Global Studies Major
History Major
History and Political Science Major
Political Science Major
Global Studies Minor
History Minor
Political Science Minor
American Civil War Concentration
Politics and Public Policy Concentration
Pre-Law Concentration
Public History Concentration
Law
Degree Type Offered: B.A. Major
A bachelor of arts degree consisting of 43 credit hours distributed as follows:
(19 Credits)
ECON-200 Principles of Macroeconomics
Credits: 3 Term Offered: Fall and Spring
Introduces scarcity, opportunity cost, and supply and demand analysis, with special emphasis on aggregate economic growth, unemployment, inflation, and fiscal and monetary policies. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: social sciences
PSCI-200 Introduction to Global Studies
Credits: 3 Term Offered: Fall Only
Introduces key concepts, themes, and issues of global studies. Topics include globalization, security, development, health, agriculture and food, and the environment. Critically examines contemporary issues such as global inequality, climate change, and the power of multinational corporations. Corequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350
PSCI-230 Introduction to Global Politics
Introduces students to the world as a site of political activity. Examines institutions and processes on a global scale. Topics include sovereignty, power, globalization, war, multilateral institutions, the environment, trade, development, poverty and a variety of current events. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: global dynamics
PSY-240 Behavioral Psychology
Introduction to the experimental analysis of behavior. Historical and modern approaches in the scientific study of learning are discussed. Students are required to demonstrate factual knowledge in the major content areas, procedures, and other advanced issues in regards to simple forms of learning such as habituation and sensitization and more complex forms of associative learning exemplified in classical and operant conditioning. Prerequisite: PSY-101 Prerequisites or Corequisites: PSY-210 or PSY-230 or permission of instructor
PSCI-250 Methods of Research and Data Analysis
Credits: 3 Term Offered: Spring Only
An introduction to the production of knowledge about political phenomena. Topics include the relationship between theory and research, formulation of research questions and research design, and quantitative and qualitative methods. Students will understand and evaluate scholarly research in the field and conduct their own research projects.
PSCI-400 Professional Development
Credits: 1 Term Offered: Spring Only
This course is designed to prepare the political science student for entry into the job market, or further study at the graduate level. This class meets once a week and addresses issues of relevance to the political science professional. Topics of relevance to postgraduates, including graduate exams, graduate applications and resume and interview preparation will be discussed. Students will prepare a career portfolio, individually designed to meet their specific needs, in which professional and graduate school application materials will be collected. The portfolio will be fully assessed at the end of the semester. Prerequisite: Junior standing
PSCI-470 Seminar in Global Studies & Political Science
Examination of significant professional literature in political science and international studies through preparation and presentation of a major research paper.
(12 Credits)
COMM-334 Intercultural Communication
Theoretical and practical survey of intercultural communication processes. Examines intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, and mass media dimensions of intercultural communication. The course specifically focuses on the distinctive cultural behaviors, expectations, values and power dynamics that affect our abilities to communicate effectively and people from diverse cultures. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: global dynamics
ECON-440 International Economics
Theory of international economic interrelationships, including trade, finance, and monetary policies and institutions. Prerequisite: ECON-200 or ECON-210 FILA general education: global dynamics
GEOG-195 World Regional Geography
A human geographic exploration of all world regions, emphasizing population, cultural, economic and political geographies. Prerequisites: Completion of the FILA general education history requirement and one of the following: ECON-200, ECON-210 or SOC-101, or permission of instructor
HIST-370 Genocide
This courses explores the history of genocide. Examines origins of and paths to genocide, including dynamics tied to imperialism, race, and nationalism; also investigates the conception of the word 'genocide' and the development of critical genocide studies as a field of inquiry. Specific case studies that occurred in modern history as well as broader themes give students the opportunity to wrestle with and compare historical dynamics, historiographical discussions, and theoretical conceptions. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: world cultures Offered alternate years
HIST-430 European Imperialism
Europeans' relationship with the rest of the world from the origins of modern European empires in the 19th-century, to the process of decolonization in the 20th-century, to current debates about neo-imperialism and neo-colonialism. Examines the effects of empire on both the colonizers and the colonized. Offered alternate years
PSCI/SOC-205 Global Identities
Interdisciplinary exploration of the power and dynamics of human similarities and differences on a global scale. Covers globalization from the perspective of identity and difference, and provides opportunities to question contemporary assumptions, values and patterns of behavior with the goal of making global interactions more constructive ad more peaceful. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: global dynamics
PSCI-335W Peace, War and World Politics
Examines human understanding of the institution of warfare and alternative means of managing large-scale conflict. Also studies the concept of peace, including the personal and policy implications of the various definitions of the term. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 and ENG-110 FILA general education: global dynamics and writing intensive Offered alternate years
PSCI-336 United Nations
History, structures, issues and politics of the United Nations, and a consideration of the organization's role in world politics. This course may include travel to New York City or Washington DC. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: global dynamics Offered alternate years
PSCI-356 United States Foreign Policy
Examines the continuity and changes in the contexts, structures, processes, actors and issues of U.S. foreign policy in the 20th and 21st centuries. Offered alternate years
PSCI-360 Population, Immigration, and Politics
This course takes a surveying view of the political, social and economic consequences of population movement phenomena focusing on two central elements: Migration and Identity Politics. In an effort to accommodate the broad theme, the course will view population movement phenomena from the perspectives of immigrants, host and origin nations, as well as global state and non-state actors. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 and ENG-110; PSCI-240 is recommended FILA general education: global dynamics
PSCI-365E Politics of Human Rights
An examination of conceptions of human rights, the global discourse around human rights, and efforts to protect those rights. Topics include why governments violate the rights of their citizens, the role of human rights activism in shaping global public discourse and affecting the practices of governments, international human rights law, and the human rights dimensions of foreign policy. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 and ENG-110 FILA general Education: global dynamics and ethical reasoning
