Department of Political Science, Division of Liberal Arts, Residential University, Upper Iowa University

FACULTY

Office: Professional Building 2B
Phone: (563) 425-5249
Fax: (563) 425-5332
Email: grummelj@uiu.edu

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

Political science and public administration courses prepare students for law school and for careers in administration at the city, county, state and national levels.

Students who wish to enter law school or who intend to pursue graduate study leading to the masters of public administration degree (M.P.A.) or the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in political science should consult closely with the political science faculty concerning professional and graduate school requirements.

Minor in Political Science

This minor consists of 18 semester credits. Courses in political science and public administration are chosen in consultation with the academic advisor.

UIU’s M.P.A. Program

Political Science Course Offering 2009-2010

Fall 2009 Term I

PS 100 U.S. Government

PS 380 Congress and the Presidency

Fall 2009 Term II

PS 211 International Relations

PS 230 State and Local Government

Spring 2010 Tem I

PS 212 Comparative Politics

PS 222 Introduction to Political Society

Spring 2010 Tem II

PS 100 U.S. Government

PS 364 Public Administration

Course Descriptions

PS 100 U.S. Government (3 credits): A survey of basic constitutional principles, political institutions and public policies of American national government.

PS 211 International Relations (3 credits): A study of the changing international order and the collapse of Soviet communism; international conflict and cooperation; international organizations and a revitalized UN; the Third World and international diplomacy.

PS 212 Comparative Politics (3 credits): This course compares and contrasts various aspects of the political process in pluralistic democracies, modern authoritarian systems, and developing nations. Students are introduced to political institutions in different states and will learn how to compare them in order to develop a better understanding of events in the modern world.

Course Descriptions Continued

PS 222 Introduction to Political Society (3 credits): This course contends that political symbolic action extends to popular culture. Individuals are exposed to the precepts of specific cultures through popular culture, which express current and prevailing ideas, values and social relations in political society.

PS 230 State and Local Government (3 credits): A survey of the basic principles, organizations and functions of government on the state, county, municipal, township and district levels. Special attention is given to Iowa state government.

PS 250 Special Topics (3 credits)

PS 342 The Development of American Foreign Policy (3 credits): A survey of U.S. foreign relations from colonial times to the present, with emphasis on the constitutional, institutional and political factors shaping the formation and execution of American diplomacy. Prerequisite: PS 100. Same as HIST 342.

PS 362 The Legislative Process (3 credits): A general introduction to American representative assemblies, with primary attention given to the U.S. Congress. Emphasis is on the interplay of relationships with legislative bodies affecting the shaping of legislation.

PS 364 Public Administration (3 credits): A study of politics, administration and bureaucratic policy-making at local, state and national levels, with emphasis on the relationship between governmental bureaucracies and the political system in the United States.

PS 368 Political Parties and Interest Groups (3 credits): This course is intended to provide an in-depth survey of American political parties and interest groups. This course is designed to examine not only theories concerning political parties and interest groups but also the practical operation and reality of political parties and interest groups in American politics.

PS 380 Congress and the Presidency (3 credits): A study of the interaction in the policy-making roles of the President and Congress of the United States. Emphasis is on federal legislation, crisis politics and the system of checks and balances.

PS 403 Internship (3 credits) Academic credit can be received for internships in the Iowa Legislature, the U.S. Congress, election campaigns, governmental agencies, study abroad or other similar activities. Prior planning and approval are required.

PS 412 American Constitutional Law II (3 credits): Topics covered include civil liberties, equal opportunity and equal protection under the law for minorities, freedom of speech and religion and the right to privacy, and the rights of those accused of crimes.

PS 445 Administrative Law (3 credits): Areas explored include bureaucracy and the regulatory process; judicial review of administrative action; the Administrative Procedures Act of 1946; and delegation, standing, exhaustion, sovereign immunity, rule making, tort liability, evidence, discretion, investigation and enforcement.

PS 450 Special Topics (3 credits)

PS 499 Special Project (1-3 credits)

Useful Links

The White House Declaration of Independence

Congress Constitution of the United States of America

U.S. House of Representatives:

Bruce Braley (D) - US Representative for Iowa Congressional District 1

Dave Loebsack (D) - US Representative for Iowa Congressional District 2

Leonard Boswell (D) - US Representative for Iowa Congressional District 3

Tom Latham (R) - US Representative for Iowa Congressional District 4

Steve King (R) - US Representative for Iowa Congressional District 5

U.S. Senate: