Department of Political Science
Minor in Political Science
Students on Summer 2020, Fall 2020, or Spring 2021 requirements POLSMIN
Requirements
The minor requires at least 18 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
- Area requirement. One (1) of the following options:
- American Politics and Public Policy. Two (2) courses:
- POLS-P 301
- POLS-Y 301 Political Parties and Interest Groups
- POLS-Y 302 Public Bureaucracy in Modern Society
- POLS-Y 303 Formation of Public Policy in the United States
- POLS-Y 304 Constitutional Law
- POLS-Y 305 Constitutional Rights and Liberties
- POLS-Y 306 State Politics in the United States
- POLS-Y 307 Indiana State Government and Politics
- POLS-Y 308 Urban Politics
- POLS-Y 311 Democracy and National Security
- POLS-Y 313 Environmental Policy
- POLS-Y 315 Political Psychology and Socialization
- POLS-Y 316 Public Opinion and Political Participation
- POLS-Y 317 Voting, Elections, and Public Opinion
- POLS-Y 318 The American Presidency
- POLS-Y 319 The United States Congress
- POLS-Y 320 Judicial Politics
- POLS-Y 321 The Media and Politics
- POLS-Y 324 Gender and Politics
- POLS-Y 325 African American Politics
- POLS-Y 326 American Social Welfare Policy
- POLS-Y 329 Racial and Ethnic Politics in the United States
- POLS-Y 394 Public Policy Analysis
POLS-Y 301 Political Parties and Interest Groups
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Theories of American party activity; behavior of political parties, interest groups, and social movements; membership in groups; organization and structure; evaluation and relationship to the process of representation.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 302 Public Bureaucracy in Modern Society
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Examines public bureaucracy, with special emphasis upon the United States, as a political phenomenon engaging in policy-making and in the definition of the terms of policy issues. Considers the role of bureaucratic instruments in promoting social change, and in responding to it.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 303 Formation of Public Policy in the United States
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Processes and institutions involved in the formation of public policy in American society.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 304 Constitutional Law
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- American political powers and structures; selected Supreme Court decisions interpreting American constitutional system.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 305 Constitutional Rights and Liberties
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Extent and limits of constitutional rights; selected Supreme Court decisions interpreting American constitutional system.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 306 State Politics in the United States
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Comparative study of politics in the American states. Special emphasis on the impact of political culture, party systems, legislatures, and bureaucracies on public policies.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 307 Indiana State Government and Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Constitutional foundations, political development, organizational and functional process and growth, and current problems of Indiana government. Readings, case studies, problems.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 308 Urban Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Political behavior in modern American communities; emphasizes the impact of municipal organization, city officials and bureaucracies, social and economic notables, political parties, interest groups, the general public, and protest organizations on urban policy outcomes.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 311 Democracy and National Security
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Analysis of fundamental tensions between democratic values and the requirements of national security. Topics include homeland security and civil liberties in an age of terror, civil-military relations, oversight of intelligence operations, effects of interventions and wars on democracy abroad and at home, and debates over the morality of United States security policies.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 313 Environmental Policy
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Examines the processes of social decision reconciling human demands on the natural world with the ability of nature to sustain life and living standards. Analyzes the implications for public policies in complex sequential interactions among technical, economic, social, and political systems and considers the consequences of alternative courses of action.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 315 Political Psychology and Socialization
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Analysis of the relationship between personality and politics. Use of major psychological theories and concepts to understand the attitudes and behavior of mass publics and political elites.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 316 Public Opinion and Political Participation
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- The nature of public opinion on major domestic and foreign policy issues; mass political ideology; voting behavior and other forms of political participation; political culture; and the impact of public opinion on political systems.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 317 Voting, Elections, and Public Opinion
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Determinants of voting behavior in elections. The nature of public opinion regarding major domestic and foreign policy issues; development of political ideology; other influences on the voting choices of individuals and the outcomes of elections; relationships among public opinion, elections, and the development of public policy.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 318 The American Presidency
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Examination of the American presidency both in historical setting and in contemporary context. Topics such as presidential elections, roles and resources of the president, structures and processes of the presidency, presidential leadership and behavior, relationships of the presidency and other participants in policy making.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 319 The United States Congress
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- This course offers students the opportunity to study the legislative branch of American national government. It includes the structure and process of the Senate and House of Representatives, the roles of parties, interest groups, and lobbyists, the legislative process, and the relations of Congress with the other branches of government.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 320 Judicial Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Examines the American judicial system in the contemporary context. Analysis of the trial and appellate courts with a focus on the United States Supreme Court. Topics include analyses of the structure of the judicial system, the participants in the system, and the policy making processes and capabilities of the legal system. The course concludes with an assessment of the role of courts in a majoritarian democracy.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 321 The Media and Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Examines the contemporary relationship between the media and politics, including use of the media by politicians and public officials, media coverage of governmental activities, and media coverage of campaigns and elections. Course focuses primarily on the United States, but includes comparative perspectives.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 324 Gender and Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Analysis of women in contemporary political systems, domestic or foreign, with emphasis on political roles, participation, and public policy. Normative or empirical examination of how political systems affect women and the impact women have on them. Topics vary semester to semester.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 325 African American Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Examines the African American political condition, with special emphasis on political thought and behavior. The course analyzes not only how the political system affects African Americans, but also the impact African Americans have on it. Themes for this course may vary.
