND PUBLIC POLICY
Study of selected American politics and public policy topics, problems, and questions. May be repeated for credit with consent of department when topics are different.

231
LAW IN AMERICA
A survey of the sources and functions of American law. Students examine the various types of law (e.g., business, civil, constitutional, criminal, family, etc.) to determine the capacity and limitations of law and legal processes to deal with social problems.

232
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
Examines the power struggle in allocating authority among branches of the federal government, states, and the people. Using the case law method, the class focuses on the role of the Supreme Court in crafting, interpreting, implementing, and refining the U.S. Constitution to critically assess the underlying social, moral, and political theories that affect the Court’s decision-making process.

239
SPECIAL TOPICS IN LEGAL STUDIES
Study of selected legal studies topics, problems, and questions. May be repeated for credit with consent of department when topics are different.

242
HUMAN RIGHTS
Examination of the historical, philosophical, and religious documents upon which contemporary human rights are grounded, accompanied by discussions of how these rights change over time and space. Analysis of the future effectiveness of human rights legislation and organizations. Fulfills Global Cultural Diversity Requirement. Alternate years.

245
LATIN AMERICAN POLITICS
Surveys the essential elements of Latin American politics. It focuses on persistent inequality in a region of contrast, exploring political events and institutions over long periods. The overarching objective is to understand the origins of Latin American inequality and the role of political institutions in perpetuating or mitigating it. The course also covers current policies towards equity and social transformation and their implications for democratic consolidation.

249
SPECIAL TOPICS IN COMPARATIVE POLITICS
Study of selected comparative politics topics, problems, and questions. May be repeated for credit with consent of department when topics are different.

260
GLOBALIZATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
An examination of globalization’s effects on the developing world, with specific attention paid to sustainable development. Emphasis is placed on the Dominican Republic. The course typically meets regularly during the semester and finishes with a required 1-credit field experience in the Dominican Republic where students take part in community and economic development projects. Alternate years. Fulfills Global Cultural Diversity Requirement.

261
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Exploration of the international organizations that purportedly facilitate cooperation within the international system. Discussions focus on the origins of these institutions, their past and present functions, as well as the role they might play in the future of international politics and international law. Students will examine these issues in the context of IOs such as the United Nations, European Union, African Union, Organization of American States, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. Fulfills Global Cultural Diversity Requirement. Alternate years.

269
SPECIAL TOPICS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Study of selected international relations topics, problems, and questions. May be repeated for credit with consent of department when topics are different.

300
POLITICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH METHODS
An examination of conceptual and analytical tools in political science research. Topics include research design, issues of measurement, and empirical analysis. Prerequisite: Junior standing and 2 courses in Political Science or consent of instructor.

316
PUBLIC OPINION AND POLLING
Examines the general topic and methodology of polling. Content includes exploration of the processes by which people’s political opinions are formed, the manipulation of public opinion through the uses of propaganda, and the American response to politics and political issues. Prerequisite: PSCI 110 or consent of instructor.

320
POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Examination of the mental mechanisms by which individuals make sense of their political environment and the implications of those mechanisms for their political behavior. Topics include identity, personality, socialization, values, knowledge, emotion, bias, and trust. Prerequisite: PSCI 110, PSY 110, or consent of instructor. Alternate years.

321
CONGRESS
Study of the U.S. Congress emphasizing internal structure and operations, rules and procedures, party leadership, committee system, external influences, incentives for congressional behavior, and elections. Prerequisite: PSCI 110 or consent of instructor. Alternate years.

322
THE PRESIDENCY
The structure and behavior of the American presidency, including elections, organization of the office, and relation to other national institutions. Prerequisite: PSCI 110 or consent of instructor. Alternate years.

331
CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES
An investigation of the Bill of Rights and its place in American democracy. Civil rights and liberties are studied based on the decisions of the United States Supreme Court. Students read, critically analyze, and discuss cases pertaining to controversial issues ranging from abortion and flag burning to obscenity and zoning restrictions. Prerequisite: PSCI 130, 231, 232, or consent of instructor. Alternate years. Fulfills Domestic Cultural Diversity Requirement.

334
LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING
Designed to develop the skills needed to find, read, and analyze legal sources in order to write persuasive briefs, memoranda, and pleadings. While useful for all, this skill set provides a great advantage to students hoping to attend law school or work in the legal profession. Some class meetings may be held at the James V. Brown Library. Prerequisite: PSCI 130, 231, or consent of instructor. Alternate years.

339
JUDICIAL POLITICS AND BEHAVIOR
An exploration of the academic scholarship on judicial politics and behavior designed to develop students’ ability to read and critically analyze such research. Questions examined in the course include: Why do judges decide cases the way they do? What effect does public opinion have on judicial decision-making? How do interest groups pursue their objectives in the court system? How are state and federal benches staffed? What effect do institutional differences have on judicial decision-making? Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing and PSCI 130, 231, or consent of instructor. Alternate years.

341
WOMEN AND THE LAW
Presents an overview of the laws, policies, and politics that impact women's lives worldwide. Using a comparative perspective, students analyze how law precipitates or alleviates gender inequality. The course examines how different courts deal with affirmative action, discrimination based on sex and sexual orientation, abortion, and reproductive rights. Prerequisite: PSCI 130, PSCI 140, or consent of instructor. Alternate years.

342
CIVIL CONFLICT
Examination of the contemporary dominant form of conflict: civil war. Discussion of the political, economic, and institutional sources of civil conflict; determinants of length and intensity; the actors involved and their diverse motivations and actions; the various consequences; and finally, some potential solutions. Prerequisite: PSCI 140, PSCI 160, CJCR 346, or consent of instructor. Alternate years. Fulfills Global Cultural Diversity Requirement.

362
TERRORISM
Examination of the causes and strategies of terrorism as well as potential solutions. Students engage a variety of theories and debate whether terrorism has psychological, religious, cultural, and/or rational causes. Also examines terrorism as a strategy, with particular attention to primary texts on insurgency and counterinsurgency. Application of what we have learned in an effort to evaluate a number of potential solutions. Prerequisite: PSCI 140, PSCI 160, CJCR 346, or consent of instructor. Fulfills Global Cultural Diversity Requirement. Alternate years.

 

400
POLITICAL ANALYSIS
Capstone course required of majors, normally taken in their senior year. Integrates and deepens knowledge and methods of the study of politics by means of empirical political inquiry and quantitative techniques. Prerequisite: PSCI 300. Open to non-majors with consent of instructor.

470-479
INTERNSHIPS 
Students may receive academic credit for serving as interns in structured learning situations with a wide variety of public and private agencies and organizations. Students have served as interns with the Public Defender’s Office, the Lycoming County Court Administrator, and the Williamsport City government.

N80-N89
INDEPENDENT STUDY 
Examples of past studies include local, state, and federal elections; and Soviet and world politics.

490-491
INDEPENDENT STUDY FOR DEPARTMENTAL HONORS