PSCI-370 Issues in Global Politics
Major themes, questions, problems and events in global politics as chosen by the instructor. Students will engage in written and public discourse concerning topics that are global in scope and important to understanding politics in the twenty-first century. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: global dynamics
PSCI-375 United States and the World
Credits: 3 Term Offered: May Term
Examination of major foreign policy issues facing the United States and consideration of policy options available. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: global dynamics
PSCI-420W International Law & Organization
Explores the nature of international law and its similarities and differences with domestic law. Examines the institutions, rules, and organizations that provide the context for global interactions in an increasingly globalizing world. Case studies include issues such as human rights, the International Criminal Court, the World Trade Organization and the World Bank, and International Monetary Fund. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 and ENG-110 FILA general education: writing intensive Offered alternate years
PSCI-430 The International Arms Trade
The international arms trade is a long-time instrument of foreign policy. States have used conventional arms to influence the policies of other governments, sway the course of foreign wars, and boost their own military and economic security. Access to weapons, however, also contributes to repression, human rights violations, the onset of armed conflict and regional instability, and depresses economic development. The course will examine these complexities and trace normative instruments that have been created to control the arms trade. Students will grapple with the interplay of norms, institutions, and state interest. In addition, the course will emphasize qualitative social science research skills, and will be geared toward helping students find research questions, design research, and locate and evaluate evidence. Prerequisite: PSCI-230 Alternate years; offered 2018-2019
PSCI-440W Global Political Economy
Political implications of global economic relations, including such topics as the politics of trade, monetary relations, financial crises, development, global systems of production and consumption and multinational corporations. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 and ENG-110 FILA general education: global dynamics and writing intensive Offered alternate years
PSCI-480 Internship
Credits: 3 Term Offered: All Terms
Provides an opportunity for a student to gain field experience in an area related to the student's concentration or career goals. Supervision of an intern is provided by an appropriate faculty member and by a staff member of the agency or business in which the student is an intern. A student who wishes to engage in an internship must consult with the appropriate faculty member at least eight weeks in advance of the start of the term in which the internship is to be completed. A description of the internship, signed by the student and the faculty sponsor, must be filed with the director of internships by the first day of the semester prior to the start of the internship. Approval of each application for an internship is made by the director of internships based upon policies and guidelines as approved by the Council on Education and the faculty. To be considered for an internship, a student must have junior or senior status and at least a 2.00 grade point average. Internships are graded on an S or U basis. A student may enroll in an internship program for 3 credits per semester, and internship credit may be earned in subsequent semesters subject to the limitations that no more than two internships may be pursued in any one agency or business and a maximum of 9 credits in internships may be applied toward graduation.
SOC-314 World Just Systems
Comparative study of justice systems derived from major legal traditions. The development and application of these systems is examined, with an emphasis on historical trends and social forces that shape them. Comparative themes include the role of political power, public perceptions, systems of morality, constructions of guilt, and corrections philosophies. Prerequisite: SOC-101 Offered alternate years
SOC-361 Development and Underdevelopment in the Modern World
Dilemmas, tensions, and theoretical and policy issues related to the position of Third World countries in the modern world. Questions of urbanization, industrialization, modernization, westernization, and distribution of economic resources are discussed. Various theories of development and underdevelopment are critically examined. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 and SOC-101 FILA general education: global dynamics
FREN-300 Special Cultural Topics in English
Study of contemporary topics and world issues related to the cultures of the French-speaking world. Explores political, social and economic structures through literature, film, the visual arts and/or music. Taught in English. Credit available for French majors and minors upon completion of a French language component. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: global dynamics
FREN-325 Art of Conversation
Reinforces more advanced syntactical structures of the language. Further develops these and vocabulary through expository, persuasive, argumentative and debate style speaking. Prerequisite: FREN-202 or permission of instructor
-or-
HIST-385 Topics in French History
Covers key topics in the modern history of France since 1871. Survey of the modern period of French history through the lens of a special topic. Topics may include France at war in the 20th century, French intellectuals and the world, multicultural France, or social transformation in modern France. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: world cultures
HIST-321 Europe Since 1789
Surveys developments in European history from the French Revolution to the present day. Major topics include the French Revolution and Napoleonic Europe, industrialization, the rise of new ideologies and systems of thought, the new Imperialism, the World Wars and the Holocaust, rise and fall of communism, and the place of Europe in the world in the early 21st century. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: world cultures Offered alternate years
HIST-325 Modern Britain Since 1688
Examines political, economic, and culture trends in British history from the ?Glorious Revolution? of 1688 to the present day. Modern Britain stands as one of the cornerstones of the contemporary world, and its politics and culture influenced global society in countless way, ranging from soccer to modern environmentalism to constitutional law. The course focuses on several major themes, including the role of religion, finance, and industry, the royal family, sport, and, most important of all, "social class," in building British society. Students will acquire a basic understanding of the major driving forces of modern British history and the ways that they compare and interrelate with Europe, the United State, and the world. Prerequisites: FILA 150 or FILA 350 FILA general education: world cultures Offered alternate years
HIST-335 Women's History in Asia
Explores women's histories in Asia. Stresses the construction of gender norms and their evolution over time and encourages comparison of women's lives and experiences across various cultural contexts in Asia. Topics include women's political rights and participation, women's education and literacy, women's sexuality and reproduction, and women's work. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: global dynamics Alternate years: offered 2019-2020
HIST-345 Crusades and Terrorism
