2015-2016 Undergraduate Academic Catalog

POLS-4630 3 hours American Constitutional Law — Civil Liberties and Rights –Sp The United States Constitution defines the powers and scope of the American government and delineates the rights and liberties retained by the American people. This course focuses on the supreme Court’s interpretation of those rights and liberties by examining the Court’s decisions in their legal and historical contexts. Crosslisted as CRJU. Prerequisites: GSS-1100 Politics and American Culture POLS-4640 3 hours American Constitutional Law — Government Powers and Federalism –Fa This course provides an in-depth analysis of landmark Supreme Court decisions pertaining to the power struggles between the three branches of government at the national level and the power struggles between the national government and state governments. In addition, this course will analyze how Supreme Court Justices interpret the Constitution and construct their opinions. Prerequisite: GSS-1100 Politics in American Culture (even years) POLS-4700 Prelaw Seminar –Sp 3 hours Individual projects acquaint the student with legal procedures and research in areas such as briefs and contracts. POLS-4800 Seminar in International Studies –Fa 3 hours A seminar/readings course intended to prepare senior students for graduate study. Through readings and discussion, students explore classical writings on international relations and international issues that are shaping our contemporary and future world. Crosslisted as INTL or POLS. POLS-4900 Research in Political Science –Sp 3 hours Senior capstone thesis course in which students engage in original research and writing for the completion and defense of thesis before a committee of professors. Course emphasizes substantive cross-disciplinary and biblical integration within research topic. Prerequisite: all political science major requirements or permission of instructor. (Fee: $100) POLS-4930 1–3 hours Independent Study in Political Science Provides the means whereby gifted and interested students may explore, in a more in-depth and intensive manner, general information acquired in the major courses. Further, independent study provides a logical way to complete required hours not obtained in normal sequencing. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Public Administration (PUAD) PUAD-3100 Public Budgeting –Fa 3 hours Analysis of public sector budgeting at all levels of government in the United States with an emphasis on budgets as reflectors of priority, power, and control. Crosslisted as POLS or PUAD. (odd years) PUAD-3390 Public Finance –Fa 3 hours A consideration of the financing of local, state, and federal governments. Much attention is given to three functions of government: stabilization, distribution, and allocation. All major taxes that are present in the United States are studied as to structure, revenue gained, and present status. Crosslisted as ECON. Prerequisite: ECON-2340 Macroeconomics. (even years) PUAD-3600 Public Administration –Fa 3 hours Introduction to public administration both as a discipline and profession, including organization theory, budgeting, public policy analysis and evaluation, and public sector administration. Crosslisted as POLS or PUAD. PUAD-3690 Public Policy –Sp 3 hours Focus on decision making, problem solving, and methods of program analysis. Crosslisted as POLS or PUAD. Prerequisite: GSS-1100 Politics and American Culture PUAD-4300 Great Books in History and Politics –Sp 3 hours This course will require the student to read a single classic work of history and political thought (or a limited number of related works) and with other students, to closely and critically analyze the argument of the work. Crosslisted as POLS, INTL, PUAD or HIST. Prerequisite: GSS-1100 Politics and American Culture (odd years) PUAD-4440 Special Topics-Public Administration 1–3 hours Investigation of specific topics in Social Science and History that have intrinsic worth and engage student interest. PUAD-4640 Strategies for Public Administration –Fa 3 hours Designed to acquaint the advanced student in public administration or international studies with some of the policy decisions facing American government. All three levels of American government, federal, state, and local, will be examined in light of their particular relationships with foreign governments. (odd years) PUAD-4800 Applied Public Administration –Sp 3 hours Capstone course for public administration majors, involving the research of issues related to public administration in the United States from a normative and/or empirical perspective. (Fee: $100) PUAD-4970 1–3 hours Independent Study in Public Administration Provides the means whereby gifted and interested students may explore, in a more in-depth and intensive manner, general information acquired in the major courses. Further, independent study provides a logical way to complete required hours not obtained in normal sequencing. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Sociology (SOC) SOC-1300 Introduction to Sociology –Fa, Sp 3 hours Introduction to the concepts of sociology. The structure and processes of social life are studied. SOC-2200 Criminology –Fa 3 hours Introduction to the major criminological perspectives regarding crime causation. Selected notorious crimes are considered as case studies to enhance understanding of each perspective. Crosslisted as CRJU or SOC. SOC-2250 Popular Culture and Politics –Sp 3 hours This course will consider the relationship and effects which various forms of popular culture have had with/upon social and political movements as well as public policy initiatives both in America and International politics. The class will listen to, consider, and analyze a variety of cultural-artistic genres and the sociopolitical movements these engendered and supported in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. Attention will be given to any or all of the following: music, film, art, and literature as well as to the historical, political, and social context. Crosslisted as POLS and SOC. (odd years) SOC-2310 Juvenile Delinquency –Fa 3 hours Study and assessment of casual theory and problems of correction and prevention of delinquency. Crosslisted as CRJU or SOC. (Fee: $30) SOC-2330 Introduction to Social Work –Fa, Sp 3 hours See course description for SWK-2330 Introduction to Social Work. SOC-2400 Marriage and the Family –Fa, Sp 3 hours A biblical theology of marriage and the family is developed as a means by which to evaluate contemporary dating, marriage, and family arrangements. A major focus of the course is upon practical application related to such topics as dating/courtship, engagement, marital adjustment, in‑law relations, communication and conflict resolution, family planning, and discipline. Page 246 2015–16 Undergraduate Academic Catalog Course Descriptions POLS-4630 – SOC-2400