Political Science (PLSI)

Explanation of Course Descriptions, Symbols, and Terms

PLSI 100 Understanding Politics (Units: 3)

Concepts and principles of political thought, action, and institutions.

Course Attributes:

D1: Social Sciences

PLSI 105 Principles of Government and Politics (Units: 3)

The individual's role in government and politics as active agents rather than observers, citizens rather than subjects, and the means for engaging in broad political questions and one's own position. Exploration of the various political relationships that define and motivate individuals.

PLSI 106 Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy: Introduction to Political Economy (Units: 3)

Political-economic approaches to the analysis of questions each society must solve: governance, production, allocation, distribution, freedom, and equity. The development of contemporary market vs. non-market organization, political direction of economic activity, and political-economic struggles.

Course Attributes:

D1: Social Sciences
Social Justice

PLSI 112 Quantitative Reasoning for Civic Engagement (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: First-Year Math Advising Module.

Participation in civic society requires not only understanding principles of governance, but also problem-solving. Develop the mathematical concepts and skills relevant to the challenges and issues facing individuals and societies. Enables both quantitative understanding and decision-making about aspects of work, life, and civic participation. (Plus-minus ABC/NC, CR/NC allowed)
(Note: For this course to satisfy General Education, students must earn a grade of C- or CR or better.)
(This course is offered as LCA 112/PHIL 112/PLSI 112/HIST 112/I R 112/MATH 112. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

B4: Math/QR
Social Justice

PLSI 150 Contemporary Moral/Political Issues (Units: 3)

Theories of the good life, ethics, rights, and justice through the examination of contemporary moral issues including capital punishment, affirmative action, abortion, racial and sexual equality, privacy, pornography, and environmental protection.
(This course is offered as PHIL 150 and PLSI 150. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

C2: Humanities
Social Justice

PLSI 200 Introduction to American Politics (Units: 3)

Introduction to contemporary American politics and institutions of government, including California. Study of the structure, functions, and politics of Congress, the presidency, Supreme Court; examination of principles of federalism, the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights; the role of public opinion, elections, political parties, interest groups.

Course Attributes:

U.S. Govt CA State Local Govt
D3: Social Sciences: US CA Gov

PLSI 216 The 2024 Presidential Election: Issues and Analysis (Units: 2)

Public issues in the Presidential election race. Topics may include but are not limited to: health care and insurance, the economy, international affairs, the environment and climate change, same-sex marriage, free trade, and education. Experts on political campaigns will discuss the polls, media, the campaign, campaign financing regarding the Presidential contest, and how the Presidential race will impact Congressional and State races. (CR/NC grading only)

PLSI 250 Comparative Politics (Units: 3)

Governmental institutions, political processes, socio-economic development and issues in countries around the world.

PLSI 275 Introduction to Political Theory (Units: 3)

Introduction to the study of political theory. Examine the foundations, scope and diversity of political thought; study of how to interpret, analyze and critically evaluate political theory texts.

PLSI 280 Learning Law Through Podcasts (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: GE Area A2.

The application of the American legal system through evaluation of legal podcasts. Analyze legal concepts including substantive and procedural law, legal theories, and foundational legal principles as they arise in the course of criminal prosecutions or civil trials detailed in podcasts intended for general public consumption.

PLSI 302 Political Science Writing Workshop (Unit: 1)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Political Science majors and minors; GE Area A2; concurrent enrollment in PLSI 302GW*.

Workshop providing structured practice for developing writing skills in the political science discipline. Collaborative and independent exercises to build and practice research and analytical writing skills.

PLSI 302GW Writing for Political Science - GWAR (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to Political Science majors and minors; GE Area A2; concurrent enrollment in PLSI 302*.

Introduction to the practice of writing for politics and political science. Development of skills in active reading, crafting of rigorous research questions and arguments, utilization of sources, conducting literature reviews, and logic and craft of different forms of political writing ranging from blogs to reports and scholarly papers. Particular emphasis on writing research essays in the discipline of political science to provide the foundation for further work in the major. Subfield emphasis may vary according to the instructor. (Plus-minus ABC/NC grading only)

Course Attributes:

Graduation Writing Assessment

PLSI 303 Fundamentals of Political Science (Units: 2)

Prerequisite: GE Area A2.

Introduction to the discipline and practice of political science for majors. Objectives of the discipline, overview of different subfields of political science, principal methodological approaches, introduction to research design, and principles of social scientific inquiry.

PLSI 304 Scientific Inquiry in Political Science (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: PLSI 200 or equivalent; PLSI 303 recommended.

Introduction to empirical research in political science. Topics include the philosophy of science, research design, and inferential statistics. Lecture, 3 units; activity, 1 unit. [Formerly PLSI 300]

PLSI 307 Qualitative Methods in Political Science and International Relations (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Examination of qualitative research methods in theory and practice. Topics include interviewing, participant observation, ethnography, and the ethics of conducting research in the political and social sciences.
(This course is offered as PLSI 307 and I R 307. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 308 Research and Writing for Public Law (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Introduction to practical skills of legal writing and research in public law. Essentials of legal writing, analyzing and briefing cases in public law, legal research and analysis, research organization, and effective advisory and persuasive writing.

PLSI 309 Methods and Approaches in Political Theory (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Introduction to methods and approaches that political theorists employ in their work. Includes dialectics, moral sentimentalism, contractarianism, and historical reflection. Establishes both what methods are and the ways diverse theorists draw on common methodologies. (Plus-minus ABC/NC grading ony)

PLSI 317 Political Issues in a Nutshell (Unit: 1)

Prerequisite: GE Area A2.

