The principal objective of the program in Political Science is to stimulate students to attain a higher level of responsibility, sensitivity and awareness with respect to current political and social issues as well as familiarity with the policies and functions of American government at the federal, state and local levels.  The training, which has both theoretical and practical dimensions, is designed to equip its graduates for gainful employment in both the public and private sectors of our society and preparing students for graduate and professional schools.

A major requires the completion of thirty (30) semester hours in Political Science including POLI 201, 210, and 490, but excluding POLI 110, and at least one course in each of the following three sub-areas:  political theory, international relations and comparative government, and American politics and institutions.

A minor requires the successful completion of eighteen (18) semester hours in Political Science including POLI 201, 210 and 490.
                                                                  Curriculum in Political Science

                                                                            FRESHMAN YEAR
                                                                           Hrs.                                                                                          Hrs.
Course                                                              Credit             Course                                                              Credit
ENGL 111 (English)............................................     3                 ENGL112 (English).............................................     3
MATH 151 (College Algebra)................................     3                 MATH 250 (Elem. Statistics)...............................     3
HIST 103 or 104.................................................     3                 CMIS 164 (Intro. to Information Processing)..........     3
BIOL 105 (Intro. to Biology).................................     3                 BIOL106 & 106L (Intro. to Biology).......................     3
JRDV 111 (College Survival Skills)........................     1                 FIAR 101 or MUSC 101.......................................     3
JRDV 111A (Freshman Assembly).......................     0
-----                                                                                           -----
   13                                                                                                   15

                                                                          SOPHOMORE YEAR

Foreign Language 101.........................................     3                 Foreign Language 102.........................................     3
GEOG 110 (Survey of Regional Geography)..........     3                 Chem. or Phys. Science 101 Lecture & Lab..........     4
POLI 110 (American Government)........................     3                 POLI 201 (Introduction to Political Science)..........     3
POLI 210 (State & Local Government)..................     3                 HIST 210 (U.S. History to 1865)...........................     3
Political Science Elective....................................     3                 Course in Minor Area..........................................     3
-----                                                                                                 -----
   15                                                                                                   16

                                                                               JUNIOR YEAR

HIST 220 (U.S. History since 1865)......................     3                 PSYC 210 (General Psychology).........................     3
SOCL 210 (Intro. to Sociology)............................     3                 Political Science (International or Comparative).....     3
Political Science (Theory)....................................     3                 ECON 200 (Survey of Econ. Principles)................     3
ENGL 203 (Writing About Literature)....................     3                 Political Science Elective....................................     3
Course in Minor Area..........................................     3                 Course in Minor Area..........................................     3
-----                                                                                                 -----
   15                                                                                                 15

                                                                               SENIOR YEAR

Political Science Electives (300 or above).............     6                 POLI 490...........................................................     3
Free Electives....................................................     9                 Political Science Electives..................................     6
Courses in Minor Area .......................................     6
-----                                                                                                  -----
   15                                                                                             15

POLITICAL SCIENCE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

POLI 110.  AMERICAN GOVERNMENT                                                                                                       3 credit hours
The principal emphasis of the course is upon the nature of American Government; how it operates with respect to individuals and groups; its constitutional development; the federal system; the citizens’ relationship and responsibility to government; other forms of government in the world, and the United States’ global connections in a technological age.  This course, or PS 201, is a pre-requisite to all other political science courses.

POLI 201.  INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE                                                                                3 credit hours
This course is a study of political science as a discipline itself, with emphasis upon its relationship with other social sciences, in an effort to illuminate the various bases of human political behavior.  Attention is also given to the nature of politics, different forms of political systems, as well as the various approaches and methods used in the study of politics.  This course, or PS 110, is a pre-requisite to all other political science courses.

POLI 210.  STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT                                                                                         3 credit hours
This course is a study of the organization, principles and actual working of American state and local governments.  The focus will be on Louisiana.

POLI 250.  GLOBAL ISSUES3 credit hours
A series of lectures, videos and guest presentations on the leading issues facing the world community.  The content of the course will be constantly updated by verifying the issues examined.  The approach to the issues will be interdisciplinary.

POLI 301.  URBAN GOVERNMENTS                                                                                                          3 credit hours
This course is a study of the politics and functions of urban governments and their relationships to the state and various types of municipal corporations.