Analyzes the connection between the medieval crusading movement and modern Middle Eastern terrorism by analyzing the historical context for claims used to justify violent Islamic extremism. Students work to build a balanced historical perspective and engage their social responsibility to present reasoned opinions in the public discourse over modern terrorism. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: global dynamics Offered alternate years
HIST-350 Afghanistan, Central Asia, and the Great Powers
Examines the history of western intervention, imperialism, and "nation building" in Central Asia and Afghanistan from the initial periods of Russian and British expansion into the region in the early eighteenth century to the American and NATO intervention in Afghanistan in the twenty-first century. Major themes include cultural and political interaction between local societies and the British, Russians, Soviets and Americans. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: world cultures Offered alternate years
HIST-360 Modern Africa
Surveys the history of Modern Africa from the era of the trans-Atlantic slave trade to the present and places special emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa. It approaches the history of the continent through consideration of the nature and impact of European intrusion into African societies and African responses to European imperialism. Moreover, the course examines how independent African nations have addressed the legacies of their history and the challenges independence has posed for African nations. Special topics include Apartheid, the struggle against segregation, African women, feminism, development, and the difficulty in creating viable democracies and stable economies in the late twentieth-century. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: world cultures
HIST-390 War and Peace Across the Pacific
Examines key events in the relations among Japan, China, and the United States since the mid-19th century, exploring not only diplomatic and political but also cultural relations among the three societies. Topics include migration, WWI, internationalism of the 1920s, WWII, Chinese Civil War, and Cold War. By exploring Asian and American experiences of these key events from international and transnational perspectives, nationalistic narratives that are prevalent in all societies will be challenged. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: world cultures
HIST-410 Modern India & Pakistan Since 1700
Examines the history of India and Pakistan from the beginning of British rule in the early 1700s to the present. A region of the world that is by the day becoming more important to the Unites States and the West, this class explores the major issues of modern South Asian history, including the rise of British dominion, the Indian revolt of 1857-58, the escalation of religious communalism, growth of nationalism, India's partition and independence, and the current nuclear standoff between India and Pakistan by focusing on the complex interplay between nationalism, imperialism, and the three major religions of the region - Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism - over the last 300 years. Offered alternate years
HIST-415 History of China Since 1600
A survey of the history of China since around 1600. While chronologically surveying political, economic, social, and cultural changes that took place in Ming and Qing China, Republic of China, and the People's Republic of China, the course explores key themes including revolutions, projects of building a modern nation-state, wars, gender, and family. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 Alternate years: offered 2019-2020
HIST-425 History of Japan Since 1600
Examines the history of Japan in the early modern and modern times. While chronologically surveying political, economic, social, and cultural changes, the course explores key themes including projects of building a modern nation-state and empire and of rebuilding the society after World War II, and the roles played by gender, family, and nationalism in those projects. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350
PSCI-310 Latin American Politics
Comparative analysis of contemporary Latin American politics and governments. Considers political and economic themes, noting especially the challenges of democracy, development and inequality. Examines the region's relationship with the rest of the world, including the United States. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: world cultures
REL-340 Religions of the Near East
Major living religions of the Near East stressing a sympathetic understanding of the illumination, which is provided the adherents of each for daily living, as well as some of the cultural expressions of each in those societies where they flourish. Religions studied include Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 and ENG-110 FILA general education: world cultures Offered alternate years
REL-350 Religions of the Far East
Major living religions of the Far East stressing a sympathetic understanding of the illumination, which is provided the adherents of each for daily living, as well as some of the cultural expressions of each in those societies where they flourish. Religions studied include Hinduism, Buddhism, and native Chinese religion. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 and ENG-110 FILA general education: world cultures Offered alternate years
SOC-365 Cultures of Africa
The racial, social, and cultural history of Africa in ancient and modern times. Attention is given to the impact of urbanization and to African responses to Western values and institutions as carried to the continent by the Colonial powers. Contemporary political and socioeconomic trends and problems. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 and SOC-101 FILA general education: world cultures
SPAN-300 Special Cultural Topics in English
Study of contemporary topics and world issues related to the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. Explores political, social and economic structures through literature, film, the visual arts, and/or music. Taught in English. Credit available for Spanish majors and minors upon completion of a Spanish language component. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: world cultures
SPAN-340 Spanish Culture and Civilization
The historical development of Spain, including consideration of geography, as well as political, social, economic, intellectual, and artistic factors. Taught in Spanish. Prerequisite: SPAN-202 or permission of instructor
SPAN-345 Latin American Culture and Civilization
The historical development of Spanish-speaking and Latin America including consideration of geography as well as political, social, economic, intellectual, and artistic factors. Taught in Spanish. Prerequisite: SPAN-202 or permission of instructor
Students may take one Internship (PSCI-480) toward the requirements for the major and apply the credits to either global processes or comparative and regional studies.
One international travel course (such as ART-307X) or cultural exploration course (such as COMM-333X, ENG-240, FCS-250, FREN-305, SOC-363 or SOC-365, or SPAN-306 or SPAN-308X) may be used toward the comparative and regional studies requirement.
Students may substitute SOC-322 for PSCI-250.
Students may not double major in political science and global studies. Political science majors may minor in global studies, but the 15 credits from non-core areas must be taken in disciplines other than political science.
Students pursuing a global studies major are strongly encouraged to study abroad, to explore a minor relevant to their area of interest (world languages and cultures, economics, business, philosophy and religion, etc.), and to participate in an internship. Relevant internships through PSCI-480 earn credit toward the major.
A bachelor of arts degree consisting of 42 credit hours distributed as follows:
(18 Credits)
To be completed by the end of sophomore year, except for Senior Seminar:
HIST-105 World History to 1500
An examination of the multiple global narratives that comprise human development and interaction prior to 1500 with primary focus on early human activity, the development of complex societies, classical and post-classical ages, and expansion of post-classical cross-cultural involvement. Corequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: history
HIST-110 World History Since 1500
An examination of the multiple global narratives that comprise human development and interaction since 1500 with primary focus on the origins of global interdependence, the ages of revolution, industry, and empire, and the twentieth century. Corequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: history
HIST-201 History of the United States to 1877
The United States from settlement to Reconstruction. Major themes include the development of a new society, evolution of democratic behavior, and the growth of sectionalism. Includes both social and political approaches.
HIST-202 History of the United States Since 1877
The United States from Reconstruction until the present. Major themes include industrialization and modernization, the increased role of government, greater U. S. involvement in international affairs, and the impact of these changes on society. A continuation of HIST-201.
HIST-250 Historical Methods
An introduction to historical research methods and the tools and techniques that historians use to study the past. The course focuses on the development of key research skills through the location, analysis, and use of primary and secondary sources in a variety of forms and settings. Students will also review and gain an understanding of the fundamental historiographical practices and interpretations used within the field of history.
HIST-470 Seminar in Theory & Practice of History
An in-depth seminar in historical research and the examination of historical theory culminating in the preparation and presentation of a major research paper based on primary historical sources.
(at least 3 credits)
HIST-340 American Indian History
Examines the history of American Indians from pre-contact civilizations and cultures to the present. It demonstrates the diversity of individual, tribal, national, and pan-Indian experiences in the context of culture, society, religion, economics, politics, and law. Students investigate a variety of sources including scholarly and popular non-fictional and fictional writings, images, songs, and films. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: world cultures Offered alternate years
HIST-365 Foundations of American Religion
Survey of American religious history with a focus on origins and diversity. Major topics include Puritanism, Revivalism, Mormonism, Methodism, African-American religion, fundamentalism, Catholicism, and Judaism and religion during the cold war. Offered alternate years (Cross-listed as REL-365)
HIST-375 Cold War America
Examines the cultural, political, and diplomatic context and events of the Cold War from 1945 to 1991 with an emphasis on life in the United States. Students explore a variety of scholarly and primary sources from the period. Offered alternate years
HIST-435 Progressive Era America
An intellectual and cultural history of the United States in global context between 1880 and 1920. It traces the development of American culture, ideas, economics, and politics as part of a larger reform movement in the industrialized world between the beginning of the Second Industrial Revolution and World War I. Offered alternate years
HIST-460 Readings in the American Civil War
Explores the American Civil War primarily through great books, supplemented by lectures, films, and a field trip. Topics include causes of the conflict, gender, nationalism, religion, Reconstruction, memory, military history, and, especially, race, all as interpreted by modern scholarship. Prerequisite: HIST-201 Offered alternate years
HIST-462 History of the United States South
Survey of the former slaveholding states. Focuses on slavery and slavery politics, race relations, and distinctive characteristics of Southern Society. Offered alternate years
HIST-311 Europe 1492-1789
Surveys developments in European history from the discovery of the New World to the eve of the French Revolution. Major topics include Europeans' interactions with peoples and cultures outside Europe, the Reformation, the development of both limited and absolutist governments, the Scientific Revolution, and the Enlightenment. Offered alternate years
HIST-380 Topics in European History
A study of major themes, questions, events, and problems in European history chosen by the instructor. The course will include the examination of primary documents and/or artifacts and explore the implications of the theme on the cultures, economics, and social systems of the region. Examples include the Greeks and the Romans, the Crusades, the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, and others. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: world cultures
HIST-420 Modern Germany and Its Empires
This course is a survey and examination of modern German history and its empires from 1871 until the present. Explores major issues and broader dynamics tied to Imperial Germany, Weimar Germany, Nazi Germany, and a divided post-WWII Germany as well as current conversations. Discusses more specific dynamics including the German colonial empire, WWI, WWII and the Holocaust, and the East German dictatorship. Offered alternate years
And 15 additional credits from HIST courses numbered 300 or above. One PSCI course numbered 300 or above and one Internship (HIST-480) may substitute for history electives. Honors Project (HIST-499) may substitute as a major elective course. Students may not major in both history and history and political science.
(9 Credits)
PSCI-210 Politics & Government in the United States
Introduction to American politics, covering the development of American democracy, relations between the states and the federal government, elections, the role of the media, the three branches of national government, and current public policy. Corequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: social sciences
PSCI-240 Introduction to Comparative Politics
Introduces the diversity of political structures, processes, cultures, ideologies and change (revolution, democratization, etc.), as manifested in multiple national political systems in the global community. Introduces the application of social science methods to political phenomena. Considers the outcomes of political systems for human well-being. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: global dynamics
(21 Credits)
European History
(3 Credits)
United States History
Non-Western History
HIST-356 East Asia
Survey of East Asia (China and Japan) from 1800 to the present. Emphasis is upon the different paths towards modernity taken by each society, the conflicts involved in the attainment of modernity, and the impact of the West during the period. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: world cultures Offered alternate years
Other Courses
6 credits of a methods/senior seminar sequence, either PSCI-250/PSCI-470 or HIST-250/HIST-470.
6 additional credits from HIST or PSCI courses numbered 300 or above.
An Honors Project (HIST/PSCI-499) or one Internship (HIST/PSCI-480) may be an elective course.
