See below for a list of courses regularly taught by the Department of Political Science.

UNDERGRADUATE

Click here for a chart showing all courses by Political Science, B.A., subfield concentrations.

  – General Education Course

PSC 104   American National Government & Politics (CT) (3 Credit hours)

• Description: This course will engage students in critical thinking as they explore the American federal government system, with emphasis on constitutionalism, governmental structure, and the political process.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Required
• Attributes: American Institutions, Critical Thinking, Core II Social Sciences, some sections are writing intensive (WI)
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 105   Fundamentals of Politics (CT) (3 Credit hours)

• Description: General survey introducing the study of politics, its major concepts, processes, institutions, and fields of concern, with attention to the place of political science in the larger context of social science inquiry.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Required
• Attributes: Critical Thinking, Core II Social Sciences
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 202   State and Local Government (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Study of the institutions, processes, and significance of this level of political life in America.
• Curriculum (Required/Subfield): American Government
• Attributes: American Institutions, Core II Social Sciences
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 207   Comparative Politics (CT) (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Introduction to the field of comparative politics, stressing comparative concepts and approaches to the cross-national study of politics and government, with examination of political systems, ranging from democratic to non-democratic types.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Comparative Politics/International Relations
• Attributes: Critical Thinking, International, Core II Social Sciences
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 209   Fundamentals of International Relations (CT) (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Survey of major concepts and approaches in the study of international relations and analysis of processes, institutions, strategies, and trends in world politics.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Comparative Politics/International Relations
• Attributes: Critical Thinking, International, Core II Social Sciences
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 211   Research in Political Science (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Study of the development of political science as a distinct science and discipline, and of the fundamentals of research in political science, such as bibliographic techniques, uses of scientific method, textual and case-study approaches and data analysis.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Required
• Prerequisite: ENG 201 with a minimum grade of C or ENG 201H with a minimum grade of C or YGS 161 with a minimum grade of C or IST 201 with a minimum grade of D or ENG 202 with a minimum grade of D or ENG 102 with a minimum grade of C or ENG 200H with a minimum grade of C.
• Attributes: Core II Social Sciences
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 233   Intro to Public Policy (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Basic concepts and skills in the analysis of public policy problems. Use of policy as an instrument for solving problems. Application to selected fields, for example, environmental policy and urban policy.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Public Administration, Public Policy, Urban Administration
• Attributes: American Institutions, Core II Social Sciences
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 303 American Political Parties (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Examination of the American party system, its origins, development and characteristics. Emphasis also on party organization, political ambition and recruitment, party impact on public policy, campaigns, elections, and voting behavior.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield):American Government
  Attributes: American Institutions
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 307 Public Opinion and Propaganda (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Study of the processes by which individuals acquire politically relevant information, attitudes, values, and opinions; the consequences of these processes for political stability and conflict; and the linkage of mass opinions to elite behavior. (Same as Sociology 307)
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): American Government
• Attributes: American Institutions
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 311 Issues in Public Policy (3 Credit hours)

• Description: A course devoted to a special topic of interest in the policy field, such as energy, health care, transportation, environmental concerns, etc.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Public Administration, Public Policy, Urban Administration
•  Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 333 Intro to Public Administration (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Introduction to modern theories of administration; the relation of administration to the political system and process; and analysis of administrative organizations and functions, including planning, personnel, and finance.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Public Administration, Public Policy, Urban Administration
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 376   Black Politics (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Study emphasizing power structures in black communities, dissent and protest, problems and trends, and the uniqueness of black politics as compared with the politics of other ethnic groups.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield):American Government
• Attributes: American Institutions, Multicultural
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 381 American Legislative Process (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Structure and behavior of American national and state legislative systems; the impact of constituencies, parties, interest groups, interpersonal relations, and other factors on the legislative policymaking process; the role of the legislature as a subsystem in the larger political system; and problems and trends.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): American Government
• Attributes: American Institutions
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 382 Student Legislative Program (1 Credit hour)

• Description: One week of intensive legislative observation designed to provide selected students an understanding of the organization and processes of the West Virginia legislature and its role in the making of public policy.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): American Government
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 383 The American Presidency (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Study of governmental executives in the American political system, with emphasis on the president, including analysis of constitutional status and powers, recruitment, administrative responsibilities, political and legislative leader- ship, accountability, and problems and trends.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): American Government
• Attributes: American Institutions
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 403   War and Pop Culture (3 Credit hours)

