Course Finder

• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

Political Science 12, Model United Nations, is a companion course to Political Science 11.

This course examines global conflict and cooperation since World War II, with special emphasis on the United Nations and related organizations. Arms proliferation and control, regional conflicts, world social and economic cooperation, and governmental and nongovernmental efforts to promote peace and security are examined.

• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

This course should be taken concurrently with or subsequent to Political Science 11. Additional fees are required and any costs associated with travel, room and board will be the responsibility of students. Consultation with the instructor is recommended prior to enrollment.

Students will participate in local, state, or national Model United Nations, and will research country positions, policy issues, United Nation rules of debate and parliamentary procedure, diplomacy negotiation, and techniques of conflict resolution.

IGETC AREA 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

• Prerequisite: None.
• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

This comparative study of the government and politics of the Middle Eastern states gives emphasis to the study of the relationship between political development, political organization, and social structure.

C-ID: POLS 130.

IGETC AREA 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

• Prerequisite: None.
• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

This course surveys the scope and methods of comparative political analysis. It examines democratic, authoritarian, and transitional political systems to illustrate the central theories and ideas in comparative politics. It compares the political structures, processes, and cultures of countries at different levels of economic and social development in several world regions (e.g. Central and Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Central, South and East Asia, and Western and Central Europe).

IGETC AREA 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

Satisfies Global Citizenship

• Prerequisite: None.
• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

The social construction of race and ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation in American society and their relationship to local, state, and national government is covered. Of particular concern are problems of assimilation and integration into the political system, the politics of exclusion, discrimination, voting behavior and pressure group politics, ideology, resistance and political action, the social construction of race and racism, the poor and the culture of poverty, political problems of the aged, the young, women, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people. This course satisfies the SMC requirement for American Cultures.

IGETC AREA 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

Satisfies Global Citizenship

• Prerequisite: None.
• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

This course examines environmental politics. The political, economic, and social origins of environmental change and degradation are examined, as well as democratic, bureaucratic and market-based solutions to environmental problems advocated by environmental movements, interest groups and political parties. Arguments for best public policy responses to a range of environmental problems will be assessed and debated. The course offers a practical problem-solving approach focusing primarily on the relations between a range of contemporary political values and on what it means to take political responsibility for reducing the human impact on the earth.

Political Science 22 is the same course as Environmental Studies 22. Students may earn credit for one, but not both.

IGETC AREA 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

• Prerequisite: None.
• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

This interdisciplinary course critically explores the politics of gender and sexuality in contemporary societies. The course considers materials from political theory, philosophy, the study of women, the study of masculinity, and queer studies as it examines the role of gender, gender based social movements, and sexual politics in political and social life and in contemporary political affairs.

IGETC Area 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

• Prerequisite: None.
• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

This course is an introduction to the legal concepts and contemporary legal conflicts in the United States, including the philosophical and historical basis for resolution of conflict. Historical and contemporary conflicts in the areas of civil liberties and civil rights, as well as other current legal conflicts and controversies are addressed. This course satisfies a requirement for the Law Pathway program.

IGETC Area 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

• Prerequisite: None.
• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

Course focuses on the nature and study of politics, from both a historical and contemporary perspective. Students explore the methods and approaches used in the field of Political Science to analyze a variety of political concepts and problems, including the nature and distribution of power, justice, citizenship, sustainability, leadership and agency.

IGETC AREA 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

• Prerequisite: None.
• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

This course is an introduction to public policy. The course covers core topics in American public policy and focuses on institutions, policy actors, and major theoretical models. In addition, the course covers the nature and practice of policy analysis in order to demonstrate how to employ evaluative criteria in substantive policy areas.

IGETC AREA 4 (Social & Behavioral Sciences)

• Prerequisite: None.
• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

This seminar in international politics features analysis and discussion of the international system. Patterns of cooperation and conflict between states, alliance systems, security issues and the international economy are among the topics on which students will write papers. Seminar sessions are characterized by discussion, oral reports and critical analysis of papers, articles and books. Consultation with the instructor is encouraged before enrolling.

IGETC AREA 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

Satisfies Global Citizenship

• Prerequisite: None.
• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

This course offers an interdisciplinary introduction to the fields of Global Studies and International Political Economy. Students will analyze critically the role of national governments, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and multinational corporations, in regard to phenomena such as, international markets and production regimes, monetary and trade policy, international and global conflict, and environmental degradation. Contending theoretical and ideological perspectives regarding international systems, processes, and trends will be applied and evaluated.

Political Science 5 is the same course as Economics 5 and Global Studies 5. Students may earn credit for one course.

C-ID: POLS 120.

IGETC AREA 3B (Humanities) or AREA 4 (Social & Behavioral Sciences)

• Prerequisite: None.
• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

In this inter-disciplinary course students examine fundamental ideas about politics in the writings of major Western philosophers from the ancient to the contemporary period, and use those ideas to consider and debate current political issues.

Political Science 51 is the same course as Philosophy 51. Students may earn credit for one, but not both.

IGETC AREA 3B (Humanities) or AREA 4 (Social & Behavioral Sciences)

• Prerequisite: None.
• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

This interdisciplinary course in philosophy and political science examines arguments and discourses developed within contemporary political thought. How those discourses critique and/or are rooted in modern ideologies, such as liberalism and socialism will be considered. The theoretical perspectives presented in the course will be used to critically examine important issues in contemporary politics. Students will situate themselves as citizens and political agents in relation to those issues.

Political Science 52 is the same course as Philosophy 52. Students may earn credit for one, but not both.

C-ID: POLS 140.

IGETC AREA 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

• Prerequisite: None.
• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

This course examines the structure and operation of the international system. Emphasis is placed on the nature and sources of conflict and cooperation and issues of war and peace among states in the international system.

IGETC AREA 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

• Prerequisite: None.
• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

This course concentrates on the political and social history of East Asia in the 20th century. The following subjects are studied: major movements of social and political change; revolution; the pattern of political culture and power; the pattern of foreign and domestic policy; and the relationship of East Asia to the Western World.

Please see “Independent Studies” section.

Please see “Independent Studies” section.

This course prepares students to successfully apply for and be granted US Citizenship by the Office of Homeland Security. Students will learn about US History and Civics to prepare for their final interview and how to correctly fill out and submit the N-400 Application for Citizenship. Students will also learn interviewing techniques that will help them prepare for the final interview with the US Government.

• Skills Advisory: Business 5 or Political Science 24.

This course is a practicum in the legal profession and provides students with experience in the legal field. Students engage in applied learning through unpaid experiential activities organized by SMC’s applied/service learning center (in conjunction with the student and the instructor). Experiential learning will take place in private firms, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations that have a direct connection to the American legal system. Students will complete a minimum of 30 hours of work at their placement, develop a customized reading list relevant to their particular placement (i.e., a student placed with a labor lawyer would develop a reading list specific to labor law), and submit academically-sound written reports regarding the work done at their placement. Through this experiential learning opportunity, students develop a deeper understanding of the discipline and the profession.

This course is graded on a P/NP basis only.