Biology - Major in Biology Program

Required courses:
Introductory courses (9 credits):
POL 110 American Politics and Government

This course provides students with a critical understanding of the U.S. political process and analytical tools to evaluate authority structures that exercise power and influence. Fulfills requirement: . 3 credits.

LAW 150 Introduction to Law and Justice

This course introduces the nature of law and the structure and operation of the central institutions and processes of the US and British legal systems. Topics include the centrality of human rights, the protection of civil liberties and rights in the criminal justice process, contracts and torts, the role and constitutional position of judges in US and British legal systems, the concept of the rule of law, the imperative of diversity in judicial appointments and in admission to the practice of law, the importance of fairness & justice in legal systems, and impediments to justice constructed by race. Fulfills requirement: Intercultural Competence. 3 credits.

One of the following:
ECN 102 Principles of Macroeconomics

This course extends the study of consumer and producer choices to discover how they affect the nation's economy. Macroeconomics deals with the economy as a whole as measured by the key variables of inflation, unemployment, and economic growth. Emphasis is on both Keynesian and classical theories and how they predict what monetary and fiscal policies can be used to affect these variables and reach national economic goals. Fulfills requirement: Quantitative Reasoning. 3 credits.

PHL 240 Global Perspectives

A study of diverse perspectives on the basic questions of philosophical inquiry: What is the nature of reality? What is the nature of the self? What is the nature of knowledge? By what standards do we evaluate truth claims? This course examines these questions from perspectives outside the classical philosophical approach rooted in the Mediterranean. Fulfills requirement: Intercultural Competence. 3 credits. (This course is cross-listed with POL 240)

(or POL-240)

Two from the following intermediate courses (6 credits):
COE 282SS Open Futures

This course will introduce students to contrasting policy options and to the value of considering diverse perspectives in the identification and solution of problems facing society. Public policy will provide the primary focus - that is government efforts to solve major problems in the economy, law enforcement, environment, business practice etc. The course will develop rhetorical skills in debate and argument, and skills in the analysis of policy. Fulfills requirement: Connective Experience. Prerequisite: FYE-112. 3 credits.

POL 210 Topics in Comparative Politics

This is an introduction to the study of comparative politics: the comparison of political systems in order to understand how and why these systems function differently. The course is built around three fundamental questions: What is comparative politics? What kinds of phenomena do we compare? What are the major theoretical approaches that guide our studies? We also examine distinctions between the "developing" and the "developed" worlds, and between authoritarian and democratic political regimes. The last half of the semester is devoted to the study of individual country case studies, with an emphasis on those in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East. Fulfills requirement: Intercultural Competence. This course satisfies a requirement of the College Honors program. Enrollment is open to all majors. 3 credits.

POL 215 Constitution, Presidency, and Congress

This course uses key cases to study important doctrines established by the Supreme Court with respect to the structure and functions of the constitutional system (judicial, legislative and executive power and federalism). There is a particular emphasis on various forms of textual interpretation used by individual justices to apply the Constitution in deciding cases and writing opinions. Fulfills requirement: . Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. 3 credits. (This course is cross-listed with HIS 215)

POL 245 International Relations

This course uses the levels of analysis approach to understand international politics and theories in international relations to draw connections between concepts and world issues. Fulfills requirement: Critical Thinking through Writing. 3 credits.

POL 256 Political Behavior

A key principle of democratic theory is the sovereignty of the people. Thus, the notion of the "will" and "power" of the people matters in democratic societies such as the U.S., and helps us understand how the political system operates. This course examines critical topics including interest group behavior, political parties, elections, public opinion, and political communication and the mass media. 3 credits.

POL 265 Public Policy Analysis

The process of public policy making. This course provides an introduction to the policy process, focusing on the bureaucracy, legislators, special interest, nongovernmental organizations and other stakeholders who play a role in the public policy development and implementation. Prerequisite: POL 110 or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.

POL 275 Human Rights

This course develops an understanding of the practice of global human rights. This course is taught every other summer at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. Fulfills requirement: . 3 credits.

