Examines American political values, governmental functions, political processes, policy issues, and decision-making processes through the lens of contemporary political issues, such as gun rights, abortion, education, policing, and the environment. Students will study the impact of diverse groups on the political process and outcomes. Fulfills General Education Foundations - Social and Behavioral Sciences. Fulfills General Education Cultures-U.S. Diversity. Offered every semester.
Winter 2026 - Hybrid Summer 2026 - Online Fall 2026 - Hybrid Winter 2027 - Hybrid
Analysis and discussion of contemporary issues in world politics as a vehicle for introducing core concepts in comparative politics, such as democracy, dictatorship, civil society, power, nationalism, political economy, social policy, identity politics, and development. Students will gain basic familiarity with the institutions, actors, and processes that influence world politics. Fulfills General Education Foundations - Social and Behavioral Sciences. Fulfills General Education Cultures - Global Perspectives. Offered fall and winter semesters.
Introduction to the historical and conceptual development of human rights as moral, legal, and cultural constraints on the behavior of states in relation to their citizens. Analysis is theoretical, exploring philosophical arguments surrounding the historical development of human rights and their current role in legal, cultural, literary, and political products. Fulfills General Education Foundations - Philosophy and Literature. Cross-listed with HRT 105. Offered fall and winter semesters.
Winter 2026 - Hybrid Summer 2026 - Online Winter 2027 - Hybrid
Integrates the perspectives of political science and constitutional law to examine the principles and institutional structures of the American political system. Analyzes political and constitutional sources of presidential, congressional, state, and national power. Investigates federalism, voting, parties, interest groups, civil rights, and civil liberties. Primarily for social studies majors. Offered every semester.
Winter 2026 - Online Summer 2026 - Online Fall 2026 - Online Winter 2027 - Online
This introductory course in international relations (IR) examines interactions among states and non-state actors in the international environment. Class focuses on military, economic, ethnic, and religious conflict. Topics include power, organizations, nationalism, and economic integration. Major IR theories are exemplified by current topics, such as terrorism, poverty, trafficking, and climate change. Fulfills one of the Foundations - Social and Behavioral Sciences. Fulfills General Education Cultures - Global Perspectives. Offered fall and winter semesters.
Summer 2026 - Online
Defining moments in international relations and foreign policy decision-making are used to illustrate the impact of leaders, institutions, and public opinion on foreign policy. Students attend the Great Decisions lecture series and hear high-ranking foreign policy analysts discuss controversial issues in contemporary world affairs.
Winter 2026 - Hybrid
An interdisciplinary analysis of the global movement of immigrants and refugees and its relationship with the economy, politics, development, and culture. Students learn about migration as a key feature of globalization. Possible topics: migration history, immigration policies, border control, integration, citizenship, migrant transnationalism, diaspora, remittances, child migrants, and migration theories. Fulfills General Education Cultures - Global Perspectives. Fulfills General Education Foundations - Social and Behavioral Sciences. Cross-listed with GSI 215.
Winter 2026 - Online Fall 2026 - Hybrid
Empirical analysis of domestic and international political issues. Topics include data collection strategies and problems, statistical techniques for analyzing small and large data sets, as well as other formal methods of political analysis. Offered fall and winter semesters. Prerequisites: STA 215.
Winter 2026 - Hybrid Fall 2026 - Hybrid Winter 2027 - Hybrid
This course examines poverty and inequality in the United States. Topics include definitions of poverty and inequality, historical trends, and policy responses. Diverse perspectives, including international comparisons, will be presented. Students will explore various dimensions of inequality through small group activities. Part of the Identity Issue. Offered fall and winter semesters. Prerequisites: Junior Standing.
Fall 2026 - Hybrid
This course explores the ways that gender influences government and policy decisions. Students will explore many gendered issues and the relevant policy responses. Topics include domestic violence, reproductive policies, divorce and the family, marriage and the family, poverty, class, and compensation. Cross-listed with WGS 302. Offered fall semester. Prerequisite: PLS 102 or Junior Standing.
Fall 2026 - Online
This course examines the decision-making processes to cope with modern environmental problems. The course focuses on both domestic and international environmental issues with special attention to interests, ideas, and institutions. Part of the Sustainability Issue. Cross-listed with ENS 303. Offered fall and winter semesters. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
Analysis of the major global and regional institutions that promote order and cooperation in the international system, including the United Nations, World Bank, European Union, and NATO. Explores the theory and practice of government and nongovernment organizations in addressing issues such as poverty, human rights, and the environment. Prerequisite: PLS 211 or junior standing.
A study of social and economic forces that shape the political processes in Africa through a combination of individual cases and general themes. Topics include colonization, regional integration, democratic transitions, state collapse and violence, politics of ethnicity, religion, gender and class, civil society, development, and Africa’s role in world affairs. Fulfills General Education Cultures - Global Perspectives. Part of the Globalization Issue. Cross-listed with AAA 319. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
An examination of politics and policies in the European Union that includes participation in an international political simulation. Students spend three days in Indianapolis in April to take part in the Midwest Model EU. Topics include integration theory, institutional reform, enlargement, and economic, social, environmental, and security policies. Prerequisite: PLS 221 or permission of instructor.
Winter 2027 - Hybrid
An examination of U.S. political thought from the colonial period to the present. Readings may include Federalist and Antifederalist papers, and works by Thoreau, Emerson, Cady Stanton, Anthony, Calhoun, DuBois, Dewey, Addams, King, and Malcolm X. Special attention is paid to political ideas emerging from the struggles for equal rights for all citizens. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
This course examines the methodology and application of international survey research in the comparative analysis of public opinion. The primary emphasis is the comparison of mass politics in the United States of America to other advanced industrial democracies. Subjects studied include electoral behavior, civic involvement, political attitudes, and ideologies. Offered fall and winter semesters. Prerequisites: STA 215 and PLS 300; or permission of the instructor.
