NSU 2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog

431 Nova Southeastern University • Undergraduate Student Catalog • 2014–2015 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS politics such as war, globalization, international trade and finance, the role of international organizations, ethnic conflict and peacekeeping, proliferation of nuclear weapons, migration and poverty, and the role of international organizations and NGOs. Prerequisite: COMP 1500 or COMP 1500H. POLS 2915 Research Methods in Political Science (3 credits) This course provides an introduction to the methods that political scientists use to answer questions. The course is intended to provide students with analytic tools with which they can critically evaluate political science research, and train the student to pose and answer research questions of their own. Students will learn how to formulate research questions, how to prepare hypotheses, design a research plan to test their hypotheses, select the correct methodology and analyze the information collected. This course will cover both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The course will discuss statistical analyses, historical case studies, interview techniques, formal modeling and computational modeling. Prerequisites: POLS 1200 and COMP 2000 or 2020 or COMP 2000H. POLS 3100 Political Theory (3 credits) This course is designed to familiarize students with major authors and concepts in political theory. Emphasis is placed on both historical and contemporary debates surrounding important political concepts such as authority, justice, liberty, and democracy. The course will also consider major political theories and political ideologies that influenced past societies and continue to shape the world. Prerequisites: POLS 1200 and COMP 2000 or 2020 or COMP 2000H. POLS 3200 The Congress (3 credits) This course is an intensive look at the legislative branch of the American government, exploring the politics, processes, and policies that make up the Congress. The course focuses on how Congress works, including factors such as constituent pressures, the media, lobbyists, campaigns, representation and elections, party leadership, committee power, rules and procedures, and inter-branch relations. Emphasis is given to the modern Congress and how historical developments have impacted the modern political process, through attention to a variety of current issues such as homeland security, health care, immigration, defense policies, education, and the environment. Prerequisite: POLS 1010 or POLS 1200 and COMP 2000 or 2020 or COMP 2000H. POLS 3400 The Presidency (3 credits) This course provides a comprehensive overview of the American presidency, including the evolution of the office; presidential powers; relations with Congress, the courts, the mass media and interest groups; public opinion; PHYS 4990C Independent Study in Physics (C) (1–12 credits) The student selects, and carries out independently, library and/or empirical research. Faculty supervision is provided on an individual basis. Prerequisite: to be determined by the faculty and division director. POLS—POLS-Politics and Public Affairs POLS 1010 American Government and Politics (3 credits) An introduction to the processes of the American national and local forms of government. Included are the nature and structure of government, its characteristics and functions, and the intimate relation of government to other interests. POLS 1200 Introduction to Political Science (3 credits) This course will provide the student with an overview of political science with an emphasis on such topics as: the formation and evolution of government institutions and structures; the evolution of political participation, culture and ideology in both a domestic and international context; and policy formation and implementation (both domestic and foreign); and international relations. In doing this, students will be introduced to the basic vocabulary of the discipline, learning about the different ways that political issues and processes are studied. POLS 2010 Comparative Government (3 credits) This course will examine the elements of foreign political systems such as constitutions, political parties, institutions, historical development, and ideology using the United States as a frame of reference. Attention will be given to how legislation is enacted, how elections are conducted, and the relationship between the judicial, executive, and legislative branches of government. POLS 2100 State and Local Government (3 credits) This course is designed to provide a basic knowledge of how state and local governments operate, and how political decisions are made by these governments. The course will also address how federalism impacts these units of government. It will examine the political actors— legislators, governors, interest groups—that affect state and local politics, as well as specific local/state policy issues. Prerequisite: COMP 1500 or COMP 1500H. POLS 2300 International Relations (3 credits) This course will introduce students to various theories and concepts used by scholars in the field of international relations and demonstrate their practical application to understanding major issues in contemporary international