Political Science

Course Descriptions Menu

Lars Skalnes, Department Head

(541) 346-4864

PS 201 United States Politics (4) June 23–August 15 self-paced course. Theoretical introduction to American institutions, political doctrines, and ideology as these affect the course of politics and public policy in the United States. Laboratory fee. Examinations are taken at the Social Science Instructional Laboratory. Smith.

PS 205 Introduction to International Relations (4) June 23–August 15 self-paced course. Introduction to theoretical and methodological tools for the analysis of world politics. Laboratory fee. Exams held at the Social Science Instructional Laboratory. Smith.

PS 347 Political Power, Influence, and Control (4) June 23–July 18. Surveys the use of the concept of power in the social sciences; emphasizes diverse theoretical perspectives and empirical studies of political institutions. Anili.

355 Oregon Government and Politics (4) August 18–28. Current political issues in Oregon with particular attention to political races and ballot measures before the Oregon electorate as well as the state’s major political institutions. Southwell.

PS 399 American Conservatism (4) July 21–August 15. What is American conservatively, why does it exist, and where does it come from Examines the development of conservativism in American politics. Nabors.

PS 399 Eastern Europe after Communism (4) June 23–July 18. Introduction to the political, social, and economic transformations and developments in Eastern Europe since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Hoffmann.

PS 399 Film and Politics (4) July 21–August 15. Examines the role of film in shaping the modern American political culture, including its treatment of the development of civil society, issues of law and order, class and race, and international relations and war. Hehnke.

PS 399 Games in Politics (4) August 18–28. Explores how various political situations, which involve conflict, can be viewed and modeled as games, and how to analyze such encounters and to predict their outcomes. Myagkov.

PS 399 Genocide in the Modern Age (4) July 21–August 15. Explores the causes of genocide, the possibility of prevention, and how we can and should respond to such events. Rothman.

PS 399 Mafia and Corruption in Russia (4) June 16–20. Explores the role of the Mafia and corruption in Russia’s transition to democracy as well as the role the Russian Mafia plays in other countries. Myagkov.

PS 399 Peak Oil Politics (4) June 23–July 18. Explores the effects of the end of cheap oil on politics, economics, and everyday life in the United States and elsewhere. Golya.

PS 399 The Politics of Climate Change (4) July 21–August 15. Is Al Gore right If so, what should be done Covers the scientific, economic, and political debates surrounding climate-change politics. Parson.

PS 401 Research: [Topic] (1–15R)

PS 403 Thesis (1–12R)

PS 405 Reading and Conference: [Topic] (1–15R)

PS 406 Field Studies: [Topic] (4R)

PS 503 Thesis (1–16R)

PS 601 Research: [Topic] (1–16R)

PS 601 Research: Special Field Paper (1–16R)

PS 603 Dissertation (1–16R)

PS 605 Reading and Conference: [Topic] (1–16R)

PS 606 Field Studies: [Topic] (1–16R)

Political Weekends

PS 399 Abolishing Nuclear Weapons (1) July 12–13. Explores a proposal numerous political thinkers, including Henry Kissinger, are seriously reconsidering, an idea thought impossible before 9/11—that it may be time to eliminate nuclear weapons. Coreq: 1 credit of PS 405 (Reading and Conference: Abolishing Nuclear Weapons). Cramer.

PS 399 Detecting Election Fraud (1) June 21–22. Focuses on recent elections in Russia, Europe, and the United States. Considers whether allegations and anecdotal evidence of election fraud can be substantiated by “irregular” voting patterns; types of electoral irregularities, election fraud, and methods to pinpoint them. Coreq: 1 credit of PS 405 (Reading and Conference: Detecting Election Fraud). Myagkov.

PS 399 The New Al Qaeda Threat (1) July 26–27. Discusses how Al Qaeda has morphed since 9/11. Afghanistan bases are gone, Osama bin Laden largely neutralized—yet many think the threat is larger today. Coreq: 1 credit of PS 405 (Reading and Conference: The New Al Qaeda Threat). Cramer.

PS 399 The U.S. Presidential Election (1) August 2–3. Examines the 2008 nomination and general election campaigns, the candidates, the Electoral College, the role of money, and the influence of campaigns. Coreq: 1 credit of PS 405 (Reading and Conference: The U.S. Presidential Election). Smith.

PS 405 Reading and Conference: Abolishing Nuclear Weapons (1) Coreq: PS 399 (Abolishing Nuclear Weapons). Cramer.

PS 405 Reading and Conference: Detecting Election Fraud (1) Coreq: PS 399 (Detecting Election Fraud). Myagkov.

PS 405 Reading and Conference: The New Al Qaeda Threat (1) Coreq: PS 399 (The New Al Qaeda Threat). Cramer.

PS 405 Reading and Conference: The U.S. Presidential Election (1) Coreq: PS 399 (The U.S. Presidential Election). Smith.