Major Courses

The course provides an introductory overview of the American political system. It begins with a discussion of the principles of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights and an examination of their impact on the country. It also covers the avenues and means of democratic citizenship and political influence in American politics. The course further examines the major political institutions in the United States: Congress, Presidency, Bureaucracy, and Courts. In order to assess the impact of government on society, the course concludes with an exploration of public policy. (Meets state requirement in United States Constitution and California Government.) (3 units; Fall, Spring, and Online)

This course studies the place and responsibilities of state and local governments in the United States and how they relate with other units of government. This includes an assessment of the citizenship and participation in state and local politics, both at the individual and collective level; and then an examination of state political institutions, such as governors, state legislatures, state courts, and administration. The course also covers city and county governments, and other local units of government. Although it is comparative, special attention is given to California politics. (3 units; Fall, Spring, and Online)

The course begins with an overview of factors (constitutions, political systems, and political ideology) political scientists use to understand and explain variations in policy outcomes at the national level. The course also examines actors (political parties, interest groups, social movements, and public opinion), processes (elections), and political institutions from a comparative perspective. The course concludes with an overview of the public policy process and examination of specific policy areas. (3 units; Fall and Online)

This course introduces students to the executive and management skills necessary for successful leadership in public organizations. Emphasis is on assessment of personal growth needs and enhancement of administrative skills, including communication, decision-making, motivation, leadership styles, and team building. (3 units; Fall odd years and OPS).

Students will use classic and current literature to examine the fundamental questions guiding organization theory in public administration with an emphasis on reconciling democracy with bureaucratic principles and behavior. (3 units; Online)

This course examines the place and impact of executive agencies on the formation and implementation of administrative law and regulation in the United States. This includes an overview of the administrative process, a discussion of administrative power, and bureaucratic organization. The course then examines the steps, stages, and participants of the administrative process, such as delegation of authority, administrative rule making, agency adjudication, and judicial review. The course concludes with a discussion of tort liability and sovereign immunity, the relationship between the bureaucracy and the other branches, and administrative reform. (Spring even years and OPS; 3 units).

This class examines policy-making theory and practice in the United States. Theoretical models studied include rational, incremental, and institutional, group, elite, public choice, and game theory. Policy areas covered include civil rights, criminal justice, health, and welfare, education, environmental protection, economic policy, and national defense. (3 units; Spring, even years, and Online)

This course uses case studies to examine the history and scope of public administration in the United States. An emphasis is placed on both practice and theory, financial administration, problems of management, administration organization and behavior, decision-making, and intergovernmental relations. (3 units; Online)

The course includes theory and current practices in personnel management at the local, state, and national levels of government. Topics covered include the history and development of public personnel management, the constitutional dimensions of employment law, employee training and development, and current human resource issues such as affirmative action, sexual harassment, and cultural diversity. (3 units; Fall, even years, and Online)

This course examines the scope of public administration. Emphasis on practice as well as theory in personnel administration, financial administration, problems of management, administrative organization, merit systems, and intergovernmental relations by the use of case studies. (Spring even year and OPS; 3 units).

This course explores the relationship between the economy and politics and provides both a description and assessment of the economy. This entails an overview of economic theory, macroeconomics, savings, investments, microeconomics and markets, inflation, monetary policy, international economics and globalization, and the role of the private sector and government. (3 units; Fall, odd years, and Online)

This course examines the research methods used in Political Science. Topics addressed in the course include the philosophical and theoretical foundations of social science research; ethical issues related to research; research design; descriptive and inferential statistic analysis; survey, qualitative field, unobtrusive, and evaluation research; and qualitative and quantitative data analysis with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Students will obtain the statistical knowledge necessary to read and critique scholarly articles and books. In addition, the course will prepare students to use statistical methods in their own research in graduate school or in their professional careers. (3 units; Fall and Online)

This course studies the most important decisions of the Supreme Court on individual rights and the conflicts from which they have arisen, which means examining the trinity of individual values and rights in American civil liberties?freedom, due process, and equality. (3 units; Fall, Spring, and Online)

This course examines and prepares students for a successful transition from undergraduate studies to graduate level coursework. This course provides students with an opportunity for assessment of career interests and capabilities, initiation and implementation of a personal development plan (PDP) or career portfolio, and feedback on personal and career development. Strategies, practical skills and resources for addressing graduate admission requirements, and grad school expectations are addressed. Advanced computer skills in excel, PowerPoint, Word, LiveText capstone portfolio, and e-bray will be included. (3 units; Online)