- Summer 2025CASE DUScourseSpring 2025CASE DUScourseFall 2024CASE DUScourse
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 326 American Social Welfare Policy
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Values and social welfare policy. Development, current status, politics and proposals for reform of social security and private pensions, income maintenance policy, health care, and housing. The future of the welfare state.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 329 Racial and Ethnic Politics in the United States
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- A survey of minority group politics in the United States. The course examines the socioeconomic position and political history of various demographic groups and highlights key public policy debates central to the future of ethnic politics and race relations in the United States. Compares theories of racial formation in the context of a political system predicated on majority rule.
- Summer 2025CASE DUScourseSpring 2025CASE DUScourseFall 2024CASE DUScourse
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 394 Public Policy Analysis
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Place of theory and method in examining public policies in relation to programs, institutional arrangements, and constitutional problems. Particular reference to American political experience.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
- Comparative Politics and International Relations. Two (2) courses:
- POLS-P 302 The Politics of Economic Crisis and Reform
- POLS-P 303
- POLS-Y 332 Russian Politics
- POLS-Y 333 Chinese Politics
- POLS-Y 334 Japanese Politics
- POLS-Y 335 Western European Politics
- POLS-Y 336 South East Asian Political Systems
- POLS-Y 337 Latin American Politics
- POLS-Y 338 African Politics
- POLS-Y 339 Middle Eastern Politics
- POLS-Y 340 East European Politics
- POLS-Y 341 Authoritarian Regimes
- POLS-Y 342
- POLS-Y 343 The Politics of International Development
- POLS-Y 344
- POLS-Y 345 Comparative Revolutions
- POLS-Y 346 Politics in the Developing World
- POLS-Y 347 German Politics
- POLS-Y 348 The Politics of Genocide
- POLS-Y 350 Politics of the European Union
- POLS-Y 351 Political Simulations
- POLS-Y 352 The Holocaust and Politics
- POLS-Y 353 The Politics of Gender and Sexuality
- POLS-Y 356 South Asian Politics
- POLS-Y 360 United States Foreign Policy
- POLS-Y 361 Contemporary Theories of International Politics
- POLS-Y 362 International Politics of Selected Regions
- POLS-Y 363 Comparative Foreign Policy
- POLS-Y 364 International Organization: Political and Security Aspects
- POLS-Y 366 Current Foreign Policy Problems
- POLS-Y 367 International Law
- POLS-Y 368 Russian and Soviet Foreign Policy
- POLS-Y 372 The Analysis of International Politics
- POLS-Y 374 International Organization
- POLS-Y 375 War and International Conflict
- POLS-Y 376 International Political Economy
- POLS-Y 399
- POLS-Y 407 Problems in Comparative Politics
POLS-P 302 The Politics of Economic Crisis and Reform
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Explores the politics of crisis and reform from a comparative and international political economy perspective. In addition to learning general theories of crisis and reform, students will study in-depth case studies of important crisis episodes in the era of industrial capitalism, and seek to understand both the causes and consequences of crisis events.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 332 Russian Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Political process and government structure in the Russian state. Political institutions inherited from tsarist empire and the Soviet state (1917-1991), history of subsequent political reform. Political problems of ethnic conflict, creating democratic institutions, and of transition from socialism to market economy.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 333 Chinese Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Explores contemporary politics and policy issues in the People\'s Republic of China. Influence of revolutionary practice and ideology; analysis of contemporary economic, political and social organizations; examination of policy issues including social reforms, economic growth, and democratization and globalization.
- Summer 2025CASE GCCcourseSpring 2025CASE GCCcourseFall 2024CASE GCCcourse
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 334 Japanese Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Political development of Japan, with emphasis on changing attitudes toward modernization; cultural and sociological factors affecting the functioning of contemporary political institutions; and the implication of Japanese experience in modernization of other developing societies.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 335 Western European Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Development, structure, and functioning of political systems, primarily in France, Italy, and Germany. Political dynamics of European integration.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of POLS-Y 335 or EURO-W 301.
