Political Science & Public Policy: Political Science, International Affairs, Public Administration, & Urban & Regional Planning
James E. Headley, Chair
Political Science and Public Policy: Political Science, International Affairs, Public Administration, and Planning
department web page
Faculty
Matt Anderson, Vandana Asthana, Kerry Brooks, Kristin Edquist, Veronica M. Eilas, Karen Hartman, Thomas M. Hawley, James E. Headley, Margo Hill, Courtney Jensen, Ning Li, Kevin A. Pirch, Jason Scully, Majid K. Sharifi, Anna Tressider, Mengzhong Zhang, Robert C. Zinke.
Programs
International Affairs
Political Science
Public Administration
Urban and Regional Planning
Required courses in these programs of study may have prerequisites. Reference the course description section for clarification.
Political Science and Public Policy: Political Science, International Affairs, Public Administration, and Planning
Successful completion of ENGL 101 or its equivalent is required of all majors in Political Science & International Affairs; successful completion of a 200-level English course is strongly recommended for all majors in political science. Course offerings at the 300–400 level are designed to provide maximum flexibility for faculty and students. Prerequisite courses are required for 300- and 400-level courses and students should consult an advisor to ensure that their course selections are appropriate.
The department maintains close relations with the programs in Criminal Justice and contains the International Affairs program. In each, selected government courses are required parts of the core curriculum.
Pre-Law program information.
Undergraduate Programs
The Department of Political Science and Public Policy: Political Science, International Affairs, Public Administration, and Planning offer courses focusing largely on the study of political science, a liberal arts discipline which seeks to understand the political condition and potential of humanity. Each of the department’s three degree programs is designed to provide the student with a broad understanding of political phenomena suitable to a liberal arts degree. Thus each, regardless of its specific content, requires courses in political philosophy, in American political institutions and processes and in comparative and/or international politics. In addition, the pre-law program is designed to prepare the student for a particular vocational goal. The department’s International Affairs Program provides a more interdisciplinary approach to the study of government and politics. The discipline of Political Science–and therefore the program of the Department of Political Science & Public Policy–is strongly committed to a liberal arts orientation. In concert with the rest of the university the department believes also in linking traditional liberal arts preparation with meaningful career preparation through the inclusion of minor and supporting coursework and/or through student involvement in certificate programs in this or other departments.
Employment opportunities for graduates are many and varied. A number of those who graduate each year continue their studies in law or other professional and graduate programs. A similar number find employment in the public sector or with domestic or international business firms. Opportunities also exist in party politics, campaign organizations, the military forces, or with the communications media.
Internship and Work-Study Programs for Students
The department maintains a dynamic internship program which provides practical experience with local political and governmental agencies and annually sponsors a winter quarter in Olympia in which selected students intern with the Washington State Legislature. When possible, it is strongly urged that students include an internship as a part of their program.
In addition to external internships, students may gain practical experience through a combination of work/study and internship with a particular faculty member. Students qualifying for such programs assist the professor to whom they are assigned with research work in an area of the faculty member’s interest. The department has an active faculty with diverse research interests who have produced books and monographs, presented papers at conventions of national and regional Political Science associations and of other, more specialized scholarly organizations and completed research grants funded by agencies of the government. The opportunity to assist in such work is of value particularly to those students planning to continue their studies, or to work in the public sector in areas necessitating faculty guidance in research techniques.
Pi Sigma Alpha
In the spring of 1982, the Nu Gamma Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honorary Society, was chartered at Eastern. This student organization serves as a vehicle for recognition of outstanding academic achievement in political science and complements the department’s participation in the university Honors Program. Pi Sigma Alpha sponsors a number of social and intellectual programs for students and faculty and with its help the department attempts to maintain contact with its graduates to make available to students their experiences and insights into the value of an education in political science.
Graduate Programs
The Graduate Program in Public Administration (PADM) is designed to provide widely varied educational opportunities in the fields of public and not-for-profit management. Graduate study opportunities are available for those currently employed as well as for recent graduates seeking a career in the public service. Both full-time and part-time study programs are available on a degree and non-degree basis.
Students in PADM are encouraged to become aware of the public service environment, the values that guide public service and the critical and analytical skills necessary to formulate, implement and evaluate public service decisions.
Program faculty, all of whom hold doctoral degrees and have public service management experience, have been selected from the several academic areas most pertinent to public sector applications. Adjunct faculty are highly trained, qualified and experienced academics and practitioners.
Alternatives offered include a master’s degree in public administration (60 quarter credit hours), and a Public Management Development Certificate Program.
Students interested in any of these alternatives should contact the Director of PADM for further information.
Scheduling
To make the PADM courses more accessible to those employed full-time, all coursework is offered at the EWU Spokane Campus, either during weekday evening hours or on weekends. Some "flex" courses are being developed that combine online and in-person course work.
Assistantships
Paid graduate assistantships are often available. Information and application forms are available from the program office. Applications for academic year assistantships should be completed and returned to the PADM office no later than June 1 preceding the academic year for which the student is applying.
Applying for Admission
To read more about the admissions requirements and expectations for the MPA program, please visit the Admissions Process page on the Public Administration's program webpage.
The EWU Graduate Programs application has an application fee, no additional fee is charged for application to the MPA program.
Application Deadlines
Priority consideration for admission will be given to applicants who meet the deadlines below. In order to meet the deadlines, 1. all of the application steps listed on the Admissions Process page on the Public Administration's program webpage must be completed, and 2. all admission requirements must be satisfied (including background requirements).
Priority Admission Deadlines
- Fall quarter: September 1st
- Winter quarter: December 15th
- Spring quarter: March 1
- Summer quarter: June 1
Admission Requirements
Based on the standards described below, students are admitted upon the recommendation of the director of PADM. The director’s recommendation will be sent to the Director of Graduate Programs. That director will then notify the student, in writing, of his/her admission or rejection. Applicants may seek admission on the basis of 1. their bachelor’s degree work, 2. completion of another master’s degree, or 3. their work experience (if they can demonstrate a least 10 years of progressive responsibility in a related profession). Admission procedures and requirements are the same for the MPA degree and the Public Management Development Certificate programs.
English Language Requirement
All students from non-English speaking countries must provide evidence of adequate proficiency in the English language before being admitted to the PADM. Learn more about the English Language Requirements on our International Graduate Student webpage.
Comprehensive Examination
Every student seeking a Master of Public Administration degree must take a comprehensive written examination.
The first step toward the comprehensive examination is filing for candidacy. When the student files for candidacy, he or she will designate the term and year in which the student anticipates taking the Comprehensive Examination and complete his or her MPA degree.
The second step is to complete all the designated core courses (except PADM 601) in the MPA curriculum and take all or a majority of their elective courses, such that after they finish PADM 601 MPA Capstone, outlined below, they will have completed all of the degree requirements for the MPA degree.
The third step is to enroll in PADM 601 MPA Capstone during their final term in the MPA program. Both the Comprehensive Examination and the Portfolio will be examined by the MPA faculty.
The Comprehensive Examination will cover the following materials: 1. questions designed to test the student’s understanding and comprehension of relevant MPA knowledge-bases and competencies in the Core Curriculum of the MPA program, and 2. at least one question designed to test the student’s ability to apply the MPA knowledge-base and competencies they have learned to a case-study situation drawn from actual administrative practice. PADM 601 is graded on a pass/fail basis. Should it be necessary to schedule a retaking of the examination, the procedures shall be the same with the exceptions noted under Graduate Affairs Council policy 13.12. A copy of Graduate Affairs Council Policies is available for reading in the main Public Administration office, EWU, 601 E Riverside Avenue, CAT 400, Spokane, WA.
Cooperation with Other Graduate Programs
With the permission of the MPA director, courses offered by other graduate programs may be counted toward the 20 credits elective requirement. Master’s degree programs that frequently offer courses considered appropriate as elective courses in the MPA program include: MURP (Planning), MPH (Public Health), MSW (Social Work), and MBA (Business Administration).
Some of the courses from the planning program that may be used as electives in the MPA program include:
- PLAN 510 Community Facilities Planning (5)
- PLAN 530 Contemporary American Indian Planning (3)
- PLAN 540 Land Use Planning (5)
- PLAN 542 Sustainable Communities (3)
- PLAN 550 Emergent Community Health Challenges (4)
- PLAN 560 American Indian Planning Studio (3)
- PLAN 571 Environmental Review (3)
We also encourage MPA students with an interest in tribal governance to consider obtaining the Executive Tribal Planning Program certificate and counting those courses toward elective requirements in the MPA program.
The courses in the Executive Tribal Planning program include
- PLAN 523 American Indian Planning (4)
- PLAN 524 Advanced Strategic Planning (4)
- PLAN 528 American Indian Health and Community (4)
- PLAN 529 American Indian Health Care Systems and Services (4)
- PLAN 531 Census Data for American Indian Planning (2)
- PLAN 534 American Indian Transportation Planning (4)
Thesis Option
- If a student decides to write a master’s thesis, they are required to register for 8 credits of PADM 600 Thesis Research. Two of those credits substitute for the normal PADM 601 requirement. The other 6 credits can be counted toward the 20 credit elective requirement.
Y Grades in PADM Courses
- Y grades are given for coursework that was not expected to be completed by the end of the quarter.
PADM courses in which Y grades may be given include
- PADM 525 Public Sector Grants-Writing and Administration (4 credits max)
- PADM 599 Directed/Independent Study (4 credits max)
- PADM 600 Thesis Research Seminar (8 credits max)
- PADM 601 MPA Capstone (2)
- PADM 603 Internships in Public Administration (8 credits max)
Public Service Learning Field Experience (2 credits)
- Students in the MPA program are expected to evidence an interest in public service. The public service learning field experience requirement is designed to give course credit for field experience involving 100 hours of voluntary public service.
- Students who can provide documentary evidence of having engaged in 100 hours of voluntary public service prior to admission to the program may be allowed to substitute a 2 credit elective course for this requirement.
Internships (optional) (2–8 credits)
Although internships are not a required part of the MPA curriculum, they are strongly recommended for all MPA students who have not had significant public sector administrative experience. The internship is intended to provide a major professional learning experience for the student, including a realistic exposure to a complex organizational environment. The intern is expected to contribute to the agency by helping to solve problems for the agency and to learn from and about the agency. Normally an internship should be arranged after finishing at least 30 credit hours of coursework in the program. The standard requirement for a 4 credit internship is 20 hours of work per week for one quarter. No more than 8 credits of internship may be counted toward graduation. Academic credit is obtained by registering for PADM 603. Documentation of the work experience is required.
International Affairs Courses
INST 200. GLOBAL ISSUES. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 101 or equivalent.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–global studies.
This course is a survey of important large-scale issues and conditions which are active in the contemporary world. It adopts a global studies interdisciplinary perspective in order to analyze these issues, with special focus on ecological and social-economic concerns.
INST 296. EXPERIMENTAL. 1-5 Credits.
INST 299. DIRECTED STUDY. 1-5 Credits.
INST 340. TRANSNATIONAL FEMINISMS. 5 Credits.
Cross-listed: GWSS 340.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 201 or equivalent.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–global studies.
This class challenges notions of “global sisterhood” by centering decolonial, Indigenous, post-colonial, queer of color, immigrant, and anti-imperialist feminist activism and theorizing. We employ a gendered lens to global politics, exploring transnational themes such as nationalism, fundamentalism, migration, neoliberalism, representation, “development” and global economies, war and militarism, human rights, and solidarity.
INST 380. JAPAN TODAY. 4 Credits.
Cross-listed: JAPN 380.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 201 or instructor permission.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–global studies.
A broad survey of contemporary Japan including society, culture, geography, government and economy. No knowledge of Japanese language required.
INST 395. CO-OP FIELDWORK. 1-5 Credits.
INST 397. WORKSHOP, SHORT COURSE, CONFERENCE, SEMINAR. 1-5 Credits.
INST 398. SEMINAR. 1-5 Credits.
INST 399. DIRECTED STUDY. 1-5 Credits.
INST 490. SENIOR CAPSTONE. 5 Credits.
Cross-listed: POLI 490.
Pre-requisites: POLI 203 or POLI 204 and senior standing or permission of instructor.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–senior capstone.
This course functions as a qualifying course for graduating students majoring in International Affairs, Political Science, Public Administration, and Environmental Policies and Planning. Designed to integrate and refine the analytical, writing, and presentation skills of students, the course requires students to conduct original research.
INST 495. INTERNATIONAL AFF INTERN. 1-15 Credits.
INST 496. EXPERIMENTAL COURSE. 1-5 Credits.
INST 498. IS SEMINAR. 1-5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: advanced class standing and permission of the instructor.
An advanced-level seminar dealing with issues relating to the formation, implementation, and evaluation of policy in international undertakings.
INST 499. DIRECTED STUDY. 1-12 Credits.
Directed Study
Public Administration Courses
PADM 501. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH APPROACHES. 5 Credits.
