Degree Requirements and Related Policies
Nontraditional ProgramsDelta College/Honors Program/CLAM
Elementary and Secondary Teacher Preparation
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228 Faculty Office Building
(585) 395-2584 |
Chairperson and Associate Professor Emeritus: Walter Borowiec, Professor: Stephen H. Ullman; Assistant Professors: Mark Chadsey, John J. Fitzpatrick, Dena Levy, Andrea Rubery; Patrick Marier, David E. Staveley.
The Department of Political Science and International Studies offers two majors. The political science major provides concentrations designed for careers in the public and private sectorsranging from government service and practical politics to such fields as law, state and local government, international affairs and diplomacy, teaching, journalism, and intergovernmental organizations. The political science major is well-suited to many careers where knowledge of government behavior and institutions is useful. The international studies major is multidisciplinary in naturetraining students for careers associated with foreign policy, international business, international organizations, and other occupations requiring individuals who are "globally skilled." International studies is well-suited to a host of professions associated with the emergence of a globally interdependent world.
Political Science Major
Political science is the study of the state and of power relations
within states and among them, as they are and as they ought to be. It
seeks a better understanding of political and governmental behavior and
institutions in order to enable society to use its collective resources
more effectively for the general welfare. The principal sub-fields in
the SUNY Brockport department are political philosophy, American politics
and government, comparative government and politics, and international
relations.
Political science is a liberal arts discipline; therefore, the SUNY Brockport department emphasizes its contributions to the general intellectual development of students. Its subject matter is essential for informed, effective citizenship and is especially pertinent for those entering the fields of law, government service, politics, journalism, and social and global studies.
The department administers three student award funds for the Brockport College Foundation. The James A. Schiller Memorial Award is given to an incoming student who has demonstrated an interest in practical politics or public service, intends to major in political science, and plans a career in politics or public service. The Harold Rakov Memorial Award is intended for an upper-division political science major and is awarded on the basis of academic performance. The Paul Hanks Memorial Award is presented to a pre-law student.
Service Courses in Political Science
The Department of Political Science and International Studies offers
courses to meet a variety of student educational needs and graduation
requirements. These include:
The following requirements were effective fall 2002: Students who declared their major prior to fall 2002 and have taken and completed either PLS 300 Political Statistics or PLS 302 Political Analysis (or both) do not need to take PLS 303 Political Science Methods.
I. The political science academic major program requires
a total of 36 credits, distributed as follows:
| A. Fifteen credits in the following required courses: |
Credits
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| PLS 111 International Relations |
3
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| PLS 112 Comparative Politics |
3
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| PLS 113 American Politics |
3
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| PLS 203 Political Thought |
3
|
|
| PLS 303 Political Science Methods |
3
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| Total: |
15
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| B. Twelve credits in upper-division courses (300/400 level), including at least one course from each of the four sub-fields: American politics, political philosophy, international relations and comparative politics. | |
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American Politics Courses: PLS 308, 311, 312, 314, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 324, 326,353,361, 401, 402, 412, 420, 425, 435, 466, 467, (492, 493, Albany Semester), (495, 496, 497, Washington Semester), |
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Comparative Politics Courses: PLS 340, 342, 343, 346, 348, 364, 383, 437, 438, 447, 448, 470, 475 |
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| International Relations Courses: PLS 304, 305, 333, 338, 410, 444, 445, 475 | |
| Political Philosophy Courses: PLS 313, 353, 354, 356, 362 | |
C. Nine additional credits in PLS electives.
II. Every political science major must have a faculty advisor who must be consulted at least once each semester.
Minor in Political Science
The political science academic minor program requires 18 credits in
political science courses, including two of the four required lower-division
courses for majors, either of the two required upper-division courses
for majors, and nine additional credits in upper-division political science
courses. Every political science minor must have a faculty advisor who
must be consulted at least once each semester.
Pre-law Preparation
Students preparing to enter law school may do so through any of SUNY
Brockport's many academic major programs, provided that their undergraduate
program is broad and liberal in the classic sense. More important than
specific subject matter, according to law educators, is the development
of skills and habits conducive to legal reasoning. Special advisement
for students preparing for law school is available through Brockport's
Pre-law Advisement Committee. Contact the Department of Political Science
and International Studies, Faculty Office Building, (585) 395-2584.