- Summer 2025CASE GCCcourseSpring 2025CASE GCCcourseFall 2024CASE GCCcourse
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 336 South East Asian Political Systems
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Covers the governmental organization, and the political behavior and traditions, of countries in the South East Asian region. Addresses regional issues of political and economic development, and international issues regarding the relationship of the region to the rest of the world.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 337 Latin American Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Comparative analysis of political change in major Latin American countries, emphasizing alternative explanations of national and international developments; examination of impact of political parties, the military, labor and peasant movements, Catholic Church, multinational corporations, regional organizations, and United States on politics; public policy processes in democratic and authoritarian regimes.
- Summer 2025CASE GCCcourseSpring 2025CASE GCCcourseFall 2024CASE GCCcourse
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 338 African Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Explores politics in Sub-Saharan Africa. Examines relevance of "traditional" political systems; impact on colonialism; building new nations and states; authoritarian regimes; process of democratization; management of ethnic, regional, religious and class conflict; political challenges of economic development; role of international actors, including the United States, United Nations, World Bank, and non-governmental organizations; and globalization.
- Summer 2025CASE GCCcourseSpring 2025CASE GCCcourseFall 2024CASE GCCcourse
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 339 Middle Eastern Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Political culture and change in selected Middle Eastern and North African countries. Topics include political elites, traditional cultures, modern political ideology, institutions of political control, conflict management, and social reform policies.
- Summer 2025CASE GCCcourseSpring 2025CASE GCCcourseFall 2024CASE GCCcourse
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 340 East European Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Compares political change in the East European states, and emphasizes the legacies of authoritarianism and communism and the post-communist transition to democracy. Topics include the building of political institutions, the inclusion of citizens into the polity, the reform of the economy, the management of ethnic and social conflicts, and integration into the European Union.
- Summer 2025CASE GCCcourseSpring 2025CASE GCCcourseFall 2024CASE GCCcourse
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 341 Authoritarian Regimes
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Comparative study of Fascism, Nazism, and communism as institutional arrangements for governing modern societies. The political process in the one-party "movement regime."
POLS-Y 343 The Politics of International Development
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Examines the key debates and issues regarding how "poor" countries develop economically and socially. Analyzes the interactions between politics and economics in the development process at the global, national, and local levels. Cases for comparison will include countries from Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 345 Comparative Revolutions
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Analysis of major modern revolutions. Focus on the social, economic, and political causes of revolutions; the rise of revolutionary movements; and the strategies for gaining and consolidating power.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 346 Politics in the Developing World
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Focuses on politics in the developing world (Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East). Comparison of political history; experiences of colonialism and post-colonial authoritarian systems; political economy; development and globalization; democratization and management of protest and conflict; and interactions with international actors and transnational social movements.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 347 German Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Survey of the German political system including governmental institutions, the origins and role of political parties, opportunities for citizens to participate in politics, and current political culture. Special attention is paid to the question of how well Germany's democracy functions after experiencing several regime changes.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 348 The Politics of Genocide
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Comparative study of major twentieth-century genocides. Examines the political conditions, ideologies, and movements leading up to mass murder, and the ethnic and global context of genocide. Focuses on the question of responsibility and accountability from the viewpoints of perpetrators, victims, and bystanders in the national and international communities.
- Summer 2025CASE GCCcourseSpring 2025CASE GCCcourseFall 2024CASE GCCcourse
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 350 Politics of the European Union
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Study of the politics of the European Union (EU). Assesses past and present dynamics of economic and political integration in Europe, the structure and work of European Union institutions, and EU public policies such as the Single Market, the common currency, common foreign and security policy, and trade.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 351 Political Simulations
- Credits
- 1–3 credit hours
- Prerequisites
- None
- Notes
- May be taken alone or in conjunction with related political science courses
- Description
- A course tied to simulations of international organizations such as the European Union, the United Nations, or the Organization of American States.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated for a maximum of 3 credit hours.
POLS-Y 352 The Holocaust and Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Examination of the socioeconomic conditions and political ideologies leading up to the Holocaust, and the political, administrative, and social context for the genocide from the vantage of perpetrators, victims, and bystanders. Focus on the individual, national, and international responses to and responsibilities for the Holocaust. Consideration of the Holocaust's legacies for the postwar world.