Notes: this course should be taken the 1st or 2nd quarter in the program.
Assists the student in developing research designs, as well as developing skills in locating, obtaining and assembling information pertinent to public administration. The course explores various approaches to research found in public administration literature. An overview of quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods, including interviews, surveys, case studies, field research, and statistical analysis.
PADM 503. FOUNDATIONS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. 5 Credits.
Notes: this course should be taken the 1st or 2nd quarter in the program.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing or consent of the instructor.
Offers an analysis of the development of the administrative state and the profession of public administration. Emphasis is placed on the historical, political, and socioeconomic contexts of public service, as well as on the ethical and foundational values that underlie modern public administration theory and practice.
PADM 507. PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing or consent of the instructor.
Offers an examination of the policy making process, including the development and formulation policy agendas, the use of rational decision-making techniques, and the use of quantitative and qualitative approaches to policy analysis. Analytical tools include political and economic modeling.
PADM 509. PUBLIC PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing or consent of the instructor.
Addresses the fundamentals of human resource management in the public sector. Topics covered may include the civil service system, merit principles, equal employment opportunity, and/or current human resource management issues or techniques related to such concerns as employee recruitment, selection, orientation and motivation. Issues such as employee hiring and screen and professional development of employees are also discussed.
PADM 511. PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY AND LEADERSHIP. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing or consent of the instructor.
A review of contemporary organization theory and the ways that theory informs and reflects the processes of public management and leadership.
PADM 513. PUBLIC PLANNING AND BUDGETING. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing or consent of the instructor.
An examination of budget process emphasizing bureaucratic politics, policy issues, alternative methods, and strategic planning techniques.
PADM 515. ADMINISTRATIVE LAW AND REGULATION. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing or consent of the instructor.
A description, analysis and critique of the American systems of administrative law, rule making and regulation, and their impact on public management. This course focuses on the ways various interpretations of the U.S. Constitution and of U.S. Supreme Court cases affect public administration theory and practice.
PADM 523. PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing or consent of the instructor.
Presents a broad overview of the development of the theory of public expenditure and taxes and the management of financing by U.S. governments. It describes optional means of financing and addresses the pros and cons of each. The emphasis is on municipal financial management, its environment and the skills required.
PADM 525. NETWORKED GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SECTOR GRANTS-WRITING. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing or consent of the instructor.
Examination of networked governance, the development of public sector grant programs and the distribution and fiscal management of money transfers. Topics include project development, grant applications, program planning and implementation and public policies for the improvement of intergovernmental operations.
PADM 531. INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing or consent of the instructor.
Explores the interdependence and linkages between governmental agencies explored from the perspectives of the legal/regulatory, fund raising/fund transfer and administrative/cooperative elements in our federal system.
PADM 533. METROPOLITAN GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing or consent of the instructor.
An exploration of the major management issues and techniques involved in the professional management of governmental processes in metropolitan and regional areas. Topics include the role of the professional city administrator, political, social, and economic processes in national and global cities, metropolitan areas, and urban regions, major urban services issues, ethics, decision making, and budget preparation. Examines both theoretical and the practical aspects of governmental management.
PADM 537. NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing or consent of the instructor.
Explores the role of the nonprofit organization in democratic society including financial realities, accountability, ethics, collaboration and the legal framework. Includes the role of nonprofits in social change and advocacy strategies.
PADM 539. SPECIAL TOPICS. 1-5 Credits.
Special Topics.
PADM 543. LABOR RELATIONS. 2 Credits.
This course covers a broad range of topics such as history of the labor movement, federal and state statutes covering the field, emergency operations planning and legislative lobbying efforts.
PADM 545. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. 2 Credits.
This course addresses the process of reaching agreement on a contract.
PADM 551. COMPARATIVE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing or consent of the instructor.
A comparative examination and analysis of the impacts of political and social cultures on public administrative systems within nation states. Emphasis is placed on the application of comparative methodologies to the study of public administration.
PADM 557. FUNDRAISING, PHILANTHROPY AND CHARITY. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing or consent of the instructor.
Assesses the role and function of fundraising in a nonprofit organization, specifically looking at fundraising strategies and techniques, cultural competency, giving circles, altruism and the historical institutional evolution of charity and philanthropy.
PADM 561. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION THROUGH FILM AND TELEVISION. 2 Credits.
This course explores, through cinematic images, how government and government employees are protrayed in film and television.
PADM 563. PUBLIC LEADERSHIP AND ETHICS. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing or consent of the instructor.
This course seeks to provide an understanding and appreciate of basic ethical concepts and frameworks. A variety of ethical theories and approaches are considered and applied to public sector situations. A main focus is on the exercise of both individual and collective judgment - "Right Action" or "Good Conduct"-In public organizational and policy setting. Issues and problems related to organizational cultures of corruption and the ethical accountability of socio-technical system.
PADM 596. EXPERIMENTAL COURSE. 1-5 Credits.
PADM 597. WORKSHOP, SHORT COURSE, CONFERENCE, SEMINAR. 1-4 Credits.
Notes: only one workshop course for up to 3 credits may be used to fulfill graduate degree requirements.
PADM 598. SEMINAR IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. 1-5 Credits.
Experimental.
PADM 599. INDEPENDENT STUDY. 1-5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.
Independent Study.
PADM 600. THESIS RESEARCH SEMINAR. 1-15 Credits.
Notes: continuous registration of 2 credit hours per quarter; maximum of 8 credits allowed toward MPA degree.
Pre-requisites: PADM 501 and permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.
A seminar designed to assist students completing research requirements in connection with the MPA program. This is a required course if the thesis option is chosen. The thesis can be substituted for the advanced research and writing seminar within a chosen specialization and as an elective. The thesis option is intended for those students going on to doctoral study.
PADM 601. MPA CAPSTONE & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: completion of all other MPA core classes or permission of the MPA director.
This course prepares students who have completed required core courses to take the MPA Written Comprehensive Examination, successful completion of which is required to receive the MPA degree. Students will also complete an advanced reflection project and prepare professional materials.
PADM 603. INTERNSHIP IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. 2-8 Credits.
Notes: grade Pass/No Credit; may be repeated.
Pre-requisites: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.
Guided field placement with a public agency.
PADM 695. INTERNSHIP. 5-10 Credits.
Internship.
Urban and Regional Planning Courses (PLAN)
PLAN 100. THE CITY. 5 Credits.
Satisfies: a BACR for social sciences.
Surveys the nature of transformations of cities during the course of their evolution from preindustrial to industrial to the postindustrial cities of today, and explains the factors that have contributed to these transformations.
PLAN 201. INTRODUCTION TO URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING. 5 Credits.
This lecture/discussion course uses a historical context to introduce the concepts, theories and applications of urban and regional planning.
PLAN 296. EXPERIMENTAL COURSE. 1-10 Credits.
PLAN 376. COMPARATIVE URBANIZATION. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: PLAN 201 or permission of the instructor.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–global studies.
A review of the nature of urbanization in developed and developing countries, examining planning-related issues associated with urbanization, overurbanization and counterurbanization in a variety of natural settings.
PLAN 395. INTERNSHIP. 1-10 Credits.
PLAN 396. EXPERIMENTAL COURSE. 1-10 Credits.
PLAN 398. SEMINAR. 1-5 Credits.
PLAN 400. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE. 2 Credits.
Pre-requisites: sophomore standing.
This course provides new majors a general overview of the practice of planning through discussion with planning practitioners and guided student activities.
PLAN 402. PLANNING IMPLEMENTATION. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: PLAN 201 or permission of instructor.
A survey of zoning, subdivision regulations and other tools used to implement public plans and policies. Introduces students to the administrative practices associated with the planning implementation process.
PLAN 403. COMMUNITY FACILITIES PLANNING. 5 Credits.
An examination of the issues and techniques associated with planning, budgeting and programming for community infrastructure such as sewer and water systems.
PLAN 404. PLANNING METHODS AND TECHNIQUES. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: PLAN 201.
This course develops specific skills and techniques in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data commonly used in planning.
PLAN 405. PLANNING PRESENT TECHNIQUES. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: sophomore standing.
Introduces the written, oral and graphic presentation techniques common to the the planning profession.
PLAN 406. PLANNING LAW AND LEGISLATION. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: PLAN 201 or permission of instructor.
Reviews the constitutional, statutory and case law governing public planning and regulatory activities, with specific emphasis on the legal aspects of regulating private lands to further public objectives and Washington state law.
PLAN 407. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: sophomore standing.
Applied studies of the process of community development emphasizing the interactive roles of citizens, community officials and planners.
PLAN 422. TRIBAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 3 Credits.
This course provides an understanding of tribal economic development for tribal governments and how it is carried out by planners, economic development specialists and tribal leaders.
PLAN 430. ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING. 5 Credits.
Surveys the philosophy and techniques of environmental planning, emphasizing an understanding of why environmental considerations should be incorporated into land use planning activities and developing skills needed to carry out an environmental analysis.
PLAN 431. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS. 3 Credits.
Individual and team field work in the preparation of environmental impact statements. A review of state and federal environmental legislation and procedural requirements.
PLAN 435. PLANNING, POLITICS AND PUBLIC POLICY. 4 Credits.
Notes: may be stacked with PLAN 535.
“Planning, Politics and Public Policy” studies planning as a profession permeated with political dilemmas in a context marked by social, political and economic disparities. The course reviews planning in light of the politics of policy-making and questions the role of urban and regional planning in a democratic governance process.
PLAN 440. LAND USE PLANNING. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: PLAN 404, PLAN 405 and PLAN 430 or permission of instructor.
Explores the issues and methods of analyzing and organizing land uses in urban and regional environments by balancing the demand for uses with the environmental conditions that limit the supply of the land.
PLAN 441. SITE PLANNING. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: PLAN 430 or permission of the instructor.
A studio course in the application of site planning methods and principles to subdivision and site development.
PLAN 442. SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES. 3 Credits.
This course examines the case for sustainable urban and rural development and explores examples of efforts to create sustainable development.
PLAN 445. LAND DEVELOPMENT. 3 Credits.
A seminar in the financial feasibility analysis and packaging of land development projects with emphasis on the private land development process and its interaction with the public planning processes.
PLAN 450. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING. 5 Credits.
A lecture/studio class that explores the procedural and conceptual transportation planning process, including a framework for addressing system characteristics, institutional arrangements, theories of travel, supply and demand, selected forecasting models, and interactions with land use and other urban systems.
PLAN 451. WALKABLE COMMUNITIES. 2 Credits.
This course explores the relationship between urban form and pedestrian activity and the utility of having communities that are accessible and pedestrian friendly.
PLAN 460. URBAN DESIGN. 3 Credits.
This seminar explores the theory and techniques of analysis of the design of urban environments, emphasizing the impact local decision-making has on community aesthetics.
PLAN 464. GIS FOR URBAN AND REGIONAL ANALYSIS. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: junior or senior standing.
This course develops competency in geographic information systems (GIS) technology and its application to spatial analysis problems in planning. It does so in the context of applied, real-world planning and policy problems. Topics include data development and management, spatial analysis techniques, awareness of GIS applications, GIS hardware and software, and hands-on laboratory and application projects.
PLAN 470. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION TECHNIQUES. 2 Credits.
Pre-requisites: PLAN 407 or permission of the instructor.
A workshop on the application of skills and techniques of community development and participation, emphasizing personal growth, group formation and dynamics, consulting with groups, and creative change within groups.
PLAN 471. RURAL AND SMALL TOWN PLANNING. 3 Credits.
Pre-requisites: PLAN 404 or permission of the instructor.
Discussion and research of the patterns of rural land use, emphasizing legislation, environmental characteristics, community values and anticipated land use demand.
PLAN 472. HOUSING. 3 Credits.
Pre-requisites: PLAN 201, PLAN 407 or permission of the instructor.
Discussion and research into the nature of shelter, housing need, policy and programs, codes and standards, and housing assistance plans.
PLAN 475. TRIBAL GOVERNANCE. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 201 or permission of instructor.
Presents an overview of Native American community and culture, the history of tribal government, tribal businesses, contemporary structures, and the applications of strategic planning techniques to Native American communities. Emphasizes appropriate community development and planning techniques which promote tribal self-determination and preserve tribal sovereignty. Students will utilize contemporary tribal communities as a case studies approach to better understand tribal governance.
PLAN 490. SENIOR CAPSTONE: PLANNING STUDIO. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: completion of 15 credit hours of planning courses.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–senior capstone.
The culminating studio for undergraduates that demonstrates their abilities through the application of their knowledge and skills to a real community problem. Students typically work in consultation with practicing professionals for a community or agency in producing a planning-related product for use by the client.
PLAN 495. PLANNING INTERNSHIP. 1-10 Credits.
Pre-requisites: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.
Supervised work in a public agency or with a private consultant. Daily journals are kept, a report is written on the work, and the student is evaluated by the supervisor and faculty member. One hour credit for each four hours of work per week per quarter.
PLAN 496. EXPERIMENTAL COURSE. 1-5 Credits.
PLAN 497. WORKSHOP, SHORT COURSE, CONFERENCE, SEMINAR. 1-5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.
Conferences and short courses on selected planning topics are offered for credit from time to time. These may be on campus or in the communities.
PLAN 498. SEMINAR. 1-5 Credits.
Selected seminar discussions of various planning topics: law, land development, energy, futures, philosophy and practice.
PLAN 499. DIRECTED STUDY. 1-5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: permission of the department chair and the instructor.
PLAN 500. PLANNING PRACTICE. 2 Credits.
This course provides an overview of the practice of planning through presentations and discussions with planning practitioners, lectures and guided student activities.
PLAN 501. FOUNDATIONS OF PLANNING. 5 Credits.
Survey of the history, theory, philosophy, and practice of planning. Subject matter treated during the course includes consideration of the nature of the planning profession's evolution, the profession's relationship to politics, the extent of ideological pluralism among planners, and the highly varied nature of professional planning activities.
PLAN 502. ADVANCED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. 5 Credits.
A survey of the structure and process of community development. Emphasis will be on the role of planners and community development specialists as agents for change in the context of community growth. Course will feature seminars and exercises in community problem solving, needs assessment, small group theory and process facilitation.
PLAN 503. PLANNING METHODS I. 5 Credits.
An introduction to planning process models, work programs, research methods, survey research, and descriptive and inferential statistics. Students also learn to present data graphically and orally.
PLAN 504. PLANNING METHODS II: POPULATION AND ECONOMY. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: PLAN 503 or permission of instructor.
An introduction and application of population forecasting, economic analysis, and cost/benefit techniques and their application to planning problems. Students also learn to incorporate information from these techniques into professional planning reports and policy analysis.
PLAN 505. PLANNING IMPLEMENTATION AND LAW. 5 Credits.
Review of zoning, subdivision regulations, and other tools employed by planners to implement public plans and policies. Consideration of constitutional, statutory, and case law governing the realm of plan and policy implementation.
PLAN 506. PLANNING METHODS III. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: PLAN 503, PLAN 504, second year of graduate program.
This is a case studies course focused on comprehensive planning demonstrating how the techniques from previous courses are applied in a comprehensive planning setting and how the functional areas of planning interact with the basic models learned in the previous courses.
PLAN 507. ADVANCED PLANNING STUDIO. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: second year of graduate program.
Preparation of a major planning project for a community or other agency. Students work in cooperation with practicing professionals, conduct general research, perform analysis, develop specialized plans and draft implementation tools. Each student is assigned specific responsibilities on an interdisciplinary team.
PLAN 508. REFLECTIVE PLANNING THEORY. 3 Credits.
Pre-requisites: second year of graduate program, or permission of the instructor.
This course will present an overview of the range of the philosophical and methodological approaches to planning and their varying roles within the discipline. The emphasis is on examining professional knowledge and reflection in action to provide a contextual guide for planning practitioners as they enter the profession.
PLAN 510. COMMUNITY FACILITIES PLANNING. 5 Credits.
A seminar in the historical development of the planning profession in the United States tracing its roots from colonial town planning to the present. Emphasis is placed on the evolution of the profession and its efforts to cope with the changing urban environment.
PLAN 514. LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANNING. 3 Credits.
This course offers a review of the objectives, strategies, and techniques associated with economic development programs for cities, counties and towns. Students survey techniques including consideration of financial assistance programs, expenditures on public capital, and regulatory reforms. The course will examine ties between economic development, land use planning, and capital budgeting processes.
PLAN 523. TRIBAL GOVERNANCE. 4 Credits.
Pre-requisites: in graduate program or permission of instructor.
This course will outline the unique context of tribal governments as sovereign nations under the federal government, examine the history and evolution of tribal government institutions within the unique tribal cultural systems and describe the role and relationship of governance and planning within such a framework.
PLAN 530. CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN INDIAN PLANNING. 3 Credits.
Pre-requisites: PLAN 523.
The purpose of this class is to provide a comprehensive overview and assessment of the current practice of planning on American Indian Reservations. Key topics include the powers to plan; the structures of tribal government and tribal planning; the tribal comprehensive plan; tribal planning regulations and ordinances; public engagement and tribal representation in tribal decision-making as part of planning; and critical research and development to identify and address long-term tribal needs and issues.
PLAN 532. AMERICAN INDIAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 3 Credits.
The purpose of this class is to provide an understanding of tribal economic development for tribal governments, including data inventory, analysis, and how economic development is carried out by planners, economic development specialists, and tribal leaders. The class will review existing literature on tribal economic development, provide students with the skills and expertise to complete economic development analysis of tribal data and develop strategies and plans for economic development of American Indian reservations. The class will also discuss tribal entrepreneurship.
PLAN 533. AMERICAN INDIAN LAW FOR PLANNERS. 3 Credits.
The purpose of this class is to provide a comprehensive understanding of American Indian Law for planners. The complex structures of tribal powers in relation to federal, state, local governments, and the ability for tribes to complete plans, land use regulations and environmental regulations operate within the context of Indian Law. It is essential for tribal planners to have a strong understanding of key court cases, legal issues and powers that frame how tribal governments and tribal planning work.
PLAN 535. PLANNING, POLITICS AND PUBLIC POLICY. 4 Credits.
Far from studying neutral phenomena and attempting to solve objectively defined problems, the planning profession is permeated with conflict and dilemmas of normative and political nature, such as how to plan and for whom. “Planning, Politics and Public Policy” sets out to study planning as a profession deeply imbued in a complex socio-political context dominated by social, political, technical, cultural, organizational, and economic disparities. The course reviews both theoretical and practical aspects of urban planning and their relationship to the politics of policy-making process. It, finally, inquires about the role of urban and regional planning in a democratic governance context. The substance of this course will be presented through lectures, class discussions, guest speaker talks, field work assignments and group work and presentations.
PLAN 539. SPECIAL TOPICS. 1-5 Credits.
Advanced planning topics will be offered periodically.
PLAN 540. LAND USE PLANNING. 5 Credits.
Explores the issues and methods of analyzing and organizing land uses in urban and regional environments by balancing the demand for uses with the environmental conditions that limit the supply of land and locates these uses based upon criteria that satisfy human needs.
PLAN 542. SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES. 3 Credits.
Examines the case for sustainable urban and rural development and explores examples of efforts to create sustainable developments.
PLAN 551. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING. 5 Credits.