International Studies Major
International studies is an interdisciplinary major that provides
students with a broadly based course of study, focusing on the driving
forces in world affairs today. As a sole major, international studies
is a excellent preparation for careers in government, international
business and public service. As a second major, it complements study
in many fields because it centers on the international domain within
which a wide range of careers operates.
At SUNY Brockport, we firmly believe that an international studies degree is an education in the future of our nation and the world because an international studies student will be versed not only in the subject areas studied, but will also be trained analytically in problem identification and problem solving where international matters are concerned. Toward this end, international studies students will speak and write at least one foreign language, will have experienced one of SUNY Brockport's many outstanding study-abroad opportunities, and will be computer literate. Given the rise in global interdependence in communications, transportation, trade, financial transactions, and a host of other activities, a degree in international studies is a passport to the emerging challenges of the 21st century.
SUNY Brockport also offers interdisciplinary programs
in international business, Asian studies, Canadian studies, and Latin
American studies, as well as programs overseas that can be integrated
into the international studies major. (See the department chair for further
information.)
The international studies major consists of two components: (1) 18 credits
of required foundation courses; and (2) 18 credits of upper-division course
work in one of four tracks (area studies, multi-regional studies, international
business, and environment). A semester of study overseas is strongly recommended.
In addition, international studies majors must complete the foreign language
requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (the Bachelor of Science is not
avail- able for this major). Specific requirements are described below:
The Curriculum
The international studies major requires 18 credits of required foundation
courses, 18 credits of upper-division courses in one of four tracks and
a foreign language requirement.
PLS 111 International Relations and PLS 112 Comparative Politics are required for the major.
Students choose four additional foundation courses:
Note: The following Delta College courses have been determined to fulfill INS Core requirements:
Upper division courses constitute four tracks:
The Area Studies track includes 18 credits in one of the following areas: Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, or Latin America.
In the Africa track, students select either DNS 200 or 330, but not both.
Examples of possible courses in these areas include:
Africa: *select one
Asia:
Canada:
Europe:
Latin America:
Many other classes are also offered in each of these areas:
The Multi-Regional Studies track requires students to complete a concentration of three courses in one of the above areas, with three courses in three other areas.
The Environment track includes 18 credits of course work focused on issues of global interdependence and ecology. Students will take four of the following courses. Two electives may be selected in cooperation with an advisor.
The International Business Track
ECN 202 from the INS core is a prerequisite for this track. Eighteen
credits are required: BUS 335, BUS 345, BUS 433, BUS 445, ECN 441, PLS
410. Recommended courses are:
PLS 300 or equivalent, an upper division course dealing with the region of the world that most interests you, BUS 365 and one computer science course.
Foreign Language Requirement
Student must demonstrate competence in an appropriate foreign language
with the completion of one year of intermediate level study or an appropriate
score on a qualifying exam. Advanced level study is strongly recommended.
Delta College Global Studies Track
The international studies major may be elected by Delta College students
pursuing Option II(see Delta College entry for details).
Study Abroad
International studies majors are expected to take advantage of one
of SUNY Brockport's many opportunities to study abroad. Overseas programs
may take the form of traditional studies or an internship program. Study
abroad is possible through Brockport in England, France, Canada, Ghana,
Jamaica, Japan, Greece, New Zealand, Jordan, Mexico, the Czech Republic
and Russia. Internships are available with many organizations and businesses,
including the British Parliament and Amnesty International's home office
in England, as well as many more in Scotland, Mexico and Costa Rica. Most
study-abroad programs and internships count toward completion of the major.
Closer to home, students may also take part in the Washington Semester Internship/Study Program. Work opportunities include the State Department, Amnesty International, Greenpeace, the World Bank, congressional committees on international affairs, and the World Health Organization.
Contact Dr. John Perry or Pat Coates, Office of International Education, Morgan III, (585) 395-2119, for more information on study abroad and international internships.
