PSCI - Political Science
PSCI 210IS Introduction to American Government: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
(F, Sp) Examines the major institutions of national government and politics. Special emphasis on the constitution and other political rules of the game as shapers of public consciousness and government policy.
PSCI 230D Introduction to International Relations: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
(F, Sp) A survey of the major global issues and the means nation-states use to resolve them. The students will explore the concepts of sovereignty, the elements of power, and the global trends of regionalism and internationalism.
PSCI 240 Introduction to Public Administration: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
(F, Sp) Implementation of public policy in American government. Topics include but are not limited to: bureaucratic politics, decision making, budgeting, personnel management, ethics, organization theory, and organization behavior.
PSCI 250IH Introduction to Political Theory: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
(F, Sp) This course offers an introduction to political theory as 1) a foundational subfield of Political Science, 2) a Western humanistic intellectual tradition, and 3) an interpretive “lens” through which we understand, and ethically evaluate the world that we live in. Our goal is to examine texts in their historical context, and to explore how we can use those texts and their insights to think critically about our contemporary political condition, values, practices and institutions – particularly about the state of “democracy” in America. Every political theory relies on certain assumptions about human nature and the arc of history, and if we accomplish one thing by the end of the semester it will be getting you to be able to read the world in terms of the implicit ideas about humanity and its history (and thus its future, or possible futures).
PSCI 291 Special Topics: 1-4 Credits (1 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: Course prerequisites as determined for each offering. Courses not required in any curriculum for which there is a particular one-time need, or given on a trial basis to determine acceptability and demand for requesting a regular course number
Repeatable up to 12 credits.
PSCI 302 Media and Politics: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 210IS and sophomore standing. Explores role of the media in the political process with special emphasis on various print media, television, film, and cyberspace
PSCI 310 Applied Political Analysis: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: Quantitative Reasoning CORE course and junior standing, or consent of instructor. Provides an introduction to methods and techniques in quantitative political statistics. Topics covered range from levels of measurement and descriptive statistics to logistic regression, using political science data sets and examples
PSCI 323 Modern Political Thought: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 250 or consent of instructor. Examines issues of power, authority, legitimacy, community and freedom in the work of Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Mill, Marx, and Nietzsche, among others. Recommended prerequisite for PSCI 354 (Contemporary Political Thought) and PSCI 455 (Politics & Virtue.)
PSCI 331 International Relations Theory: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 230D or consent of instructor. Overview of the idealism versus realism debate during the first half of the twentieth century. Followed by theories formulated in the postwar period to study causes of war/conflict, problems of interdependence, and recent developments such as the end of the Cold War, global democratization, growing ethnic conflict, and a more active United Nations
PSCI 336 European Union: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 210IS. Historical and contemporary analysis of political and economic integration in Europe with a focus on the political system of the European Union
PSCI 337 Model United Nations: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 230D or Consent of instructor. This course introduces students to the workings of the global organization that is the United Nations. Students gain an understanding of international negotiations that unfold in the U.N. setting in the context of current international issues and events
PSCI 338 Comparative Politics: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 230D or consent of instructor. Comparative study of different types of governmental regimes, political systems, and political cultures throughout the world and the sources and consequences of these differences
PSCI 339 Culture and Ideology: The Development of the Modern Prison: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 250. It focuses on the relationships between cultures of penality, ideologies of race/gender/class, and the transnational emergence of a Prison Industrial Complex
PSCI 341 Political Parties and Elections: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 210IS or consent of instructor. Examines the structure and function of political parties, interest groups, and the mass media in the electoral process. Special emphasis on electoral rules and citizen participation from a comparative democratic perspective
PSCI 346 American Presidency: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 210IS or consent of instructor. The American presidency as a government institution. Examination of the legal, political, administrative, and policy making roles of the president. Emphasis on recent issues of responsiveness to national needs and public accountability
PSCI 347 The U.S. Congress and the Legislative Process: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 210IS or consent of instructor. Examines the U.S. Congress and it operation in a variety of settings. Broad themes such as representation, policy-making, checks and balances, and oversight are examined as is the evolution of Congress historically
PSCI 348 Multicultural Politics in the United States: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: Sophomore standing, or consent of instructor. Examines the politics of diversity in the U.S., including national community, identity, citizenship, immigration, assimilation, and racial issues such as voting rights, affirmative action, segregation and integration, and public opinion
PSCI 353 British Politics: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
(Sp) While the US and the UK share a common origin and philosophical heritage, their political systems have diverged since the revolution. This course investigates the similarities and differences in their political systems and the ramifications for politics and policy.