A lecture class that explores the procedural and conceptual transportation planning process, including a framework for addressing system characteristics, institutional arrange- ments, theories of travel supply and demand, selected forecasting models and interactions with land use and other urban systems.
PLAN 565. GIS FOR URBAN AND REGIONAL ANALYSIS. 4 Credits.
This course provides an opportunity to expand spatial data development and analysis skills in the context of applied, real-world planning and policy analysis problems. Topics include data development and management, enhanced knowledge of spatial analysis techniques, and mentored, hands-on application projects.
PLAN 570. ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING. 5 Credits.
Surveys the philosophy and techniques of environmental planning, emphasizing an understanding of why environmental considerations should be incorporated into land use planning activities and developing skills needed to carry out an environmental analysis.
PLAN 571. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW. 3 Credits.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing.
This course provides students with a professional-level understanding of how and why of environmental review is conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act, the Washington State Environmental Policy Act, and other statutes, such as the Endangered Species Act. The course includes an introduction to environmental review, an overview of the legislative, legal, and technical evolution of environmental review, and a critical analysis of the tools of environmental review.
PLAN 572. RURAL AND SMALL TOWN PLANNING. 3 Credits.
Lectures, discussion and research of the patterns of rural land use that form rural areas and small towns, and the special rural and small town planning issues that emphasize legislation, environmental characteristics, community values and anticipated land use demand.
PLAN 591. RESEARCH PROJECT PREPARATION. 1 Credit.
A seminar course designed to prepare students for their capstone research or professional internship report. Reviews research strategies, helps students select topics, produce a work program, and begin research on their project.
PLAN 595. GRADUATE INTERNSHIP. 1-10 Credits.
Pre-requisites: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.
Students may participate in structured internships in agencies without the responsibility of using the internship as a capstone course. However, students must set learning objectives, maintain a journal of their experiences, and prepare a short report.
PLAN 596. EXPERIMENTAL COURSE. 1-5 Credits.
PLAN 597. WORKSHOP, SHORT COURSE, CONFERENCE, SEMINAR. 1-5 Credits.
PLAN 598. ADVANCED PLANNING SEMINARS. 1-5 Credits.
Advanced seminar topics offered quarterly.
PLAN 599. INDEPENDENT STUDY. 1-5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.
PLAN 601. RESEARCH PROJECT. 1-15 Credits.
Pre-requisites: substantial completion of degree requirements and permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.
A major planning project approved by the student's advisory committee. Students must file a record of study in the standard research format which will describe the approach, objectives, methods and conclusions of the project.
Political Science and International Studies Courses
POLI 100. INTRODUCTION TO US POLITICS. 5 Credits.
Satisfies: a BACR for social sciences.
This course is an introduction to the workings of the United States government from an historical, theoretical, and institutional point of view. Subjects of study include the founding of the United States, federalism, civil rights and civil liberties, political parties and interest groups, and American political institutions such as Congress, the Presidency, the Judiciary. The course also addresses fundamental concepts such as power, ideology, and the citizen role in democratic politics.
POLI 202. INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THEORY. 5 Credits.
Satisfies: a BACR for social sciences.
This course is an introduction to major thinkers and ideas within Western political thought. Authors may include Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. Themes discussed include power, human nature, rights, political legitimacy, and the ideal form of government. The course is also a primer on how to think and write theoretically. Through the essay composition process, students will refine their critical thinking skills and their ability to construct arguments of their own.
POLI 203. INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS. 5 Credits.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–global studies.
This course provides an introduction to concepts such as state, power, ideology, and to political phenomena, emphasizing similarities and differences in selected political systems.
POLI 204. INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL POLITICS. 5 Credits.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–global studies.
A basic introduction to the study of politics in the international arena from a historical, theoretical and pragmatic perspective. Topics of study include the basic concepts of realism, idealism constructivism and questions of national power, diplomacy, international institutions and alliance systems. From a historical reading of international politics with World Wars and Cold war, the course addresses contemporary issues of U.S. order, globalization, terrorism, climate change and human rights.
POLI 295. INTERNSHIP. 1-5 Credits.
Internship.
POLI 299. DIRECTED STUDY. 1-5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.
Subjects studied vary according to faculty and student interest.
POLI 300. U.S. JUDICIAL PROCESS. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 100.
This course examines the relationship of judicial behavior to structure, politics and the behavior of other actors in the judicial process. This includes examination of judicial processes from the trial court level through the Supreme Court of the United States.
POLI 302. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. 5 Credits.
This course in an examination of the philosophic and legal bases for the protection of the rights of the criminally accused, with emphasis on Supreme Court decisions on the 4th, 5th, and 6th amendments and on the due process clause of the 14th amendment.
POLI 304. U.S. CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 100.
This course examines the history and development of civil rights and liberties in the constitutional context of the United States. It emphasizes the problems of racial, religious, economic, political and sexual discrimination and their remedies under the law.
POLI 305. JURISPRUDENCE. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 100 and POLI 202.
This course examines the philosophical underpinnings of the idea of law by examining the evolution of legal thought from Natural Law thinkers through Postmodern conceptions of legal reasoning. It includes discussion about the concepts of rules and justice as well as the nature and possibility of legal reasoning.
POLI 306. BASIC CONCEPTS OF CRIMINAL LAW. 5 Credits.
A survey of the basic concepts and content of the American substantive criminal law, including consideration of the purposes of the criminal law, the basic concepts utilized to define criminal offenses, defenses to criminal charges, and examination of selected substantive offenses; e.g., assault, homicide, larceny.
POLI 307. U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 100 and POLI 300.
This course examines the principal structural features of the U.S. governmental system, primarily through the study of decisions of the United States Supreme Court. Particular attention is paid to the structural realities of separation of powers and federalism and to the development of the specific powers of the national government in the light of the powers retained by the states.
POLI 313. ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL POLITICAL THOUGHT. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 202.
This course engages thinkers and themes from the political theory of ancient Greece. Authors read include the Presocratics, Plato, Aristotle, and Seneca, among others. Questions concerning the nature and purpose of politics, the ideal political order, the definition of justice and virtue, and classical conceptions of knowledge, among others, will be pursued in detail. In addition to comparing various authors on these questions, students will spend some time considering the relationship between ancient views and more contemporary attitudes.
POLI 314. MODERN WESTERN POLITICAL THOUGHT. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 202.
This course is a detailed encounter with various thinkers of the Western political theoretical tradition, including Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and John Stuart Mill, among others. Ideas discussed include human nature, the rise of the modern state, the role of the individual and the people, the role of law, and the origins and nature of political power.
POLI 317. AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 100 and POLI 202.
