Political Science and Sociology-Political Science Courses
POLS 100. American Government. Organization, functions and problems of American government. Prerequisite for all other political science courses except POLS 250. 3 credits
POLS 210. State and Local Government. A general study of state and local government. Prerequisite: POLS 100. 3 credits*
POLS 250. World Politics. Problems among nations in the modern world emphasizing the elements of power and diplomacy. No prerequisites. 3 credits*
POLS 270. Human Nature and Human Values. An introduction to the influences of biology, and especially Darwinism, on the social sciences. Course topics include heredity and culture, the roots of aggression, evolutionary psychology and sexual behavior, the evolution of cooperation, and the moral sense. Prerequisite: POLS 100. 3 credits
POLS 315. South Dakota Government and Politics. State, county, and local governments of South Dakota and its historical development. See HIST 376. Prerequisite: POLS 100. 3 credits*
POLS 320. Public Administration. Theories of organization and administration: an examination of basic responsibilities, functions and problems of public administration in democratic government. Prerequisite: POLS 100. 3 credits*
POLS 330. Constitutional Law. Supreme Court interpretations of the U.S. Constitution and litigation procedures with emphasis on controversial historical and modern cases. Prerequisite: POLS 100. 3 credits*
POLS 335. American National Processes and Institutions. A variable content course that will examine different institutions and processes of American national politics. Topics which will be covered in different semesters include Congress, the presidency, political parties, and the judiciary. May be repeated for different topics. Prerequisite: POLS 100. 3 credits*
POLS 340. Comparative Government and Politics. Analysis of the government and politics of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia and one or two selected developing nations for comparison purpose. Prerequisite: POLS 100. 3 credits*
POLS 353. American Foreign Policy. Theories and practices of modern foreign policy formulation and implementation. Prerequisite: POLS 100. 3 credits*
POLS 380. Government Internships. Supervised internships in national, state or local offices of government. Prerequisite: approval of advisor and agencies involved. Prerequisite: POLS 100. 1-12 credits
A maximum of six semester hours in POLS 380 may be used as electives in the political science major; a maximum of three semester hours may be used as electives in the political science minor. Credits in excess may be applied toward general college electives. No more than twelve semester hours in POLS 380 and/or SS 390, Fieldwork in Community Services, may be applied to an undergraduate degree at Northern State University. No more than three semester hours may be applied toward completing a graduate degree.
POLS 383. Readings and Research in Political Science. Independent study in political science directed by members of the political science faculty. Prerequisite: POLS 100. 1-3 credits
POLS 408. Local Government Administration and Politics. Structure, functions, problems and political processes of modern city governments. Prerequisite: POLS 100. 3 credits*
POLS 461. Early Political Philosophy. Analysis of Western political thought from classical Greece to the 17th century. Prerequisite: POLS 100. 3 credits*
POLS 462. Modern Political Philosophy. From the 17th century to the present, with emphasis on Communism, Fascism, Democracy and radical thought. Prerequisite: POLS 100. 3 credits*
POLS 465. Politics and Religion. An examination of the interplay between religious and political ideas in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. A special emphasis will be placed on harmony or tension between religion and liberal democracy. Prerequisite: POLS 100. 3 credits*
POLS 466. American Political Thought. Examination of major American political writings, focusing on the Founding Era, Civil War and Slavery, and the Civil Rights movement. Prerequisite: POLS 100. 3 credits*
POLS 493. Seminar in the Social Sciences. Research in political science. Directed by members of the faculty in the department of Social Science. Prerequisite: POLS 100. 1-3 credits*