Available only for students accepted into the secondary education program
And 6 credits of upper-level PSCI courses.
(22 Credits)
PSCI-220E Introduction to Political Philosophy
Changing conceptions of freedom and virtue in ancient Greece to contemporary political philosophy. Students analyze popular films to illustrate and critique philosophical theories. Prerequisites: FILA 150 or FILA 350, and ENG-110 General Education: philosophy or religion and ethical reasoning
PSCI-401E Contemporary Political Thought
Examination of the origins and development of contemporary notions of freedom, democracy and equality from Nietzsche to contemporary political philosophy. Topics include liberalism, libertarianism and post-modern political thought. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 and ENG-110 FILA general education: philosophy or religion and ethical reasoning Offered alternate years
Receives the bachelor of arts degree and consists of 21 credit hours distributed as follows:
United States Politics
PSCI-320 State and Local Politics
This course is an introduction to State and Local Government, and Virginia Government in particular. The course will help students better understand how structures of local and state governments are established and redefined by the people. Topics will include federalism and the institutions of state government, state and local policies and financing, Virginia state government, state involvement in American politics, the structure of state institutions and how states differ.
PSCI-332 Women & Politics
Explores the role of women in American and global politics in order to understand the role of identity, institutions and social movements in democracy. Topics include women's influence on the development of the modern American welfare state, feminism, public policy issues of special importance to women, and social movement strategies. Offered alternate years
PSCI-340 Media & Politics
Examination of the role of mass media in American politics. Topics include the effect of journalistic norms on political news, the impact of new media technologies from newspapers to the Internet, media objectivity, and the effect of media on political reasoning and behavior.
PSCI-345 Political Psychology
This course is an in-depth analysis to the topic of Political Psychology. The course will combine knowledge from Political Science and Psychology and help students to broaden their political and psychological knowledge. Topics will include the purpose of political psychology, individuals, identity, groups, nations, and the interactions between each of these. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350, and ENG-110
PSCI-350 Constitutional Law of Federalism & Institutional Powers
Examination of the development of US Supreme court decisions in the areas of federalism and the powers of the three branches of the federal government. Topics include judicial review, the war powers of the President, substantive due process, government takings, and the commerce clause. Offered alternate years
PSCI-355 Constitutional Law of Civil Rights and Liberties
Examination of the development of US Supreme Court decisions in the areas of civil rights and civil liberties. Topics include first amendment rights to freedom of speech, press, and assembly, due process rights, and rights to equal protection. This course also considers the First Amendment as a site for interfaith dialogue. Alternate years: offered 2016-2017
PSCI-380 Public Administration
Examination of the most pressing domestic issues confronting American society in the 21st century and the institutions and legal regimes developed to administer public policy. Topics include health care, education, criminal justice, social welfare policies, immigration, environmental issues, organizational theory, bureaucratic management and budgeting. Emphasizes active learning with simulations, debates, and engagement with public policy and public administration professionals. Offered alternate years
PSCI-390 Public Policy
Examination of the development and implementation of public policy with an emphasis on understanding change in policy regimes over time and the variety of regulatory mechanisms. Students research public policy on a topic of their choosing such as agriculture, social welfare, health care or environment. Offered alternate years
PSCI-415 Policymaking, Interest Groups & Congress
Examination of how Congress, the Presidency, and interest groups work together to make federal public policy. Topics include the legislative process, interest group activities, and the role of the presidency in the development of the federal administrative state. Students research policy-making on a topic of their choosing. Offered alternate years
Global Politics
(12 credits, 3 credits may be in HIST courses)
Receives the bachelor of science degree and consists of 21 credit hours distributed as follows:
PSCI-215 Introduction to Public Policy
A comprehensive introduction to the process of developing, implementing and evaluating public policy. Covers the policy process in both theoretical and practical terms including the structure of institutions, decisions made throughout the process, and consequences of decision-making or non-decision-making. Areas of public policy addressed include criminal justice policy, regulatory policy, and healthcare advocacy and policy. Corequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: social sciences
Public Policy
(15 credits, 9 credits must be in PSCI courses)
COMM-347 Strategic Public Relations
This course will cover strategic planning and specialized public relations issues. Issues include risks, crisis management, social marketing campaigns, and corporate and non-profit communication. Students will learn and apply advanced public relations theories and skills to case studies and real-life situations. Prerequisites: COMM/PWR-255W and one of the following courses ART-322, ART-323, ART-344, ART-347
COMM-349X Nonprofit Communication
Introduces students to the burgeoning nonprofit sector of American society. Students learn what makes an organization a nonprofit, explore the purposes of a nonprofit sector in society, consider the often overlooked field of nonprofit media, and explore the challenges and opportunities of working in, with, and for nonprofit organizations. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 and COMM-100 FILA general education: experiential learning
COMM-420 Political Campaigning in Virtual Environments
Introduces the range of communication practices that characterize contemporary political campaigns. Students will process existing understandings of political communication theory in order to design and implement a semester-long campaign project.
COMM-447 Science, Environment, and Health Communication
Examines the role of news, advocacy, scientific analysis, decision and policy making, risk perception, and other factors in the communication of issues related to science, environment, and health. Provides students with rich theoretical background, critical understanding, and practical skills to produce, investigate and critique communication processes related to the topics. Students in this course are required to conduct field work and original research, write and publish news, and analytical articles.