This course examines the major works which have influenced the political debate and the creation of institutions in the United States. Emphasis will be on America's liberal tradition and those values which are in competition with the liberal philosophy in the United States. Other topics in the tradition of American political thought include democracy, liberty, individualism, localism and equality.
POLI 318. MARX AND MARXISM. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 202 and POLI 203.
This detailed examination of the political, economic, and social theory of Karl Marx begins with a discussion of the ideas of G.W.F. Hegel, perhaps the most important European philosopher of the 19th Century and a major influence on Marx's thinking. Students subsequently read a large number of primary texts by Marx himself with excerpts from the writings of Vladimir Lenin, the protagonist of the 1917 Russian Revolution.
POLI 319. NATIONS, NATIONALISM AND PATRIOTISM. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 100 and POLI 202.
This course is a detailed inquiry into nations, nationalism and patriotism, with specific emphasis on the United States. Authors read include Benedict Anderson, Anders Stephanson, and David Campbell among others. Topics explored include the conceptual predicates upon which nations depend, the idea of citizenship, violence and warfare, national identity, manifest destiny and more.
POLI 320. INTERNATIONAL SYSTEMS. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 203 or POLI 204.
This course is a focused study of contemporary theories, debates and major scholarly traditions in the study of international politics. By studying and analyzing contending perspectives in world politics, the course covers how scholars of international relations differ from each other in their conceptualization of what the system is or ought to be. The course enables students to have a comprehensive appreciation of the global issues, difficulties and challenges that states and non-state actors face as they interact in the global arena.
POLI 321. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 203 or POLI 204 or permission of instructor.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–global studies.
The course engages students in a study of the history, structures and processes of international organizations within the world community. Focusing primarily on the United Nations system and its role in shaping global, national, group and state-society relations, the course also addresses other organizations such as the European Union and the World Trade Organization, as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
POLI 322. INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 203 or POLI 204.
This course examines international economic systems and their relation to world political realities. Students will examine theories of state political-economic relations and the history of international efforts to manage trade, monetary and financial systems by applying theories to contemporary global political economics, such as North-South issues and the political economy of oil and war.
POLI 323. U.S. FOREIGN POLICY. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 203 or POLI 204.
In this course students analyze important cases in U.S. foreign policy formulation since WW II with particular emphasis on the bureaucratic factors that shape foreign policy decisions.
POLI 324. COMPARATIVE AND INTERNATIONAL WATER POLICY. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 203 or POLI 204.
If the 20th century was all about oil, the 21st century is about water. Issues that include privatization, water markets, transboundary conflicts, loss of indigenous water rights and water governance, dams and river basin management, and a host of habitat and water quality issues dominate contemporary water policy in the United States and international arenas. Knowing the issues and the policies that guide the distribution of water will form the basis of the course. Case studies will include privatization in Chile; the upcoming Columbia River Treaty and indigenous claims to the river and its tributaries; treaty negotiations over the Nile and Indus Rivers; the loss of fish species, such as the salmon; and the water quality of several major rivers. The course material will be interdisciplinary drawing from political science, law, geography, history and natural resource economics.
POLI 326. EUROPEAN POLITICS. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 203 or POLI 204.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–global studies.
This course is an in-depth study of political life in European states beginning with the origins and contemporary practices of parliamentary democracy in Europe. It addresses contemporary challenges and opportunities for European states, including European integration through the EU and NATO, the broadening of the West toward the former Soviet states and the social, political and economic implications of immigration and international crime and violence.
POLI 327. POLITICS OF DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 203 or POLI 204.
This course explores major theories and practices of unsustainable economic growth models, which have created various forms of ecological, political, social, economic, and security crises. These crises have affected both the rich and poor nations, though in different ways. They have also produced a series of destabilizing resource, knowledge, technology, and capital gaps between and within the global north and south. This course examines these ecological crises and the varied responses to them.
POLI 328. POLITICS OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 203 or POLI 204.
This in-depth study of the modern political history and contemporary political system of China includes the fall of imperial China; the origins, development and victory of the Chinese Communist revolution; the rule and legacy of Chairman Mao Zedong, particularly the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution; economic reform, governance and political repression (especially the Tiananmen crisis) in the era of Deng Xiaoping; and current Chinese politics in the post-Deng China. The course focuses on China's domestic politics as well as China's position in the region and its role in the world.
POLI 329. POLITICS OF SOUTH ASIA. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 203 or POLI 204 or permission of instructor.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–global studies.
This course examines the complex and dynamic regions of South Asia. The course introduces students to the political evolution of the region and to the major scholarly debates on the countries of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. Particular emphasis is placed on colonial legacies, nationalism and histories of state formation as well as political institutions and their evolution.
POLI 330. FEDERALISM, STATE AND LOCAL POLITICS. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 100.
This course examines the theory, history and functioning of the U.S. federal system of government. Emphasis is placed on the structure of the system as well as the interrelationships that exist. State and local governments are examined and emphasis is placed on policy formation, dispersion and implementation as well as the consequences of those policies.
POLI 332. THE U.S. PRESIDENCY. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 100.
This course examines the role of the President in the government of the United States and in international relations. It considers the dynamics of presidential power in the U.S. government as well as relations between the President and other branches of government as well as with the people.
POLI 333. PUBLIC MANAGEMENT. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 100.
The course examines the fundamental concepts, approaches and leading theories of policy analysis. From a linear conception of policymaking to a more complex understanding of policy, this course provides both critical and practical understanding of public policy issues, including those in the realm of social welfare, health, energy, environment, food and agriculture, and national and global security. The course content encompasses the development, formulation, implementation and evaluation of policy. While dealing with substantive sectors and institutional aspects of public policy analysis the course also includes consideration of the complex interplay of power, knowledge and agency in the making of policy.
POLI 335. U.S. CONGRESS. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 100.
This course examines the role of representative governance in the United States by exploring the theoretical underpinnings of the U.S. Congress as created by the Founders, as well as its functions and how those have evolved. It also studies relations between the Congress and the other branches and how members of Congress interact, both institutionally and individually.
POLI 336. U.S. POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTIONS. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 100.
This course examines two of the ways that people can affect the political system, by voting and joining political parties, and it considers ways to link those through political campaigns. It will analyze and evaluate party systems and explore the functions of modern U.S. political parties. Students will explore how and why people vote, the nature of modern elections and the evolution of campaigning in the United States.
POLI 350. CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL PROBLEMS. 1-5 Credits.
Notes: May be cross-listed with CHST 320. May be repeated for credit when topics vary.