POLI 303.  URBAN CRISIS                                                                                                                        3 credit hours
This is an interdisciplinary studies course designed to explore, examine, and analyze several selected crisis areas in the urban environment.

POLI 305.  POLITICAL SCIENCE INTERNSHIP (Majors only)                                                                       3 credit hours
This course furthers the integration of theory and practice by placing students in such entities as government agencies, political and civic organizations, internships programs of public and private organizations, and lawyers’ offices.  (Prerequisites: Political Science 110, 201 and 210)

POLI 310.  AFRICAN AMERICAN POLITICS                                                                                               3 credit hours
This course is a study of the issues in African American politics with attention focused on overall goals, public policy objective, leadership, group activities, strategies, and Black power in American politics.

POLI 315.  POLICIES AND FUNCTIONS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT                                                     3 credit hours
In this course, consideration is given to analyses of the United States Government policies with respect to defense, agriculture, fiscal, taxing, national resources, business, labor, welfare, etc.

POLI 320.  INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION                                                                       3 credit hours
This course is an introduction to the basic problems of public administration, organization, management, coordination, responsibility, personnel, budgeting, the information of policy needs and means, and the machinery of administration.

POLI 325.  POLITICAL PARTIES                                                                                                               3 credit hours
The course is a study of the historical development, organization, methods and roles played by political parties in the government of the United States.

POLI 330.  AMERICAN PRESIDENCY                                                                                                         3 credit hours
This course is an examination of the Presidency, including its responsibilities and authority, organization of the Executive Office of President, and the leadership, control, coordination and supervision which have developed.

POLI 351.  AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I                                                                                      3 credit hours
This course is a study of leading constitutional principles as developed through judicial interpretation of the Constitution.  Special consideration is given to the powers of Congress and the President, the federal system, and problems growing out of the modern economy of the United States.
POLI 352.  AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL LAW II                                                                                     3 credit hours
This course is a study of leading interpretations of the Constitution governing civil rights and civil liberties in the United States.

POLI 390.  DYNAMICS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP                                                                  3 credit hours
This course is an interdisciplinary honors seminar, designed to examine the etiology, structure, and functions of African American leadership as they relate to the social, political, economic and cultural advancement of the total African American community and society at large.

POLI 423.  INTERNATIONAL LAW                                                                                                             3 credit hours
This course is a study of the nature and source of international law, its substance, its historical development, and its role in contemporary affairs.

POLI 424.  INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS                                                                                                  3 credit hours
This is a study of the development of relations between nations.  Consideration is devoted to such concepts as international systems, nationalism, imperialism, sovereignty, power politics, and neo imperialism.

POLI 430.  POLITICS OF THE DEVELOPING NATIONS                                                                              3 credit hours
This is a study of theories and processes of political development and modernization with particular attention given to the issues and problems common to the nations of Africa, Asia and Latin America.

POLI 432.  COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS                                                                        3 credit hours
This course is a comparative study of modern political institutions and processes in Great Britain, France, Russia, Germany, Japan, and Nigeria.

POLI 435.  AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY                                                                                                  3 credit hours
This is a critical introduction to the nature, content, motivations objectives, principles, practices and institutional framework of America’s contemporary foreign policy.

POLI 440.  GOVERNMENT AND THE AMERICAN ECONOMY                                                                      3 credit hours
This course is designed to critically examine regulatory and promotional policies of the American national government, and the constitutional and statutory bases of such policies.

POLI 460.  AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT                                                                                           3 credit hours
This course is a study of the main currents of American political thought from the Colonial Period to the present, with emphasis on contributions of twentieth-century American political thinkers.

POLI 480.  HISTORY OF POLITICAL THEORY                                                                                           3 credit hours
This course is an exposition and critical analysis of major political thinkers from Plato to the fifteenth century.

POLI 481.  MODERN POLITICAL THEORY                                                                                                 3 credit hours
This course is an exposition and critical analysis of major political thinkers from Machiavelli to modern times.

POLI 490.  SEMINAR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE                                                                                           3 credit hours
In this course, the student is concerned with the development of political science as a discipline and the present frontiers of knowledge.  A common problem will be explored, and individual papers will be required on selected aspects of that problem.