Short "in a nutshell" introduction to specific political issues. Topics to be specified in the Class Schedule. May be repeated on advisement for a total of 4 units when topics vary. (CR/NC grading only)

Topics:

U.S. Supreme Court Decisionmaking
Votes, Districts, Elections
Political Economy
The Politics of the Bay Area
Communism
Space Policy and Politics
Universities, Governance, Free Speech
Utopianism
Reproductive Rights
Israel-Palestine

PLSI 318 Modern Citizenship: Pundits, Podcasts, and Political Know-How in the 21st Century (Units: 2)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Examination of what it means to be an engaged citizen in the 21st century through the study of different forms of political information and participation. Analysis of political images and sources of information including campaigns, podcasts, political satire, media, and TV. Exploration of various forms of political participation and the principles of media literacy.

PLSI 320 Political Issues (Units: 2)

Prerequisite: GE Area A2.

Examine one or more political topics illuminating important aspects of politics in the U.S. and/or around the globe. Topics to be specified in the Class Schedule. May be repeated on advisement for up to 4 units when topics vary.

Topics:

Current Topics
Youth and Politics
Soccer and Politics
Science-Fiction and Politics
Animals and Politics
Music and Politics
Technology and Politics
California Immigration Politics

PLSI 321 Development and Foreign Policy: Africa (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

A comparison of the foreign policies of various African nation-states; in particular, a consideration of those policies as expressions of national frameworks, ideological perspectives, etc. (Plus-minus letter grade only)
(This course is offered as I R 321 and PLSI 321. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 322 Policy Analysis: The Latin American Cases (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Examine the international relations and foreign policy-making systems of Latin American nations and analyze selected foreign policy problems facing Latin American decision-makers with oral and written reports.
(This course is offered as I R 322 and PLSI 322. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

UD-D: Social Sciences
Global Perspectives
Social Justice

PLSI 325 Chinese Foreign Policy (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division standing.

Examination of China's international relations and the actors involved in constructing it. Analysis of the factors influencing China's participation in international affairs. Assessment of the international realm's effect on Chinese foreign policy.
(This course is offered as I R 325 and PLSI 325. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 327 Europe: Forming a More Perfect Union (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

A broad description and analysis of European politics and society. Examine European politics in a comparative perspective, exploring how parliaments, electoral systems, and minority rights differ in Europe.
(This course is offered as I R 327 and PLSI 327. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

Global Perspectives

PLSI 342 Modern Conflict: Cyber Warfare, Food Security, and Crises in the International System (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

Multi-dimensional conflict in the modern era takes place on digital, conventional, and asymmetric battlefields. Explore issues of international politics that are directly related to security: environmental politics, cyber-conflict, terrorism, conventional war, and asymmetric conflict.
(This course is offered as I R 342 and PLSI 342. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 351 Political Theory: The Classical Tradition (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Nature of the state, power and authority, forms of government, law and justice, leadership and citizenship, as presented in the writings of Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, and Machiavelli.

PLSI 352 Political Theory: Reformation to Nineteenth Century (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Political obligation, sovereignty, liberty, equality, property, and revolution, as presented in the works of Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Burke, and Tocqueville.

PLSI 354 Politics, the Environment, and Social Change (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better; PLSI 200*; or permission of the instructor.

The political impact of environmental problems and the challenges they present for American and international policy-making, values, and institutions.

Course Attributes:

UD-D: Social Sciences
Environmental Sustainability
Social Justice

PLSI 355 Politics and Ethics of the Consumer Society (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Politics and ethics of consumption-oriented society; nature of industrial society; its structures, values, and consumption practices.
(This course is offered as PLSI 355 and PHIL 355. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

UD-D: Social Sciences
Environmental Sustainability
Social Justice

PLSI 356 Political Theories of Neoliberalism (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

Analysis of the theoretical and practical dimensions of neoliberalism; focus on political ramifications of neoliberalism, how it operates and how it can be resisted.

PLSI 360 Development of American Political Thought (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: PLSI 200.

Political theories associated with movements in the development of the U.S. Persisting and recurring problems in political thought.
This course has a GWAR approved format (noted by a GW suffix that follows the course number) and a non-GWAR format (no suffix). Students who complete the course in one format may not repeat the course under the other format. Students who complete the non-GWAR formatted course will not receive GWAR credit.

PLSI 362 The Making of US Foreign Policy (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing; GE Area A2; C J 200 or I R 310 or PLSI 200; or permission of the instructor.

The role of domestic and transnational actors in making U.S. foreign policy. Examine American culture, media, interest groups, social movements, corporations, and lobbies on policy outcomes. Analyze domestic factors and constraints on U.S. foreign policy decision-making. Consider global constraints and influences on US foreign policy and the impact of international events on Americans.
(This course is offered as I R 362, PLSI 362, and C J 362. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

Global Perspectives

PLSI 371 Marxist Political Theory (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Examination of the development of Marxist thought and its application. The writings of Karl Marx and its effect on Western and world thought since the 19th century in diverse fields such as political economy, sociology, philosophy, historiography, aesthetics, and numerous others.

PLSI 372 Critical Political Theory (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

The critical tradition in political theory that responds to and differentiates itself from classical and modern canonical texts.
(This course is offered as PLSI 372, HUM 372, and I R 372. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 373 Essentials of California Politics (Unit: 1)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Basics of California state and local politics for students from out of state (including international students) who have satisfactorily completed a course that fulfills the US government requirement, but not the California State and local government requirement.