A topical course designed to accommodate the interest of the general student and the department faculty. Topics vary from quarter to quarter and are listed in the quarterly Course Announcement. Recent offerings include Citizen and Law, and Pacific Rim. Analysis of contemporary problems may be under the guidance of one or more department members.
POLI 360. STATE LEGISLATIVE POLITICS EXPERIENCE. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: permission of the instructor.
This course is designed to be a guided field experience with students in Olympia during the winter legislative session. It will connect the practical experiences students receive while interning in the Washington State legislature with theoretical models of legislative behavior and case studies of legislative action. Course requires instructor approval and acceptance into the Washington State Legislative Internship Program.
POLI 370. MOCK TRIAL I. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: permission of instructor.
Mock Trial I exposes students to courtroom procedures in civil or criminal cases, studying a trial as one form of dispute resolution. Working in teams, students receive a fictional legal case and prepare and argue both sides of that case by applying rules of evidence in a simulated courtroom. Students play the roles of attorneys and witnesses as they prepare and present their case to a panel of judges. POLI 370 focuses on the basics of preparing and building a fictional legal case and introduces students to trial advocacy.
POLI 395. INTERNSHIP. 1-15 Credits.
POLI 397. WORKSHOP, SHORT COURSE, CONFERENCE, SEMINAR. 1-5 Credits.
Notes: may be repeated for credit.
Specialized offerings in a workshop-type situation of materials emphasizing current topics and problems in the political arena.
POLI 399. DIRECTED STUDY. 1-5 Credits.
Directed Study.
POLI 400. TOPICS IN AMERICAN POLITICS. 5 Credits.
Notes: may be repeated for credit.
An intensive examination of selected questions in the arena of American political institutions, processes, and public policy. Topics vary from quarter to quarter and include executive reorganization, congressional reform, politics and the press, post-partisan politics and various policy impact studies that cover the values of individual choice and problems of political economy.
POLI 401. TOPICS IN POLITICAL THEORY. 5 Credits.
Notes: may be repeated for credit.
Pre-requisites: POLI 202.
Each of the topics chosen for this course explores in some depth the fundamental relationship between such common political phenomena as obligation, consent, freedom, law, authority, etc. The course is structured so that even when the particular topic is quite narrow, its development touches on the major nodes in the web of relationships these phenomena have with one another.
POLI 402. TOPICS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COMPARATIVE POLITICS. 5 Credits.
Notes: may be repeated for credit.
Pre-requisites: POLI 203 or POLI 204.
The topic of this course varies from quarter to quarter, depending on student and faculty interests. Topics in the past have included international law, international organizations (especially the European Union), problems of the international political system, comparative analysis of West European gender regimes, causes of political change and political stability, modernization and political development, causes and results of revolutions, the impact of social forces on the political system. The course may cover other topics as faculty and student interests change.
POLI 420. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 320, POLI 321 or POLI 322.
This course examines the dynamics of environmental politics through the politico- economic international system that includes states, civil society, corporations, international institutions and treaties. Moving beyond technical fixes to environmental problems it discusses questions of power, agency, the relationship of state and society and sovereignty over natural resources. It is inclusive of alternative discourses on sustainability, ecological justice, environmental security and development.
POLI 421. FEDERAL INDIAN LAW AND POLICY I. 5 Credits.
Cross-listed: IDST 421.
This is the first course in a two course series on federal Indian law and policy. Federal Indian law is the body of law that regulates the relationship between Indian tribes and the United States. Federal Indian policy consists of the various doctrines underlying federal legislative and executive actions affecting Indian tribes. This course will introduce students to laws, regulations and case law that comprise federal Indian law as well as the policies underlying those laws. Topics will be further explored through the use of case studies.
POLI 422. FEDERAL INDIAN LAW AND POLICY II. 5 Credits.
Cross-listed: IDST 422.
This course is a continuation of IDST 421. Topics covered include Modern Trust Doctrine, the Federal-Tribal Relationship, congressional plenary power, tribal land and sovereignty issues and tribal justice systems. These topics are explored through the use of case studies.
POLI 425. POLITICS OF THE MIDDLE EAST. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 203 or POLI 204.
The course examines the trends and transformation of the Middle East as a region full of unfulfilled national aspirations for independence, democracy, economic development, social justice, and human dignity. To these ends, the course beings with a history of the modern Middle East by briefly tracing the rise, the weakening, and the fall of the Ottoman and Persian Empires, which led to rise of modern states like Turkey, Iran, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, and the Persian Gulf states.
POLI 470. MOCK TRIAL II. 5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: POLI 370 or permission of instructor.
Mock Trial II exposes students to more advanced courtroom procedures in civil or criminal cases. Working in teams, students work with a fictional legal case to prepare and argue both sides by applying rules of evidence in a simulated courtroom. Students play the roles of attorneys and witnesses as they prepare and present their case to a panel of judges at local and regional competitions. Students may also engage in negotiation competitions as an alternate form of dispute resolution. This course follows POLI 370 with more emphasis on conducting competitive mock trials.
POLI 490. SENIOR CAPSTONE. 5 Credits.
Cross-listed: INST 490.
Pre-requisites: POLI 203 or POLI 204 and senior standing or permission of instructor.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–senior capstone.
This course functions as a qualifying course for graduating students majoring in International Affairs, Political Science, Public Administration, and Environmental Policies and Planning. Designed to integrate and refine the analytical, writing, and presentation skills of students, the course requires students to conduct original research.
POLI 493. PORTFOLIO ASSESSMENT. 1-2 Credits.
Pre-requisites: senior standing or declared major POLI or INST or permission of instructor.
Advised by a member of the Political Science faculty, the student compiles an assessment portfolio of academic assignments completed in program specific courses at EWU. Taken during the term in which the student expects to complete the requirements for a program of study, this course provides the student with an opportunity to undertake guided academic/career planning as well as to participate in summative assessments.
POLI 495. PUBLIC AFFAIRS INTERNSHIP. 1-15 Credits.
Pre-requisites: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.
Guided field experience designed to acquaint you with the formation and instrumentation of public policy; involves actual work with a political party, interest group, legislative body or administrative agency.
POLI 498. SEMINAR. 1-5 Credits.
Pre-requisites: permission of instructor.
An in-depth analysis of particular political phenomena, with emphasis on student research. Usually offered on an interdisciplinary basis in cooperation with other departments offering similar courses.
POLI 499. DIRECTED STUDY. 1-15 Credits.
Pre-requisites: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.
Projects in selected fields of government.
POLI 599. INDEPENDENT STUDY. 1-10 Credits.