Course Descriptions

PED 305 - Lifeguard Training

This course teaches students to become American Red Cross Certified Lifeguards

Prerequisites & Notes
Fee: $150.00

PED 307 - Sailing

This course offers instruction primarily geared toward beginners, but those with prior experience are welcome.

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate safe handling skills, self-rescue skills, and ways to apply the basic skills of sailing. They should be able to name the parts of a sail boat and be able to rig a sailboat.

Students are required to provide their transportation to and from the Lake Campus.

Students will need to pass a swim evaluation in order to take this course. New students and returning students who have not taken the swim evaluation will be given the opportunity to schedule one upon arriving on campus.

Prerequisites & Notes
Successful completion of swim test. Students provide their transportation to and from the Lake Campus. In case of inclement weather, call the physical education department for instructions. Fee: $40

PED 308 - Scuba Diving

The cost of the course is $399.00 and Open Water Adventures has put together a package of required equipment that will cost $249 and includes mask, snorkel, fins, mesh bag, mouthpieces, and defogger. Open Water Adventures will provide the tank, regulator, buoyancy control, weights and belt, and neoprene layers.

Open Water Adventures have agreed to work with students individually and to structure the course at your pace and around your schedule.  That means you have complete control as to how/when you complete your certification.

For more information contact the Physical Education Department or Joe Gaydeski, owner of Open Water Adventures at 704-547-5991. See payment options & FAQ’s on PE website.

PED 311 - Swimming I - Beginner

This course is designed to teach a non-swimmer or a shallow water swimmer to become a safe and efficient deep water swimmer. After the development of sufficient skills to perform a modified crawl stroke, the elementary back stroke, survival floating, jumping into deep water, leveling off and changing directions, swimmers will be able to swim in deep water.

Prerequisites & Notes
Students that do not pass or do not take the swim evaluation must take Swimming I to fulfill their PE Aquatic requirement.

PED 316 - Waterskiing/Wakeboarding

This course offers instruction in beginning, intermediate, and advanced skills, including slalom, trick, and knowledge of safety rules.

Prerequisites & Notes
Must pass swimming evaluation. Students provide their own transportation to and from Lake Campus. In case of inclement weather, call the physical education department for instructions. Fee: $40

PED 321 - Fitness Swimming

This course is designed to promote fitness through the use of water-related activities compatible with a pool environment. Emphasis is placed on water resistant exercises, lap swimming utilizing various kicks and strokes, relays, and a variety of aquatic games.

PED 501 - Rock Climbing

PED 502 - Kayaking

Step-by-step instruction will teach participants how to enter and exit a kayak, how to paddle the basic strokes, and how to re-enter the boat after spilling.

Prerequisites & Notes
Successful completion of swim test. Kayaking is offered through the Davidson Outdoors Program. To take this course for physical education credit you will need the permission of the Physical Education Department and Davidson Outdoors. For more information see the Davidson Outdoors web site.

PED 503 - Caving

PED 504 - Backpacking

PED 505 - Wilderness Leadership Skills

Explores techniques of providing leadership for groups in an outdoor adventure class situation. Includes conflict resolution, emotional management, and task balancing skills through an understanding of group dynamics. To take this course for physical education credit you will need the permission of the Physical Education Department and Davidson Outdoors. For more information see the Davidson Outdoors web site.

PED 506 - Wilderness Leadership Skills - Water

PED 507 - Wilderness First Aid

PED 511 - Mountain Biking

PHI 102 - Reason and Argument

Introduction to reasoning with a focus on the nature and evaluation of arguments, the identification of fallacies, and the rules of rational discourse.

Students entering 2012 or after: satisfies the Liberal Studies distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.
Counts as an elective in the Public Communication/Rhetoric Track of the Communication Studies interdisciplinary minor.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Spring)

PHI 105 - Ancient Greek Philosophy

Introduction to the origins and development of philosophy in ancient Greece, with special emphasis on Plato and Aristotle. 

