PS 118 Introduction to Political Science (3) A general introduction to basic concepts and
methods of study. Required of those wishing to major in political science.
PS 123 The American Political System (3) Survey of the development of the American political
system. Emphasis upon political process. Includes review of executive, legislative, judicial and
local governmental processes, as well as public opinion, interest groups, communications and
political parties.
PS 130 World Politics (3) An introductory exploration of the nature and structure of world
politics with emphasis upon the nature and sources of international and transnational political
behavior. Selected contemporary issues will be examined.
PS 205 Comparative Government (3) An examination and comparison of politics and
governments of various contemporary states.
PS 225 Statistics (4) Introductory statistical methodology with applications in social and political
sciences. Graphical presentation of data; probability distributions; hypothesis testing; parametric
and non-parametric techniques; regression and correlation; analysis or variance. Intended to
enhance the ability to understand and manipulate numerical data, and the ability to respond to
arguments and positions based on numbers and statistics. Satisfactory completion of this course
meets the statistics requirement for admission to the Master of Arts program in Criminal
Justice-Political Science. Prerequisite: MATH 103 or higher.
PS 240 U.S. Parties and Interest Groups (3) An examination of the growth, development and
functions of political parties and interest groups within the American system.
PS 260 Public Organization and Administration (3) Organization theory, the decision-making
process, administration and social change and the environment of administration.
PS 262 State and Local Government Politics/Public Policy (3) An analysis of the organization,
powers and processes of American state and local governments, emphasizing their roles in policy
determination and implementation as well as the major contemporary problems confronting
them.
PS 290 Selected Topics in Political Science (1-3) Subject matter and credit offered will be listed
in current published schedules.
PS 307 The USSR and its Successors (3) Government and politics of the USSR and the states
that have succeeded the USSR. Includes study of historical origins, development, practices and
collapse of Soviet communism, as well as the emergence of the newly formed independent states
of the former USSR.
PS 330 The American Constitutional and Legal System (3) The history and development of the
United States' constitutional and legal system. Emphasis upon the development of basic
principles, the judicial system and judicial/political behavior. Includes in-depth analysis of
selected Supreme Court decisions. (Cross-listed with CJ 330.)
PS 331 The American Presidency (3) Comprehensive analysis of the office and powers of the
president, with emphasis on activities and permanent relationships with Congress, the Supreme
Court and the federal bureaucracy. The accomplishments of major presidents will be studied at
length and compared to the modern presidency.
PS 332 The Legislative Process (3) A study of the organization, powers and procedures of
legislative bodies. Special emphasis will be given to executive-legislative and
legislative-administrative agency relations as well as the committee system, pressure groups,
lobbyist activities and the resulting flow of policy formulation.
PS 334 Democratic Political Thought (3) A review of classical to modern theories and views of
democracy. Emphasis upon critical examination of key issues that emerge from the principles
and practices of democratic government.
PS 335 Political Ideologies (3) An in-depth review of the major political ideologies at work in
the modern world. Includes discussion and analysis of conservatism, liberalism, socialism,
capitalism and communism.
PS 345 Public Policy Making in the U.S. (3) An in-depth review of the public policy making
process within the American political system.
PS 351 Current/Future U.S. Political Issues (3) An advanced, focused discussion of selected
contemporary issues with an emphasis on those considered likely to be of future significance.
Stress will be placed upon theoretical, conceptual and empirical methods of analysis and how
they become politically salient.
PS 365 Public Personnel Administration (3) An examination of the various aspects of public
personnel administration. Topics covered include the merit principle, civil service systems, job
analysis and evaluation, testing, collective bargaining, ethics and accountability. Prerequisite: PS
260 or permission of instructor.
PS 370 Federal and State Courts (3) A study of the structure and process of federal and state
courts. (Cross-listed with CJ 370.)
PS 450 Cross-Cultural Relations (3) Study of selected aspects of world politics, international law
and comparative government with special focus on the transnational enterprise. Analysis and
exploration of cultural differences and their effect upon interpersonal and organizational
relations across national boundaries. Intended to be especially useful to students of international
business as well as those in political and social science. (Cross-listed with SOC 405.)
PS 461 American Foreign Policy and World Politics (3) The theory and practice of United States
foreign policy in light of recent history and current problems.
PS 482 Political Thinking (3) An exploration of selected issues in political thought and theory.
Selected fundamental theories and findings of contemporary political science will be utilized as
well as examples of philosophical and theoretical formulations from major thinkers of the past.
PS 490 Advanced Selected Topics in Political Science (1-3) Subject matter and credit offered
will be listed in current published schedules. Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of
instructor.
PS 491 Seminar on Political Science (3) Readings and discussion of selected topics and current
problems in political science. A substantial research project is required. Prerequisite: 15 credits
in political science or permission of instructor.
PS 493 Directed Readings and Research in Political Science (1-6) Study of selected topics under
special guidance.
PS 496 Field Work in Public Affairs (1-6) Credit will be given for supervised work in a public
office or agency of direct relevance to the study of political science and/or public administration
and undertaken according to the requirements of the public administration concentration and/or
the policies of the department.
PS 499 Reading and Research in Public Administration and Public Policy (3) Extensive directed
reading and research into selected issues in public administration and/or public policy.
Prerequisite: nine credits of course work in Public Administration and/or Public Policy.
Back to SVSU Home Page