Course Attributes:

Calif State & Local Govt

PLSI 381 Political Theories of Sexuality (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

The ways political theory has conceived of, engaged with, and deconstructed notions of gender and sexuality. Twentieth-century thought destabilized the concept of gender even as it produced a new "identity:" queerness.

Course Attributes:

UD-D: Social Sciences

PLSI 382 Politics and Literature (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Examination of political themes in classical drama and contemporary novels. Possible authors include Sophocles, Shakespeare, Coetzee, and Tabucchi.

PLSI 386 Introduction to Critical Social Thought (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

The tradition and development of critical social thought in interaction with socioeconomic and political conditions in the 19th century to the 21st century from Kant to Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche, Foucault, and other thinkers.
(This course is offered as CST 300 and PLSI 386. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

UD-D: Social Sciences
Social Justice

PLSI 388 Politics and the Popular (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or consent of the instructor.

Examine the relationship between political theory on the one hand, and experienced, common sense and tradition, on the other. Do these forms need to be theorized into coherent ideology? What are the dangers of doing so?

Course Attributes:

UD-D: Social Sciences

PLSI 389 Latin American Revolutionary Societies (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper division standing.

Revolution implies a dramatic break with the past, but revolutions actually develop slowly over time, calling upon shared histories that inspire and impede change. Examination of the extent to which Latin American revolutions lived up to the goals that they set down.

PLSI 392 Latin American Political Thought (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper division standing.

Introduction to influential Latin American political thinkers including Bolivar, Marti, and Mariategui. Exploration of the notion of Latin American political thought and its place within political theory.

PLSI 393 Anarchist Political Theory (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Analysis of the basic theories and practices of anarchism from its classical to its contemporary forms. Focus on the relationship between theory and practice and the question of process and organization.

Course Attributes:

UD-D: Social Sciences
Social Justice

PLSI 394 Political Theories of Work, Labor, and Free Time (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

Examination of the tension between the desire to work and the desire to be free from work by looking at texts from liberalism, Marxism, feminism and critical theory. Questions to explore include: Has this tension always existed and how might it be overcome? Where and when did people begin to prioritize paid work over all else? What constitutes "work" and who decides? Is work different than labor?
(This course is offered as PLSI 394 and LABR 394. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 395 Political Theories of Pedagogy and Community Activism (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Exploration of the connection between radical pedagogy and activism from a political theory perspective. Approved preparatory course for Experimental College instructors.

PLSI 396 Fascism and Communism in Europe (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Examination of the intellectual and socio-political foundations of fascism and communism in 20th and 21st century Europe. Analysis of the ways in which these foundations reflect on contemporary politics. (Plus-minus ABC/NC, CR/NC)
(This course is offered as PLSI 396 and I R 357. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

UD-D: Social Sciences
Global Perspectives

PLSI 400 Introduction to Public Policy in the U.S. (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Introduction to public policy and the process of policy formation. Focus on interaction between issues, policy, and politics. Analysis of the policy process, including the roles of institutions and actors, agenda setting, problem identification and definition, policy alternatives and selection, and implementation and evaluation. Specific topics may include education, environment, welfare, gun control, gendered violence, and employment policy.
(This course is offered as PLSI 400/P A 400. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 402 Introduction to Public Administration (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Examine the field of public administration, focusing on the management of public agencies as they provide public goods and interact with nonprofit agencies. Explore various subfields such as budgeting and finance, human resource management, organizational behavior and change, ethics, and others. Discuss the importance of public service values like social justice and equity, accountability, effectiveness, and sustainability.
(This course is offered as P A 402 and PLSI 402. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 403 Cases in Comparative Politics (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Examine case studies as a basis for understanding broader themes of comparative politics.

Course Attributes:

Global Perspectives

Topics:

Corruption and Corruption Scandals
Imagining Constitutions
Comparative Case Studies
Legal Activism in Comparative Perspective

PLSI 404 Politics of China (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Contemporary government and politics of the People's Republic of China with modest concern for the way the past has shaped the present. The primary focus is on political institutions and political processes.
(This course is offered as PLSI 404 and I R 404. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

UD-D: Social Sciences
Global Perspectives

PLSI 407 Politics of Russia (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Contemporary government and politics of Russia, the way the past has shaped the present. Political institutions, political processes, and ideologies.
(This course is offered as PLSI 407 and I R 407. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

UD-D: Social Sciences
Global Perspectives

PLSI 408 Mexican Politics and Society (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Peoples, politics, and cultures of Mexico. The implications of rapid change in Mexico for California and the U.S. [CSL may be available]
(This course is offered as LTNS 670 and PLSI 408. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

UD-D: Social Sciences
Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
Global Perspectives
Social Justice

PLSI 409 Russia and World Order (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of the instructor.

Introduction to theories of world order and Russia's role in it. Review of historical and contemporary foundations for understanding world order. Discussion of Russia's role in various regional and global settings. (Plus-minus letter grade only)
(This course is offered as I R 409 and PLSI 409. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

Global Perspectives

PLSI 411 East Asian Politics (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Government and politics of East Asia (China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan). Systematic comparison of nations utilizing common themes: political development, political institutions, political economy, political change.
(This course is offered as PLSI 411 and I R 411. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

UD-D: Social Sciences
Global Perspectives

PLSI 412 South Asian Politics (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

Political development in the South Asian states; political institutions and processes; parties and election; leadership; current policies and problems. (Plus-minus letter grade only)
(This course is offered as PLSI 412 and I R 412. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

Global Perspectives

PLSI 416 Ethnicity and Nationalism (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Issues and problems raised by the phenomena of ethnicity and nationalism, ethnic conflict, and efforts at conflict resolution in a comparative context.
(This course is offered as PLSI 416 and I R 416. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

UD-D: Social Sciences
Global Perspectives

PLSI 418 Political Transitions in East & Southeast Asia (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Examination of political transition theories and divergent patterns of political transition in East and Southeast Asia. Exploration of controversial issues associated with political transition and the prospects for democracy in these regions.