Students entering 2012 or after: satisfies the Philosophical and Religious Perspectives distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.
Counts as a Western Europe area course in the International Studies Interdisciplinary Minor.
Counts towards the major in Classics.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Fall)

PHI 106 - Early Modern European Philosophy

Students entering 2012 or after: satisfies the Philosophical and Religious Perspectives distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.
Counts as a Western Europe area course in the International Studies Interdisciplinary Minor.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Spring)

PHI 107 - Medieval Philosophy

PHI 110 - Problems of Philosophy

Introduction to philosophy through a survey of selected philosophical problems. Topics vary, and have included questions such as: Does God exist? Do we have free will? Can we know anything? Is truth relative? Is morality objective?

Students entering 2012 or after: satisfies the Philosophical and Religious Perspectives distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Spring)

PHI 120 - Applied Ethics

Students entering 2012 or after: satisfies the Philosophical and Religious Perspectives distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Fall)

PHI 140 - Environmental Ethics

Introduction to ethical analysis of environmental values and decision-making. Likely topics include (1) the value of different aspects of the environment including non-human animals, species, non-living natural objects, and ecosystems; (2) ethical analysis of different approaches to risk as this bears on environmental policy-making; (3) the moral merits and liabilities of ethical institutions, such as private property rights, as applied to the natural environment.

Students entering 2012 or after: satisfies the Philosophical and Religious Perspectives distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.
Counts as a Humanities course (or as an elective) in the Environmental Studies interdisciplinary minor.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Fall)

PHI 150 - Eastern and Western Conceptions of the Self

Students entering 2012 or after: satisfies the Philosophical and Religious Perspectives distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.
Satisfies the cultural diversity requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Fall)

PHI 160 - Great Philosophers

Students entering 2012 or after: satisfies the Philosophical and Religious Perspectives distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
This course can be repeated for credit given sufficiently distinct topics: check with the department chair. (Spring)

PHI 170 - God (= REL 246)

This course focuses on what is said about God in Christian tradition and in philosophy.  It explores representations, symbols, inklings of the divine in biblical and religious texts, developed conceptions of God put forward by philosophers and theologians, and traditional arguments about God , as well as contemporary statements and debates.

Students entering 2012 and after: satisfies the Philosophical and religious Perspectives distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies the Religion distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Not offered 2015-16.)

PHI 200 - Symbolic Logic

Students entering 2012 or after: satisfies the Mathematical and Quantitative Thought distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Fall)

PHI 210 - Games and Decisions

Students entering 2012 or after: satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.
Counts as an elective in the Social Science Track of the Applied Mathematics interdisciplinary minor.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Fall)

PHI 211 - Theory of Knowledge

The central questions of epistemology are: What is knowledge? Do we have any? If so, how did we get it? This course accordingly looks at the nature, scope, and sources of knowledge.

Students entering 2012 or after: satisfies the Philosophical and Religious Perspectives distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Spring)

PHI 212 - Metaphysics

Students entering 2012 or after: satisfies the Philosophical and Religious Perspectives distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Not offerred 2015-16)

PHI 213 - Philosophy of Science

Philosophical questions about the nature of science. Topics include the aim of science, the rationality of scientific change, the nature of evidence and confirmation, reductionism and the unity of science, and the role of values in science.

Students entering 2012 or after: satisfies the Philosophical and Religious Perspectives distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Not offerred 2015-16)

PHI 215 - Ethics

Students entering 2012 or after: satisfies the Philosophical and Religious Perspectives distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Spring)

PHI 216 - Philosophy of Language

Students entering 2012 or after: satisfies the Philosophical and Religious Perspectives distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Fall)

PHI 217 - Philosophy of Mind

Introduction to the mind-body problem: What is the relation between the mind and the body, or more generally, between mental and physical phenomena? Answers explored include dualism, behaviorism, the mind-brain identity theory, and functionalism. Other topics vary, and have included consciousness, mental representation, artificial intelligence, and neurophilosophy.

