You are in the official 2003-2004 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Department of Political Science
COURSES
- Political Science (PLSI)
- Political Theory (PLSI)
- International Relations (PLSI)
- Comparative Government (PLSI)
- American Government (PLSI)
- Local Government (PLSI)
- Public Law (PLSI)
- Public Administration (PLSI)
- Core Program for Master of Arts Degree in International Relations (PLSI) --- Graduate Courses
- Graduate Public Administration (GPA)
Political Science (PLSI)
1. Modern Politics (3)
Prerequisite: G.E. Foundation A2. Introduction to the study of democratic
and authoritarian political systems; evaluation of the historical, cultural,
and economic contexts of modern politics around the world; institutional
structures and functions; political ideologies; individual and group participation
in the political process; current issues. G.E. Breadth D3.
2. American Government and Institutions (3)
Prerequisite: G.E. Foundation A2. Meets the United States Constitution requirement
and the federal, California state, and local government requirement. Not
open to students with credit in PLSI 101. The development and operation
of government in the United States; study of how ideas, institutions, laws,
and people have constructed and maintained a political order in America.
Not available for CR/NC grading. G.E. Breadth D2. (CAN GOVT
2)
10T. Contemporary Issues in Politics
(1-3; max total 9 if no topic repeated)
Significant contemporary uses in political theory, world politics, comparative
government, American government, local government, public administration,
or public opinion.
90. Methods of Analysis of Quantitative Political Data (3)
An introduction to hypothesis testing in political science, with applications
to the analysis of quantitative political data; the formulation of research
problems and hypotheses; accuracy and precision in measurements; problems
of evidence and inference; basic techniques of statistical analysis. (2
lecture, 2 lab hours)
101. American Constitution, Institutions, and Ideals (3)
Meets the United States Constitution requirement and the federal, California
state, and local government requirement. Not open to students below second
semester sophomore or with credit in PL SI 2. Executive, legislative, and
judicial functions of our government under the constitution; federal, California
state, and local governmental relationships. Not available for CR/NC grading.
102. California Government and Institutions (1)
Not open to students with credit in PLSI 2, 101. Open only to students who
have satisfied United States Constitution requirement but have not satisfied
California state and local government requirement. Examination of legislative,
executive, judicial, and local government problems in California. Not available
for CR/NC grading.
103. California Politics (3)
Satisfies California state and local government requirement, if not used
for political science major. Emphasis on the historical development of politics
in California and the factors and institutions important to contemporary
politics: characteristics of the electorate, voter registration, primaries
and general elections, candidates and campaigning, party organizations and
leaders, interest groups, and current issues.
Political Theory (PLSI)
110. Seminar in History of Political Thought to Machiavelli
(3)
Development of political thought from Plato to Machiavelli: law, justice,
the state, authority, forms of government, and church-state relations in
light of the philosophy of history.
111. Seminar in History of Political Thought Since Machiavelli (3)
Freedom and individual rights, democracy, majority rule, equality, law and
authority, power, constitutionalism, property, social class and structure,
and revolution traced through the writings of Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hume,
Burke, Bentham, Hegel, Tocqueville, and Mill.
112. Politics and Christianity (3)
(Same as AETH 104.) Inquiry into major facets of Christianity as an integral
part of the Western humanistic tradition of politics. Emphasis on Christian
theories of man, the state, freedom, and democracy. Politics to be interpreted
in the broadest sense of all human association in pursuit of power, order,
art, science, and culture.
114. Seminar in American Political Thought (3)
Analysis of democracy, majority rule and minority rights, constitutionalism,
federalism, representation, pluralism, property, separation of powers, and
judicial review based on the perspectives of representative early and contemporary
American thinkers.
119T. Topics in Political Theory (1-4; max total 8)
Possible topics include theories of democracy; the Marxian tradition; political
thought of specific authors, historical periods and countries; peace and
war; church-state relations; the nature of politics and of political science.
International Relations (PL SI)
120. International Politics (3)
Prerequisites: G.E. Foundation and Breadth Area D. Dynamics of political
interactions of nations; nationalism, imperialism and interdependence; national
power and diplomacy; types of conflict, including war; peaceful settlement
of disputes; current issues involving competing foreign policies, national
development, energy, and national liberation movements. G.E. Multicultural/International
MI.
121. American Foreign Affairs (3)
Prerequisite: PLSI 2. Formulation and execution of American foreign policy;
constitutional frame work; role of the president and the executive branch,
Congress, pressure groups and public opinion; contemporary problems and
policies.