International Organization Simulations
SUNY Brockport takes part in model United Nations and European Union
simulations. Both acquaint students with the operations of international
politics and the workings of these influential organizations.
International Studies Minor
Students choosing to minor in international studies must complete
18 credits of course work, including a minimum of six credits at the upper-division
level. PLS 111 International Relations and PLS 112 Comparative Politics
are required. A minimum of two additional courses must be selected from
the following list:
For appropriate electives, consult departmental listings or see department chair.
INS 470 Nationalism (A). Prerequisite: PLS 111. Cross-listed as PLS 470. Examines the post-World War II force of nationalism as a driving force in the international system, with special attention to the post Cold War period. Includes topics such as ethnic nationalism and regional conflicts, multinational states and multistate nations. 3 Cr.
INS 475 Political Geography (A,C). Prerequisite: PLS 111. Cross-listed as PLS 475. Covers key aspects of geopolitics as it affects foreign policy and international politics in the post-World War II period. Examines topics such as resources, environment and human geography, as well as issues associated with the study of geography-politics relationships: gate- way states; shatterbelts; heartland concept; and trade ties. 3 Cr.
PLS 111 International Relations (A,S,C,O). Studies the macro international political system, traditional power politics, and emerging global interdependence. 3 Cr. Every Semester
PLS 112 Comparative Politics (A,S,W,D). Examines the government and politics of selected foreign countries. 3 Cr. Every Semester
PLS 113 American Politics (A,S,D). Assesses the organization and interaction of the components of American national government. 3 Cr. Every Semester
PLS 203 Political Thought (A,G). Studies the works of major political philosophers, including Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, J.S. Mill, Marx, Lenin and Fascists. 3 Cr. Every Semester
PLS 303 Political Science Research Methods (A,T). Introduces students to the research methods and techniques used in the discipline of political science. Covers elementary statistics and other approaches to political analysis. 3 Cr. Every Semester
PLS 304 International Organization Simulation (A). Consists of student preparation for and participation in the simulation of parts of the decision making process of an international or supranational organization. 3 Cr.
PLS 305 Politics of European Integration (A). Prepares students for participation in simulation of decision-making process of the European Union. Simulation alternates annually between the SUNY Brockport campus and a European university. 3 Cr.
PLS 311 Parties and Elections (A). Prerequisite: PLS 113. Explores the importance of political parties and election campaigns in American political life. Topics include US parties in international context; competing institutions (interest groups and news media); how the parties have responded to recent challenges; the legal and regulatory environment in which they operate; the conduct of election campaigns for federal, state, and local office; and the behavior of voters and political activists. 3 Cr.
PLS 312 Public Administration (A). Covers public management, inter-governmental relations, budgeting and finance, public personnel, program evaluation, and research. 3 Cr.
PLS 313 Gender Politics (A,I,W). Cross-listed as WMS 313. Explores, from a feminist perspective, the socio-political barriers that have made women the "majority minority" or "silenced majority." Includes barriers such as discriminatory legislation, political folkways, sex gender roles, and myths that have created and perpetuated a male-dominated society. 3 Cr.
PLS 314 Issues in American Politics (A,I). Covers a selection of contemporary issues of concern to our nation. Includes topics such as lobbying and democracy, the power of the president, and environmental protection vs. economic development. 3 Cr.
PLS 316 Congressional Politics (A). Prerequisite: PLS 113. Analyzes decision making in Congress. Emphasizes factors influencing legislative behavior and the interaction of Congress with other governmental and non-governmental units. 3 Cr.
PLS 317 American Presidency (A). Prerequisite: PLS 113. Explores the historical and contemporary roles of the president. Emphasizes interaction of the presidency with other governmental and non-governmental units. 3 Cr.
PLS 318 State and Local Government (A). Prerequisite: PLS 113. Covers the organization, process, and functions of state and local governments with special reference to New York state. 3 Cr.
PLS 319 Urban Politics (A). Prerequisite: PLS 113. Covers the politics and governments of America's cities. 3 Cr.
PLS 320 Law and the Legal Process (A). Covers the judicial process, including its structure and organization, and the political dimensions of judicial decision making. 3 Cr.