Students entering 2012 or after: satisfies the Philosophical and Religious Perspectives distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.
Counts as an elective in the Neuroscience interdisciplinary minor.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Fall)

PHI 220 - Political Philosophy

Students entering 2012 or after: satisfies the Philosophical and Religious Perspectives distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Not offerred 2015-16)

PHI 225 - Philosophy of Religion

Introduction to philosophical issues in classical and contemporary religious thought. Topics vary, and have included the justification of religious claims, the relation of faith to knowledge, arguments for the existence of God, divine attributes, life after death, the problem of evil, the status of religious language, the relation of religion to morality, and alternatives to theism.

Students entering 2012 or after: satisfies the Philosophical and Religious Perspectives distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Spring)

PHI 235 - Existentialism

Students entering 2012 or after: satisfies the Philosophical and Religious Perspectives distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Not offerred 2015-16)

PHI 250 - Buddhism as Philosophy

Buddhism is one of the world’s major religions, but it is at the same time a philosophical system, one that has something to say about many of philosophy’s central problems. These include questions about the existence and nature of the self, the fundamental structure of reality, the possibility of knowledge, and the moral life. In this course, we examine the Buddhist philosophical system, noting where there is debate within the Buddhist tradition, and at times pausing to compare Buddhist views with Western counterparts. Readings come from a variety of sources: contemporary and classical, Eastern and Western.

Satisfies a major requirement in Philosophy.
Satisfies a minor requirement in Philosophy.
Satisfies an interdisciplinary minor requirement in South Asian Studies.
Students entering 2012 and after: satisfies Philosophical and Religious Perspectives distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies religion and philosophy distribution requirement.
Satisfies the cultural diversity requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Not offerred 2015-16)

PHI 325 - Philosophy of Law

Analysis of the nature and function of law. Various theories of law, relation of law to morality, economic analysis of law. An assessment of the principles of legal reasoning and jurisprudence, emphasis on discussion of decided cases.

Students entering 2012 or after: satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
Spring

PHI 350 - Seminars in Philosophy

Instructor: Layman

Topic: Political Liberty

Description: In his 1959 article, “Two Concepts of Liberty,” Isaiah Berlin identifies two competing conceptions of political freedom, one positive and one negative. According to Berlin, positive freedom, among whose proponents he counts Hegel and Rousseau, is a matter of self- realization, while negative liberty, which Berlin finds in British liberalism, is simply the absence of interference. Since Berlin published his seminal piece, many philosophers have sought to develop and defend one of the two traditions that comprise Berlin’s dichotomy, while others have challenged the validity of that dichotomy. In this seminar, we will work to understand and evaluate some of the most significant contributions to the contemporary literature on political liberty. In addition to interpretations of Berlin-style positive and negative liberty, we will consider feminist and neo-republican alternatives to the received positive/negative paradigm. We will also discuss scholarship that connects the problem of political freedom to related questions of democracy, legitimacy, and distributive justice. 

Spring 2016

Instructor: Studtmann

Topic: Anarchism and the State

One of the fundamental questions within political philosophy concerns the relative merits of Anarchism and the State. In this course we will study two of the major anarcho-capitalist thinkers in the twentieth century - Murray Rothbard and David Friedman - and the most important political philosopher of the twentieth century, who also happens to be a proponent of the state - John Rawls.  In the course of our study, we will address various fundamental political philosophical issues including but not limited to the nature and existence of rights and the proper account of justice. We will conclude the course by studying game theoretic models of both anarchism and the state.

Prerequisites & Notes
This course can be repeated for credit given sufficiently distinct topics: check with the department chair. (Fall, Spring)

PHI 351 - Seminar in Philosophy

Topics vary by year. 

Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
This course can be repeated for credit given sufficiently distinct topics: check with the department chair. (Fall, Spring. Not offered 2014-15.)