125. Russian Foreign Policy (3)
Historical and ideological sources of foreign policy of Russia and other
former Soviet republics; continuity and change in methods, strategy, and
tactics; policy formulation and application in specific geographic and subject
matter areas.
126. International Law and Organization (3)
The sources and subjects of international law; state jurisdiction and responsibility;
international agreements; the regulation of force and the peaceful settlement
of disputes through international law and organization, including the League
of Nations, the United Nations, and regional organizations.
128T. Topics in International Relations
(1-4; max total 8 if no topic repeated)
Politics of military power; arms limitation and control; peace theory; ecopolitics;
regionalism and cooperation; shifts in balance of power; nationalism; imperialism;
neutralism and nonalignment; foreign policies of specific nations.
Comparative Government (PLSI)
140. Approaches to Comparative Politics (3)
Prerequisite: PLSI 1. Exploration of theories, models, and conceptual frameworks
for the comparative study of political systems and subsystems; methodological
rather than an area emphasis.
141. Russian Politics (3)
A study of the political systems of Russia and other former Soviet republics.
Changes in relations between state and society; change and continuity in
political culture; trends in policy making; issues of relations between
nationality groups.
142T. Area Studies in Western Europe
(1-4; max total 8 if no topic repeated)
Government and politics of Western Europe (Britain, France, Germany, and
Italy), Northern European Countries (Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden);
or government and politics, of selected countries.
143T. Area Studies in Eastern Europe
(1-4; max total 8 if no topic repeated)
Government and politics of Eastern Europe; or government, politics, and
institutions of selected countries.
144T. Area Studies in Africa and Middle East
(1-4; max total 8 if no topic is repeated)
Government and politics of Sub-Sahara Africa, Middle East; or government,
politics, and institutions of selected countries.
145T. Area Studies in Asia
(1-4; max total 8 if no topic repeated)
Government and politics of selected countries in East and Southeast Asia.
146T. Area Studies in Latin America
(1-4; max total 8 if no topic repeated)
Possible topics include politics of South America; politics of Central America
and Caribbean countries; roles of selected groups in Latin American politics.
147. East Asian Politics (3)
Examines the governments, institutions, politics, and policy of China, Japan,
North and South Korea, and selected Southeast Asian Nations. (Formerly PLSI
145T)
148. Latin American Politics (3)
Discusses the role of the military and violence in Latin American politics,
the role of civilian groups with emphasis on democratization, and the influence
of other nations - especially the United States - on Latin American politics.
(Formerly PLSI 146T)
149T. Seminar in Comparative Government
(1-4; max total 8 if no topic repeated)
Parliamentary systems, problems and goals of developing nations, federal
systems, comparative local government, parties and pressure groups, and
multi-party systems.
American Government (PLSI)
71. Introduction to Environmental Politics (3)
Prerequisite: G.E. Foundation A2. Introduction to study of environmental
politics and policy making in the United States; a brief history of environmentalism;
basic principles in environmental policy making, including policy making
for interest groups, legislatures, and levels of government; and selection
of current topics in environmental issues. G.E. Breadth D3.
150. Public Policy Making (3)
Examines the institutional and political processes by which public policy
is formulated, adopted, and implemented. Individual instruction on student
papers (students with fundamental writing deficiencies will be required
to enroll in ENGL 1L, 1 unit, concurrently).
151. Political Participation and Political Parties (3)
Political parties; nature and extent of citizen political activity; election
of public officials; political organization of government.
152. Public Opinion and Political Behavior (3)
Examines the origins and expression of political attitudes and beliefs,
including voting and other political participation, and how public opinion
influences public policy. Special attention is given to partisanship, elections,
and voting. (Formerly PL SI 156T)
153. Presidential Politics (3)
Examines the history, development, and operation of the U.S. Presidency.
Special attention is given to the rise of the modern presidency, presidential
power (constitutional and extra-constitutional), presidential speech, presidential
elections, and the importance of public opinion for presidential power.
(Formerly PLSI 159T)
154. Congressional Politics (3)
Examines the history, development, and operation of the U.S. Congress. Special
attention is given to congressional elections, congressional-presidential
relations, and the policy-making process. (Formerly PLSI 159T)
156T. Topics in Political Behavior
(1-4; max total 8 if no topic repeated)
Voting behavior, political alienation, leadership, political perceptions
and knowledge, environmental effects on political participation, group processes,
and political socialization.
157. Environmental Politics (3)
Examines theory, concepts, and practices in U.S. environmental politics
and policy. Topics include ecological principles, the history and philosophy
of environmentalism, the contemporary political conflict over environmental
policy, and environmental policy analysis. (Formerly PLSI 189T)
158. Internship in Political Science (2-6; max total 6)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Maximum credit toward the political
science major, 3 units. Supervised work experience in legislative offices
and/or political campaigns to provide student with an opportunity to fuse
theory and practice. CR/NC grading only.
159T. Seminar in American Government and Politics
(1-4; max total 8 if no topic repeated)
Congressional committee operations, policy making by the courts, political
implications of civil service, executive initiation of legislation, minority
groups and politics, political implications of news reporting; jurisprudence
and legal philosophy; legal institutions; conflict resolution.
Local Government (PLSI)
160. State and Local Governments (3)
The organization, structure, powers, and functions of state and local governments.
163. Municipal Government (3)
Organization, powers, and functions of city government; types of city charters,
relationship between city and state government; police and fire protection,
education, water supply, health and sanitation, city planning, debts and
taxation, public utilities.
169T. Seminar in Metropolitan Government and Politics
(1-4; max total 8 if no topic repeated)
Regional and area intergovernmental relations, urban renewal, human relations
agencies, and taxation methodologies.
Public Law (PLSI)
170. Constitutional Law, the Federal Structure (3)
Judicial Review, powers of the president, powers of Congress, federalism,
and the contract clause and due process -- economic rights through case
studies of leading Supreme Court decisions.
171. Constitutional Law, Civil Liberties, and Civil Rights (3)
Free speech and association, freedom of press, commercial free speech, obscenity,
religion guarantees, fourth, fifth, sixth, and eighth amendment issues,
and social and political equality through case studies of leading Supreme
Court decisions.
174. Politics and the Court (3)
An introduction to the judicial process: jurisprudence, courts and social
policy, instruments and limitations of judicial power, fact finding, precedents
and legal reasoning, statutory and constitutional interpretation, and the
search for standards.
179T. Seminar in Public Law (1-4; max total 8)
Administrative law, international law, judicial administration, jurisprudence,
legal institutions.
Public Administration (PLSI)
181. Public Administration (3)
General analysis of the field of public administration; administrative theories;
policy and administration; behavioralism; budgeting, planning, and legal
framework.
182. Administrative Analysis:
Management and Organization (3)
Administrative organization; methods; systems and procedures; problem solving;
systems analysis; reports and records; resources management.
183. Comparative Administration (3)
Theories of comparative public administration; cross-national comparisons
of administrative processes; institutions, policy formation, and behavior
with consideration of cultural, social, and economic environments.
184. Public Budgeting and Economy Policy (3)
Examines the administrative and political considerations of revenue generation
and expenditure; budget types; the budgetary process and analysis; capital
budgeting and debt administration; intergovernmental fiscal relations; monetary
and fiscal policy.
185. Public Personnel Management (3)
Examines the evolution of public personnel administration including the
development of merit principles, equal employment opportunity, and affirmative
action; recruitment, selection, and career development; classification techniques;
theories of motivation; public sector labor relations.
187. Internship in Public Administration (2-6; max total 6)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Maximum credit toward public administration
major, 3 units. Supervised work experience in public agencies to provide
the student with an opportunity to fuse theory and practice. CR/NC
grading only.
188T. Topics in Public Administration
(1-4; max total 9 if no topic repeated)
Treatment of current topics and problems in fiscal administration, public
personnel administration, and planning.
189T. Seminar in Public Administration
(3; max total 6 if no topic repeated)
The values and philosophy of administration; management and dynamics of
change; public relations and communication problems in public administration;
planning problems and techniques; systems approach to resource management.
190. Independent Study (1-3; max total 6)
See Academic Placement -- Independent
Study. Approved for RP grading.
191. Directed Readings (1)
Directed readings and supplemental and original source material for enrichment
of regular offerings in the subdiscipline.
Core Program for Master of Arts Degree
in International Relations, (PLSI)
200. Seminar in Methods and Political Systems (3)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Systematic analysis of major political
cultures and economic systems. Emphasis upon the leading theoretical models
of the contemporary international system, issues of political economy, and
methods of cross-cultural research.
210. International Relations and Political
Theory (3)
(Same as AETH 201.) Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Inquiry into
philosophies of international relations with particular emphasis on moral
foundations of international law in light of Western political theory. Some
contemporary problems selected for in-depth analysis and student research.
220. Seminar in Politics and Conflict (3)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Analysis of sources of political
conflict and methods of conflict resolution with application to selected
topics, such as the foreign policy of major powers, the dynamics of political
transformation, interaction in regional subsystems, or national defense
and arms control.