PLS 324 Constitutional Law I (A). Prerequisite: PLS 320 or CRJ 305 or equivalent. Covers the practices, customs and traditions of the Supreme Court. Focuses on the early cases decided by the Court. Includes topics such as judicial review, federalism, presidential and congressional power, the Commerce Clause, the federal court structure, and nationalization of the Bill of Rights. 3 Cr. Every Semester
PLS 326 Constitutional Law II (A). Prerequisite: PLS 320 or CRJ 305, or equivalent. Surveys 20th-century Supreme Court civil rights and civil liberties cases. Includes topics such as freedom of speech, press, religion, due process rights, equal protection, voting rights and rights of women and minorities. 3 Cr. Every Semester
PLS 333 American Foreign Policy (A). Prerequisite: PLS 111 or 113. Covers post-World War II American policy formation and execution. Explores the role of the presidency, Congress, the military, the intelligence branches, and public opinion in shaping policy. 3 Cr.
PLS 338 Global Issues (A,I,W). Covers a selection of issues such as military weapons growth, problems of world order, gender issues, international politics of energy, food, population growth and natural resources. 3 Cr. Every Semester
PLS 340 European Political Systems (A). Prerequisite: PLS 112. Provides an intensive, in-depth study of the politics and governments of selected western European countries, especially Great Britain, France, and Germany. 3 Cr.
PLS 342 Latin-American Politics (A). Prerequisite: PLS 111 or 112. Covers the major forces in Latin-American domestic and international politics and US-Latin-American relations. 3 Cr.
PLS 343 Canadian Politics and Society (A). Prerequisite: PLS 111 or 112. Explores Canada's geography, history, demography and culture; federal and provincial institutions, e.g., the Prime Minister, House of Commons, parties; and governmental policy on language and international affairs. 3 Cr.
PLS 346 Russian and East-European Politics (A). Prerequisite: PLS 111 or 112. Explores the culture, ideology and political institutions of the former Soviet Union and its neighbors. 3 Cr.
PLS 348 Politics of the Far East (A). Prerequisite: PLS 112. Explores the cultures, economics, and politics of China, Japan and South Asia. 3 Cr.
PLS 353 American Political Thought (A). Explores the roots of liberalism and conservatism in the writings of Federalists and anti-Federalists, Populists, Utopians, Slavocracy, critics of democracy, the contemporary Right and Left. 3 Cr.
PLS 356 Political Economy (A). Describes and analyzes the kind of political economic system that the welfare state represents. 3 Cr.
PLS 361 Public Opinion (A). Prerequisite: PLS 111 or 112. How do we develop our political ideas? How do these ideas relate to our personalities? In what ways does public opinion shape the decision-making process of our government? Allows students to acquire and apply research skills to find answers to these questions. 3 Cr.
PLS 362 Women in Western Political Thought (A,J,W,D). Cross-listed as WMS 362. Covers major theories of sexual politics, which include Freud's theory of femininity, reform liberalism, socialist theory, and the theory of radical feminism. 3 Cr.
PLS 383 The Middle East in World Politics (A). Studies political conflict of global issues and inter national politics. Covers the Arab-Israeli conflict. 3 Cr.
PLS 392 Topics in Political Science (A). Covers selected topics focusing on contemporary political issues and problems. May be repeated as topics change. 3 Cr.
PLS 399 Independent Study in Political Science (A). Defined in consultation with the instructor-sponsor and the procedures of the Office of Academic Advisement prior to registration. 3 Cr. Every Semester
PLS 401 Local Government Internship (A). Prerequisite: PLS 113. Enables students to serve as interns in town, city or county government, engaging in such activities as research, constituent service, and planning. Provides placements in administrative agencies, as well as local legislative bodies. 3-6 Cr. Every Semester
PLS 402 Legal Internship (A). Prerequisite: PLS 320. Provides an experiential learning opportunity. Places student interns in either a public or private law office, undertaking paraprofessional responsibilities. 6 Cr. Every Summer
PLS 410 International Political Economy (A). Explores the political forces behind global economic relations. Includes key topics such as international trade and monetary relations, the impact of the international system on domestic politics, and the relationship between rich and poor countries. Also includes these specific issues: the importance of the World Trade Organization, regional trade blocs, and the political influence of multi-national corporations. 3 Cr. Spring
PLS 420 Civil Liberties, Civil Rights and the Constitution (A). Examines public policy and constitutional rights, focusing on controversial constitutional issues such as affirmative action, capital punishment, adoption, and free press/fair trial. Utilizes a seminar format to discuss issues. 3 Cr.
PLS 435 Legal Rights of the Disadvantaged (A,I,W,D). Cross-listed as AAS 435 and WMS 435. An issue-oriented course. Provides an understanding of how the US legal system can improve the status of disadvantaged blacks, Hispanics, women, prisoners, the poor, students, American Indians, homosexuals, and those with mental and physical disabilities. 3 Cr.
PLS 437 Studies in Social Science: London (A). Sponsored by Brunel University and SUNY Brockport. Enables students to live and study in London. Through lectures, discussions and field trips, allows students to examine relationships between British and American society and history. 15 Cr.
PLS 438 Studies in Social Science: Paris (A). Cross-listed as HST 438. Investigates French culture by studying one broad topic and one other topic in social sciences, plus study in French language and literature. Allows students to live and study in France. Requires class attendance, readings, field trips, and research. 15 Cr. Every Semester
PLS 444 National Security (A). Prerequisite: PLS 111 or 113. Examines post-World War II and post-Cold War changes in national security (military defense) policy perception, planning and implementation as a result of technological advances. In particular, focuses on military defense policies, including strategies and tactics of the superpowers, their principal allies, and other powers of military consequence, the superpower arms race, arms control, limitation, and reduction. 3 Cr.
PLS 470 Nationalism (A). Prerequisite: PLS 111. Cross-listed as INS 470. Examines the post-World War II force of nationalism as a driving force in the international system, with special attention to the post-Cold War period. Includes topics such as ethnic nationalism and regional conflicts, multinational states, and multistate nations. 3 Cr.
PLS 475 Political Geography (A,C). Prerequisite: PLS 111. Cross-listed as INS 475. Covers key aspects of geopolitics as it affects foreign policy and international politics in the post-World War II period. Examines topics such as resources, environment and human geography, as well as issues associated with the study of geography-politics relationships, gateway states, shatterbelts, heartland concept, and trade ties. 3 Cr.
PLS 492 Albany Internship (A). Enables selected students to serve as interns at the New York Assembly or Senate, or a state agency in Albany. Provides an experiential learning opportunity. 3-12 Cr. Every Semester
PLS 493 Albany Internship Seminar (A). Enables selected students to serve as interns at the New York State Assembly or Senate, or a state agency in Albany. Conducted on site in Albany. 3-6 Cr. Every Semester
PLS 495 496 Internship in National Politics I & II (A). Enables selected students to serve as interns in an Executive branch, Congressional office/committee, Judicial office, political party organization, or a politicized private organization in Washington. Requires a major research project. 12 Cr. Every Semester
PLS 497 Seminar for National Interns (A). Focuses on the evaluation of lessons learned from the internship experience. Requires oral presentations concerning research projects. 4 Cr. Every Semester
PLS 499 Independent Study in Political Science (A). Defined in consultation with the instructor-sponsor and the procedures of the Office of Academic Advisement prior to registration. 1-6 Cr. Every Semester
The information in this publication was current as of December 2002 when the text was compiled. Changes, including but not restricted to, tuition and fees, course descriptions, degree and program requirements, policies, and financial aid availability may have occurred since that time. Whether or not a specific course is scheduled for a given term is contingent on enrollment, budget and staffing. The college reserves the right to make any changes it finds necessary and may announce such changes for student notification in publications other than the College catalogs. For the purpose of degree and program completion, students are bound by the requirements in effect as stated in the printed catalog at the time of their matriculation at SUNY Brockport. Inquiries on the current status of requirements can be addressed to the appropriate College department of office. Also refer to the Brockport Web site home page at www.brockport.edu for current information.
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