PLSI 419 Comparative Political Economy (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

The interplay between politics and economics and the interaction between states and markets. Comparison of major competing ideologies and modes of political economy in developed, developing, and communist/post-communist world with particular emphasis on Asian political economies.

Course Attributes:

UD-D: Social Sciences
Global Perspectives

PLSI 421 Social Movements in the Francophone World (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: FR 305 or equivalent.

Present and analyze the major social movements in France and the Francophone world from the French Revolution to today. Provide a cultural, historical, and social background to allow students to reflect on the contemporary French and Francophone identities, and to understand the background behind key artistic and literary movements of French expression. Taught in French.
(This course is offered as FR 421 and PLSI 421. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

Global Perspectives

PLSI 422 Law and Courts in Comparative Perspective (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing; GE Areas A1, A2, A3, and B4 all with grades of C- or better; or permission of the instructor.

Introduction to law and courts in comparative perspective in countries around the world. Examines concepts such as the rule of law, judicial review, judicial independence, accountability, and legal pluralism; compares and contrasts features of legal systems and the politics of the judiciary in both democratic and nondemocratic contexts.
(This course is offered as PLSI 422 and I R 422. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

Global Perspectives

PLSI 423 Video Games, Politics, and The State (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Explore the intersection of politics and video games, including issues of collective mobilization, governance, regime type, race, class, and gender. Examine the governance structures of the societies and cultures created in both static game worlds and player-built worlds, the impact video games have on civic engagement, attempts by states to regulate or censor the medium, and the potential for video games to shape real-world power relationships.

PLSI 424 Social Movements (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Examines social movements, mobilization, and collective action in comparative perspective. Analysis of movement origins, tactics, methods, and outcomes, as well as contexts in which movements may use violent and nonviolent repertoires.
(This course is offered as PLSI 424, SOC 424, and I R 424. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 425 Imagining Power in the Middle East (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Examine conceptions of power in countries of the Middle East and North Africa, through film, literature, memoir, and other forms of documentation and imagination. Topics may include political, military, ideological, economic power; colonialism, independence, equality, nation-building, social movements, revolution.
(This course is offered as PLSI 425 and I R 425. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

Global Perspectives

PLSI 430 Israeli Democracy: Politics, Institutions, and Society (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Knowledge of Israel's political system, its origins, its formal structure, the way it functions, and its main attributes in comparison to other democratic political systems. Ideology, state and religion, and civil liberties.
(This course is offered as JS 430, I R 430, and PLSI 430. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

UD-D: Social Sciences
Global Perspectives

PLSI 432 Introduction to the European Union (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Introduction to the European Union, its rationale, foundations, operations, and current challenges. Exploration of the roles of the European Union's governing institutions, how they interact with different levels of governance among Member States, and main policies of the European Union.
(This course is offered as I R 337 and PLSI 432. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 435 Politics of Global Finance and Crisis (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

The development and role of late 20th- and early 21st-century financial technologies in modern market crises. Research and critical analysis of 21st-century finance capitalism. Political and financial interactions, including limits and possibilities for controlling financial behavior.
(This course is offered as PLSI 435, I R 435, and FIN 435. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 451 Engaging Democracy: Participating in Historical Debates (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Explore the history of democracy through participation in multiple historically-embedded live-action role-playing games ("Reacting to the Past") set in different societies and eras. Two games per semester; one based on the construction or implementation of the US Constitution, the other based on the construction or implementation of the constitution of another country. Games are contextualized through lectures outlining the nature of democracy and its evolution. Written, oral debates, and negotiations to solve the issues with which democratic societies wrestle.
(This course is offered as HIST 308 [formerly HIST 551]/PLSI 451. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

U.S. Govt CA State Local Govt
UD-D: Social Sciences
Global Perspectives
Social Justice

PLSI 459 Refugees in Global Perspective (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Examine the diversity of global refugee experiences. Review the international refugee regime, including the Refugee Convention, UNHCR, and state responsibilities. Study the global root causes of refugee flows and forced migration. Analyze life in refugee camps, refugee resettlement and integration, health and education challenges, and refugee returns. Particular emphasis on gender issues, unaccompanied minors, and the impact of rising native hostility on refugee reception and integration. Provides case studies of refugee populations.
(This course is offered as I R 459/PLSI 459. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
Global Perspectives

PLSI 460 Topics in American Politics (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Exploration of a specific area of American politics. Topics may include elections, voting, and representation; policymaking in areas such as education and social welfare; relations between state and federal government; the politics of reform, the media, and politics, etc. May be historical or contemporary. Topics to be specified in the Class Schedule. May be repeated when topics vary.

Topics:

Representation and Election Systems
The Politics of Education
The Politics of Reform
State and Federal Politics
Choosing A U.S. President
Youth Political Engagement
Poverty Amidst Plenty

PLSI 461 Voting Behavior, Campaigns, and Elections (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Examination of voter behavior, including the decision to vote, the choice of candidates, and partisan identification. Investigation of political science literature on campaign dynamics and strategy.