- Summer 2025CASE GCCcourseSpring 2025CASE GCCcourseFall 2024CASE GCCcourse
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 353 The Politics of Gender and Sexuality
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Exploration of how different social, economic, and political practices have influenced the construction of gender and sexuality outside of the United States. Examines the interplay between gender relations and characteristics of public and private institutions.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 356 South Asian Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Introduction to the legacy of British colonialism in South Asia, to the development and decay of political institutions, to questions of economic growth, to social movements, and to regional conflicts.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 360 United States Foreign Policy
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Analysis of institutions and processes involved in the formation and implementation of American foreign policy. Emphasis is on post-World War II policies.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 361 Contemporary Theories of International Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Theories used in the study of international politics: systems theory, field theory, conflict theory, alliance and coalition theories, balance-of-power theories, and an introduction to game and bargaining theory.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 362 International Politics of Selected Regions
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- The region studied will vary with the instructor and the year. Current information may be obtained from the Department of Political Science.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated once for credit, with permission of the departmental undergraduate advisor.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 363 Comparative Foreign Policy
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Compares factors that influence foreign policy and the foreign policy process. Focuses on domestic or internal sources of foreign policy behavior, including impact of individual leaders, group decision-making processes, bureaucratic politics, ideology and political culture, historical experience, and type of political system. Classroom simulations are central to the course.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 364 International Organization: Political and Security Aspects
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- International organizations as lateral extensions of the Western state system, exercising influence in accordance with a variety of strategies. Strategies employed by the United Nations in the political and security area.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 366 Current Foreign Policy Problems
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Critique of foreign policy issues: communism, containment, imperialism, and others. Research papers and classroom presentation for critical discussion.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 367 International Law
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Sources and consequences of international law; relationship to international organizations and world order; issues of national sovereignty, human rights, conflict resolution, international property rights, world trade, environmental change, and other topics.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 368 Russian and Soviet Foreign Policy
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Notes
- R: POLS-Y 332
- Description
- Behavior of Russia and U.S.S.R. in world affairs from 1945 to the present. Emphasis on impact of geographic assets and vulnerabilities, historical experience, domestic politics, and the changing international environment.
- Summer 2025CASE GCCcourseSpring 2025CASE GCCcourseFall 2024CASE GCCcourse
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 372 The Analysis of International Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Notes
- R: POLS-Y 109 or equivalent
- Description
- Introduction to the systematic study of international politics, focusing on the major approaches of decision making (microanalysis) and the international system (macroanalysis) and on a number of specific methodologies, such as game theory, content analysis, simulation, and quantitative/ statistical techniques.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 374 International Organization
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Examines assumptions about the causes, functions, results, and structures of international (intergovernmental) organizations. Theory is combined with case study of the United Nations particularly. The European Community and regional organization examples provide a basis for understanding an evolving phenomenon.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 375 War and International Conflict
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- The nature of war. Theories and evidence on the causes of war. Discussion of the ways in which war has been conceived and perceived across time and of methods employed to study the phenomenon of war.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 376 International Political Economy
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Theories about the interaction between the international economic and political systems are the subject of this course. Works from each of the main traditions -- liberal, Marxist, and statist -- will be assigned. Specific topics covered will include (among others): the politics of trade, aid, foreign investment, and international monetary affairs; theories of dependency and imperialism; the politics of international competition in specific industries; the stability/ instability of international economic regimes.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 407 Problems in Comparative Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Exploration of issues and themes in the field of comparative politics. Includes advanced methodological, empirical, and theoretical approaches. Topics vary.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
- Political Theory and Methodology. Two (2) courses:
- POLS-Y 379 Ethics and Public Policy
- POLS-Y 381 Classical Political Thought
- POLS-Y 382 Modern Political Thought
- POLS-Y 383 Foundations of American Political Thought
- POLS-Y 384 Developments in American Political Thought
- POLS-Y 386
- POLS-Y 388 Marxist Theory
- POLS-Y 395 Quantitative Political Analysis
- POLS-Y 405 Models and Theories of Political Decision Making
- POLS-Y 406 Problems in Political Philosophy
POLS-Y 379 Ethics and Public Policy
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- This course examines the ethical responsibilities of public officials in democratic societies. It explores such topics as the meaning of moral leadership, the appeal to personal conscious in public decision making, and the problem of "dirty hands" among others. A special concern is how institutional arrangements affect moral choices.
- Summer 2025CASE AHcourseSpring 2025CASE AHcourseFall 2024CASE AHcourse
POLS-Y 381 Classical Political Thought
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- An exposition and critical analysis of the major political philosophers and philosophical schools from Plato to Machiavelli.
