Politics

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Professor T. Kuperus
Associate Professors M. Watson (Paul B. Henry Chair in Christianity and Politics), J. Westra (chair)
Lecturer M. Hessler

The Department of Politics and Economics offers a variety of courses in American politics, comparative politics, international politics, political theory, and methods of political analysis leading to a bachelor of arts degree (BA) in political science or international relations. The department also offers minors in political science, political science secondary education, and international relations and contributes to interdisciplinary majors in politics, philosophy, and economics (PPE)  and social studies education (grades 5-7  and grades 9-12 ).

Internships

The department encourages students majoring in political science or international relations to participate in internship programs. Students seeking course credit may enroll in POLS 383 External Practicum  with the approval of the department or participate in the Henry Semester in Washington, DC. To be admitted to the major program in either political science or international relations, a student must have completed POLS 110 , POLS 202 , POLS 217 , POLS 214 , POLS 234 , POLS 237 , or POLS 238  with a minimum grade of C (2.0).

Programs

• International Relations Major, BA
• Political Science Major, BA

• International Relations Minor
• Political Science Minor

• Nonprofit Administration, Graduate Certificate
• Public Administration, Graduate Certificate

• Public and Nonprofit Administration: Nonprofit Administration and Community Engagement Concentration, MPA
• Public and Nonprofit Administration: Organizational Leadership Concentration, MPA
• Public and Nonprofit Administration: Spatial Analysis Concentration, MPA
• Public and Nonprofit Administration: State and Local Government Administration Concentration, MPA

Courses

• NOPM 607 - Nonprofit Boards and Community Leadership
• NOPM 608 - Nonprofit Financial Management
• NOPM 609 - Designing an Effective Nonprofit Organization

• POLS 110 - Foundations of Political Community
• POLS 151 - Foundations of Political Science Research
• POLS 202 - Democracy in America: State and Federal Government
• POLS 204 - Democracy in America: State and Local Government
• POLS 209 - Public and Non-Profit Administration
• POLS 212 - Institutions and Politics of US Public Policy
• POLS 214 - Governments and Globalization
• POLS 217 - International Cooperation and Conflict
• POLS 219 - Institutions and Politics of US Foreign Policy
• POLS 222 - Contemporary Issues in US Public Policy
• POLS 224 - Contemporary Issues in Comparative Politics
• POLS 226 - Contemporary Issues in US Urban Politics
• POLS 227 - Contemporary Issues in International Politics
• POLS 229 - Contemporary Issues in US Foreign Policy
• POLS 234 - The President and Congress
• POLS 237 - Political Parties and Interest Groups
• POLS 238 - Campaigns and Elections
• POLS 240 - Freedom, Justice, and Political Authority
• POLS 242 - Philosophy, Politics, and Law
• POLS 253 - Social Science Statistics
• POLS 255 - Qualitative Social Research Methods
• POLS 277 - Asian Politics
• POLS 279 - African Politics
• POLS 304 - International Peace and Security
• POLS 306 - God, Humanity, and the State
• POLS 307 - Civil War, Ethnic Conflict, and Terrorism
• POLS 309 - International Organizations and Law
• POLS 310 - American Constitutional Foundations
• POLS 322 - Global Democratization
• POLS 353 - Applied Econometrics
• POLS 380 - Internship in Politics and Government
• POLS 383 - External Practicum
• POLS 390 - Independent Study

• PNA 504 - Public and Nonprofit Organizational Management
• PNA 514 - Issues in Healthcare Policy
• PNA 516 - Issues in Law Enforcement Policy and Practice
• PNA 518 - Ethical Leadership in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
• PNA 600 - Program Evaluation for Public and Nonprofit Sectors

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