PHI 365 - Philosophy of Mathematics

Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Not offered 2015-16.)

PHI 385 - Philosophy and the Narrative Arts (= ENG 385)

This course explores philosophical themes in literature and film as well as philosophical questions about the study of these narrative arts. Topics vary, and have included freedom and determinism, ethics, authorial intentions, materialism, genre, medium specificity, and realism.

Students entering before 2012: satisfies either the Literature requirement (register for ENG 385) or one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement (register for PHI 385).

Prerequisites & Notes
This course is not offered at regular intervals: check with one of the professors for more information. (Not offered 2015-16.)

PHI 399 - Independent Research in Philosophy

Students entering before 2012: satisfies one half of the Religion and Philosophy distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
This course can be repeated for credit given sufficiently distinct topics: check with the department chair. (Fall and Spring)

PHI 451 - Senior Colloquium in Philosophy

PHI 495 - Senior Thesis

PHY 103 - Physics of the Environment

Satisfies the Liberal Studies distribution requirement.
Satisfies depth or breadth course requirement in Natural Science Track of the Environmental Studies major or interdisciplinary minor.

Prerequisites & Notes
Designed for non-science majors. (Spring)

PHY 105 - Astronomy

Satisfies the Liberal Studies distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
Designed for non-science majors.

PHY 106 - Introductory Astronomy with Lab

A survey of the current scientific view of the Universe. Emphasis on the physical and mathematical principles necessary to understand how astronomers observe and interpret phenomena. Topics include the historical development of major astronomical theories, the interaction of light and matter, the life cycle of stars, and the structure and evolution of the Universe. One laboratory period per week which will include daytime laboratories and evening observing and astrophotography sessions.

Satisfies the Natural Science distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
Not open to students with credit in PHY 105. (Fall)

PHY 110 - The Physics Around You

Satisfies the Liberal Studies distribution requirement.
 

Prerequisites & Notes
Designed for non-science majors. Not open to students with credit for Physics 120, 220, 130 or 230. (Not offered in 2015/16)

PHY 115 - Musical Technology

Satisfies the Liberal Studies distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
Designed for non-science majors. (Not offered in 2015/16)

PHY 116 - Sights and Sounds

An examination of the production, propagation, storage, detection and perception of sound and light. Applications will focus on current practices in live performance and the means of high fidelity sound and high definition image storage and production. The level will be geared toward a non-technical audience. One laboratory period per week.

Satisfies the Natural Science distribution requirement.
Fulfills the lab science requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
Not open to student with credit in PHY 115.  (Not offered in 2015/16.)

PHY 118 - Advanced Placement Credit: Mechanics

AP credit for Physics 118 does not satisfy the Natural Science distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
Only with specific permission of the chair may the course serve as prerequisite to other courses in Physics. Credit for Physics 118 is forfeited by a student who elects to take Physics 120 or 130.

PHY 119 - Advanced Placement Credit: Electricity and Magnetism

AP credit for Physics 119 does not satisfy the Natural Science distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
Only with specific permission of the chair may the course serve as prerequisite to other courses in Physics. Credit for Physics 119 is forfeited by a student who elects to take Physics 220 or 230.

PHY 120 - General Physics

Satisfies the Natural Science distribution requirement.

PHY 130 - General Physics with Calculus

Satisfies the Natural Science distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
Corequisite: Math 111 or 112. (Fall)

PHY 200 - Computational Physics (= CSC 200)

Introduction to computer programming using an object-oriented programming language such as Java. Assignments will be based on simulations emphasizing problem solving in science, program writing, and numerical methods in science. A final project of the student’s choice is presented in an end-of-term poster session.

Satisfies the Mathematical and Quantitative Thought distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
Physics 120 or 130 at Davidson or permission of the instructor. (Spring)

PHY 201 - Mathematical Methods for Scientists

Satisfies the Mathematical and Quantitative Thought distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
Mathematics 113 or 140. (Spring)

PHY 220 - General Physics

Satisfies the Natural Science distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
Physics 120 or permission of the instructor.