ENVR-305 Natural Resource & Environmental Law
This course will provide an overview of federal and state laws that are aimed at the conservation of natural resources and/or protection of environmental quality. Major laws that will be covered include the National Environmental Protection Act, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act and others. Speakers from natural resource/environmental agencies such as the Va. Department of Environmental Quality, Va. Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and U.S. Forest Service will provide practical insights into the application and implementation of environmental policy. Alternate years: offered 2018-2019 Prerequisites: BIOL-100, 101 or 110
SOC-255EX Introduction to Social Welfare Systems
Traces the origins and development of current social welfare institutions and illuminates the philosophical and ethical considerations undergirding social policy while considering the merits and deficits of current social services. While a primary focus is on the political, economic, and social context of the American welfare system, cross-cultural comparisons will be considered. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350, ENG-110 and SOC-101 FILA general education: ethical reasoning and experiential learning
SOC-412 Adjudication and Corrections: Existing And Alternate Strategies
Critical evaluation of structures of adjudication, sentencing and corrections in the United States. Includes an examination of alternative approaches to justice and reconciliation, such as community-based rehabilitation, victim/offender conflict mediation, et. Various strategies for community reintegration are also explored. Prerequisite: SOC-101 Offered alternate years
Pre-Law
(18 credits, 9 credits must be in PSCI courses)
SOC-211 Criminology
Examination of theories pertaining to the causes of crime and treatment of offenders. Theories of violent and property crimes (including "white-collar" crimes) are explored. Critical analysis of the social, political and cultural context of the justice system in the United States of America, with a special emphasis on questions of justice, fairness and equality are also undertaken. Prerequisite: SOC-101
SOC-312 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Analysis of juvenile crime and its connections to family structures, peer groups and the educational system, as well as gender, race and class. Trends in juvenile corrections are examined along with current debates on reform. Special topics include gangs, juvenile detention, probation, child advocates, waiver to adult courts and hospitalization. Prerequisite: SOC-101 Offered alternate years
SOC-313 Gender, Crime and Justice
Investigation of the interaction between gender and social control in the United States and cross-culturally. The gendered nature of criminal activity is examined empirically and theoretically. The justice system, including the correctional treatment of women, is examined for its relationship to historical shifts in the status and treatment of women. Prerequisite: SOC-101 Offered alternate years
COMM-410E Communication Law and Ethics in a Digital Age
Analytical survey of ethical and legal issues pertaining to communication professionals, focusing on the new digital media landscape. Issues explored include First Amendments rights, public affairs journalism, copyright, defamation, obscenity, censorship, licensing, corporate and governmental communications, and the Digital Millennium Act. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 and ENG-110 FILA general education: ethical reasoning
BUS-350 Business Law
The U.S. legal and regulatory environment, including the sources of law; the resolution of disputes; the Uniform Commercial Code; the laws of torts, contracts, agency, partnerships, corporations, employment, and equal opportunity; and laws regulating competition. Prerequisite: BUS-120, ENG-110, and junior or senior standing
PHIL-310 Logic
Skills of reasoning for solving problems found in ordinary language, deductive and inductive formats, and in common fallacies. A brief introduction to symbolic logic, scientific method, and probability. Prerequisite: ENG-110 FILA general education: philosophy or religion
PHIL-320E Professional Ethics
Pressing issues confronting professionals in a technological era. Utilizing the insights of philosophical and religious ethics, the course examines the responsibilities of the professional person in business, medicine, law education, the ministry, and other fields. Problems considered include confidentiality, accountability, whistleblowing, governmental regulation, and ethical codes. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 and ENG 110 and junior or senior standing FILA general education: philosophy or religion and ethical reasoning
(3 credits)
Honors Project (PSCI-499) may count as an elective. Students may substitute SOC-322 for PSCI-250. Students may not double major in political science and global studies. Political science majors may minor in global studies, but 15 credits from non-core areas must be taken in disciplines other than political science.
Students interested in law school should consider pursuing the pre-law track or pre-law concentration. Majors who pursue the pre-law track may not add a pre-law concentration, but majors who complete the major using the standard or public policy track may. Up to two courses from the pre-law list may be used for both the political science major and the concentration.
Students interested in careers in public sector bureaucracies or graduate study in programs such as a master?s in public policy or master?s in public administration should consider completing the public policy track or the politics and public policy concentration. Majors who pursue the public policy track may not add a politics and public policy concentration, but majors who complete the major using the standard or pre-law track may add a politics and public policy concentration. Up to two courses from the public policy list may be used for both the political science major and the concentration.
Political science majors interested in careers or graduate study in international relations or security studies should consider adding the global studies minor and either a world languages and cultures major or minor.
Students interested in pursuing graduate study or careers in environmental policy should consider the public policy track with either a major in biolog y or environmental science or a minor in environmental science.
Students interested in graduate study or careers in criminal justice or public safety should consider adding a crime and justice minor in the sociolog y department.
Degree Type Offered: Minor
Consists of 21 credit hours distributed as follows:
(6 Credits)
Students may take one Internship (PSCI-480) toward the requirements for the minor and apply the credits to either global studies or comparative and regional studies.
Political science majors may minor in global studies, but the 15 credits from non-core areas must be taken in disciplines other than political science.
Students pursuing a global studies minor are strongly encouraged to study world languages and cultures, study abroad and participate in internships relevant to the field.
The remaining 6 credits must be selected from HIST courses numbered 300 or above. This minor may not be taken in conjunction with either a major in history and political science or a major in global studies.
And 15 additional credits from PSCI courses numbered 300 or above.
Students may take one Internship (PSCI-480) toward these additional credits.
This minor may not be taken in conjunction with either a major in history and political science or a major in global studies.
Degree Type Offered: Concentration
Consists of 12 credit hours distributed as follows:
HIST-268 The Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley
Studies the experience of the Shenandoah Valley during the Civil War, causes of the war, campaigns of 1862 and 1864, and the home front, including the burning, conscientious objectors, slavery, and shortages. Examines a variety of large trends, including race, gender, and religion.