PSCI 354 Contemporary Issues in Political Theory: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 250 or consent of the instructor. Examines questions of knowledge, discourse, power, and identity in the works of contemporary (often "postmodern") critics, including: Foucault, Althusser, Butler, de Beauvoir, Kuhn, Rorty, Rawls, Chomsky
PSCI 356 Classical Political Thought: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 250 or consent of instructor. Explores justice, virtue, freedom, and "the good life" (ethics). Texts include early Greek poetry, theatre, classic works by Plato and Aristotle, and some contemporary criticism. Recommended prerequisite for PSCI 354 (Contemporary Political Thought) and PSCI 455 (Politics & Virtue)
PSCI 362 Natural Resource Policy: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 240 or consent of instructor. (Sp) Public lands policy and the economic and political issues that emerge. Special emphasis is placed on the National Parks and federal public lands of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
PSCI 390R Research Methods: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 210IS, PSCI 230D, PSCI 240, PSCI 250. This includes: PSCI 210IS, PSCI 230D, PSCI 240, and PSCI 250 and junior standing. This course introduces students to the qualitative and quantitative research methods used in the social sciences generally and political science
PSCI 407 Public Policy Analysis: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 240 or consent of instructor. Analysis of impact of public decisions with emphasis placed on secondary data sources and interpretation
PSCI 414 Drug Trafficking and Governance in the Americas: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 230D or Consent of Instructor. This course offers an introduction into the impact of drug trafficking and related activities on democracy and governance in Latin America and the U.S. The course takes a multi-disciplinary, comparative country and regional approach and looks at public policies throughout the region
PSCI 415 The Political Economy of Energy: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 240 or consent of instructor. We examine the interface between politics and economics for energy issues at the international, national, state and local level. The dynamics of the international oil and gas markets, US energy dependence, alternative energy and state and local energy policies are key topics
PSCI 418 The Politics of War & Peace: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 230D or consent of instructor. Combines two well-established subjects in the area of political science concerned with the study of international relations: the causes of war and the study of war and peace (emphasis of class). Covers a broad range of theorizing, research, and practice in both areas and will consider the relationship between them in constructive and critical ways
PSCI 423 Politics of Development: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 230D or consent of instructor. Consideration of explanations for global development patterns, the political economy of development, broader measures of development, approaches for evaluating policy effectiveness, and examples of policy success. Examination of region-specific development challenges and concerns. -
PSCI 429 National Security Policy Decision-Making: 3 Credits (3 Other)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 210IS or consent of instructor. Engage in simulations on national security decision making at the highest level of the US government, taking on role of National Security Council Members. Learn about the organization, analysis of security challenges, and considerations posed by Congress, the media and interest groups
PSCI 434 International Law: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 230D or consent of instructor. The nature and origin of modern public international law and its role in contemporary world politics. Topics include the rights and duties of states, human rights, law pertaining to armed conflict, aggression and international crimes, and the role of international law in conflict management
PSCI 436 Politics of Food & Hunger: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 230D or consent of instructor. The role of civil society, government and multilateral organizations are examined in a comprehensive analysis of food and hunger, including the issues presented by agricultural policy, famine, biotechnology and food safety, domestic and international food aid, and the right to food
PSCI 437 International Political Econ: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 230D or consent of instructor. Political and economic perspectives are integrated in an analysis of the issues affecting the domestic and international economy and their interface. International institutions, trade, exchange rates and the monetary system, regionalism and development are critiqued with different political perspectives
PSCI 439 International Human Rights: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 230D or consent of instructor. The development of human rights in legal and political context of the post-World War II period. Civil and political rights of due process; political participation and fundamental democratic freedoms; as well as social, cultural, and economic rights including basic human needs, self-determination, gender equality, and cultural integrity. National and International implementation is also considered
PSCI 445 Political Psychology: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 210IS. (Su) This course surveys recent and canonical works in political psychology that illuminate how people understand and think about the political world. This course will place particular emphasis on new cutting edge works in political psychology that help us to shed new light on emerging trends in American politics as well as enduring problems
PSCI 446 Congressional Campaign: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 210IS or consent of instructor. Examines the structure of the modern congressional campaign, with specific attention to fundraising, advertising, polling practices, and voter mobilization. Special emphasis on linking political science theory to the practice of electioneering
PSCI 447 Politics of Community Development: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 210IS or consent of instructor. This course explores the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of community development and real world application of policies and programs. Applying theory to practice, students examine community development through various themes that include social justice, diversity and inclusion, and life in the Anthropocene. Using participatory planning and design approaches, students will apply community development concepts, methods, and skills in an applied setting
PSCI 448 The Politics of Climate Change: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
(Sp) Climate change is arguably the most important global challenge of the 21st century. As such, there is considerable conflict regarding how (and even if) society can address this challenge. With this backdrop, this course explores the policies and politics surrounding climate change from political, social, economic, legal, and ecological perspectives.