240. Seminar in Politics of Resources and Modernization (3)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Analysis of global interdependence
and national examples in selected resource areas. Emphasis on approaches
to modernization in developing nations and relations between rich nations
and poor nations.
250. Seminar in Politics and Policy (3)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Policy formulation, implementation,
and evaluation from a comparative perspective. Examines substantive policy
issues common to modern industrial and developing nations from the perspectives
of policy analysis and decision-making; considers the role of bureaucracy,
the welfare state, political economy, and competing ideologies.
290. Independent Study (1-3; max total 6)
See Academic Placement -- Independent
Study. Approved for RP grading.
298. Project Equivalent to Thesis (6)
See Criteria for Thesis and Project.
Significant undertaking of a pursuit appropriate to international politics.
Must demonstrate originality and independent thinking and be accompanied
by written scholarly apparatus. Project examples: documentary film; extensive
curricular design; computer design of military strategies. Approved for
RP grading.
299. Thesis (6)
See Criteria for Thesis and Project.
Approved for RP grading.
Graduate Public Administration (GPA)
120G. Quantitative Applications for Public Administration (3)
The gathering, evaluation, and use of quantified information in the design
and evaluation of programs and administrative activities. Data collection;
measurement; sampling; data analysis, including regression, structural equation
models, and linear programming; computer applications. (2 lecture, 2 lab
hours)
200. Administration and Society (3)
How administration acts and is acted upon by institutional forces and values;
role of history, cultural, ethical, political, social, and economic values
and institutions; an emphasis on: bureaucracy, economy and democracy, centralization
vs. decentralization, professionalism and society; alternatives to bureaucracy.
210. Public Organization Behavior and Dynamics (3)
A study of how human behavior, motivations, personality, interpersonal and
group dynamics operate in complex organizations; an emphasis on management
styles, planned change, organization development, conflict management, leadership
and communication skills.
225. Accounting for Public Management (3)
Students contemplating additional courses in accounting should enroll in
MBA 201. Concepts, principles, and practices of accounting applicable to
the administration of public programs and agencies. Current practices in
recording and valuation. Analysis and interpretation of financial statements.
Budgeting, internal reporting, and management controls.
230. Public Revenue and Expenditure Analysis (3)
Prerequisites: ECON 40 and 50 or permission of instructor. The use of economic
analysis in the resolution of major problems in revenue collection and expenditure
choices. Critical examination of: burdens and effectiveness of taxation
measures conflicts between efficiency and equity; users charges; cost calculations;
and cost-benefit analysis.
240. Public Management Methods and Processes (3)
A survey of public management concepts, tools, and processes; policy planning
and management; strategic thinking; interpersonal and problem solving skills;
work design; performance monitoring; management control; information systems;
program evaluation; and integrative as well as critical perspectives on
management.
241. Resource Management (3)
Prerequisite: GPA 240. Administration of fiscal and human resources. Emphasis
on resource acquisition, allocation, and development strategies; budgeting
skills, debt, and financial management. Human asset management, labor relations,
position classification and analysis, quality of work life and employment
equity issues.
250. Ethics and Public Administration (3)
(Same as AETH 202.) Prerequisite: GPA 210. The moral dimensions of public
administrative decision-making. The nature of public and private morality;
psychological and ethical egoism; relativism; utilitarianism and deontological
theories; rights and goods in the public service context; sensitive applications
of rules in public agencies.
260. Public Policy Administration (3)
Prerequisites: GPA 120G, 200, 210, 240. A study of policy initiation, formulation,
and implementation and a public manager's role in them; management processes
and functions in the policy process; policy justification and advocacy,
policy analysis, and implementation evaluation.
280T. Topics in Public Administration
(3; max total 6 if no topic repeated)
Selected topics meeting student needs and interests that are not met in
other university courses.
287. Internship in Public Administration (3)
Concurrent enrollment in either GPA 200 or 210. Supervised work experience
for a realistic exposure to an organizational-bureaucratic environment for
students in the M.P.A. Program who lack significant work experience in a
public or not-for-profit organization. CR/NC grading only;
not applicable for unit credit toward M.P.A. degree.
289T. Practitioner's Seminar
(1; max total 6 if no topic repeated)
Prerequisite: Some seminars may have course prerequisites. Selected topics
in the administration of public programs and agencies examined from the
prospective and experience of practitioners.
290. Independent Study (1-4; max total 6)
See Academic Placement -- Independent
Study. Approved for RP grading.
299. Thesis (3)
Prerequisite: See Criteria for Thesis
and Project. Preparation, completion, and submission of an acceptable
thesis for the Master's degree. Approved for RP grading.
Political Science Degrees