Consists of 18 credit hours, including :
And 15 additional credits chosen from the following (a minimum of 9 of these additional 15 credits must be in political science):
HIST-355 Public History
An introduction to the practice, methods, and theories of applied history in the contexts of public history sites, oral history, and local history. Students will be introduced to best practices for museum and archive collection development, accessioning and deaccessioning artifacts, conducting oral history interviews, and responsible application of history skills to real-world problems. Students will: visit local museums, archives, and library special collections to see public history in action; participate in Storied Halls, which is an ongoing, collaborative student-faculty oral history research project; conduct a substantial original research project on local history through local archival repositories; and present their work as research papers, history talks, museum exhibits, and/or digital history displays. Offered alternate years
HIST-480 Internship
And one course from the following list:
ART-305X Museums and Galleries
A critical study of the visual arts understood through the institutions we call museums and galleries. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: experiential learning
ENG-220 American Folklife
Explores the role played by traditional American culture, including music, narrative, medicine, vernacular architecture, and folk art and craft. Much of the course will concentrate on the folk culture of the Shenandoah Valley. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 and ENG-110 FILA general education: world cultures Offered alternate years
MUS-232 American Music
American musical life from colonial times to the present. Samplings include music following both the European classical tradition (operatic, choral, symphonic, etc.) and America's popular tradition (ragtime, jazz, rock, etc.). Specific topics in the general areas are treated in detail by individual research. Corequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: fine arts and music
SOC-338 Introduction to Material Culture Studies
Introduces students to techniques for examination of objects and artifacts through the study of important texts, hands-on experience, on-site visits to museums, buildings and cultural landscapes. Topics include vernacular architecture, cultural geography, popular design, technology, folk life and archaeology. Prerequisite: SOC-101
HIST-115 20th Century World History
Examines political, economic, and cultural trends in world history over the course of the twentieth century with emphasis on the interconnectivity of world peoples and places. Major themes include trade, ideology, conflict, culture and globalization. Corequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: history
HIST-120 The Pacific World
Examines the history of the Pacific Ocean world from around 1500 to the present. While surveying the histories of key societies in the Asia-Pacific region, the course also examines the intricate connections in this diverse world. Major themes include cultural encounters, trade, migration, empires, and conflicts. Corequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: history
HIST-125 The Atlantic World, 1450-1800
Examines the rise and fall of an Atlantic World system that tied Europe, Africa and the Americas into a web of cultural, political and economic interdependence. Major themes include different models of New World exploration, colonization by European colonial powers, missionary activities and religious migrations, the ramifications of New World slavery, encounters and conflicts between native and colonial peoples, and the development of nation states in the Western Hemisphere. Corequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 and ENG-110 FILA general education: history
HIST-130 African American History
Survey of the African American experience in the U.S. from 1607 until the present. Emphasizes the South but incorporates the national level. Major themes include slavery, slavery politics, civil rights, family life, black culture, migration patterns, and religion. Corequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: history
HIST-135 History of the Islamic World
Examines political, economic, cultural and religious trends in the greater Middle East from the birth of Islam in the seventh century to the present day. Major themes include the origins of Islam and the rise of Islamic empires and cultures, the development of an early modern polity under the Ottomans, European imperialism, and the influence of nationalism(s), resources conflicts and religious revival in the 20th and early 21st centuries. Corequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: history
HIST-140E Ethical Dilemmas in World History
A survey of modern ethical dilemmas drawn from the 18th century to the 21st century and from around the world that have challenged societies to rethink their economic, political and social practices in the interests of ethical or moral reform. Major themes include the rise of the abolitionist movement and its relation to human trafficking today, the moral status of warfare and various tactics of war such as torture. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 and ENG-110 FILA general education: history and ethical reasoning
HIST-270 The Second World War in Global Perspective
Examines the foundations, nature, and impact of the Second World War in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Emphasizes the role of ideology, including fascism, communism, militarism, imperialism, and colonial nationalism in shaping the experiences of both western and non-western powers in these regions from the late 1930s to 1945. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: global dynamics
HIST-280 History Through Film; Film Through History
Examines the relationship between history and film and considers the difficult balance between historical scholarship and artistic expression. Emphasis is on popular movies portraying historical characters and events and the controversies and questions these often raise. Subjects will cover a broad range of topics in European and world history.
HIST-285 Monuments, Memorials, and Museums
Examines remembrance as it takes shape in monuments, memorials, and museums. Students critically engage with conceptions, conversations, and controversies around memory at the intersection of history, memory studies, public/ digital history, and museum studies. Students use documents, images, and scholarship to explore different sites, traveling to monuments, memorials, and museums. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 and a 100 or 200-level history course FILA general education: world cultures
HIST-290 Medieval Europe
Course covers the development of Western Europe from the collapse of the Roman Empire to the beginnings of the Renaissance with emphasis on the ideas, individuals and events that shaped the period. Topics include daily life for the masses, evolution of political and religious thought, consolidation of state and religious authority, cultural shifts and the rise of a persecuting society, and medieval warfare. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: world cultures
HIST-305 India Past and Present
A travel course that offers a firsthand examination of the cultural, political, and religious legacies of three separate empires - the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughals, and the British Raj - in contemporary India. While expediting the vast array of Indian cultures in general, students will explore a number of past and current political and religion centers and examine the role of competing imperial frameworks in shaping the simultaneous unities and divisions in modern India. The course will focus on Northern India, including Delhi, Agra, the Great Indian Desert (Thar) in Rajasthan, British "hill stations" in the Himalayas, and the Hindu holy city of Hardwar on the River Ganges. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: global dynamics Offered alternate years
HIST-307 Cultural Memory of the World Wars
This interdisciplinary travel course (World Languages and Cultures/History) examines the history and diverse cultural memory of the First and Second World Wars in Britain, France, and Belgium. While gaining firsthand experience of contemporary culture and society in theses western European nations, the class will focus on specific sites of memory and history of these conflicts, including London, Paris, Normandy, the Somme, Verdun, and southern Belgium. Studying both literature and historical documents, students will gain an intimate knowledge of the landscapes, experiences, and legacies of the world wars within the discreet cultural contexts of Britain, France, and Belgium. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: world cultures (Cross-listed as FREN-307)
HIST-317 History of the Christian Church
Social and political structures of the Church, issues in theology and ethics. A survey of the history of the Church from the Apostolic Age to the present time. Prerequisite: ENG-110 FILA general education: philosophy or religion Offered on demand (Cross-listed as REL-317)
HIST-400 Professional Development
Designed to prepare history students for entry into the job market, or further study at the graduate level. Meets once a week and addresses issues of relevance to the application of history to the profession. Topics of relevance to postgraduates, including graduate school entry (exams, applications, etc.), interview preparation, resume writing, certifications, and such will be discussed. Students will prepare a career portfolio, individually designed to meet their specific needs, in which professional and graduate school application materials will be collected. The portfolio will be fully assessed at the end of the semester. Prerequisites: HIST-250 and Junior status
HIST-490 Independent Study
Upon approval of the department and the division head, a student with a cumulative grade point average of 2.20 or better may engage in an independent study or research project. One desiring to pursue independent study or research must submit a written description of the proposed work to the chair of the appropriate department and to the appropriate division head prior to the last day of the drop and add period for the semester in which the study is to be conducted. At the end of the semester, the supervising professor files with the registrar a grade for the student and a description of the work accomplished. Credit may be received for not more than three independent studies or research projects.
HIST-491 Research
HIST-499 Honors Project
An honors project is one in which a student researches a subject, by examination of relevant literature or by experimentation or both; the student reports the results in an accurately documented and well-written paper or appropriate representation of the work. Whenever the study deals with the subject of an established course, the student is expected to go well beyond the usual work of the course in research and in assimilation of the results as revealed in the report. Juniors and seniors with a cumulative grade point average of 3.40 or above may register for an honors project. One desiring to pursue an honors project must submit a written description of his or her proposed work to the chair of the appropriate department and to the appropriate division head prior to the last day of the drop and add period for the semester in which the study is to be conducted. Upon the completion of the Honors Project, the student must present an oral defense of his or her project. The final grade must include a satisfactory performance on the oral defense, assessed by a three-faculty member team. The Project Advisor will authorize the make-up of the oral defense team and will assign the final grade on the project. The honors project title will be noted on the student's transcript. It is the student's responsibility to provide a copy of the written paper or appropriate representation of the work to the library in compliance with specifications approved by the Council on Education. The library director arranges for binding and storage.
PSCI-205 Global Identities
PSCI-260 Campaigns and Elections
This course is an in-depth seminar on campaigns and elections in the United States, especially how the president is elected. The course will help students better understand how the American people engage in elections, how our electoral system works, and how we evaluate leaders. In the beginning, we will discuss how elections and campaigns are run in the United States, how we predict which candidates will win elections, and, finally, citizen participation in the Presidential Election. Three themes running through the course are democracy, evaluation of candidates, and the American public.
PSCI-275 Individual Liberties, Civil Rights and Immigration
Introduction to the protection of civil rights and liberties under the U.S. Constitution, the application of those rights to citizens and noncitizens and the constitutional principles relevant to policy debates surrounding immigration.
PSCI-280 Lying and Lie Detection
Introduces students to the research on and application of lie detection and the political art of lying. Topics include learning to detect lies, application of lies, and determine shades of truth. Lie detection is twofold - learning to detect lies of suspects and knowing how to detect truths of individuals in all areas of life. The work in the class will include analyzing micro-facial expressions, body language, and how society defines lying in different settings. Application of the techniques will include political leaders, countries, cultural differences, and lying with data for political purposes. Corequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general education: social sciences
PSCI-290E Aesthetics, Philosophy and Politics
Reviews the role of aesthetics in the history of political philosophy to understand aesthetics as an alternative foundation for politics. Readings include canonical figures in the history of philosophy, such as Thucydides, Plato, Aristotle, Hume, Kant, Nietzsche, Dewey and Arendt. Emphasis on developing aesthetic judgment as a key capacity of citizenship. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 and ENG-110 FILA general education: ethical reasoning Offered alternate years
PSCI-338X Politics of Social Change
A travel course in which students travel to a site of recent political and social changes to explore the causes, dynamics and implications of revolutionary change. Prerequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350 FILA general Education: global dynamics and experiential learning
PSCI-351 Competitive Moot Court
Credits: 1 Term Offered: Fall Only
This course prepares students to participate in moot competitions sponsored by the American collegiate Moot curst Association (http://www.acmamootcourt.org/). Students will write briefs on the annual ACMA case problem and the precedent cases in the problem case portfolio. Students will also practice oral argumentation on the case problem. Not all students will compete in the competition. May be repeated for credit but a maximum of 3 credits of Competitive Moot course may be applied toward degree requirements. Taught in the Fall to coincide with ACMA competition schedule.
PSCI-490 Independent Study
PSCI-491 Research
PSCI-499 Honors Project