PHY 230 - General Physics with Calculus

Satisfies the Natural Science distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
PHY 130 or permission of the instructor. (Spring)

PHY 310 - Electronics and Instrumentation

Students entering 2012 and after: satisfies the Natural Science distribution requirement.
Students entering before 2012: counted toward the fulfillment of the Natural Science and Mathematics distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
Physics 220 or 230. (Fall)

PHY 320 - Introduction to Modern Physics

Satisfies the Natural Science distribution requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
Physics 220 or 230. (Fall)

PHY 330 - Intermediate Mechanics

Newtonian principles are used with differential, integral, and vector calculus to analyze classical dynamics.  Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of mechanics are also developed and applied.  Topics may include:  linear and non-linear oscillations, gravitational systems, the calculus of variations, many-particle systems, non-inertial reference frames, rigid-body dynamics, normal modes, and wave theory.

Prerequisites & Notes
Corequisite:  Mathematics 113 or 140.  Prerequisite:  Physics 220 or 230 or permission of the instructor.   (Fall)

PHY 335 - Advanced Laboratory

PHY 350 - Electricity and Magnetism

PHY 360 - Quantum Mechanics I

PHY 391 - Special Topics in Physics

PHY 392 - Special Topics in Physics

PHY 395 - Independent Study

PHY 396 - Independent Research

Instructor
Staff

Open to students with substantial backgrounds in physics with written permission of the supervising professor who reviews and approves the research topic. Satisfactory completion of a research project includes a presentation at a departmental seminar.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Physics 495, Fall; Physics 496, Spring.)

PHY 397 - Independent Study in Advanced Software Development in Science (= CSC 397)

PHY 400 - Statistical and Thermal Physics

PHY 410 - Intermediate Astrophysics

PHY 415 - Optics and Lasers

PHY 420 - Solid State Physics

An examination of the properties of solids and their device applications. Topics will include: crystal structure and diffraction; phonons and lattice vibrations; free electron theory and band structure; semiconductors; magnetic properties; electrical properties; and superconductivity.

Satisfies a major requirement in Physics.

Prerequisites & Notes
Physics 330 or permission of the instructor. Physics 350, 360, and 400 are recommended.

PHY 430 - Advanced Mechanics

PHY 495 - Independent Research

Open to students with substantial backgrounds in physics with written permission of the supervising professor who reviews and approves the research topic. Satisfactory completion of a research project includes a presentation at a departmental seminar.

Prerequisites & Notes
(Physics 495, Fall; Physics 496, Spring.)

PHY 496 - Independent Research

Instructor
Staff

Open to students with substantial backgrounds in physics with written permission of the supervising professor who reviews and approves the research topic. Satisfactory completion of a research project includes a presentation at a departmental seminar.

Prerequisites & Notes

(Physics 495, Fall; Physics 496, Spring.)

POL 101 - Contemporary Political Ideologies

Satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought distribution requirement.

 

Prerequisites & Notes
Not open to juniors and seniors.

POL 121 - American Politics

Analysis of American political processes, institutions, and problems.

Satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought distribution requirement.

 

Prerequisites & Notes
Not open to juniors and seniors.

POL 140 - Comparative Global Politics

Satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought distribution requirement.
Credit towards International Studies Interdisciplinary Minor.

 

Prerequisites & Notes
Not open to juniors and seniors. 

POL 161 - International Politics

Satisfied the Social-Scientific Thought distribution requirement.
Credit towards International Studies Interdisciplinary Minor.
 

 

Prerequisites & Notes
Not open to juniors and seniors.

POL 201 - Methods and Statistics in Political Science

Satisfies the Mathematical and Quantitative Thought distribution requirement. 

 

Prerequisites & Notes
Not open to first-year students.