- Summer 2025CASE AHcourseSpring 2025CASE AHcourseFall 2024CASE AHcourse
- Summer 2025CASE GCCcourseSpring 2025CASE GCCcourseFall 2024CASE GCCcourse
POLS-Y 382 Modern Political Thought
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- An exposition and critical analysis of the major political philosophers and philosophical schools from Machiavelli to the present.
- Summer 2025CASE AHcourseSpring 2025CASE AHcourseFall 2024CASE AHcourse
POLS-Y 383 Foundations of American Political Thought
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Explores the evolution of American political ideas from colonization through ratification of the Constitution and its implementation.
- Summer 2025CASE AHcourseSpring 2025CASE AHcourseFall 2024CASE AHcourse
POLS-Y 384 Developments in American Political Thought
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Explores the evolution of American political ideas under the Constitution of the United States, and its promises and problems.
- Summer 2025CASE AHcourseSpring 2025CASE AHcourseFall 2024CASE AHcourse
POLS-Y 388 Marxist Theory
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Origin, content, and development of Marxist system of thought, with particular reference to philosophical and political aspects of Russian Marxism.
- Summer 2025CASE AHcourseSpring 2025CASE AHcourseFall 2024CASE AHcourse
POLS-Y 395 Quantitative Political Analysis
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Introduction to methods and statistics used in political inquiry, including measures of central tendency and dispersion, probability, sampling, statistical inference and hypothesis testing, measures of association, analysis of variance, and regression.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of ANTH-A 306, CJUS-K 300, ECON-E 370, ECON-S 370, MATH-K 300, MATH-K 310, POLS-Y 395, PSY-K 300, PSY-K 310, SOC-S 371, SPEA-K 300, SPH-Q 381, STAT-K 310, STAT-S 300, STAT-S 301, or STAT-S 303.
- Summer 2025CASE NMcourseSpring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
POLS-Y 405 Models and Theories of Political Decision Making
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- One course in political science at the 200 level or above
- Notes
- R: ECON-E 201
- Description
- Introduces collective choice and game theory for understanding how societies make political decisions. Examines how institutions, or the political context in which decisions are made, affect group choices. Theories of individual and group decision making, collective choice, and social dilemmas. Applications to congressional politics, intergovernmental relations, and parliamentary democracies.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 406 Problems in Political Philosophy
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Centers on conflicting interpretations of justice, liberty, and equality, as well as certain problems of democracy, including the tension between majority rules and minority rights, and the correlation of rights and duties. Topics vary.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
- Summer 2025CASE AHcourseSpring 2025CASE AHcourseFall 2024CASE AHcourse
- American Politics and Public Policy. Two (2) courses:
- Second Area Requirement. One (1) course from an area not used to complete the Area Requirement.
- Electives. Additional credit hours, as needed, to complete remaining requirements.
- Minor GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
- Minor GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the minor—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
- Minor Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the minor.
- Minor Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed at the 300–499 level.
- Minor Residency. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
Minor Area Courses
-
Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:
- Any course at the 100–499 level with the
POLS
subject area prefix—as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent - Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
- Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
- Any course at the 100–499 level with the
Restrictions
The following restrictions apply to the minimum credit hours required in the minor:
- Only 3 credit hours may be counted toward the minor:
- POLS-X 476 Political Science Practicum III
- POLS-X 477 Field Experience in Political Science
POLS-X 476 Political Science Practicum III
- Credits
- 1
- Prerequisites
- None
- Notes
- Information on topic and course affiliation available in the online schedule of classes
- Description
- In the practicum, students will conduct experiments, or participate in simulations, or hold moot court sessions, or compete in debates or engage in problem-solving exercises.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated for a maximum of 3 credit hours in POLS-X 380 and POLS-X 476.
- Grading
- S/F grading.
POLS-X 477 Field Experience in Political Science
- Credits
- 1–6 credit hours
- Prerequisites
- Junior or senior standing, 15 credit hours of political science, and project approval by instructor
- Description
- Faculty-directed study of aspects of the political process based on field experience. Directed readings, field research, research papers. Certain internship experiences may require research skills.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours in POLS-X 477 and POLS-Y 481.
This program of study cannot be combined with the following:
- Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science (ECONPOLSBA)
- Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Political Science (PHILPOLSBA)
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (POLSBA)
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics (POLSECONBA)
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy (POLSPHILBA)
- Interdepartmental Minor in Economics and Political Science (ECONPOLMIN)
- Interdepartmental Minor in Political Science and Economics (POLSECNMIN)
Exceptions to and substitutions for minor requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.