PLSI 462 Applied Public Opinion Research (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Public opinion research: data collection, survey construction, data management, data analysis, and data communication. Lecture, 3 units; activity, 1 unit. [CSL may be available]

PLSI 463 The Politics of Immigration in the United States (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of the instructor.

Overview of immigration policy and politics in the United States. Course topics include sources of migration, historical and contemporary patterns of immigration, immigrant civic and political engagement, assessment of immigrant incorporation, and impacts of various public policies. Exploration of federal immigration policy and consider how states and municipalities handle immigrant issues. Consideration of how well (or poorly) immigrants manage life in America, what policies facilitate or hinder their incorporation, impacts of immigrant political activity, and how immigrants make and are re-made by American life. [CSL may be available]

Course Attributes:

Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
Social Justice

PLSI 464 Race and American Politics (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Examine racial and ethnic politics in contemporary U.S. society. Drawing on theoretical models, historical comparisons, and local case studies, study racial and ethnic communities from a comparative perspective. Explore the constraints and opportunities, tensions between separatism and assimilation, electoral politics and protest politics, definitions of immigrants and minorities, and cooperation and competition within and among minority groups.

Course Attributes:

UD-D: Social Sciences
Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
Social Justice

PLSI 467 Politics and Community Organizing (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

An overview of the role that community organizing has played throughout US history; and critical examination of the current state of community organizing today. Approved preparatory course for Experimental College instructors.

PLSI 468 Women and American Politics (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Examination of women's participation in the American political sphere and the broader role of gender in U.S. politics. Study of the institutional, structural, and cultural challenges facing women in American politics; ways in which gender affects campaigning, representation, and leadership styles; the effects of women's representation on policy and political participation.

PLSI 469 Women's Political Movements in the United States (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Study of women's movements in American politics. Cases may include the suffrage movement, women's rights movement, black feminist movements, conservative women's movements, contemporary feminist movements.

PLSI 470 The Politics of Sex and Reproduction (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Examination of the politics of sex and reproduction in the United States through policy, law, and theory. The role of the state on issues such as abortion, infertility, pregnancy, pornography, sex work, contraceptives, and procreative and non-procreative sex. Analysis of gender roles and the way conceptions of femininity and masculinity are written into U.S. law.
(This course is offered as PLSI 470, SXS 470, and WGS 470. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 471 Gender, Campaigns, and Elections (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Study of how gender impacts campaigns, elections, and voter behavior in American electoral politics. Cases may include wave elections, gendered partisanship, women's issues on the ballot, and gendered campaigns.

PLSI 472 Civic and Political Engagement (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Examines civic engagement: theories and practices of civic and political action in the U.S. Draws on the scholarship, history, practices, and lessons of community organizing traditions to connect those lessons to current political issues. Includes study of participating in public dialogue on issues, volunteering, voting, holding public office, community organizing and political advocacy, protest, and civil disobedience. [CSL may be available]

Course Attributes:

Social Justice

PLSI 473 California Politics and Government (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Policy-making and exercise of power within the federal framework. State and local issues and institutions. [CSL may be available]

Course Attributes:

Calif State & Local Govt
Social Justice

PLSI 475 San Francisco Political Issues (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

Political mobilization and governance. Electoral processes. Economic, ethnic, and cultural conflicts. Lecture, 3 units; activity, 1 units. May be repeated with permission of the instructor. [CSL may be available]
(This course is offered as PLSI 475 and USP 485. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 476 The American Presidency (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of the instructor.

Examination of the many facets of the American presidency: powers and person of the presidency, its history and evolution, interactions between the executive and other branches of U.S. government, and the role of the president in the policy process.

PLSI 477 Congress and the Presidency (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of the instructor.

Structure, roles, and functions of the legislative and executive branches of national government. Legislative-executive policy controversies.
This course has a GWAR approved format (noted by a GW suffix that follows the course number) and a non-GWAR format (no suffix). Students who complete the course in one format may not repeat the course under the other format. Students who complete the non-GWAR formatted course will not receive GWAR credit.

PLSI 478 Judicial Process (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing; PLSI 200; or permission of the instructor.

Introduction to American law and courts. Study of the various sources of American law, their interactions with each other, and of the structure, varieties, powers, and limits on the powers of American courts, both state and federal.

Course Attributes:

Social Justice

PLSI 479 The United States Congress (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Study of the members and institutions of the U.S. Congress. Examination of individual members of Congress, their interests, and their actions; how Congress interacts with other institutions and groups; and the role that parties and partisanship play in Congress.

PLSI 480 Introduction to Urban Policy and Analysis (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

Political and institutional settings for urban politics and policymaking. Concepts and techniques of policy analysis. USP majors and minors must complete the course with a grade of C or better. Approved preparatory course for Experimental College instructors.
(This course is offered as PLSI 480 and USP 480. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 481 Race and Public Law (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; PLSI 200; or permission of the instructor.

Examine the role of the U.S. legal system in perpetuating and challenging racism in the United States. Explore laws of slavery, segregation, immigration, equal protection doctrine, federal civil rights statutes, and criminal justice (including hate crimes and First Amendment/free speech implications). Introduction to critical constitutional and statutory law in the areas of the First Amendment, Equal Protection Clause, and major federal civil rights statutes, and the role of judicial review in interpreting such legal doctrine.