POL 202 - Classical Political Theory

Satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought distribution requirement.

POL 203 - Medieval Political Theory

Satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought distribution requirement.

POL 204 - Modern Political Theory

Satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought distribution requirement.

POL 206 - Contemporary Political Theory

Satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought distribution requirement.

POL 207 - Family and Justice

Satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought distribution requirement.

POL 220 - The US Congress

Legislative behavior and policy-making in the United States, with particular emphasis on the Congress.

Satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought distribution requirement.

POL 222 - Parties and Interest Groups

Satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought distribution requirement.

POL 223 - The Presidency

Satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought distribution requirement.

POL 224 - Political Institutions

This course will examine the origins and maintenance of political institutions, as well as the role of institutions in shaping outcomes and behavior. Theories drawing on insights from Political Science, Economics, History, and Sociology will be explored with a focus on applications in American politics.

Satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought distribution requirement.

POL 225 - Public Policy

Satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought distribution requirement.

POL 226 - Racial and Ethnic Politics

An exploration of the role of ethnic and racial identities in American political life, with special attention to debates about how best to incorporate various American minority groups into the political process.

Fulfills cultural diversity requirement.
Satisfies a major requirement in Political Science. 
Satisfies Ethnic Studies interdisciplinary minor requirement.

POL 227 - Law, Politics and Society

This course is a survey of issues and themes connecting law, politics, and society. Reading and discussion will focus on American politics and explore topics as wide-ranging as racial inequality in sentencing and imprisonment, historical changes in the interpretation of rights and liberties, and civil procedure.

Satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought distribution requirement.
Satisfies a major requirement in Political Science
 

POL 228 - US Environmental Politics and Policy

This course uses a series of cases to explore the political challenges and opportunities associated with environmental problems in the United Staates.  Students learn a range of political concepts and strategies as they study the politics of energy, pollution, natural resources, biodiversity, and climate change.  the course investigates thee roles of different actors in the policymaking process at the local, state, and national levels, and analyzes the conpeting interests, values, narratives, and sources of knowledge in the development of environmental policy.  Students engage in frequent role-playing exercises and simulations, and write two policy memos about environmental issues that are important to them.

Satisfies a major requirement and either the American Politics or International Politics sub-field requirement in Political Science.
Satisfies a major, interdisciplinary minor and social science track requirement in Enfironmental Studies.
Satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought distribution requirement.

 

Prerequisites & Notes
Offered every other year, in rotation with POL 398.

POL 239 - Special Topics in American Politics

Gender and Politics satisfies a Social Scientific Thought distribution requirement (this topic only).

The content of this course changes from year to year.  Please see the departmental website or a detailed description of this year’s offerings.

POL 242 - West European Politics

Satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought distribution requirement.
Satisfies a requirement of the International Studies Interdisciplinary Minor.

POL 247 - Narrative and Conflict in the Middle East and North Africa

This class focuses on the role of representation in conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa. The course examines how various actors present these conflicts in novels, short stories, graphic novels, film, still images, music, and various types of journalism.

Satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought distribution requirement.
Satisfies a requirement the International Studies Interdisciplinary Minor.
Satisfies a requirement of the Asian Studies Interdisciplinary Minor.

POL 259 - Special Topics

The content of this course changes from year to year.  Please see the departmental website for a detailed description of this year’s offerings.

Satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought distribution requirement.

POL 269 - Special Topics in International Politics

An upper division course dealing with a topic in International Politics. Past courses have included Causes of War, Globalization, and International Relations Theory.

The content of this course changes from year to year.  Please see the departmental website for a detailed description of this year’s offerings.

POL 280 - Contemporary Political History

A survey and critical analysis of global events, trends, and controversies in the past five decades-with special focus on the post-Cold War era-that have had an enduring impact on contemporary politics.

Satisfies major credit in Political Science.
Satisfies minor credit in International Studies.