PSCI 451 State and Local Government Policy Making: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 210IS or consent of instructor. An examination of the institutions, actors, and issues relevant to state and local governments in the United States, with a particular emphasis on Montana
PSCI 454 Cinema and Political Theory: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 250 or consent of instructor. Explores the intersection of political theory with topics such as civil society, bureaucracy and public policy through the use of film. Special attention given to both descriptive and prescriptive applications of modern and contemporary political theory to these topics
PSCI 455 Politics & Virtue: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 250 and PSCI 323 or PSCI 356, or consent of instructor. What is "virtue"? What different sets of virtues exist in the history of Western thought? What is the nature of contemporary political debates about specific virtues? Course will focus particularly on humility, solidarity, civility, empathy, autonomy, humaneness, temperance, and forgiveness
PSCI 461 Administrative Law: 3 Credits (3 Other)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 240 or consent of instructor. This course serves as an introduction to the legal and procedural environment of public administration. Students will explore the legislation and case law associated with contemporary administrative law in order to understand its impact on administrative practices and democratic governance
PSCI 465 Public Administration and Policy: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 240 or consent of instructor. Examines the major political and strategic processes of public policy development and implantation. Topics covered include agenda setting, stakeholder influence, use of political narratives, decision making and implementation strategies
PSCI 470 Rural Politics: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
This course explores the contours of rural politics in America today. Students will learn about the importance, connection, and political identity rural Americans find with the land, the actual, geographic place in which they reside.
PSCI 471 American Constitutional Law: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 210IS or consent of instructor. Explores the relationship between law, individual rights, and public policy. Legal research and case law approach are stressed. Topics will include, but are not limited to, the aspects of the Bill of Rights and the 14th and 15th Amendments
PSCI 483 The Politics of Authoritarianism: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 230D. What is a dictatorship, how do authoritarian regimes vary, and how do dictators remain in power
and when do they fall? This course critically examines the most common regime type throughout history.
PSCI 490R Undergraduate Research: 1-6 Credits (1 Other)
PREREQUISITE: Junior standing, cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, consent of the instructor and approval of the department head. Students propose, develop, and complete an individual research project under the direction of a faculty mentor. Written and oral presentation of the results are expected. Course will address responsible conduct of research. May be repeated
Repeatable up to 12 credits.
PSCI 491 Special Topics: 1-4 Credits (4 Lec, 4 Other)
PREREQUISITE: Consent of instructor. Course prerequisites as determined for each offering. Courses not required in any curriculum for which there is a particular one-time need, or given on a trial basis to determine acceptability and demand before requesting a regular course number
Repeatable up to 12 credits.
PSCI 492 Independent Study: 1-3 Credits (1-3 Other)
PREREQUISITE: Junior standing, cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, consent of the instructor, and approval of the department head. Directed research and study on an individual basis
Repeatable up to 6 credits.
PSCI 494 Seminar/Workshop: 1-3 Credits (1-3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: Junior standing. Topics offered at the upper division level which are not covered by catalogued courses. Students are expected to do individual research projects leading to an oral and written report of each student's findings
Repeatable up to 4 credits.
PSCI 498 Internship: 2-12 Credits (2-12 Other)
PREREQUISITE: Junior standing, cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, consent of instructor, and approval of department head. An individualized assignment arranged with an agency, business, or other organization to provide guided experience in the field
Repeatable up to 12 credits.
PSCI 499 Senior Project/Thesis: 3 Credits (3 Other)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 210IS, PSCI 230D, PSCI 240. Senior capstone course. Required course for graduation. Students examine the major concerns and issues in the discipline of political science in a mentored research project
Repeatable up to 12 credits.