PLSI 492 Research Methods (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

Introduction to the common tools and practices of conducting research in the field of Urban Studies and Planning. Learn the basics of formulating research questions, creating research designs, and collecting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data to address pressing issues facing today's cities. Explore computer-generated analysis and develop communication skills through written reports and oral presentations. Lecture, 3 units; activity, 1 unit. (Plus-minus letter grade/RP, CR/NC not allowed)
(This course is offered as USP 492 and PLSI 492. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 493 Data Analysis (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: PLSI 492*/USP 492* or equivalent with a grade of C or better.

Develop research and critical analysis skills to design and execute urban planning and policy research. Learn how to use and interpret quantitative methods of urban data analysis. Use methods of geospatial analysis, mapping, and data visualization to analyze urban planning and policy problems, interpret statistical evidence, and formulate reasoned conclusions.
(This course is offered as USP 493 and PLSI 493. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 500 Labor and Government (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Exploration of labor-government relations at local, state, and national levels. Consideration of labor's political action in relation to the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government and in the electoral process. Examination of government's responses as they protect or restrict labor's interest.
(This course is offered as LABR 500 and PLSI 500. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 512 Urban Politics and Community Power (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Political dynamics in the contemporary metropolitan context; bases and distribution of power in urban and suburban areas. Intergovernmental relations and urban political power.
(This course is offered as PLSI 512 and USP 512. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 513 Politics, Law, and the Urban Environment (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Law and the legal system as mechanisms for regulating urban development and protecting the environment; intervention in development and land use; environmental decay, conservation of open space, other related resources. Lecture, 3 units; activity, 1 unit.
(This course is offered as USP 513, GEOG 668, and PLSI 513. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 514 Political Violence and Terrorism in German History, Film, and Visual Media (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Examination of the history of political violence and terrorism - its history, its causes, aims, and forms in Germany. Multidisciplinary approach to develop the knowledge and skills needed to examine the particularities of political violence and terrorism in Germany in the 20th and 21st century as seen in political manifestos, history, films, modern technology, and caricatures. Taught in English. All materials are available in English.
(This course is offered as GER 514, HIST 514, I R 514, and PLSI 514. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 544 Women in the World (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Analysis of women's roles in the political, social, and economic development of selected nations and international relations. The effect of the global movement for women's rights. Case studies of female leaders and their impact on world affairs.
(This course is offered as I R 544 and PLSI 544. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

UD-D: Social Sciences
Global Perspectives
Social Justice

PLSI 552 Individual Rights and the Constitution (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Principles and meaning of the U.S. Constitution controlling the relationships between the individual and government.

Course Attributes:

Social Justice

PLSI 553 Legal Issues (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Judicial decision-making, influence on the formulation of public policy, political influence on the judiciary, individual rights, the impact of decisions, legal reform.

PLSI 554 Separation of Powers and Federalism (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor. PLSI 478 is recommended.

Leading Supreme Court decisions establishing the powers and limits on power of the Federal Courts, Congress, the President, and the States under the U.S. Constitution.

PLSI 555 Moot Court (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Learn and develop oral advocacy and legal research/writing skills. Work with a hypothetical United States Supreme Court case provided by the American Moot Court Association (AMCA) to develop familiarity with the substantive legal issues presented in the hypothetical case. The skills developed in this course prepare students for moot court competition, an activity typically required of law students. May be repeated for a total of 8 units.

PLSI 556 Constitutional Law: First Amendment (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor. PLSI 478 is recommended.

Examination of important Supreme Court decisions interpreting the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment. Exploration of cases on the First Amendment and analysis of Supreme Court opinions on free speech doctrine.

PLSI 557 Constitutional Law: The Fourteenth Amendment (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor. PLSI 478 is recommended.

Examination of important Supreme Court decisions interpreting the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Study of the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses.

PLSI 560 Urban Poverty and Policy (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Nature and causes of urban poverty. Theories of poverty and their policy implications. The role of education, employment, family status, gender, race, metropolitan location, global economic restructuring, anti-poverty policies and proposals, and development of policy alternatives. [CSL may be available]
(This course is offered as USP 560 and PLSI 560. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

UD-D: Social Sciences
Social Justice

PLSI 561 Jurisprudence (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: PLSI 478 or consent of the instructor.

Philosophy of law. Relationship between law, morality, social and political institutions. Various schools of jurisprudence.

PLSI 562 Jurisprudence Writing Workshop (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; PLSI 302GW.

Research a topic of choice in U.S. jurisprudence; draft and revise a research paper on that topic.

PLSI 570 Urban Health Policy (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

The political economy of the urban health system. A critical review of urban health policy and analysis of alternatives. Politics of health care reform. Particular needs of women and communities of color.
(This course is offered as USP 570, LABR 570, and PLSI 570. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 580 Housing Policy and Planning (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Social, economic, and technical aspects of urban housing; market analysis, housing production, tenant/landlord relations, finance, government regulation, and subsidies.
(This course is offered as USP 580 and PLSI 580. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

UD-D: Social Sciences
Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
Global Perspectives
Social Justice

PLSI 602 Seminar: Politics As Story (Units: 3)

Prerequisites for PLSI 602: Restricted to upper-division Political Science majors with a GPA of 3.0 or better; or permission of the instructor.
Prerequisite for PLSI 702: Restricted to graduate students in PLSI or related disciplines; or permission of the instructor.

Conduct qualitative and/or ethnographic research in political science as the basis for an engaging, informative, and broadly accessible creative project concerning a political event or development. Develop skills in translating knowledge, terms, and theories in political science into a story- or character-driven project readily shared with the public and/or nonspecialists.
(PLSI 602/PLSI 702 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)

PLSI 603 Public Service Internships (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; concurrent enrollment in PLSI 604; consent of the instructor.

Fieldwork in approved public, private, non-profit, or political organization under the supervision of organization staff and a faculty coordinator. May be repeated on advisement. [CSL may be available]
(This course is offered as PLSI 603 and USP 603. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 604 Internship Seminar (Unit: 1)

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; concurrent enrollment in PLSI 603.

Analysis of internship experiences. May be repeated on advisement. [CSL may be available]
(This course is offered as PLSI 604 and USP 604. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 605 Seminar: Student's Choice Empirical Research Project (Units: 4)

Prerequisites for PLSI 705: Restricted to graduate Political Science students or permission of the instructor.
Prerequisites for PLSI 605: Restricted to upper-division Political Science majors with a GPA of 3.0 or better; or permission of the instructor.

Research seminar that focuses on individual interests. Develop research questions, learn and apply appropriate quantitative methods to test expectations, and write an original, empirically grounded, research paper.
(PLSI 705/PLSI 605 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)

PLSI 606 Senior Seminar in American Politics (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Senior Political Science majors; all Political Science core courses and PLSI 302GW.

Focus on the specialization and particular interests of the professor in question in the field of American Politics. Topics to be specified in the Class Schedule. May be repeated when topics vary.

Topics:

Reason and Choice
The American National Security State
The Politics of Inequality
The Politics of Social Justice
Women, Public Policy, and Law

PLSI 607 Senior Seminar in Comparative Politics (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Political Science majors and minors; upper-division standing; PLSI 250 and PLSI 302GW.

Study particular topics within the field of Comparative Politics, and prepare an original research project relating to those topics. Topics to be specified in the Class Schedule. May be repeated when topics vary upon advisement.

Topics:

Social Movements and Dissent
Case Studies in Environmental Politics
Comparative Political Institutions
Politics of the Middle East & North Africa
Nationalism
Lawyers, Guns, and Money in the Global South
Comparative Experiments in Law and Justice

PLSI 608 Senior Seminar in Political Theory (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Political Science majors and minors; upper-division standing.

Focus on the specialization and particular interests of the instructor in the field of political theory. Topics to be specified in the Class Schedule. May be repeated for up to 6 units when topics vary.

Topics:

Critical Thinkers
Theories of Opposition and Struggle
Political Theory of F. Kafka: Readings & Criticism
Political Theory of Authority
Environmental Politics and Theory
Theories on Law and the State

PLSI 609 Senior Seminar in Public Law (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Political Science majors and minors; upper-division standing; a PLSI GWAR and PLSI 478.

Critical review and synthesis of Public Law, focusing on legal issues. Topic to be specified in the Class Schedule. May be repeated when topics vary.

Topics:

National Judicial Politics
Law and Gender

PLSI 610 Judicial and Legal Internship (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; interview required; concurrent enrollment in PLSI 611; consent of the instructor.

Fieldwork in approved legal and judicial organizations under supervision of judges, lawyers, legal organization staff, and faculty coordinator. May be repeated for a total of 6 units on advisement.

PLSI 611 Judicial and Legal Internship Seminar (Unit: 1)

Prerequisite: Require concurrent enrollment in PLSI 610.

Analysis of internship experiences. May be repeated for a total of 2 units on advisement.

PLSI 613 Senior Seminar: The Politics of Harry Potter (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Political Science majors.

Use the world of Harry Potter to examine the concept of political power and how political power operates in the context of key political science concepts, in particular coalition building, out-group demonization, mass movement mobilization, and civil-military relations. Not a study or analysis of Harry Potter or of British politics; rather, Harry Potter is used as a vehicle for examining real-world politics, especially in the United States.

PLSI 614 Seminar: Politics of Reproduction (Units: 3)

Prerequisites for PLSI 614: Restricted to upper-division Political Science majors with a GPA of 3.0 or better; or permission of the instructor.
Prerequisite for PLSI 714: Restricted to graduate Political Science students or permission of the instructor.

Study of the legalization and regulation of reproductive policy in the United States and beyond through an analysis of cases, legislation, and social action. How governments both regulate and are permissive of individuals' reproduction. Court cases focus on action at the federal level and state level, the tactics of different movements and their impact on public opinion and politics, and comparative international policies.
(PLSI 614/PLSI 714 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)

PLSI 685 Projects in the Teaching of Political Science (Units: 1-4)

Prerequisites: Senior standing; PLSI 100, PLSI 200.

Reading and discussion in the teaching of political science. Responsibilities include working with supervising faculty member in preparing course materials, tutoring students, and conducting small discussion sections. (Students may earn a maximum of 4 units toward the baccalaureate degree for any course(s) numbered 685 regardless of discipline.)

PLSI 699 Independent Study (Units: 1-4)

Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor, major adviser, and department chair. Enrollment by petition.

Supervised study of a particular problem selected by the student with advisement from the instructor. May be repeated for a total of 4 units.

PLSI 700 Research Methods (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate Standing.

Introduction to methodologies that pertain to designing a research project in political science. (Plus-minus AB/NC, CR/NR not allowed)

PLSI 701 Graduate Writing in Political Science (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of the instructor.

Hands-on study of the practice of writing for graduate-level political science. Foundations of good political science writing, the revision process, writing for scholarly publications. Topics to be specified in the Class Schedule. May be repeated when topics vary.

