Fall 2024 Courses

Undergraduate Courses

Please view the Moravian University Course Catalog for a complete listing of the Political Science department course offerings. 

Important note about special topic courses. 

The department encourages students to take special topic (ST) courses. All special topic courses are eligible for credit with regard to political science major and minor requirements. 

ST: American politics and political theory courses are eligible for Track 1 credit.
ST: Comparative politics and international relations courses count for Track 2 credit. 

Special topic courses are not automatically assigned to the corresponding requirement. Advisors request a course substitution by emailing the registrar. If your special topic courses require a transcript adjustment, please contact your advisor. 

Introductory Courses for LinC credit - M3, M4, M5 

100- Level Courses

POSC 110 A: American Political System

Operation of American political processes and governmental institutions. Political culture of American democracy, political philosophy of the Constitution, relationship between organization of the economy and political power, linkages between mass public and governing elites, and operation of institutions of national government. (M4) 

POSC 115 A: Introduction to International Politics 

This course is meant to acquaint students with the analytical approaches, concepts, processes, issues, and actors in world politics. The class is anchored in class discussion and exchange of ideas. We will study the continuum of theoretical traditions and analytical approaches used in the study of international relations/world politics/international politics, including realism, liberalism, constructivism, and feminism. We will explore the roles of key actors in global politics including governments, international institutions, and a variety of non-state actors.  Additionally, we will examine key global issues such as global security, war and peace, human rights, global economics and trade, poverty and development, and environmental issues. The course will draw on historical and contemporary cases to help students draw connections between theories and world events and to be equipped with how to best explain and understand the world. (M4)

POSC 120 A: Introduction to Political Thinking 

Introduction to political thinking is the foundational course for the subfield of political theory in the department of political science. Political theory comprises the history of political ideas as well as contemporary political thought. Starting in ancient Athens with Plato, we explore important questions of the humanities such as What does it mean to be a person? How should we encounter others? How should we construct shared lives? How should political power be organized? Exploring a range of canonical authors including Machiavelli and Locke, we also consider how knowledge and category claims function in political argumentation. How do pre-political assumptions or claims condition political arguments? Moving into contemporary political thought, we address the challenges of racism, toltalitarianism, and other threats to democracy in the works of authors such as James Baldwin, Maurizio Viroli, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Timothy Snyder. This course fulfills LinC requirements M3 (moral life). There are no prerequisites for this course. (M3) 

POSC 125 A: Introduction to Comparative Politics 

In this course, students will be introduced to analytical tools that can be used to explore how politics operate outside of the United States. We will begin by addressing fundamental "what" questions about the concept of the state, democracy, and political identity. From there, we will examine "why" and "how" questions through comparative perspectives. Some of the questions we will explore include: Why are some countries democratic and peaceful while others are authoritarian and conflict-prone? How does democracy affect power distribution among political actors? What is the impact of political identities based on race/ethnicity/gender and religion on domestic politics? Upon completing the course, students will better understand the difference between strong and weak states, how politics are organized in democracies and non-democracies, and the political significance of various forms of identities. (M5)

Advanced Courses 

200-Level courses

POSC 245: The Politics of the Middle East 

This course aims to demystify "the Middle East." The long history of the western colonial encounter with this regionhas not only helped "create" the modern Middle East but generated conceptual frameworks that serve colonial practices at the expense of a humane understanding of the region's people, politics, history, and culture. The course aims at achieving such an understanding. To get there, the course examines common preconceptions about the region that often end up framing Muslims and Arabs as exotic or hostile others and obstruct a more humane understanding. The rest of the course is divided into four segments: (1) an examination of anti-colonialism as expressed in politics of resource nationalism in the case of modern Iran, (2) a critical look at the "oldest wound" in the heart of the region, namely the Question of Palestine, (3) an evaluation of the "war on terror" since 9/11 with special attention paid to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and (4) a consideration of the question of the Arab revolutions in the context of the "Arab Spring" with attention to developments in Egypt, Syria, Libya, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. (M5) (Track 2 credit)

POSC 249: Two Koreas 

Authoritarianism and democracy and fundamentally different, but what distinguishes them? Do democracies perform better than authoritarian political systems? Can democracy and authoritarianism coexist in a hybrid form? This course aims to address these questions by focusing on the two Koreas in East Asia. The two countries remain in a state of war, posing a significant threat to global peace beyond Asia. Throughout the course, we will explore how the division of the two Koreas came about, why democracy emerged in South Korea while dictators retained power in North Korea, and how South Korea, despite being poorer than North, has outpaced its northern neighbor and now ranks as the world's 10th largest economy. By the end of the course, students will be able to understand the recent history of the two Koreas, distinguish between democracy and authoritarianism, and analyze political institutions and processes. (Track 2 credit) 

POSC 295: Public Opinion 

This course will address current debates within the realm of political behavior research, such as the effects of media on public perception and the importance of public sentiment in the democratic process. This course provides a comprehensive analysis of public opinion within the context of American politics, focusing on its quantitative measurement and significant impact of political behavior and societal norms. Students will explore the psychological and sociological dynamics that contribute to the formation of public opinion, including the influence of media, cultural factors, and individual identity. Emphasis will be placed on the quantitative methodologies used in assessing public opinion, ranging from traditional polling techniques to advanced statistical analysis, highlighting the inherent challenges and potential biases encountered by researchers. Through both historical and contemporary case studies, participants will examine the role of pubic opinion in shaping key political events and movements in American politics, illustrating how it mirrors and molds societal values. By integrating theory with empirical research, the course aims to provide students with the analytical skills necessary to critically assess and contribute to the evolving discourse on public opinion and its influence on American political life. (M4) (Track 1 credit) 

300-Level Course

POSC 355: WI: Utopias Dystopias Manifestos 

This course introduces students to visionary political writing, including Thomas More's Utopia, Theodore Herzl's The Jewish State, Karl Marx and Friedrich's Engel's The Communist Manifesto, and Octavia Butler's The Parable of the Sower. We will think about political theorists as writers and also engage in original writing. The work of this course culminates in the creation of original student political visions. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or higher, and POSC 120 or permission of instructor. (U2) Writing-Intensive (Track 1 credit)