PSCI 520 Government Leadership & Ethics: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: Graduate Standing. (Sp) This course exposes students, using the most current theoretical and empirical literature, to the essential competencies need for ethical management and leadership roles in public and non-profit organizations
PSCI 525 Non-Profit Management: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITES: Graduate Standing
This course provides students an introduction to the legal, social, political and structural operation of nonprofit organizations in contemporary environments. Students, through a combination of lecture, discussion, written work (essays and project reports) and, where possible, service learning opportunities, will develop both an understanding of the role and operation of nonprofit organizations, as well as a sense of the function they serve in the wider community.
PSCI 530 Tools of Public Administration: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: Graduate Standing. This course encompasses two content areas needed for public managers: tools for human resource management and decisions and public budgeting. Topics regarding human resources include historical development of public personnel, position classification, recruitment, selection, equal opportunity, affirmative action, collective bargaining and flexible employment relationships under more limited and decentralized government. Topics regarding public budgeting include the politics of the budgeting process, budgeting forms and processes at the federal, state and local levels, and revenue projection and expenditure decisions
Repeatable up to 6 credits.
PSCI 551 Quantitative Research Methods: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: Graduate standing. (Sp, Su) The quantitative research process as a means of acquiring knowledge that is reliable and relevant to the making of public management decisions and engaging in public leadership
PSCI 552 Public Policy Processes: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: Graduate Standing. (Sp) This course explores the major theories of public policy development and implementation
PSCI 553 Qualitative Research Methods: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: Graduate Standing. (F) The qualitative research process as a means of acquiring knowledge that is reliable and relevant to the making of public management decisions and engaging in public leadership
PSCI 554 Foundations of Public Administration: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: Graduate standing. An introduction to the theoretical, historical, intellectual foundations of public administration and the relationship between public administration theory and practice, the political context and the intellectual heritage of the field. Examines basic functions and processes of public administration, the relationship between public administration and contemporary issues of governance facing the public sector
PSCI 558 Public Organization Dynamics: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: Graduate standing. A survey of organization theory in governance organizations. The class explores major theories of organization and their contribution to effective organization performance
PSCI 559 Program Evaluation: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: Graduate standing. (F) A survey of methods of program evaluation and policy analysis for public programs. Quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis are contrasted. Implementation, utilization, and political context of the analysis and evaluation process are examined. Philosophical and ethical issues underlying alternative methods are explored
PSCI 560 Ethics and Public Service: 3 Credits (3 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 554 and Graduate standing. The course explores ethics as applied to issues in public service and policy making through theoretical and case study approaches
PSCI 575 Directed Professional Research Project: 3-6 Credits (3-6 Other)
PREREQUISITE: PSCI 551 or PSCI 553. (F, Sp) This is an applied, hands-on course in which students will get an introduction to qualitative and quantitative data collection, management, and analysis techniques. This fast-paced course will prepare graduate students for their research theses and professional papers. Classroom sessions take place in a computer lab for active instruction and data analysis practice. -
PSCI 589 Graduate Consultation: 1-3 Credits (1 Other)
PREREQUISITE: Master's standing and approval of the Dean of The Graduate School . This course may be used only by students who have completed all of their course work (and thesis if on a thesis plan) but who need additional faculty support
Repeatable up to 3 credits.
PSCI 591 Special Topics: 1-4 Credits (1-4 Lec)
PREREQUISITE: Upper division courses and others as determined for each offering, consent of instructor. Courses not required in any curriculum for which there is a particular one time need, or given on a trial basis to determine acceptability and demand
Repeatable up to 12 credits.
PSCI 592 Independent Study: 1-3 Credits (1 Other)
PREREQUISITE: Graduate standing, consent of instructor, approval of department head and Dean of Graduate Studies. Directed research and study on an individual basis
Repeatable up to 6 credits.
PSCI 595 Capstone Professional Portfolio: 3-6 Credits (3-6 Lec)
(F, Sp) MPA capstone course, integrating professional development competencies and students' individual approaches to leadership and governance.
Repeatable up to 6 credits.
PSCI 598 Internship: 3-12 Credits (3 Other)
(F, Sp) An individualized pre-professional assignment arranged with an agency, business, or other organization.
Repeatable up to 12 credits.