• Description: An exploration of evolving depictions of political violence in film, television, graphic novels, video games, and popular music.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Comparative Politics/International Relations OR Political Theory
• Attributes: International
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 405   UN & Global Organizations (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Study of world and regional organizations as reflections of world politics, as instruments of foreign policies, and as forces for change and order, with emphasis on their role as channels for management of cooperation and conflict.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Comparative Politics/International Relations
• Attributes: International
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 406   International Relations (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Study of major issues in world politics, with emphasis on theoretical approaches, problems of war and peace, and contemporary trends.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Comparative Politics/International Relations
• Attributes: International
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 407   Asian Politics (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Study of such nations as India, China, Japan, and Korea in the contemporary setting.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Comparative Politics/International Relations
• Attributes: International
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 408   Middle Eastern Politics (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Study of the Arab States and such nations as Israel, Iran, and Turkey in the contemporary setting.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Comparative Politics/International Relations
• Attributes: International
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 409   Western Democratic Politics (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Study of such nations as Canada and those of Western Europe, particularly Great Britain and France.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Comparative Politics/International Relations
• Attributes: International
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 410   Post Soviet Politics (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Study of the politics of Russia and the former Soviet Union. Study of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): FILL
• Attributes: International
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 411   Latin American Politics (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Study of Latin American politics by sectors, such as landed elites, the military, the church, etc. Various styles of governance are considered. Case examples illustrate concepts discussed.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Comparative Politics/International Relations
• Attributes: International
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 412 International Political Econ (3 Credit hours)

• Description: This course will examine the evolution and structure of the global economic system with emphasis on the development of the Liberal International Economic Order.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield):Comparative Politics/International Relations
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 415   International Law (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Study of theories, origins, sources, development, present state, and trends of international law as a factor in various aspects of international politics.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Comparative Politics/International Relations
• Attributes: International
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 416   Politics of Development (3 Credit hours)

• Description: A survey of major theories of development and modernization and issues confronting developing nations around the world.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Comparative Politics/International Relations
• Attributes: International
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 417 Homeland Security and Civil Liberties (3 Credit hours)

• Description: An examination of the policy issues involved in protecting the U.S. homeland from terrorist and other threats, with special attention to the impact such policies have on individual liberties.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): American Government OR Constitutional Democracy
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 418 American Political Thought II (3 Credit hours)

• Description: This course is a detailed examination of the philosophical and historical roots of American politics from Reconstruction through the present with emphasis on original texts.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Constitutional Democracy OR Political Theory
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 419 Women and Political Thought (3 Credit hours)

• Description: This course examines how women were conceptualized in the history of political philosophy and how women then began conceptualizing themselves and their relation to politics.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Political Theory
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 420   Current World/Regional Issues (3 Credit hours)

• Description: An intensive study of specific world or regional problems, such as the politics of world hunger, the role of multi- national corporations, imperialism, Third World Communist movements, etc.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Comparative Politics/International Relations
• Attributes: International
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 421 American Political Thought I (3 Credit hours)

• Description: This course is a detailed examination of the philosophical and historical roots of American politics from the Colonial era through the Civil War with emphasis on original texts. Study of the development and influence of American Political Thought with an emphasis on the linkage of ideas to political and economic forces.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Political Theory OR Constitutional Democracy
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 423   American Foreign Policy (3 Credit hours)

• Description: The study of descriptive, analytical, and normative aspects of United States foreign policy with emphasis on contemporary problems and issues.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): American Government OR Comparative Politics/International Relations
• Attributes: American Institutions, International
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 424   Diplomacy (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Application of the comparative method to foreign policy decision-making and outputs. Comparisons within or between geographic regions.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield):Comparative Politics/International Relations
• Attributes: International
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 425 Classical Political Thought (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Selective study of classics of Western political theory from earliest times through the 15th century, such as that of Plato, Aristotle, the Romans, Augustine, and Aquinas.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Political Theory
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 426 Modern Political Thought (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Selective study of classics of Western political theory from the 16th century through the 19th century, such as that of Machiavelli, Bodin, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hume, Burke, Mill, and Marx.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Political Theory
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 427 Shapers and Definers (3 Credit hours)

• Description: A study of political leaders who have shaped and defined the American constitutional tradition.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): American Government OR Constitutional Democracy
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 429   Politics of Conflict & Revolution (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Study of major theories of conflict and revolution with emphasis on cross-national explanations and outcomes.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield):Comparative Politics/International Relations OR Constitutional Democracy OR Political Theory
  Attributes: International
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 430 Political Ideologies (3 Credit hours)

• Description: This course examines modern political ideologies including Liberalism, Conservatism, Anarchism, Socialism, Fascism, Feminism, and Environmentalism with emphasis on the original texts.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Political Theory
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 431 Politics of Global Terrorism (3 Credit hours)

• Description: An examination of terrorism globally, both in its development and its current manifestations, with attention to its attractions, the difficulties of confronting it, and its implications for democratic society. Draws upon both classic and contemporary sources of political theory to address basic political issues inherent in public problems.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Comparative Politics/International Relations
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 432 Nonprofit Management (3 Credit hours)

• Description: This course examines the principles and applied practices of nonprofit administration including theories of nonprofit formation, fundraising appeals, executive leadership, marketing, budgeting, and strategic management.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Public Administration, Public Policy, Urban Administration
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 433 Public Administration & Policy Development (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Examination of alternative theoretical approaches to the study of policy and administration and their implications for the use of policy to shape administrative practice.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Public Administration, Public Policy, Urban Administration
• Attributes: American Institutions
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 434 Intel and Covert Ops (3 Credit hours)

• Description: An introduction to the institutions and processes of the U.S. Intelligence Community, with an emphasis on the vital role of intelligence in national security.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Comparative Politics/International Relations
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 435 Harry Potter and Political Theory (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Detailed examination of the Harry Potter book series through the lens of various theories and theorists of power, with emphasis on scholarly argumentation and writing.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Political Theory
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 436 The American Judiciary (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Structure and behavior in American national and state judicial systems, including analysis of their decision making and policy making functions, their procedures and administration, and problems and trends.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): American Government OR Constitutional Democracy
• Attributes: American Institutions
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 440 Power in American Society (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Examination of some of the major theoretical approaches – pluralistic, elitist, etc. – to the study of power. A major concern is the relationship between the distribution of political resources and the performance of political systems. Efforts to transform political systems are examined on the basis of cross-national research.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): American Government OR Political Theory
• Attributes: American Institutions
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 442 Politics of Poverty (3 Credit hours)

• Description: A comparative course examining the political institutional methods states use to assist citizens who are poor, primarily women and children. It also addresses behavioral concerns that shape welfare policy.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): American Government
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 444 Dictatorship & Democracy (3 Credit hours)

• Description: An investigation of the strengths of democracies relative to dictatorships with regard to such dimensions as economic growth, income equality, health and welfare of citizens and war reductions.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield):Comparative Politics/International Relations OR Constitutional Democracy
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 445 Environmental Politics (3 Credit hours)

• Description: This course examines multiple perspectives on the relationship between humans and nature, focusing on how particular interpretations of this relationship determine how we translate environmental concerns into political problems.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): American Government
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 446 Politics in History (3 Credit hours)

• Description: A study of politics as an order shattering, order restructuring force during some of America’s most transformative moments.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): American Government OR Constitutional Democracy OR Political Theory
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 450 Administrative Law (3 Credit hours)

• Description: A study of the basic legal framework of administrative organization, including the problems of administrative discretion, rule-making and adjudication, regulatory agencies, and administrative responsibility in the democratic state.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield):Public Administration, Public Policy, Urban Administration
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 452 Public Personnel Admin (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Survey of Public Personnel Administration with particular attention to various facets of the merit system concept. Psychological and human relations aspects of the work situation and supervisor-subordinate interaction emphasized.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield):Public Administration, Public Policy, Urban Administration
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 453 Government Budgetary Admin (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Study of organization, administration, and accountability in the management of public funds, with emphasis on the political decision-making processes of budget formulation, presentation and execution.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Public Administration, Public Policy, Urban Administration
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 460 Civil Rights & Liberties (3 Credit hours)

• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): American Government OR Constitutional Democracy
  
• Prerequisite: PSC 104 or PSC 104E.
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 461 Urban Problems & Public Policy (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Study of policy problems of metropolitan areas in terms of structures, alternatives, and outcomes.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): American Government OR Public Administration, Public Policy, Urban Administration
• Attributes: American Institutions
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 466 Appalachian Politics (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Explores Appalachia as both a geographical region and a political construct, focusing on how politics shapes regional identity and the region’s relationship to the United States.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): American Government
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 478 Politics and Video Games (3 Credit hours)

• Description: An exploration of the power dynamics and politics at play in video games, the video game industry, and gaming culture.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Political Theory
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PSC 484 Constitutional Law (3 Credit hours)

• Description: Introduction to the principles of American constitutional law and analysis of constitutional issues, emphasizing leading Supreme Court cases.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): American Government OR Constitutional Democracy
  
• Prerequisite: PSC 104.
• Attributes: American Institutions
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

 PSC 499   Capstone Experience (3 Credit hours)

• Description: This course is designed as a culminating experience for seniors. Students will engage in a service learning project that combines scholarly interests with real life skills. This course is designed to integrate political theory with politics by considering the relevance of political philosophy to contemporary political questions. Capstone experience must be completed in the senior year.
• B.A. Curriculum (Required/Subfield): Required
  
• Prerequisite: PSC 211 with a minimum grade of D.
• Attributes: Capstone Course
• Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

GRADUATE COURSES