Biology - Major in Biology Program

Required courses:
Introductory courses (6 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: Social Scientific Inquiry. 3 credits.

LAW 150 Law and Liberty

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 may 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 racism and sexism. Fulfills requirement: Intercultural Competence,Social Scientific Inquiry. 3 credits.

*An approved FYE in Law and Justice may be substituted for LAW 150 Law and Liberty

Law and Liberty

Four from the following courses (12 credits)- at least 3 credits must be at or above the 300-level:
LAW 200 Legal System and Method

This course introduces students to the common law tradition and the associated legal system and methods of judicial reasoning. Particular reference is made to human rights, sources of law and principles and methods of legal research. In addition, LAW 200 serves as partial preparation for students registered for the University of London-linked certificate in common law, equivalent to the first year of law degree at a British University. Further credit may be transferred to LVC when students successfully complete undergraduate law examinations administered by the University of London. Fulfills requirement: Social Scientific Inquiry. 3 credits.

LAW 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 POL 316)

/POL 316 Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

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: Human Diversity,Social Scientific Inquiry. This course satisfies a requirement of the College Honors program. Enrollment is open to all majors. 3 credits. (This course is cross-listed with HIS 253)

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: Social Scientific Inquiry. 3 credits. (This course is cross-listed with HIS 215)

(or HIS 215 Constitution, Presidency, and Congress

)
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 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
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 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: Sophomore 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 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 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.

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 550 Advanced Research

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