Department of Political Science
College of Liberal Arts

PS 506 Methods and Approaches to Political Science. (3 Hours) A review of traditional, behavioral and post behavioral approaches to political science, methods of research and explanation. A required course.

PS 507 Political Inquiry and Research. (3 Hours) An inquiry into concepts and methods of social science in general and of political science in particular; the philosophy of science; presuppositions, aims and history of procedures and methods, research techniques, sources, bibliography and the presentation and publication of investigative results. A required course.

PS 508 Politics of African Independence Movements. (3 Hours) Examination of the motivations, methods, philosophies and politics of the African
independence movements including the influences of Pan-Africanism, the role of political parties, the
challenges of nation-building, and the impact of external actors (i.e. colonial powers, United Nations, Organization of African Union, US.

PS 509 African Political Systems. (3 Hours) This course includes traditional African political systems and their developments; the impact of colonialism on the systems, African nationalism, and the politics of independent Africa.

PS 512 Black Political Thought. (3 Hours) A study of Black political theory that has developed since the end
of the civil rights period with an evaluation of new concepts in Black political theory and the links between these concepts and the historical problems considered in Afro-American political theory.

PS 515 Modern Political Philosophy. (3 Hours) A history of political philosophy in which attention is given to the dilemma of democracy with emphasis on liberty and equality, liberalism, Marxism, colonialism, feminism, nationalism, and post-modernism. The impact historical events will be explored. Attention will be given to the works of Tocqueville, Wollstonecraft, Mill, Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche, Fanon, Martin Luther King, and Rawls.

PS 524 American Political Behavior. (3 Hours) This course examines the key themes in American political behavior such as public opinion, political ideology, party identification, elections, and other forms of political participation.

PS 532 African American Politics. (3 Hours) An assessment of the position of Blacks in the political system of the United States, both historical and contemporary, with special attention to alternative political strategies for the present political epoch. Special emphasis will be placed on urban political systems. A required course.

PS 539 Urban Political Structures. (3 Hours) This course examines the rise of Black politics in urban areas,  elations between whites and Blacks in the urban city, as well as the concept of community, and particularly, the changing political process.

PS 542 Politics of the Developing States. (3 Hours) An examination of the political processes in the developing countries and a study of the general problems arising in the transition from traditional societies to modern industrial states in an effort to describe the typical patterns of political change.

PS 556 American Political Institutions. (3 Hours) This course examines the key actors and/or decision makers in government and the decision making process. It chiefly covers the legislative, executive and judicial branches.

PS 565 International Relations. (3 Hours) The nation-state system and conceptions of the national interest in modern world politics, forms and distribution of power and the adjustment of international conflict.

PS 581 Metropolitan Areas and Community Power Analysis. (3 Hours) An examination of the national and urban power structures in the United States, community power structures, studies, models of urban political process. Elitism and pluralism and the implications for the Black community, the politics of metropolitan reorganization and its impact on Black politics, the metropolitan areas in the American federal system, and suburban-central city conflicts.

PS 596 Independent Study. (1-6 Hours) The student is allowed to select research, which will be beneficial to his/her program. The topic must be approved by the adviser and the instructor selected by the student for the research.

PS 597 Internship. (3 Hours) Prerequisite: Core Courses. Individual work experience in government agencies.

PS 598 Thesis. (3 Hours) The candidate for the Master of Arts degree presents a Thesis embodying the results of his research. The candidate chooses his problem but approval by his adviser is required.