Topics:

Graduate Writing in Political Science: Foundations
Graduate Writing in Political Science: Workshop

PLSI 702 Seminar: Politics As Story (Units: 3)

PLSI 705 Seminar: Student's Choice Empirical Research Project (Units: 4)

PLSI 707 Practicum in Teaching in Political Science In Higher Education (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Focus on pedagogical techniques to be used by teaching assistants in higher education in political science, as well as for possible work teaching in higher education after earning the M.A. [Formerly PLSI 781]

PLSI 708 College Teaching of Political Science (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

Planning and teaching of college-level political science courses. Supervised experience to be evaluated through examination of contemporary literature and practice.

PLSI 714 Seminar: Politics of Reproduction (Units: 3)

PLSI 740 Seminar in American Politics (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

American government and politics: political parties, interest groups, presidency, legislative assemblies, judiciary, electoral behavior, and political opinion.

PLSI 741 Women and Politics in the United States (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Analysis of the interaction of women, gender, and politics. Study of gender within the discipline of political science, different approaches to understanding the category of 'woman', women as political beings, and construction and reinforcement of gender dynamics through law and policy.

PLSI 742 Public Opinion, Elections, and Media (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Seminar seeks to evaluate key elements of the transformation of American politics by focusing on recent developments in political science that model contemporary public opinion, electoral and media processes. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

PLSI 744 U.S. Courts and the Making of Public Policy (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Examine the ways U.S. court decisions affect politics and policy-making in various areas, and the ways citizens and interest groups shape legal outcomes. Topics may include legal activism and the impact of court decisions in areas such as civil rights, abortion, freedom of religion, voting rights, and gun control.

PLSI 745 Post Civil Rights Period in American Democracy (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

The substantive theoretical and methodological problems associated with the study of racial politics in the literature of political science. A particular focus is that of analyzing Black politics in the post civil rights era.

PLSI 746 Urban Politics and Power (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Study of urban politics including competing theories of power, racial and ethnic politics in the urban context, and various issues concerning cities including governance, gentrification, and globalization.

PLSI 747 Gender and the Law (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Analysis of U.S. court cases from the 1960s through the contemporary period to understand how the law both constructs and reinforces gender roles and stereotypes. Special focus on how the law has approached discrimination. Topics include occupational discrimination, educational discrimination, reproduction, and violence against women, all through the lens of case law.

PLSI 760 Seminar in Comparative Politics (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

A graduate-level introduction to the field of comparative politics. Topics include the nature of the contemporary state, state-society relations, democratic and authoritarian regimes, regime change, social movements, nationalism, and ethnic conflict.

PLSI 780 Seminar in Political Theory (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Graduate-level study of the field of political theory. Reading and analysis of key texts in political theory and how theorists "produce" political theory. Study of political theory methods and how political theory relates to other subfields of political science.

PLSI 785 Seminar on Rawls (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Study of the work of John Rawls, arguably the most influential western political theorist of our time; focus on his major work, A THEORY OF JUSTICE, as well as his final work, JUSTICE AS FAIRNESS: A RESTATEMENT. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

PLSI 786 Great Theorists: Walter Benjamin (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Walter Benjamin, one of the premier thinkers of the 20th century, and a major influence on figures such as Hannah Arendt, Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault and others. To thoroughly examine Benjamin is to make inquiries into the basis of thought for the previous century as well as our own.
(This course is offered as PLSI 786, GER 786, and HUM 725. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

PLSI 787 The Political Theory of Franz Kafka (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing; upper-division standing permitted with the permission of the instructor.

The writings of Franz Kafka and his influence on philosophers and thinkers ranging from Derrida to Arendt to Benjamin. Although Kafka often seems to be oriented precisely against any kind of system or order from which one could derive any kind of "political theory," this course will look at the ways that Kafka's work supports consistent and specific kinds of radical and anarchic politics even as it busily undermines and subverts other more conventional and normative forms. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

PLSI 788 Latin American Political Theory (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Examination of Latin America political thought from the 16th century to the present. Focus on arguments about Spanish colonialism and Latin American independence and identity, the value of European thought and other sources of knowledge, and the nature of populism and revolution.

PLSI 789 Political Theories of Colonialism and Anti-Colonialism (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Explores political theories of colonialism and anti-colonialism from a variety of time periods, geographic spaces and ideologies. Analyzes how these theories have traveled and been appropriated. (Plus-minus AB/NC/RP grading only)

PLSI 896 Preparation for Written Comprehensive Examination (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Graduate Political Science students with approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies.

Directed reading in two subfields of Political Science, based upon a standard bibliography and consultation with departmental specialists in that field. Not open to Master of Arts candidates who choose to write a thesis. (CR/NC, RP grading only)

PLSI 896EXM Culminating Experience Examination (Units: 0-3)

Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor, committee chair, and approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies. ATC and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration.

Enrollment in 896EXAM required for students whose culminating experience consists of an examination only. Not for students enrolled in a culminating experience course numbered PLSI 898. (CR/NC, RP)

PLSI 898 Master's Thesis (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Advancement to candidacy (ATC) for the master's degree and permission of the candidate's committee chair, and approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies.

(CR/NC, RP grading only)

PLSI 899 Independent Study (Units: 1-4)

Prerequisite: Permission of the graduate major adviser, supervising faculty member, and department chair.

Study is planned, developed, and completed under the direction of a member of the departmental faculty. Open only to graduate students who have demonstrated the ability to do independent work. Enrollment by petition.