POL 280 Terrorism and Extremism

This course will challenge students to develop a better understanding of terrorism, the motivations of terrorists, terrorist strategies and operations, the environments in which terrorists operate, weapons of mass destruction, state sponsorship of terrorism, and the means by which governments, especially the United States have responded to contemporary terrorism. Fulfills requirement: Critical Thinking through Writing. 3 credits.

One from the following advanced courses (3 credits):
POL 312 United States Foreign Policy

This course examines the domestic interests, values, and political institutions and international forces and pressures that shape the conduct of United States foreign policy. Fulfills requirement: Critical Thinking through Writing. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.

POL 316 Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

This course uses key cases to study important doctrines established by the Supreme Court with regard to civil rights and civil liberties. Students will examine the Court's rulings concerning the establishment and free exercise of religion, protection of freedom of speech and of the press, privacy rights (abortion and sexual freedom), the rights of the accused in the criminal justice system, and the law governing racial or sexual discrimination. The course places particular emphasis on various forms of textual interpretation used by individual justices to apply the Constitution in deciding cases and writing opinions. Fulfills requirement: . Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. LAW 215 recommended. 3 credits. (This course is cross-listed with LAW 316)

(or LAW-316)
POL 345 Philosophical Foundations of Politics

Students in this course study the development of Western political thought from Classical Greece to modern times, examining the conceptual evolution of citizenship, civic obligation, and the nature of justice and exploring the connection between moral and positive law in the western tradition. Fulfills requirement: . Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.

POL 352 Public Policy and Public Administration

Public policies affect the lives of all Americans, and public administrators are the main touchstones with government for most citizens. In the first half of the course we focus on how and why the public policymaking process functions as it does, and examine various areas of policy at the national and state levels. In the second half, we turn to the implementation of policy by government agencies and the management of public organizations. This course is of value to all citizens in a democracy, but will be particularly helpful for students in any discipline whose careers are affected by public policy, or who are considering a career in government. Fulfills requirement: . 3 credits.

POL 370 Research Methods in Political Science

Students will learn various qualitative and quantitative research methods in political science and how to write an empirical research design. Fulfills requirement: Quantitative Reasoning. 3 credits.

POL 390 Special Topics in Political Science

Topic announced at the time of registration. This course may be repeated for credit as topic changes. 3 credits.

One from the following experiential options (3 credits):
POL 376 Civic and Political Engagement

This community-based learning course is designed to give students an understanding of key concepts and frameworks of civic and political engagement. Students will engage in the civic life of communities and with power structures through direct, experiential service. Fulfills requirement: Immersive Experience. 3 credits.

POL 380 European Union Simulation

This course offers an enriching, hands-on, interdisciplinary exploration of the dynamic processes of policy formation in the core institutions of the European Union. Near the end of the semester, students participate in the simulation in Washington D.C., organized by the Mid-Atlantic European Union Simulation Consortium (MEUSC). This experiential learning program endeavors to connect American students to EU policy makers and policy making in a unique way, utilizing the simulation experience to bridge the gap between the academic study of the EU and the actual political processes of the European Union. Students engage in discussions and debates about the EU that are current and topical in EU decision-making circles. A distinct theme is chosen as the focus of the simulation each year. Fulfills requirement: Immersive Experience,Intercultural Competence. This course may be repeated for credit as topic changes. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing. Course may be repeated for credit. This course satisfies a requirement of the College Honors program. Enrollment is open to all majors. 3 credits.

POL 400 Internship

Field experience in a political science environment. Fulfills requirement: Immersive Experience. May be repeated for credit (up to 12 credits of internship may be counted toward the degree). Prerequisite: GPA of 2.50 in major and permission of department chair. Students taking more than six internship credits in politics please note: POL 400 may count for no more than two elective courses in the POL major. 1-12 credits.

POL 450 Politics Conference Presentation

Students present their research on politics at an academic conference. Graded pass/fail. 0 credits.

POL 550 Advanced Research

Advanced Research. Fulfills requirement: Immersive Experience. This course may be repeated for credit as topic changes. 1-3 credits.

A study abroad experience at an approved LVC summer or full-semester program.